Staphylococcus

Infect Immun, 1985 Jan, 47(1), 247 - 52
Cytotoxicity of human serum for Leishmania donovani amastigotes: antibody facilitation of alternate complement pathway-mediated killing; Hoover DL et al.; Mechanisms that mediate recovery from leishmanial infection have not been fully characterized but are generally believed to involve interactions between T lymphocytes and macrophages . A major role for serum-mediated effector mechanisms in the protection of humans from reinfection with Leishmania, however, has not been ruled out . In this report, amastigotes of L . donovani were incubated with dilutions of serum from normal subjects and from patients with kala-azar . Normal serum was cytotoxic for parasites at a dilution of greater than or equal to 1:20 . Cytotoxicity did not occur in the presence of EDTA, was abolished by heating serum to 56 degrees C for 30 min, and was not diminished by prior adsorption of normal serum with parasites at 0 degree C . Killing proceeded normally in the presence of magnesium-ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N, N-tetraacetic acid, however, and was fully effected by C2-deficient serum . These studies indicated that killing of amastigotes, unlike that of promastigotes, was mediated via the alternate pathway of serum complement . In further studies, cytotoxicity of normal serum was enhanced three- to fivefold by factors in patient serum . This enhanced cytotoxicity also proceeded via the alternate complement pathway . Factors that enhanced cytotoxicity were characterized as parasite-specific immunoglobulin G: they eluted with immunoglobulin G on column chromatography, were adsorbed by immobilized staphylococcal protein A, and were not removed from the parasite surface by extensive washing . Thus, infection of individuals with L . donovani resulted in the production of a new, qualitatively and quantitatively distinct immune mechanism directed against the amastigote form of the parasite, namely, antibody-directed, alternate complement pathway-mediated cytotoxicity . These results provide a mechanistic framework for a role of humoral factors in human resistance to reinfection with L . donovani.

Clin Pediatr (Phila), 1985 Jan, 24(1), 40 - 1
Subdural collection of intravenous fat emulsion in a neonate . Complication of central venous catheterization for total parenteral nutrition; Stine MJ et al.; An infected subdural collection of intravenous fat emulsion (Intralipid) was diagnosed in a 5-week-old premature infant who was receiving total parental nutrition (TPN) through a facial vein cutdown . This fluid was successfully drained and the infection, due to Staphylococcus epidermidis, was treated with vancomycin . We postulate that the subdural collection occurred as a result of septic thrombosis of the internal jugular vein with subsequent retrograde flow and infiltration of Intralipid from the bridging veins into the subdural space . This complication of central TPN has not been reported previously.

J Immunol, 1985 Jan, 134(1), 167 - 71
Defective IFN-gamma production in the human neonate . I . Dysregulation rather than intrinsic abnormality; Wakasugi N et al.; Cord blood leukocytes (CBL) stimulated with PHA, Con A, or with the monoclonal antibody OKT3 proliferate normally but produce very low titers of IFN-gamma . This defect was not observed with maternal leukocytes collected at the time of delivery, indicating that the defective production of IFN-gamma in CBL is not a mere consequence of a hormonal change associated with labor . CBL produced large amounts of IFN-gamma (comparable to those observed in adult control and in mothers) after stimulation with staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) . Furthermore, gamma-irradiation with as little as 500 or 1000 rad, or incubation at 37 degrees C for 24 hr, reversed the defect in PHA-induced IFN-gamma secretion . This finding indicates that the defective secretion of IFN-gamma of CBL is not intrinsic, but rather is the consequence of a subtle dysregulation . We could not find evidence for a defective accessory function with cord blood monocytes, because the addition of adherent cells from adult donors did not reverse the defect . In co-cultures of adult leukocytes and CBL, PHA-induced IFN-gamma secretion was comparable to that of adult cultures tested alone . Nonirradiated CBL were not able to suppress IFN-gamma secretion by irradiated autologous leukocytes . Together, our results suggest that the defective PHA-induced IFN-gamma secretion of CBL is the result of an original type of dysregulation and is associated with an excessive sensitivity to suppressive signals rather than excessive suppressor function.

Contemp Top Immunobiol, 1985, 15, 239 - 56
Trials of staphylococcal protein A-treated plasma infusions in cancer therapy: clinical effects and implications for mode of action; MacKintosh FR et al.; The data presented here indicate that patients with advanced cancer exhibit a modest but definite objective response rate to biweekly infusions of autologous plasma treated with purified, covalently bound staphylococcal protein A in a relatively nontoxic treatment program . The possibility that responses could be enhanced by alteration of treatment parameters, improved patient selection, and/or combined therapy remains to be explored . In vitro studies indicate that tumor cell killing can be produced in an ovarian cancer cell line using ascitic fluid of some ovarian cancer patients that has been treated with small amounts of protein A covalently linked to silica gel or agarose . This may be a suitable model system for exploration of possible humoral mechanisms of protein A-associated tumoricidal effects . The available literature indicates an antitumor effect of protein A-treated patient plasma in a variety of in vitro systems, as well as in animal and human tumors in vivo . Preliminary investigations of the mechanism of these effects are inconsistent and support the view that several different mechanisms of tumor cell killing may be operative in different settings.

Vestn Khir Im I I Grek, 1985 Jan, 134(1), 65 - 8
{Management of the perineal wound in the postoperative treatment of patients with cancer of the rectum}; Knysh VI et al.; The material showing causes of the appearance of purulent complications of the perineum would after extirpation of the rectum for cancer is presented . The pathogenes of the purulent infection were found to be polyresistant staphylococcus and gram-negative intestinal flora in most cases . The authors recommend using antibiotic therapy directly at the time of performing the operation, good drainage of the postoperative wound, irradiation of the postoperative wound by a laser radiation of a harmless intensity.

Toxicon, 1985, 23(1), 87 - 104
Amino acid sequences of phospholipases A2 from the venom of an Australian elapid snake (king brown snake, Pseudechis australis); Nishida S et al.; Two basic phospholipases A2 (Pa-11 and Pa-13) have been isolated from the venom of an Australian elapid snake, Pseudechis australis (king brown snake) . The reduced and S-carboxymethylated phospholipases A2 were digested with trypsin and the resulting peptides were purified by a combination of chromatography on a DEAE-cellulose DE-52 column and gel filtration procedures . Eleven main peptides from Pa-11 and 9 peptides from Pa-13 could account for the amino acid compositions of the respective enzyme molecules . The alignment of the tryptic peptides and unelucidated regions of the amino acid sequences of tryptic peptides were established by the analysis of the peptides obtained by chymotryptic and/or Staphylococcal protease digestions . Each phospholipase A2 consisted of a single chain of 118 amino acid residues, including 14 half-cystine residues . Although Pa-11 is enzymatically 30-times as active as Pa-13 and highly toxic as compared to Pa-13, they are highly homologous in their amino acid sequences . They are also homologous to the enzymes from mammalian pancreas and the other snake venom phospholipases A2, especially to those from snakes belonging to the subfamilies Acanthophiinae and Laticaudinae.

Pediatr Infect Dis, 1985 Jan-Feb, 4(1), 52 - 5
Comparison of lysis-direct plating and broth methods for pediatric blood cultures: clinical relevance and cost effectiveness; Stutman HR et al.; To determine the clinical significance and therapeutic impact of pediatric blood cultures, we analyzed 1650 cultures comparing conventional broth and direct plating methods . The rate of positive cultures was 5.8% . Of 96 positive cultures 68 were deemed clinically significant . The mean time to detection was 23.8 and 33.7 hours, and the sensitivity was 89 and 83% in the Isolator and broth systems, respectively . The overall rate of insignificant isolates was 1.7% and was similar for both methods . Clinical interventions based on blood culture results occurred in 39 patients, primarily those with pneumococcal and staphylococcal bacteremia . Only six of 28 clinically insignificant isolates had negative impact . Use of the pediatric Isolator permitted earlier institution of appropriate therapies and shorter duration of unneeded or toxic therapies without frequent negative impact . Since direct costs were comparable the Isolator system may be a clinically valuable and cost effective alternative to conventional methodology.

Infect Immun, 1985 Jan, 47(1), 242 - 6
Production of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies to Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin; Brandwein H et al.; In an effort to develop new approaches to the study and control of infectious diarrhea, we prepared murine monoclonal antibodies to the Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin (STa) . The toxin was purified from E . coli culture media and conjugated to bovine serum albumin . The STa-bovine serum albumin conjugate was used to immunize BALB/c mice, and the immune spleen cells from these mice were fused with SP2/0 myeloma cells . Resultant hybridomas were screened in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay protocol against 500 ng of STa-bovine serum albumin bound to microtiter wells as the solid-phase antigen . Five stable clones were selected and grown further in ascites fluid, which demonstrated anti-STa activity at dilutions of up to 1:500,000 in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for heat-stable enterotoxin . In a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay format, the antibodies recognized several human and porcine strains of STa to various extents, but did not recognize E . coli heat-labile toxin, cholera toxin, or staphylococcal enterotoxin B . The antibodies were all able to bind lactoperoxidase-labeled {125I}STa, and antibody 20B3 was also able to dissociate {125I}STa bound to toxin receptors on rat jejunal villous cells . Preincubation of STa with antibodies 20B3 or 20F5 led to a concentration-dependent neutralization of toxin activity in a suckling mouse intestinal secretion assay . These antibodies are likely to provide new tools for the continued study of STa structure-function relationships and may lead to improved diagnosis and treatment of E . coli-induced infectious diarrhea.

Mol Gen Mikrobiol Virusol, 1985 Jan, (1), 25 - 9
{Isolation and characteristics of membrane fraction of rabbit T lymphocytes specifically binding the staphylococcal enterotoxin type A}; Noskov AN et al.; The lymphocyte membranes from rabbit thymus were shown to bind specifically the staphylococcal enterotoxin type A (SEA) . The glycolipid components were demonstrated to be absent from the SEA receptor complex on the surface of T-lymphocytes . The mild conditions were elaborated for the receptor membrane fraction solubilization by triton X-100 . The affinity chromatography method was used to isolate the SEA binding membrane fraction, the major component of which is a protein with a 42,000 mol mass . The isolated preparation inhibits the specific binding of {125I}-SEA on the cellular (by T-lymphocytes) and subcellular (by membranes) levels.

Int J Biochem, 1985, 17(7), 781 - 6
Membrane protein from rabbit T-lymphocytes, specifically binding staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA); Ezepchuk YuV et al.; The presence of specific binding of SEA with membranes of lymphocytes from rabbit thymus is established . Components of a glycolipid nature are absent in the composition of the receptor complex for SEA on T-lymphocytes . Suitable conditions for the solubilization of the receptor membrane fraction by Triton X-100 are described . The SEA-binding membrane fraction is isolated by means of an affinity-chromatography method . The main component of the fraction is a protein with molecular mass 42 kd . The isolated protein inhibits the specific binding of {125I} SEA on cell (T-lymphocytes) and subcell (membrane) levels.

Clin Ther, 1985, 8(1), 100 - 17
Infections in immunocompromised patients . II . Established therapy and its limitations; Periti P et al.; Diseases affecting host defense mechanisms include neutropenia, aplastic anemia, leukemia, lymphocytopenia (B- and T-lymphocyte abnormalities), deficiencies of complement, splenectomy, diabetes mellitus, renal failure, and autoimmune diseases . Immunocompromised patients face frequent life-threatening complications of infections, particularly when they are hospitalized and receiving cytotoxic myelosuppressive drugs . Oral antimicrobial agents affect the flora of the host's alimentary tract, enhancing colonization by resistant, potentially pathogenic, strains and species, especially in a hospital environment . Nalidixic acid, oxolinic acid, pipemidic acid, polymyxins, co-trimoxazole, polyene antibiotics, and framycetin, which preserve anaerobic colon flora, do not affect the host's colonization resistance and can be given in oral doses high enough to suppress and clear susceptible potential pathogens from the intestinal tract . Such prophylactic treatment permits patients to stay hospitalized in ward conditions . In the compromised host who has fever and suspected septicemia, a decision concerning treatment should be made within an hour of notification of the patient's condition . In acute stages of life-threatening infection, the principal aim of antimicrobial chemotherapy is to provide the most potent treatment; at this stage, the accompanying side effects are less important . An essential component of therapy should be an aminoglycoside paired with a beta-lactam antibiotic . Because the incidence of staphylococcal resistance to antibiotics is high, preliminary sensitivity-testing is essential when staphylococcal sepsis threatens the life of a compromised host . Despite aggressive antibiotic therapy, more than half of immunocompromised patients and patients with severe underlying diseases die when gram-negative bacteria invade their blood . In these patients, medical or surgical removal of the septic focus is a major part of management, but plasma or plasma fractions should be given to correct hypovolemia, and an agent such as dopamine should be administered if volume replacement fails to restore adequate blood pressure . A high dose of corticosteroids should have a beneficial effect, and, for neutropenic patients with gram-negative bacteremia or fever, transfusion with functional neutrophils improves survival.

Pediatr Neurosci, 1985-86, 12(3), 127 - 33
Reduced bacterial adherence to silicone plastic neurosurgical prosthesis; Gower DJ et al.; Bacteria have been shown to adhere to smooth surfaces, such as shunts, by secreting a complex polysaccharide coat called the glycocalyx . We assume that if bacterial adherence could be reduced to zero, foreign-body-related infections would be essentially eliminated . This study describes a new technique for quantitating bacterial adherence to plastic using radioactive chromium, and demonstrates that presoaking the silicone plastic surgical tubing used for ventriculoperitoneal and ventriculoatrial shunts in bacitracin A solution (50,000 units in 250 ml) reduces the adherence of Staphylococcus epidermidis by 54% . We conclude that pretreatment of a hydrocephalic shunt tubing with an aqueous bacitracin solution before its implantation may help to reduce the postoperative shunt infections due to direct contamination of the shunt at the time it is inserted.

J Clin Invest, 1985 Jan, 75(1), 119 - 23
Antineutrophil autoantibodies in Graves' disease . Implications of thyrotropin binding to neutrophils; Weitzman SA et al.; The hyperthyroidism of Graves' disease may be caused by autoantibodies to thyrotropin (TSH) receptors . We have found that patients with this disease have autoantibodies to neutrophils as well, which can be displaced by TSH . Using a radiochemical opsonic assay, we found serum antibodies against homologous neutrophils in 6 of 11 Graves' patients . With a staphylococcal protein A-binding assay, we detected circulating antibodies to homologous neutrophils in 10 of 20 patients, while finding cell-bound antibody on autologous neutrophils in 7 of 8 (including 2 with negative serum tests) . Use of human 125I-TSH in a radioligand binding assay revealed that TSH bound to neutrophils rapidly (maximum binding within 10 min at 22 degrees C, pH 7.4), specifically (less than 20% nonspecific binding), and reversibly . Adding TSH to the radiochemical assay resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of opsonic antibody activity in serum from patients with Graves' disease . In contrast, TSH did not inhibit antibody activity of serum from patients with immune neutropenia not associated with thyroid disease . Our findings suggest a basis for the association of Graves' disease with neutropenia . Furthermore, the discovery of such antineutrophil antibodies in Graves' disease permits detection of cell-bound antibody when free antibody is not present.

Acta Ophthalmol Suppl, 1985, 173, 80 - 2
Bacterial growth in the conjunctival sac and the local defense of the outer eye; Jensen OL et al.; 25 patients admitted for cataract surgery were subjected to conjunctival bacterial culturings preoperatively and during the postoperative observation period . Simultaneously lactoferrin (LF), lysozyme (LY) and secretory immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) were measured in tears . The preoperative flora disclosed the growth of Staphylococcus albus (SA) and diphtheroids . Other species were only sporadically present . There was a significant rise in number of patients affected by SA and diphtheroids postoperatively (from 60 to 80%), whereas other bacteria were not present to any significant extent . LF, LY and s-IgA concentration decreased to about 50% of the preoperative level in the early postoperative period gradually returning towards their initial concentration . Correlating an antibacterial score with bacterial score we found a significant inverse relationship between the two (P less than 0.05).

Ann Med Interne (Paris), 1985, 136(5), 398 - 400
{Right endocarditis in disseminated aspergillosis}; Riou B et al.; A 53 year old man with an anaplastic bronchial carcinoma was hospitalised for septic shock and acute respiratory distress after a cutaneous, probably staphylococcal infection, and died in spite of anti-staphylococcal antibiotherapy . The autopsy showed pulmonary, cardiac, cerebral and renal aspergillosis . A right heart aspergillous endocarditis, very rare in this pathology, was also discovered but there were no cardiac valves lesions . The patient was in an "immunodepressed" state as usually observed in pulmonary aspergillosis . The endocardial localisation of aspergillosis and the "pseudo-miliary" appearances of the pulmonary lesion indicated an extra-pulmonary portal of entry, cutaneous or intravenous which is unusual in this pathology . This hypothesis is supported by previous reports of pulmonary aspergillosis where right heart endocarditis is exceptionally rare and by aspergillous left heart endocarditis after open heart surgery where pulmonary aspergillosis is absent.

Int J Biochem, 1985, 17(3), 373 - 9
Formation of HCN by human phagocytosing neutrophils--1 . Chlorination of Staphylococcus epidermidis as a source of HCN; Stelmaszynska T; Phagocytosis of Staphylococcus epidermidis by human neutrophils is accompanied by HCN liberation . The amount of HCN evolved is significantly higher when the bacteria are damaged by penicillin . One of the substrates yielding HCN during phagocytosis are N-dichloroglycyl residues of bacterial peptidoglycan formed by the chlorinating myeloperoxidase-H2O2-Cl- system of neutrophils . HCN deriving from the bacterial structures constitutes 6-12% of total HCN liberated during phagocytosis, which indicates that there are other substrates for HCN production . Chlorination process within phagocytosing neutrophils seems to be essential for formation of both, total HCN and that deriving from bacterial structures.

J Immunopharmacol, 1985, 7(4), 479 - 88
Effects of Wy-18,251 (3-p-chlorophenyl)thiazolo{3,2-a}benzimidazole- 2-acetic acid), levamisole and indomethacin on the generation of murine T suppressor cells in vitro; Rogers CM et al.; In vitro culture of normal BALB/c spleen cells with staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) activates antigen non-specific suppressor T cells (Ts) which can be assayed by their ability to suppress antibody production in a plaque assay . Addition of the experimental immunomodulatory drug Wy-18,251 (10-100 microM) to cultures of spleen cells plus SEB significantly increased Ts activity relative to cultures without the drug . Similar results were obtained with levamisole, but, in contrast, indomethacin (0.1-10 microM) inhibited SEB-induced suppressor cell activity . The ability of Wy-18,251 to augment Ts activity could be therapeutically useful in the treatment of those autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, in which hyperactive B cell function is a characteristic feature.

Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1985, 33(2), 261 - 73
Results of bacteriophage treatment of suppurative bacterial infections . VI . Analysis of treatment of suppurative staphylococcal infections; Slopek S et al.; Analysis of phage therapy results was carried out on 273 cases of spontaneous and postoperative septic staphylococcal infections . The treatment appeared effective in 254 (93.0%) cases . Detailed analysis of the results obtained in particular disease categories revealed that staphylococcal bacteriophages may be efficiently applied in the treatment of suppurative staphylococcal infections resistant to antibiotics.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1985 Jan, (1), 45 - 8
{Development of a diagnostic test system for detecting soluble staphylococcal antigens by an immunoenzyme method}; Gavriliaka RD et al.; ELISA is used for detecting the soluble staphylococcal antigen in patients with purulent septic infections . The optimum conditions for the assay have been established: the dose of staphylococcal gamma globulin for plate sensitization should be 5.0-10.0 micrograms/ml, the pH of the buffer solution 9.6-10.0, the time and temperature of incubation 18-20 hours at 4 degrees C or 5 hours at 37 degrees C . The possibility of using plates manufactured in the USSR has been shown . The sensitivity of the above diagnostic test system is 0.005 microgram/ml.

Biochem Soc Symp, 1985, 50, 221 - 33
Membrane damage by channel-forming proteins: staphylococcal alpha-toxin, streptolysin-O and the C5b-9 complement complex; Bhakdi S et al.; One mechanism through which cells can be damaged involves insertion of alien proteins into the membrane bilayer and the formation of hydrophilic transmembrane pores . Three examples for this process are discussed, namely membrane damage by staphylococcal alpha-toxin, streptolysin-O, and by the terminal C5b-9 complement complex . Common to all is the principle of a transition of the proteins from a water-soluble state to an amphiphilic state, occurring through the appearance or exposure of apolar surfaces during oligomerization of the protein molecules into supramolecular aggregates . The resulting complexes or protein oligomers insert spontaneously into the target lipid bilayer and assume properties akin to those of integral membrane proteins . The protein channels can be isolated from membranes after their solubilization by mild detergents and characterized on a bio-immunochemical and ultrastructural level.

Nauchnye Doki Vyss Shkoly Biol Nauki, 1985, (7), 23 - 6
{Participation of Ca-dependent systems in thrombocyte aggregation induced by the action of staphylococcal toxin and ADP}; Brill' GE; The mechanism of ADP and staphylococcal toxin effect on the platelet aggregation has been studied on the rabbit's platelet-rich plasma . Ca2+-channels blockade of the cell membrane by verapamil resulted in considerable inhibition of aggregation induced by ADP and some weakening of toxin action . Binding of extracellular calcium EDTA inhibited sharply or blocked the aggregation of both inductors . It has been concluded that Ca2+ transport into cell is necessary chain in ADP and staphylococcal toxin effect but under the action of toxin transport Ca2+ into platelet is brought through a verapamil-resistant Ca2+-channels forming in the membrane under the interaction with toxin.

Acta Microbiol Pol, 1985, 34(2), 159 - 65
The survival of Staphylococcus epidermidis in raw milk with different somatic cell count; Bassalik-Chabielska L et al.; The antibacterial activity of an individual quarter milk sample cannot be evaluated by the number of somatic cells in milk and number of S . epidermidis cells surviving (-0,509, the most bactericidal . This was shown to be due to the fact that the strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis Se 25 is very sensitive to complement and also sensitive to cell free skimmed milk . A second stimulation of the udder enhances significantly the cell response to the stimulant . A negative and highly significant correlation coefficient exists between the number of somatic cells in milk and number of S . epidermidis cells surviving (0.509, P less than or equal to 0.01).

Eur J Biochem, 1984 Dec 17, 145(3), 573 - 7
A novel form of gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) isolated from bovine intestine using a radioreceptor assay . Fragmentation with staphylococcal protease results in GIP1-3 and GIP4-42, fragmentation with enterokinase in GIP1-16 and GIP17-42; Carlquist M et al.; A novel form of gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), later also referred to as glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, has been isolated from bovine upper intestine . The purification was monitored by a recently developed radioreceptor assay, specific for GIP, using membrane preparations from hamster beta-cell tumors . A combination of ion-exchange and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography was used in the isolation which resulted in homogeneous bovine GIP . Bovine GIP is, like porcine GIP, composed of 42 amino acid residues . The sequence is: Tyr-Ala-Glu-Gly-Thr-Phe-Ile-Ser-Asp-Tyr-Ser-Ile-Ala-Met-Asp-Lys-Ile-Arg- Gln-Gln - Asp-Phe-Val-Asn-Trp-Leu-Leu-Ala-Gln-Lys-Gly-Lys-Lys-Ser-Asp-Trp-Ile-His- Asn-Ile - Thr-Gln, which differs from that of the previously characterized porcine GIP by having isoleucine instead of lysine at position 37 . Upon proteolytic digestion of GIP with the staphylococcal V8 protease and with enterokinase, two fragments are formed in each case, corresponding to GIP1-3, GIP4-42, and GIP1-16, GIP17-42, respectively.

Eur J Biochem, 1984 Dec 17, 145(3), 469 - 76
Primary structure of alpha-clostripain light chain; Gilles AM et al.; The primary structure of light chain of alpha-clostripain was determined by sequence analysis of peptides derived from tryptic digests purified by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography . The 22 isolated tryptic peptides were aligned by peptides derived from chymotryptic and staphylococcal V8 proteinase digests . The light chain contains 133 amino acids residues and has a relative molecular mass of 15400 . The prediction of its secondary structure is given.

J Biol Chem, 1984 Dec 10, 259(23), 14711 - 20
Two isoenzymes of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in Caenorhabditis elegans . Isolation, properties, and immunochemical characterization; Yarbrough PO et al.; Two glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases have been separated and purified from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans . As defined by starch gel electrophoresis, the faster-migrating isoenzyme, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase-2, increases its activity during postembryonic development . In contrast, the slower-migrating isoenzyme, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase-1, is enriched in isolated embryos . Both isoenzymes were initially purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation, gel filtration, and NAD+-agarose affinity chromatography . The separation of both isoenzymes as well as their purification to homogeneity was obtained by preparative chromatofocusing . The subunit molecular weight of each isoenzyme is 38,500 +/- 500 . A tetrameric native molecular weight of 157,000 +/- 2000 was determined for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase-2 . Monospecific rabbit polyclonal antibodies were initially raised against the major isoenzyme and subsequently used to characterize both isoenzymes . Staphylococcus aureas V8 protease digests of each isoenzyme were separated electrophoretically and stained immunochemically, providing evidence that the two isoenzymes differed in their amino acid sequences . Developmental immunocytochemical studies suggest that the embryonic-enriched isoenzyme, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase-1, is present in all cells . The second isoenzyme, exhibiting the major activity during postembryonic larval development, may define a body-wall-muscle specific activity which is located within the actin-containing I and A zones of the nematode's sarcomeres.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1984 Dec, 258(2-3), 213 - 22
Comparison of the bio-physical and biological properties of staphylococcal protein-A extracted by salt-washing and conventional procedure; Tewari R et al.; Staphylococcal protein A could be extracted in large amounts by simple stirring of the cells with physiological saline (pH 7.8) . The amount of protein A obtained by the technique was found to be the same as obtained by lysozyme/lysostaphin techniques (45 micrograms/ml) . The protein A extracted by salt-washing technique was of higher molecular weight (71,000) and differing in some biological properties like complement fixation from the protein A prepared by lysostaphin technique.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Dec, 26(6), 793 - 6
Experimental evaluation of chlorhexidine gluconate for ocular antisepsis; Hamill MB et al.; Chlorhexidine gluconate is a bisguanide germicide currently available with 70% isopropanol (Hibistat, Hibitane) or a detergent (Hibiclens, Hibiscrub) for preoperative skin preparation . As these solvents are toxic to the cornea, we investigated the safety and efficacy of aqueous chlorhexidine solutions for ophthalmic use . Chlorhexidine in Tris-glycine buffer was evaluated for retardation of epithelial regeneration after experimental corneal abrasion in rabbits . Irrigant concentrations of 2.0 and 4.0% chlorhexidine significantly slowed the healing rate (0.546 and 0.076 mm/h, respectively) compared with saline controls (0.938 mm/h) . Irrigant concentrations of less than or equal to 1% did not statistically delay healing (P greater than 0.4) . In a separate group of animals, the right conjunctivae of pigmented rabbits were inoculated with Staphylococcus epidermidis (approximately 10(7) organisms per eye) and irrigated with 40 microliters of aqueous chlorhexidine in concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0%; the left eyes were irrigated with saline or left untreated . Quantitative conjunctival cultures were obtained, and the total number of organisms recovered per eye was calculated . All chlorhexidine-treated eyes showed significant reduction in organisms compared with either untreated or saline-irrigated control eyes (P less than 0.001) . In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing demonstrated chlorhexidine in concentrations of 0.1 to 4% to be highly active against a variety of gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial pathogens by disk diffusion and broth diffusion assays . Topical aqueous chlorhexidine may be an alternate agent for preoperative conjunctival antisepsis.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1984 Dec, 14 Suppl D, 67 - 71
Pathogenesis and management of Staphylococcus epidermidis 'plastic' foreign body infections; Peters G et al.; Staphylococcus epidermidis infections on foreign bodies made of plastic are caused by special and complex mechanisms . The staphylococcal cells are able to adhere to and grow on polymer surfaces in vivo and in vitro . In the course of colonization they produce an extracellular substance ('slime') which eventually covers them . It is thought that the staphylococcal slime has several biological functions, including promoting adhesion and protection against both antibiotics and host defence mechanisms . In patients, the removal of a colonized device should be accompanied by the parenteral administration of highly effective antistaphylococcal drugs, such as vancomycin.

J Neurosurg, 1984 Dec, 61(6), 1072 - 8
Factors causing acute shunt infection . Computer analysis of 1174 operations; Renier D et al.; A series of 1174 operations performed on 802 hydrocephalic children was analyzed in an effort to find the factors causing acute postoperative infection . Culture of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples during the operation was positive in 33 cases . These cases were excluded from the series . Ninety infections were observed in the remaining 1141 operations, an overall rate of 7.9% . Most of these infections were meningitis (56 cases) . Staphylococcus epidermidis was the bacterium most frequent identified (44%) . Statistically significant relationships were found between shunt infection and the following factors: 1) age: infection was 2.6 times as frequent before 6 months than after 1 year of age (p = 0.03); 2) poor condition of the skin; 3) presence of intercurrent seats of infection at the time of surgery; 4) type of operation: the rate of infection was 8.4% in primary shunt insertions, 5% in shunt revisions, and 17.5% in reinsertions following shunt removal for infection (p = 0.0001); 5) end of the shunt requiring revision: an infection rate of 7.7% followed revision of the ventricular catheter alone, and 2.6% followed revision of the other end alone (p = 0.012); and 6) postoperative wound dehiscence or scalp necrosis . The surgical team involved was poorly correlated with the rate of infection (p = 0.12) . No statistically significant relationships have been found between infection and 1) etiology of hydrocephalus: 2) sex; 3) recent neurosurgical operation before the shunt procedure; 4) preoperative presence of an external drainage tube or CSF fistula; 5) lumbar or ventricular taps, or ventriculography; 6) number of previous operations performed on the shunt; 7) time (month and year) of operation; or 8) sugar level and cell count in the CSF.

Circulation, 1984 Dec, 70(6), 1024 - 9
Catheter ablation of the atrioventricular junction: a report of the percutaneous mapping and ablation registry; Scheinman MM et al.; An international registry was formed to collate data for patients undergoing attempted catheter ablation of the atrioventricular (AV) junction and insertion of a permanent pacemaker . Over the past 2 years, data was submitted for 127 patients who were followed for a mean of 9.9 +/- 8.2 months . The most common arrhythmia treated was chronic or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or flutter (78 patients, 61%); the remainder had supraventricular tachycardia due to AV node reentry, ectopic atrial tachycardia, or incorporated an accessory pathway . A single shock of 150 to 400 J was effective in producing chronic third-degree AV block in 45 patients while two or more shocks were used in an additional 45 patients . There was no significant difference in the total cumulative energy used in successful and unsuccessful procedures . Immediate complications related to the shock included ventricular fibrillation (one patient), pericardial tamponade (one patient), and transient hypotension (one patient) . No chronic sequelae occurred as a result of these complications . Late complications (1 day to 1 month) included ventricular tachycardia (three patients), sepsis involving the pacemaker pocket (two patients), staphylococcal sepsis from temporary pacing catheter (one patient), thrombophlebitis (one patient), thrombosis of the left subclavian vein (one patient), and hemothorax (one patient) . Follow-up evaluation revealed chronic third degree AV block in 90 (71%) and AV conduction resumed but no drugs were required for arrhythmia control in eight (6.5%) and arrhythmia control was achieved with previously ineffective drugs in 16 (13%) . Thirteen patients (10%) had no improvement and five of these patients underwent cardiac electrosurgery for direct His bundle ablation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Dec, 26(6), 857 - 62
Comparison of fortimicins with other aminoglycosides and effects on bacterial ribosome and protein synthesis; Moreau N et al.; Fortimicins are bicyclic aminoglycoside antibiotics that contain a fortamine moiety instead of the deoxystreptamine found in other aminoglysides . Fortimicin A had a bactericidal effect on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis and was found to inhibit protein synthesis in vivo . In vitro, fortimicin A inhibited polyuridylic acid-directed phenylalanine polymerization and induced misreading, as shown by leucine incorporation . In contrast, fortimicin B had no effect on either polymerization or misreading . In assays programmed with natural mRNA, only a weak polymerization inhibition effect was observed with fortimicin A, whereas a strong stimulation was seen in the presence of fortimicin B . Both fortimicins A and B inhibited dissociation of 70S ribosomes into their subunits and neither was able to displace {3H}dihydrostreptomycin, {3H}tobramycin, or {3H}gentamicin from their respective binding sites on the 70S particle.

J Immunol, 1984 Dec, 133(6), 3163 - 6
Staphylococcal protein A binding to the Fab fragments of mouse monoclonal antibodies; Young WW Jr et al.; Two mouse IgG1 monoclonal antibodies specific for the Lewis(a) human blood group antigen were purified on protein A-Sepharose by using buffers of decreasing pH for elution . Unlike other IgG1 antibodies that eluted at pH 7.0 to 6.0, these antibodies could only be eluted at pH 4.0 to 3.0 . The Fab and F(ab')2 fragments of these antibodies also eluted at pH 4.0 to 3.0, although the Fc fragment of one eluted at pH 6.0 . This interaction of protein A with Fab was not due to anti-protein A antibody activity, because the presence of Lewis(a) trisaccharide did not prevent the binding of Fab to protein A-Sepharose and because Fab that had bound to solid phase hapten could still be recognized by protein A . Thus, certain mouse IgG1 antibodies possess determinants in their Fab portion recognized by protein A, allowing for the purification of such Fab fragments on protein A-Sepharose.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1984 Dec, 258(2-3), 360 - 7
Enterotoxigenicity of Staphylococcus intermedius strains isolated from dogs; Fukuda S et al.; Dogs (n = 100) were examined for the presence of enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus intermedius . Enterotoxigenic strains were isolated from the nasal cavities of 43 (43.0%) out of 100 dogs . Of the 50 enterotoxigenic strains isolated, 23 (46.0%) produced enterotoxin A, 17 (34.0%) enterotoxins A and C, 8 (16.0%) enterotoxin C, and only two (4.0%) enterotoxins A and B . The amount of enterotoxin produced on semisolid brain heart infusion medium by the 17 enterotoxin A producing strains of S . intermedius was 10-160 ng per ml . Enterotoxin A production by S . intermedius strains was ony one tenth to one hundredth of that of S . aureus strains from staphylococcal food poisoning outbreaks.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1984 Dec, (12), 94 - 7
{Staphylococcal induction of suppressors of macrophage phagocytic activity}; Vikhot' NE; During experimental infection caused by S . aureus, strain Smith, the formation of suppressors of the phagocytic activity of macrophages was induced in the peritoneal cavity and the spleen of intact and infected mice . Thus, in the cultivation of macrophages of the infected mice together with nonadhering cells of the peritoneal exudate of the infected animals the phagocytic index was 0.75 +/- 0.09; in the presence of splenocytes of the infected mice the phagocytic index for macrophages of the intact and infected animals was 0.64 +/- 0.12 and 0.89 +/- 0.04, respectively . Splenocytes of the intact mice, when cultivated together with macrophages of the infected mice, enhanced phagocytic activity during the first hours of cultivation and suppressed it after prolonged cultivation (12 hours); the phagocytic index was 1.37 +/- 0.18 and 0.82 +/- 0.03, respectively.

Scand J Immunol, 1984 Dec, 20(6), 493 - 501
Demonstration of a helper factor(s) with T-cell-replacing activity in synovial fluid; Al-Balaghi S et al.; Cell-free synovial fluid (SF) obtained from patients with rheumatoid arthritis contains a helper factor(s) capable of augmenting the generation of plaque-forming cells (PFC) in pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-stimulated normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) . This helper factor behaves like a polyclonal B-cell activator, in that it triggers the formation of IgM, IgG, and IgA PFC . However, SF has little or no effect on the proliferation of PWM-activated PBMC . Furthermore, SF was capable of replacing T cells for PWM-induced differentiation but not proliferation of enriched human blood B lymphocytes . No helper factor or T-cell-replacing activity was found in SF from patients with traumatic synovitis . Fractionation of SF containing helper activity on staphylococcal protein A column indicated that the activity is induced by biologically active molecules distinct from materials that preferentially bind to protein A such as IgG immune complexes . We conclude that the present activity has striking similarities to the recently described B-cell differentiation factor that is produced by specifically activated T-cell lines in vitro.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1984 Dec, 37(12), 2349 - 54
{In vitro activity and clinical evaluation of ceftriaxone in the field of obstetrics and gynecology}; Ninomiya K et al.; In vitro activity of ceftriaxone (CTRX) was examined by agar plates dilution method against 398 strains isolated from the infections in the field of obstetrics and gynecology . MIC90 of CTRX against Staphylococcus (107 strains), E . coli (54 strains), K . pneumoniae (27 strains), Peptococcus and Peptostreptococcus (106 strains) and Bacteroides (104 strains) was more than 100 micrograms/ml, less than 0.20 micrograms/ml, less than 0.20 micrograms/ml, 6.25 micrograms/ml and 50 micrograms/ml, respectively . The concentrations of CTRX 16.9 hours after 1 hour intravenous drip infusion with 1 g were 46.2 micrograms/ml in the uterine artery, 48.0 micrograms/ml in the cubital vein, 11.0 micrograms/g in the endometrium, myometrium and cervix uteri, and 14.0 micrograms/g in the portio vaginalis . These concentrations of CTRX in the serum and uterine tissues were higher than the level required to inhibit 90% of the strains of E . coli, K . pneumoniae, and Peptococcus and Peptostreptococcus, isolated from the infections in the field of obstetrics and gynecology . Clinical efficacy of CTRX was evaluated in 7 cases consisting of 2 with puerperal fever and one each with puerperal intrauterine infection, intrauterine infection, pyometra, adnexitis and Bartholin's abscess . Clinical and bacteriological efficacies were seen in 6 and 4 cases, respectively . Neither noteworthy adverse reactions nor laboratory abnormalities were observed throughout this study.

Cell, 1984 Dec, 39(3 Pt 2), 469 - 78
Torsional stress promotes the DNAase I sensitivity of active genes; Villeponteau B et al.; Active genes are known to have an altered chromatin structure that is preferentially sensitive to digestion with DNAase I . We find that when chicken red blood cells are incubated in media containing the topoisomerase II inhibitor novobiocin, the preferential DNAase I sensitivity of the active beta-globin genes is reversed in vivo with as little as 20 min of drug treatment . Control experiments suggest that inhibition of a topoisomerase II is responsible for this alteration in active gene conformation . Reversal of DNAase I sensitivity can also be induced in vitro by partial cleavage of the nuclear DNA with staphylococcal nuclease . We propose that the altered structure around active genes is maintained by continuous DNA supercoiling and that in the absence of this superhelical tension active chromatin reverts to a less DNAase I-sensitive ground state.

Nucleic Acids Res, 1984 Nov 26, 12(22), 8457 - 74
Organization of the GAL1-GAL10 intergenic control region chromatin; Lohr D; A defined, "far upstream" promoter element, the Upstream Activator Sequence (UAS), which mediates the galactose dependent induction of expression of the GAL10 gene in yeast, is the locus of an anomalous, mainly expression independent chromatin structure . The UAS chromatin shows three symmetrical DNase I hypersensitive sites in brief digests, a loss of the 10 bp DNase I ladder pattern in more extensive digests and an enhanced staphylococcal nuclease sensitivity . This anomalous structure is confined to a small region of the UAS . The surrounding chromatin, including the TATA box regions shows a more typical, but expression dependent nucleoprotein, probably nucleosomal, organization . Such an arrangement may be a common feature of eukaryotic genes.

S Afr Med J, 1984 Nov 3, 66(18), 685 - 7
{Staphylococcal pneumonia : a review of 18 cases at Tygerberg Hospital}; Roos JS; A retrospective study of 18 cases of staphylococcal pneumonia is described . The majority of patients were young males without any predisposing factors . A vasculitic rash, three-organ failure and diffuse intravascular coagulation were poor prognostic factors . The value of steroids was doubtful but plasmapheresis probably played a part in the survival of 3 patients with fulminating staphylococcal pneumonia . The case fatality rate for the whole group was 38% . Primary staphylococcal pneumonia probably had a better prognosis but left more residual lung damage than the secondary form of the disease.

Eur J Biochem, 1984 Nov 2, 144(3), 417 - 23
The primary structure of calf thymus glutaredoxin . Homology with the corresponding Escherichia coli protein but elongation at both ends and with an additional half-cystine/cysteine pair; Klintrot IM et al.; The primary structure of calf thymus glutaredoxin was determined by analysis of the {14C}carboxymethylated protein and the proteolytic fragments obtained by treatments with trypsin, chymotrypsin, CNBr and staphylococcal Glu-specific extracellular protease . The active center has the structure Cys-Pro-Tyr-Cys, with the redox-active cysteines/half-cystines located at positions 22 and 25 in the polypeptide chain . This active center is identical in amino acid sequence and similar in position to that of Escherichia coli glutaredoxin, suggesting this structure to be typical for glutaredoxins and distinguishing them from the distantly related thioredoxins . However, the two glutaredoxins also exhibit considerable differences . Calf thymus glutaredoxin is extended at both ends and has 31% overall residue identities with the corresponding E . coli protein . In contrast to the bacterial glutaredoxin, the calf thymus protein contains two additional half-cystines/cysteine residues at positions 74 and 78, which may be of regulatory significance.

Eur J Cancer Clin Oncol, 1984 Nov, 20(11), 1377 - 88
Tumour regression after extracorporeal affinity chromatography of blood plasma across agarose beads containing staphylococcal protein A; Hakansson L et al.; The therapeutic effect of absorbing plasma from tumour patients with immobilized staphylococcal protein A was tested . Plasma prepared by centrifugation was passed over protein A-Sepharose and then reinfused into the patient . Five patients were thus treated . One with malignant melanoma and one with renal adenocarcinoma showed measurable regression of metastatic lesions . In another with malignant melanoma a subcutaneous metastasis showed histopathological changes compatible with a therapeutic effect . In two patients, one with malignant melanoma and one with renal adenocarcinoma, no signs of regression were found . No severe adverse effects of the treatment were observed.

J Gen Microbiol, 1984 Nov, 130 ( Pt 11), 3029 - 35
Plasmid involvement in production of and immunity to the staphylococcin-like peptide Pep 5; Ersfeld-Dressen H et al.; The staphylococcin-like peptide Pep 5 is produced by the penicillin resistant strain Staphylococcus epidermidis 5 . This strain is immune to the peptide . Plasmid analysis of S . epidermidis 5 by agarose gel electrophoresis and electron microscopy demonstrated five plasmids with molecular weights ranging from 5.8 X 10(6) to 29 X 10(6) . Variants of S . epidermidis 5 not producing Pep 5 or which had become penicillin sensitive were induced by various curing treatments . Strains lacking the 13.9 X 10(6) mol . wt plasmid (pED502) had lost penicillin resistance, and those lacking the 12.3 X 10(6) mol . wt plasmid (pED503) failed to produce Pep 5 . pED503 is also responsible for the immunity of the producer cell to Pep 5 . Plasmid pED502 could be transformed into S . aureus RN 981 which then became resistant to penicillin . pED503 could not be transformed into S . aureus RN 981, but could be transformed into S . epidermidis 5 variants previously cured of this plasmid; the transformants then regained the properties of Pep 5 production and immunity.

Antibiotiki, 1984 Nov, 29(11), 834 - 6
{Antitoxic effect of leukocytic interferon in in vivo experiments}; Babaiants AA et al.; Leukocyte interferon of various species origin (human, swine, mice) protected mice from the lethal dose of staphylococcal toxin . Endogenic mouse interferon and exogenic serum mouse interferon had no such effect . The suspension of waste leukocytes had also a protective activity . The results of the study evidence the presence of antitoxic factor in the leukocytes.

Am J Vet Res, 1984 Nov, 45(11), 2376 - 9
Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of canine Staphylococcus intermedius isolates from veterinary clinical specimens; Phillips WE Jr et al.; Sixty-six Staphylococcus intermedius isolates from canine clinical specimens were tested for susceptibility to various antimicrobial agents by the Bauer-Kirby disk diffusion method and a commercial microdilution system . All isolates were susceptible to cephalothin, cloxacillin, gentamicin, methicillin, and vancomycin . Resistance to ampicillin, penicillin G, and tetracycline was frequent . There was an overall 87% agreement of results from the disk diffusion and microdilution methods for 10 antimicrobial agents . There was greater than or equal to 94% agreement between the 2 methods for 7 antimicrobics; discrepancies were minor.

J Dairy Sci, 1984 Nov, 67(11), 2580 - 9
Effects of premilking udder preparation on bacterial population, sediment, and iodine residue in milk; Galton DM et al.; Udder preparations that wet both udder surfaces and teats had the highest standard plate count in milk compared with methods that wet teats only . Physical action of cleaning teats with a dry towel lowered bacterial count compared with preparations wetting both udder surfaces and teats . Methods resulting in lowest bacterial counts were the use of water hose, wet towel, or premilking disinfectant teat dip followed by drying with paper towels . Counts of coliform and Staphylococcus sp . followed similar trends . In most comparisons, addition of udder wash sanitizer was of marginal or no benefit . Standard plate count of teat rinses after udder preparation confirmed the benefit of cleaning and drying teats . Physical manipulation of teats during cleaning was essential for lowering sediment in milk . Drying of teats with a paper towel for at least 10 s after dipping with a 1% iodophor disinfectant dip was essential for reducing iodine residue . Both premilking and postmilking disinfectant teat dipping with a 1% iodophor teat dip caused higher iodine residue in milk than premilking disinfectant dip with subsequent drying . A .5% iodophor teat dip contributed less iodine in milk than a 1% iodophor teat dip . Premilking udder preparation affects bacterial count, sediment, and iodine residue in milk.

Ophthalmology, 1984 Nov, 91(11), 1384 - 8
Vitrectomy for macular pucker; Michels RG; Vitreous surgery was used to treat 130 consecutive cases with epiretinal membranes causing macular pucker . The membrane: (1) occurred after otherwise successful retinal reattachment surgery in 78 eyes (60%), (2) was idiopathic in 28 eyes (22%), (3) was associated with other ocular disorders in 20 eyes (15%), and (4) in four eyes may have been developmental . The abnormal tissue was successfully removed in 128 of 130 eyes, and vision improved at least two lines on the Snellen chart in 108 eyes (83%) . Postoperative visual acuity was 20/20 in five eyes (4%), 20/25 to 20/40 in 41 eyes (31.5%), 20/50 to 20/100 in 64 eyes (49%), 20/200 in 15 eyes (11.5%), and 20/400 in five eyes (4%) . Complications included one case of sterile endophthalmitis and one case of infective endophthalmitis (Staphylococcus epidermidis) . Peripheral retinal tears occurred in six eyes (5%) . No posterior retinal breaks occurred in this series . Later retinal detachment occurred in eight eyes (6%) requiring further retinal surgery . Progressive postoperative nuclear sclerotic lens changes occurred in 31 (34%) of 90 phakic eyes . Sizable amounts of epiretinal tissue recurred postoperatively in four eyes (3%).

Immun Infekt, 1984 Nov, 12(6), 279 - 85
{Molecular basis for the pathogenicity of S . aureus alpha-toxins}; Bhakdi S et al.; Staphylococcal alpha-toxin is produced by most strains of S . aureus and is considered a major pathogenic factor of these bacteria . The toxin is produced as a water-soluble molecule of MW 34000 . Binding to a membrane target is accompanied by the formation of ring-structured hexamers with outer and inner diameters of 10 and 2-3 nm, respectively . The toxin rings carry lipid-binding surfaces that allow for insertion into and firm embedment within the membrane . Small transmembrane channels are thus generated that can induce a variety of pathological cellular changes . Large doses of toxin will generally cause cell lysis and death . However, sub-cytolytic toxin doses can also elicit major pathophysiological reactions . When introduced into the circulation of an isolated and perfused rabbit lung, the toxin causes steep rises in the pulmonary artery pressure, and lung edema results as a consequence of increases in vascular permeability occurring in parallel . These processes are the result of the activation of the arachidonic acid cascade by alpha-toxin in the lung . Studies using cultured endothelial cells as targets subsequently led to a hypothesis that would explain how membrane channel formation by a toxin could be linked to the observed arachidonic acid cascade activation . In essence, we propose that the toxin pores serve as non-physiological calcium channels, and that calcium influx triggers the observed reactions . It is probable that many other pathophysiological processes including inflammatory tissue reactions derive from such secondary effects of toxin action.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Infect Immun, 1984 Nov, 46(2), 448 - 52
Effect of thioglycolate on phagocytic and microbicidal activities of peritoneal macrophages; Leijh PC et al.; Brewer thioglycolate-elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages were as active as resident peritoneal macrophages in the phagocytosis of opsonized Staphylococcus epidermidis but were unable to kill ingested microorganisms . This decreased functional activity was restricted to Brewer thioglycolate-elicited macrophages, since peritoneal macrophages elicited with NIH thioglycolate, alone or supplemented with agar and methylene blue, were as active as resident peritoneal macrophages . No effect of agar on the functional activities of macrophages was observed . A defective intracellular killing by peritoneal macrophages due to Brewer thioglycolate was seen only after an intraperitoneal injection with thioglycolate, not after in vitro incubation of resident macrophages with thioglycolate . The results of this study show that, depending on the kind of thioglycolate used, the functional characteristics of elicited macrophages may alter . However, none of the forms of thioglycolate investigated induced the recruitment of activated macrophages.

Infect Immun, 1984 Nov, 46(2), 354 - 60
Comparative observations of fever and associated clinical hematological and blood biochemical changes after intravenous administration of staphylococcal enterotoxins B and F (toxic shock syndrome toxin-1) in goats; Van Miert AS et al.; The present investigation was undertaken to examine the characteristics of purified toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (staphylococcal enterotoxin F) given intravenously to dwarf goats (dose, 0.02 to 20 micrograms kg-1) . Rectal temperature, heart rate, rumen motility, plasma zinc and iron concentrations, and certain other blood biochemical and hematological values were studied and compared with the changes seen after intravenous administration of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (dose, 0.02 to 0.5 micrograms kg-1) . Similar changes such as fever, tachycardia, inhibition of rumen contractions, drop in plasma zinc and iron concentrations, lymphopenia, and a decrease in serum alkaline phosphatase activity were observed . In contrast to the effects of toxic shock syndrome toxin-1, staphylococcal enterotoxin B induced colic, watery diarrhea with pseudomembranes, hemoconcentration, and a more pronounced increase in blood urea nitrogen . The results obtained demonstrate that (i) in the goat staphylococcal enterotoxin B is much more potent than toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 and (ii) the goat is a useful model to study the gastro-intestinal effects caused by staphylococcal enterotoxin B . The present finding that no clear relationship could be found between the temperature response and the alterations in zinc and iron levels in plasma support the theory that the febrile reactions and the changes in plasma trace metals are mediated by different polypeptides released by activated macrophages.

Clin Cardiol, 1984 Nov, 7(11), 624 - 6
Staphylococcal abscess complicating endocardial aneurysmectomy; Schneiderman H et al.; Subendocardial left ventricular aneurysmectomy relieved previously intractable ventricular tachycardia in a 68-year-old man with severe coronary artery disease . Staphylococcal septicemia developed postoperatively; an infected venoclysis site may have provided the portal of entry . Autopsy confirmed staphylococcal abscess at the epicardial aspect of the ventriculotomy, constituting the first reported case, to our knowledge, of this complication following endocardial surgery.

Br J Nutr, 1984 Nov, 52(3), 595 - 605
Leucine and isoleucine requirements of the kitten; Hargrove DM et al.; In separate experiments the isoleucine and leucine requirements of the kitten were determined on the basis of growth and nitrogen retention . The dietary concentrations of isoleucine tested were (g/kg diet) 1.4, 2.2, 3.0, 3.8, 4.6 and 9.0 with adequate (12.0 g/kg diet) leucine . The levels of leucine tested were (g/kg diet) 5.0, 7.5, 9.0, 10.5, 12.0 and 20.0 in diets containing adequate (9.0 g/kg diet) isoleucine . In both experiments six male and six female kittens received each dietary level of isoleucine or leucine for periods of 10 d in a balanced 6 X 6 Latin-square experimental design . Asymptotic curves were fitted to the response relationships and the minimal dietary requirements for maximal response were estimated from the values at 0.95 of the asymptote . On this basis, the requirements for maximal growth were 6.2 g isoleucine/kg and 7.8 g leucine/kg diet . The requirements for maximal N retention were higher; 8.4 g isoleucine and 10.6 g leucine/kg diet . The isoleucine requirements suggested by this method are probably overestimations and might be slightly above 4.6 g/kg diet . Plasma isoleucine and leucine concentrations were not useful in estimating the requirements . Plasma leucine increased rectilinearly with increasing dietary leucine while the response of plasma isoleucine to increasing dietary isoleucine was non-rectilinear . Neither response relationship exhibited a breakpoint at the level of requirement . Below the suggested minimal requirement for leucine there were significant increases in the concentrations of isoleucine and valine in the plasma . Dietary isoleucine below the level of requirement had no effect on plasma valine and leucine . Dietary leucine had no effect on the plasma concentrations of methionine, phenylalanine and threonine, suggesting that the effect of decreasing dietary leucine on plasma isoleucine and valine is a result of decreased oxidation rather than decreased protein anabolism . In a separate experiment six kittens, presented a diet containing 2.2 g isoleucine/kg, developed crusty exudates around their eyes within 27 d and six kittens, presented diets containing 3.8 g isoleucine/kg, showed this clinical sign but with less severity within 47 d . Cultures of conjunctival swabs taken from the most severely affected kittens showed the presence of staphylococcal species, suggesting that in isoleucine-deficient kittens there was impaired resistance to these dermal microbes.

Pediatrics, 1984 Nov, 74(5), 832 - 7
Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteremia in neonates: further observations and the occurrence of focal infection; Noel GJ et al.; The frequency and clinical significance of Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates from blood cultures of neonates collected during a 17-month period in The New York Hospital neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were reviewed . Twenty-three episodes of clinically significant S epidermidis bacteremia were detected using the criteria of isolation from 3/3 blood culture bottles from a single culture, or isolation from two or more blood cultures taken at different times, or simultaneous isolation from blood and fluid, pus or vascular catheter . Of these 23 episodes of S epidermidis bacteremia, ten were associated with colonized vascular catheters, and four episodes occurred in infants with necrotizing enterocolitis . Focal S epidermidis infection occurred in ten episodes, and persistent bacteremia occurred frequently in this setting . S epidermidis was the most frequent cause of bacteremia in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit during the period reviewed . Of the isolates determined to be clinically significant, 74% were resistant to methicillin and cephalothin and 91% were resistant to gentamicin . All isolates were sensitive to vancomycin . In addition to removing vascular catheters suspected of being colonized and searching for potential sites of focal infection, an antibiotic regimen that includes vancomycin should be initiated once significant S epidermidis bacteremia has been recognized in the neonate.

J Clin Oncol, 1984 Nov, 2(11), 1277 - 80
Totally implantable system for peritoneal access; Pfeifle CE et al.; A totally implantable system for providing access to the peritoneal cavity was evaluated . Fifty-six Port-A-Cath (Pharmacia Nu Tech, Piscataway, NJ) peritoneal access systems were implanted in 54 cancer patients receiving intraperitoneal chemotherapy . The catheters are accessed by transcutaneous placement of a Huber point needle through a silicone septum at the top of the portal . A total of 32 patient years of experience are reported . The Port-A-Caths have been in place for a median of 22 weeks (range, one to 85) . A total of 401 entries have been made for paracentesis, chemotherapy administration, antibiotic administration, peritoneal lavage for cytology, and catheter flushing . There have been six episodes of peritonitis (five Staphylococcus epidermidis, one S aureus) in three patients . There have been no mechanical failures of the Port-A-Caths . Loss of bidirectional flow through the catheter due to fibrin deposition about the catheter has been the major cause of catheter failure . Patient acceptance of the Port-A-Cath has been excellent.

Clin Orthop, 1984 Nov, (190), 239 - 40
Osteomyelitis of the great toe secondary to phlebotomy; Puczynski MS et al.; A premature infant developed Staphylococcus osteomyelitis secondary to multiple punctures of the great toe for drawing blood . The infection responded well to antibiotic therapy.

Exp Hematol, 1984 Nov, 12(10), 788 - 93
Demonstration of two distinct antibodies in autoimmune hemolytic anemia with reticulocytopenia and red cell aplasia; Mangan KF et al.; To determine the mechanism of the aplastic crisis in a patient with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and reticulocytopenia who developed red cell aplasia simultaneously, serum- and IgG-separated fractions were examined for the presence of erythroid progenitor cell inhibitors . The patient's red cell autoantibody was a complement-independent IgG that reacted with the little-e antigen of the Rh complex . A complement-dependent serum IgG inhibitor directed against erythroid colony- and burst-forming units but not granulocyte-macrophage units was detected in samples before treatment with extracorporeal staphylococcal protein-A immunoadsorption and corticosteroids . The erythroid progenitor cell inhibitor persisted in samples multiply adsorbed against type-ee red cells and was not detected in heat eluates prepared from these red cells . A reticulocytosis occurred when serum IgG levels were reduced to 27% of pretreatment values . At this point, the erythroid progenitor cell inhibitor was not detectable in vitro . These findings suggest that the development of the aplastic crisis in some patients with AIHA may be associated with the presence of two distinct IgG antibodies, one directed at the mature red cell and the other at the erythroid progenitor cells.

J Vasc Surg, 1984 Nov, 1(6), 750 - 6
The relevance of arterial wall microbiology to the treatment of prosthetic graft infections: graft infection vs . arterial infection; Macbeth GA et al.; One potential, but poorly studied source for intraoperative contamination of vascular grafts is the native artery to which the prosthetic graft is attached . The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between arterial wall microbiology and graft infection . Between July 1, 1981, and March 31, 1982, arterial specimens were cultured from 88 (30%) of 298 patients undergoing clean, elective arterial reconstructive procedures . Control cultures were obtained from adjacent adipose or lymph node tissue . Positive cultures were obtained from 38 of 88 (43%) of the arterial walls cultured but from none of the control cultures (0 of 20) (p less than 0.001) . The most common organism cultured was Staphylococcus epidermidis (27 of 38; 71%) . Our overall graft infection rate since January 1, 1981, is 0.9% (3 of 335) . All three graft infections occurred in patients with positive arterial cultures . Arterial and graft cultures were also obtained from 20 patients treated for 22 graft infections over the past 13 years . Organisms recovered included staphylococcal species (36%), enteric organisms (46%), and mixtures of the two (18%) . These patients with culture-positive graft infections were divided retrospectively into two groups: those with positive and those with negative arterial cultures . Positive arterial cultures were associated with suture line disruption in 8 of 14 cases (57%), but there were no arterial disruptions in patients with negative cultures (0 of 8) (p less than 0.01) . These data document a significant correlation between positive arterial wall cultures and subsequent prosthetic infection and also suggest that infection involving the arterial wall is a major determinant of the morbidity and mortality associated with the treatment of prosthetic graft sepsis.

Cancer Res, 1984 Nov, 44(11), 4962 - 6
Effect of antineoplastic agents on gamma-interferon production in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells; Cesario TC et al.; Since gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) is a potent immunomodulator and patients receiving certain antineoplastic agents are at risk of unusual infections, we have determined the effect of certain antineoplastic agents on IFN-gamma production . Induction of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from normal donors in the presence and absence of various antineoplastic agents was achieved using phytohemagglutinin (8 micrograms/ml) . Supernatants were then separated by centrifugation, dialyzed, and assayed for interferon . Cell viability was always greater than 85% with or without the presence of drugs . Hydrocortisone was found to eliminate IFN-gamma production if added within 24 hr after the phytohemagglutinin . The suppression of IFN-gamma production occurred with hydrocortisone concentrations as low as 0.65 microgram/ml, was associated with a diminished proliferative response to the lectin, and occurred with other interferon inducers including staphylococcal enterotoxin A . Adriamycin (0.4 microgram/ml) and vincristine (0.08 microgram/ml) also diminished IFN-gamma production, but only if the peripheral blood mononuclear cells were pretreated with the drugs . Methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, and 6-mercaptopurine failed to influence the yield of IFN-gamma . These results are significantly different from experiments previously reported using alpha- and beta-interferons and suggest an important mechanism by which these drugs can produce immunosuppression.

J Clin Immunol, 1984 Nov, 4(6), 455 - 60
Effects of staphylococcal protein A-treated human leukemic serum on autologous leukemic blast growth and mitogenesis of lymphocytes; Spitzer TR et al.; Sera and leukemic blasts of 14 patients with acute myelogenous leukemia were stored at -70 degrees C . In eight patients in whom a remission was achieved, peripheral blood lymphocytes were cultured together with irradiated autologous leukemic cells in treated serum (serum adsorbed with protein A Sepharose) or control serum (Sepharose-treated) . Lymphocyte activation was determined after 7 days in culture by {3H}thymidine incorporation . In the absence of stored leukemic blasts, significantly more {3H}thymidine incorporation occurred in six of the eight patients' lymphocytes cultured in treated serum compared to control . Enhanced activity was observed in all eight patients when irradiated leukemic blasts were cocultured with autologous lymphocytes in treated serum . In five patients, the addition of 10% or more of control serum to treated serum inhibited lymphocyte mitogenesis . Protein A immunoadsorption may allow increased stimulation of acute myelogenous leukemia remission peripheral blood lymphocytes, which is further enhanced in some patients by the presence of autologous leukemic cells . This change in lymphocyte activation may contribute to the antitumor effects of treating serum with protein A.

J Immunol, 1984 Nov, 133(5), 2693 - 7
Humoral immunity in experimental syphilis: the demonstration of IgG as a treponemicidal factor in immune rabbit serum; Blanco DR et al.; The neutralizing activity present in immune rabbit serum (IRS) against virulent Treponema pallidum was shown to be mediated by IgG and complement . IgG was isolated and purified from both IRS and nonimmune rabbit serum (NRS) by the use of an affinity system in which staphylococcal protein A was conjugated to Sepharose 4B . The purity of the isolated IgG fractions was demonstrated by both immunoelectrophoresis and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . Fractions of IgG were tested for specific neutralizing activity as measured by an in vitro-in vivo neutralization test . Lesions failed to develop at 80% of the sites inoculated with treponemal suspensions containing IgG from IRS in the presence of unheated NRS as a source of complement; delayed atypical lesions were observed at the remaining sites . In contrast, typical lesions developed at all sites inoculated with suspensions containing IgG from IRS in the presence of heated NRS . They were significantly delayed, however, as compared with lesion development at control sites inoculated with suspensions containing IgG from NRS . These results provide the first direct evidence for an IgG complement-mediated treponemicidal mechanism operative in immune serum from rabbits with latent syphilis.

Infect Immun, 1984 Nov, 46(2), 361 - 6
Ultrastructural localization of specific gonococcal macromolecules with antibody-gold sphere immunological probes; Robinson EN Jr et al.; In an effort to determine the ultrastructural location of specific macromolecules on the surface of intact microorganisms and in experimentally infected tissues, a new method of rapidly conjugating antibodies to gold spheres via a staphylococcal protein A intermediary has been developed . This new technique provides the excellent density of marking and versatility of sphere size provided by existing gold methods, but decreases preparation time, decreases the chance of bacterial contamination of antibody reagents, and increases specificity of marking . Staphylococcal protein A-coated gold spheres were conjugated with antibodies from rabbits immunized with purified gonococcal pili . The resulting gold-antibody conjugates allowed demonstration of antibody binding to pilus structures of the same gonococcal strain whose pili were used to raise the antibody and demonstration of the lack of antibody recognition of pilus structures on two other gonococcal strains . The failure of gold spheres to attach to isogenic nonpiliated clones of the homologous gonococcus indicated the absence of pilus antigens on the surface of these organisms . The use of a double label--small gold spheres conjugated to anti-pilus antibody and larger gold spheres conjugated to anti-protein I antibody--allowed the simultaneous localization of two gonococcal antigens.

Gene, 1984 Nov, 31(1-3), 301 - 4
Construction of Staphylococcus plasmid vector pCA43 conferring resistance to chloramphenicol, arsenate, arsenite and antimony; Kreutz B et al.; The arsenate (Asa), arsenite (Asi) and antimony (III) (Amo) resistance region of the Staphylococcus xylosus 29.5-kb plasmid pSX267 has been recloned in S . carnosus using the chloramphenicol resistance (CmR) plasmid pC194 . In several deletion steps we constructed a 5.9-kb plasmid, pCA43, which confers resistance to Cm, Asa, Asi and Amo salts . pCA43 possesses unique sites for the restriction endonucleases PvuII, StuI, BamHI, AvaII, HindIII, PstI, XbaI and BclI . Insertional inactivation was achieved with StuI (affecting Cm resistance), BamHI (affecting only Asa resistance), AvaII, HindIII and PstI (affecting Asa, Asi and Amo resistances) . Plasmid stability was tested and found to be high after DNA insertion into the BamHI or HindIII sites.

Infect Control, 1984 Oct, 5(10), 489 - 91
Evaluation of skin antisepsis prior to blood culture in neonates; Champagne S et al.; In our Intensive Care Nursery, coagulase-negative staphylococcus is the most frequent blood culture isolate . As skin antisepsis is critical in preventing blood culture contamination, we examined the efficacy of the chlorhexidine tincture (CH) used in our nursery for this purpose . Staphylococcus epidermidis colonized the forearms of 88% of infants tested, in a mean density of 10(4) organisms/cm2 . Following a 60-second application of CH (0.5% in 70% ethanol), bacterial growth from forearm skin remained abundant in 15/38 infants (39.4%) . Cleansing with 70% isopropyl alcohol, followed by CH as above, left abundant residual growth in only 1/37 infants (2.7%) (P less than 0.001) . All 136 S . epidermidis tested were susceptible to CH (MIC less than 5 micrograms/ml) and 14 of 15 exposed to CH 0.02% were rapidly killed (greater than or equal to 98% fall in viable counts within 90 sec) . We conclude that two-phase antisepsis using isopropanol followed by CH is a more effective preparation for blood culture in neonates than is CH alone.

Pathology, 1984 Oct, 16(4), 441 - 6
Acute hematogenous staphylococcal osteomyelitis: evaluation of cloxacillin therapy in an animal model; Emslie KR et al.; A reproducible avian model of acute hematogenous staphylococcal osteomyelitis was used to investigate various aspects of antibiotic therapy using a single antibiotic, cloxacillin . The effects of both delaying antibiotic administration and increasing the frequency of antibiotic administration on the outcome of the disease were evaluated . Following bacterial inoculation, a delay in commencing therapy for 4 d in comparison to 1 d significantly reduced the likelihood of a favourable outcome . An increase in the frequency of antibiotic administration from once to 4 times daily resulted in significant improvement in the recovery rate of chickens . Whilst repeated antibiotic administration controlled the systemic effects of the disease and improved the clinical status of chickens, the local bone lesion was not always sterilized . The role of antibiotic therapy in acute hematogenous osteomyelitis is discussed in relation to these findings.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1984 Oct, 37(10), 1780 - 4
{Prevention of postoperative infection following cardiac catheterization in pediatric field . Study of air-borne bacteria in X-ray room and evaluation of an antibiotic used for prevention of postoperative infection}; Kuno Y et al.; As part of preventive measures against postoperative infection following cardiac catheterization in infants with cardiac diseases, especially falling bacteria in X-ray room was studied . Moreover, a synthetic penicillin, ticarcillin (TIPC), was used as preventive antibiotic against postoperative infections due to falling bacteria which probably contaminate the air in the X-ray examination room, and the efficacy and side effects of the drug were observed . As result, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was detected the most, followed by Micrococcus and then by fungus . The number of these 3 organisms corresponded to 90.3% of the total number of falling bacteria detected during operation . The number of falling bacteria during operation was 5.1 times larger than that before operation . Taking into account normal flora of skin, falling bacteria present in the X-ray room and causative organisms of bacterial endocarditis, TIPC was administered to 30 cases intravenously 5 times at a dose of 30 mg/kg every 8 hours for the purpose of preventing possible postoperative infections following cardiac catheterization . The drug was effective to prevent such infections in all cases . No side effects were noted in any case, in peripheral blood and hepatic function tests and other observations.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1984 Oct, 14(4), 359 - 66
In-vitro synergy testing of triple antibiotic combinations against Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates from patients with endocarditis; Yu VL et al.; In-vitro synergy testing was performed against ten blood or valve isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis taken from patients with endocarditis . A three-dimensional microtitre checkerboard method was used for evaluation of vancomycin-rifampicin-gentamicin . The triple combination of vancomycin plus rifampicin plus gentamicin was found to be synergistic in 70% of the isolates . Vancomycin plus rifampicin was not synergistic . Oral agents including dicloxacillin, rifampicin, and fusidic acid were also evaluated . Four methicillin-resistant isolates were relatively resistant to dicloxacillin (MIC greater than 0.79 mg/l) but all four isolates were susceptible to fusidic acid alone and rifampicin alone . The triple combination of dicloxacillin plus fusidic acid plus rifampicin was found to be synergistic in 50% of the isolates and generally superior to any two-drug combination raising the possibility of an effective oral combination of antibiotics.

EMBO J, 1984 Oct, 3(10), 2423 - 30
Three-dimensional structure of bovine pancreatic DNase I at 2.5 A resolution; Suck D et al.; The three-dimensional structure of bovine pancreatic deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) has been determined at 2.5 A resolution by X-ray diffraction from single crystals . An atomic model was fitted into the electron density using a graphics display system . DNase I is an alpha, beta-protein with two 6-stranded beta-pleated sheets packed against each other forming the core of a 'sandwich'-type structure . The two predominantly anti-parallel beta-sheets are flanked by three longer alpha-helices and extensive loop regions . The carbohydrate side chain attached to Asn 18 is protruding by approximately 15 A from the otherwise compact molecule of approximate dimensions 45 A X 40 A . The binding site of CA2+-deoxythymidine-3',5'-biphosphate (Ca-pdTp) has been determined by difference Fourier techniques confirming biochemical results that the active centre is close to His 131 . Ca-pdTp binds at the surface of the enzyme between the two beta-pleated sheets and seems to interact with several charged amino acid side chains . Active site geometry and folding pattern of DNase I are quite different from staphylococcal nuclease, the only other Ca2+-dependent deoxyribonuclease whose structure is known at high resolution . The electron density map indicates that two Ca2+ ions are bound to the enzyme under crystallization conditions.

Am J Vet Res, 1984 Oct, 45(10), 2084 - 5
Staphylococcus sciuri subsp lentus associated with goat mastitis; Poutrel B; An organism recovered from mastitic milks of goats was identified as Staphylococcus sciuri subsp lentus . Isolation of this organism in pure cultures from individual half-udder samples of 5 goats of 18 affected, confirms that it possesses pathogenic potential.

Arch Intern Med, 1984 Oct, 144(10), 2083 - 4
'Culture-negative' prosthetic valve endocarditis . Hazards of postoperative steroid therapy for unexplained fever; Hilton E et al.; Two patients had prolonged unexplained fever along with multiple negative blood cultures after cardiac valve replacement surgery . Following the administration of corticosteroids for presumed postpericardiotomy syndrome, both patients improved symptomatically and defervesced, only to have positive blood cultures for Staphylococcus epidermidis shortly thereafter . The theoretical and practical risks of the empiric use of anti-inflammatory agents for unexplained post-operative fever are reviewed . "Culture-negative" prosthetic valvular infection due to prior antibiotic prophylaxis or therapy must be strongly considered in the evaluation of such unexplained fever.

Laryngoscope, 1984 Oct, 94(10), 1277 - 80
Reconstruction of post-traumatic sinus osteomyelitis; Lekas MD et al.; Osteomyelitis with a fistulous tract of the left fronto-nasal area . The patient received an Anzio Beachhead WW II right fronto-nasal injury repaired with a lucite cranioplasty . A staphylococcal infection involved the remnant of the left frontal sinus with a fistula at the nasion near the orbital ridge . Bone scan revealed increased activity consistent with osteomyelitis . Patient was treated with intravenous oxacillin . The lucite skull prosthesis was removed 2 weeks after admission via the bilateral osteoplastic coronal flap approach with fat obliteration of the residual frontal sinus . The intravenous oxacillin was maintained for 48 days and the patient was discharged . The patient was later readmitted for a cranioplasty using a preformed tantalum plate . The nasal flange of the tantalum caused a deformity that did not allow the patient to wear his glasses . His third admission was for reconstruction of the tantalum and nasal deformity via a W-shaped incision.

Am J Hematol, 1984 Oct, 17(3), 225 - 36
Human monocyte interaction with antibody-coated platelets . I . General characteristics; Court WS et al.; The interaction of human monocytes with antibody-coated and normal platelets was studied using an assay system that employed rate zonal centrifugation to separate monocyte-associated (bound) platelets from free platelets . At a monocyte:platelet ratio of 1:10, monocytes bound 21.2 +/- 6.6% of antibody-coated platelets and less than 2.2 +/- 1.3% of control platelets . Monocyte binding of antibody-coated platelets was rapid and inhibited by monomeric IgG and staphylococcal protein A . Specific binding was positively related to the number of monocytes present and the amount of IgG displayed on the platelet surface . Transmission and scanning electron micrographs illustrate the membrane binding of antibody-coated platelets to monocytes and suggest that phagocytosis of platelet targets occurs as well . Thus, these observations indicate that monocytes can participate in Fc-receptor binding of anti-PlA1-sensitized platelets . This novel assay may be useful in the analysis of monocyte-macrophage Fc-receptor interaction with platelets sensitized with IgG from both iso- and autoimmune disorders as well as in the characterization of treatment modalities which may alter monocyte Fc-receptor recognition and binding.

Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss, 1984 Oct, 77(10), 1146 - 50
{Acute suppurative mediastinitis in heart surgery performed under extracorporeal circulation}; Amrein C et al.; The incidence of acute suppurative mediastinitis after open heart cardiac surgery in a 5 year retrospective study was found to be 1.56% . The commonest causal agent was the DNAse + coagulase + staphylococcus (68.8%) . All cases were treated with bactericidal antibiotics and local measures (dosed chest irrigation-drainage in 1 or 2 stages) . Adult men, early and/or late reoperation, immediate postoperative complications (cardiovascular collapse, haemorrhage) were positive risk factors . On the other hand, the type of underlying cardiac disease, the duration of surgery and bypass time, emergency surgery, and protocols of prophylactic antibiotic therapy did not seem to influence this risk . No sources of exogenous contamination, no notions of epidemics or periodicity were discovered in this study . The clinical course may be complicated, especially by renal failure . Thirty-two of the 109 patients studied died . However, the prognosis has improved in the last 5 years in relation to technical advances in intensive care and, above all, to adoption of 1 stage dosed chest irrigation-drainage: the mortality rate has fallen from 37.2% in the first period to 20% more recently . When a cure is obtained, it is complete and there are no sequellae . Nevertheless, irrespective of the adoption of draconian measures of asepsis and protocols of prophylactic antibiotic therapy, the risk of acute postoperative mediastinitis persists . This suggests that the efficacy of the patient's local (and general) anti-infective immunity defenses may vary in the presence of constant mediastinal bacterial contamination despite aleatory preventive measures, due to the remenance of the skin flora.

Blood, 1984 Oct, 64(4), 807 - 16
Abnormal prothrombin crossed-immunoelectrophoresis in patients with lupus inhibitors; Edson JR et al.; Prothrombin deficiency has been known to occur in association with lupus inhibitors for over 25 years . We studied 21 patients with lupus inhibitors and found that four of five with prothrombin deficiency and ten of 16 with quantitatively normal prothrombin had abnormal prothrombin crossed-immunoelectrophoresis (CIEP) characterized by material moving slower in the first dimension of electrophoresis than normal prothrombin . In two patients with prothrombin deficiency, all prothrombin measured by quantitative assay and all slow-moving material on CIEP were removed by treatment with Staphylococcal protein A (SPA) . These patients had free antibody, which bound to normal plasma prothrombin, forming larger amounts of slow-moving material on CIEP . A third patient with prothrombin deficiency had only partial removal of prothrombin after SPA treatment . Two patients with quantitatively normal prothrombin had all slow-moving material on CIEP and about one fourth of the prothrombin by quantitative assay removed by SPA treatment . There was no correlation among the strength of the inhibitor, the presence of a "cofactor effect," and the prothrombin abnormality . These data suggest that heterogeneous antiprothrombin antibodies, with or without prothrombin deficiency, are present in the majority of patients with lupus inhibitors.

J Comp Pathol, 1984 Oct, 94(4), 543 - 57
Fever and changes in plasma zinc and iron concentrations in the goat: the role of leukocytic pyrogen; Van Miert AS et al.; In goats with trypanosomiasis (T . vivax or T . congolense) no marked fall in plasma zinc concentration was seen despite high temperature peaks, whereas plasma concentrations of iron tended to undergo some decline . In goats infected with Ehrlichia phagocytophila, there was a marked decline in plasma zinc and iron to low values on the 3rd and 4th day, respectively . Circulating endogenous pyrogen (EP) or leukocytic endogenous mediator (LEM) could not be detected in plasma from febrile goats with tick-borne fever . The intravenous injection of leukocytic pyrogen (LP) in kids caused characteristic monophasic febrile reactions, whereas no significant changes in plasma trace metals were found . So, previous evidence purporting to show that LP is similar to or may be identical with LEM is demonstrably inconclusive . Intravenous injection of E . coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) induced fever and lowering of plasma zinc and iron concentrations . The decrease in those trace metal values was more persistent in goats given SEB than in those given E . coli LPS . After intramammary infusion of SEB or E . coli LPS, fever and significant decreases in plasma zinc and iron concentrations were observed but no clear relationship was found between the temperature responses and the alterations in plasma trace metal concentrations . Furthermore, the decrease in plasma iron concentration developed more rapidly in goats given SEB than in those given E . coli LPS, whereas the decrease in plasma zinc concentrations in the former was more delayed . These data support the theory that the concentrations of zinc and iron in plasma are regulated by different mechanisms, whereas febrile reactions are mediated by another type of endogenous protein.

Burns Incl Therm Inj, 1984 Oct, 11(1), 16 - 25
An epidemiological profile and trend analysis of wound flora in burned children: 7 years' experience; Bowser-Wallace BH et al.; A retrospective chart review was conducted of 5418 culture and sensitivity reports from 93 paediatric burn patients to determine profiles of wound flora and invasive organisms, trend analysis and patterns of antibiotic resistance . Coagulase-positive Staphylococcus was the predominant burn wound pathogenic isolate and the predominant invasive organism for burns less than 60 per cent BSA . Pseudomonads were the predominant invasive organism for burn wounds greater than or equal to 60 per cent BSA . Only 7 per cent of all pathogenic isolates were fungi . A significant association was demonstrated between increasing burn size and an increasing incidence of Gram-negative and invasive organisms . Silver sulphadiazine remains a very effective topical agent for the control of bacterial and fungal growth in burn wounds after 10 years of intensive use in this burn unit . Pseudomonad isolates were routinely multi-drug resistant . Pseudomonad isolates from wounds treated topically with a silver sulphadiazine-cerium nitrate mixture were frequently resistant to aminoglycosides, colistin and carbenicillin . It is concluded from this review that severe restrictions on antibiotic usage within burn units, and strict internal environmental control within burn units may help to decrease the incidence of nosocomial resistant strains and cross infection . Regular monitoring of burn wound flora, and the protocol for wound care used in treating these patients have been effective in preventing septic episodes and death due to sepsis.

J Infect Dis, 1984 Oct, 150(4), 535 - 45
Study of staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome toxin in human epithelial cell culture; Kushnaryov VM et al.; Staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome toxin (TST) inhibited growth of normal human epithelial (Chang) cells in culture, increasing the generation time 28% and 64% at concentrations of 4 X 10(-7)M and 8 X 10(-7)M, respectively . Fluorescence and electron microscopy of the cells treated with TST revealed the location of TST in the coated pits, specialized areas of the cell membrane known to contain high-affinity receptors for other polypeptide ligands . TST was labeled with 125I without detectable damage to the molecule and was shown to bind specifically to epithelial cells . A 100-fold excess of unlabeled TST inhibited binding of 125I-labeled toxin to the cells . Binding data indicated 10(4) receptor sites per cell for TST and a dissociation constant of 4 X 10(-9)M . Specific high-affinity binding of 125I-labeled TST to epithelial cells and the location of receptor sites in coated pits implies a possibility that the toxin is internalized by receptor-mediated endocytosis.

J Am Acad Dermatol, 1984 Oct, 11(4 Pt 1), 653 - 60
New insight into the causes of immunodeficiency disorders; Ammann AJ; The ability to define subpopulations of immunologically competent lymphocytes has permitted an enhanced understanding of the interaction between functionally distinct components of the immune system . T cells can provide help in antibody formation or they may suppress antibody production . Abnormal immunoregulatory mechanisms have been demonstrated in the hyperimmunoglobulin E-recurrent infection syndrome . This disorder is associated with a marked elevation of IgE and specific elevations of IgE antibodies directed toward staphylococcal antigens . Abnormal T cell regulation of immune responses has been demonstrated . Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) occurs in an immunodeficient patient who has received an infusion of immunocompetent cells . The diagnosis of graft-versus-host (GVH) reaction may be complicated by the protean manifestations of the disorder . The acute form, consisting of a maculopapular rash, fever, and diarrhea, may be confused with acute infection or drug reaction . Chronic GVHD has been incorrectly diagnosed as histiocytosis X, acrodermatitis enteropathica, or scleroderma . Utilizing chromosome markers and/or identification of histocompatibility antigens, the presence of circulating lymphocytes from donor immunocompetent cells (blood transfusion, maternal source) can be documented . The development of sensitive technics for identifying cells can establish a precise diagnosis . Certain immunodeficiency disorders can be identified by biochemical means . Biotin-dependent multiple carboxylase enzyme deficiency is associated with a chronic dermatitis, alopecia, ataxia, and secondary infection of the skin with Candida . The disorder responds promptly to the administration of biotin with correction of dermatologic, neurologic, and immunologic abnormalities.

Chemioterapia, 1984 Oct, 3(5), 278 - 80
Inhibition of beta-lactamase production in gram-positive and gram-negative strains by sub-inhibitory concentrations of nalidixic acid; Repetto A et al.; We found it of interest to try to determine a microbiological parameter for the effects that sub-inhibitory doses of a chemotherapeutic agent may have on bacteria . To this end, the antibacterial activity of nalidixic acid was analyzed and our attention was directed to evidence of the production of beta-lactamase by 60 strains . The tests carried out showed that sub-inhibitory concentrations of nalidixic acid, from 2 to 64 times lower than the MIC (minimum inhibitory concentrations), were able to inhibit production of penicillinases in the 14 strains of Staphylococcus spp . tested, while only in 7 of the 21 strains of Gram-negative bacteria . Strains from our collection of beta-lactamase producing bacteria were analyzed, and our results confirmed that nalidixic acid inhibits plasmidic and chromosomic beta-lactamases.

Cornell Vet, 1984 Oct, 74(4), 354 - 60
Effect of beta-lactamase of Staphylococcus intermedius on disk agar diffusion susceptibility tests; Roy AF et al.; Clinical strains of canine Staphylococcus intermedius (n = 120) were tested for susceptibility to beta-lactam antimicrobics (n = 6) by the standardized disk agar diffusion method and for beta-lactamase (BL) production . Significant differences between susceptibilities for BL producing (n = 68) and non-producing (n = 52) strains were found for penicillin G and ampicillin . Zone sizes of BL producing strains were significantly smaller than those of non-producers for penicillin G, ampicillin, cephalothin, carbenicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid but not for methicillin . However, all strains were sensitive to cephalothin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid; only one strain was resistant to methicillin; and one strain was intermediate in susceptibility to carbenicillin . Although 62 (52%) strains were sensitive to penicillin G and ampicillin based on established zone size interpretive criteria, 15 (24%) of these strains produced BL . Zone size measurements obtained with beta-lactam antimicrobics that are highly susceptible to inactivation by BL are not reliable and should be disregarded for canine S . intermedius which produce BL.

Surgery, 1984 Oct, 96(4), 791 - 800
Serologic response to human melanoma lines from patients with melanoma undergoing treatment with vaccinia melanoma oncolysates; Wallack MK et al.; Specific active tumor immunotherapy methods offer the possibility of increasing the immunogenicity of tumor cells . One of these methods is viral oncolysis, in which tumor cells are modified by viral infection . We prepared vaccinia melanoma oncolysates (VMO) from human melanoma lines infected with vaccinia virus . In a preliminary trial at Washington University, sera from 12 patients with melanoma with stage I and II disease were obtained before and during treatment with VMO . The reactivity of these sera to melanoma lines was examined with a Staphylococcus protein A assay that detects most human IgGs . Our data demonstrate that, during treatment with VMO, sera from all 12 patients developed reactivity to melanoma lines . Selected sera were also tested in a double blind study by the C3-mixed hemadsorption assay, which detects mostly IgM . Results from this assay were in complete agreement with those obtained by the Staphylococcus protein A assay: Pretreatment sera were generally negative and sera obtained during treatment were positive . The specificity of these responses is presently under investigation . Our findings indicate that, as a consequence of treatment with VMO, a reactivity develops in the patients' sera . This reactivity is probably due to both IgG and IgM antibodies and its directed toward antigens expressed on human melanoma lines.

Infect Immun, 1984 Oct, 46(1), 224 - 30
Ingestion and intracellular survival of Brucella abortus in human and bovine polymorphonuclear leukocytes; Riley LK et al.; Bovine polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) were found to be significantly more bactericidal than human PMNs against a smooth-intermediate strain of Brucella abortus (45/0), whereas there was no difference in bactericidal activity of the two kinds of PMNs against a rough strain of B . abortus (45/20) . Electron microscopy of thin sections of PMNs revealed that both strains of B . abortus were readily ingested; however, the extent of degranulation was significantly less than in PMNs incubated with an extracellular parasite, Staphylococcus epidermidis . Amounts of myeloperoxidase and lactoferrin released through exocytosis by PMNs incubated with S . epidermidis were 4.7- and 1.2-fold greater, respectively, than those released from PMNs incubated with B . abortus 45/0 . When azurophil and specific granules were isolated after incubation of PMNs with either B . abortus 45/0 or S . epidermidis, results showed that the extent of degranulation by both types of granules was greater in PMNs incubated with S . epidermidis than in those incubated with B . abortus 45/0 . Amounts of degranulation by azurophil and specific granules were similar in PMNs incubated with either the smooth-intermediate strain 45/0 or the rough strain 45/20 . Degranulation was not stimulated when glutaraldehyde-killed strain 45/0 was substituted for viable cells . These data suggest that B . abortus does not stimulate an effective level of degranulation after ingestion, as observed with extracellular parasites, and that the smooth intermediate strain 45/0 is more resistant to intraleukocytic killing system than the rough strain 45/20.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1984 Sep 17, 123(2), 444 - 51
Rat atrial natriuretic factor: isolation, structure and biological activities of four major peptides; Misono KS et al.; Four peptides possessing both natriuretic activity and smooth muscle relaxant activity were isolated from rat atrium and their amino acid sequences determined . The four peptides designated ANF-I, ANF-II, ANF-III and ANF-IV containing 35, 31, 30 and 25 amino acid residues, respectively, were obtained in a molar ratio of 4:60:20:16 . The predominant species ANF-II, which may represent the native form of ANF, has the following sequence: (H2N)-G-P-R-S-L-R-R-S-S-C-F-G-G-R-I-D-R-I-G-A-Q-S-G-L-G-C-N-S-F-R-Y-(COO H) in which Cys-10 and Cys-26 are disulfide linked . Cleavage of the aspartyl linkage at position 16 by staphylococcal protease caused complete inactivation, indicating that the ring conformation is essential . The dose-response relationships determined for the four peptides in relaxing norepinephrine-induced contraction of rabbit thoracic aorta showed half-maximum relaxation at concentrations ranging from 1.5 X 10(-9) to 2.5 X 10(-9) M . Comparable dose-response relationships were observed in relaxation of carbacol-induced contraction of chick rectum strips as tested with ANF-II and ANF-IV.

J Immunol Methods, 1984 Sep 4, 72(2), 461 - 9
Microtiter radioimmunoprecipitation assay of HSV-1 polypeptides with recovery and SDS-PAGE analysis of precipitated proteins: usefulness as screening test for large numbers of specimens including hybridoma supernates; McKendall RR et al.; Immunoprecipitation of radiolabeled polypeptides from complex mixtures of proteins was performed in polystyrene microtiter plates using staphylococcus protein A and various antibody preparations . The method is (1) rapid, (2) uses multichannel micropipettor technology, (3) handles large numbers of specimens easily, (4) requires very small volumes of antigen and antibody (5-50 microliters), (5) provides replicates for statistical analysis and (6) allows recovery of precipitated proteins for direct SDS-PAGE analysis of precipitated proteins . We have shown it is useful as a test to screen large numbers of sera or to characterize monoclonal antibody-containing samples.

J Surg Res, 1984 Sep, 37(3), 202 - 7
Tissue oxygen tension in externally stabilized tibial fractures in rabbits during normal healing and infection; Aro H et al.; Permanently implanted Silastic tonometers were used to measure average extracellular oxygen tension in the medullary cavity of osteotomized rabbit tibias stabilized with external pin fixation . During uncomplicated healing the baseline bone pO2 rose slowly with time from 10 to 20 mm Hg while during staphylococcal infection pO2 varied between 8 and 15 mm Hg and showed no correlation with the healing time . The maximal response of the bone pO2 to oxygen breathing correlated linearly with the healing time whether the osteotomy was infected or not . On the 42nd day the maximal pO2 during systemic hyperoxia was 85 mm Hg for the control bones, 42 mm Hg for the osteotomized bones, and 30 mm Hg for the infected osteotomized bones . The results indicate moderate bone tissue hypoxia during uncomplicated healing and more profound hypoxia during healing affected by infection.

Infection, 1984 Sep-Oct, 12(5), 342 - 4
{Staphylococcus epidermidis causing infections in trauma surgery}; Hansis M et al.; During 27 months at the Tubingen Accident Hospital, Staphylococcus epidermidis could be found in 464 of 1824 bacteriological wound swabs . This normally had to be considered as contamination . However, in at least 69 cases, S . epidermidis alone undoubtedly caused or maintained a fresh or chronic infection of the bone and soft tissue following aseptic orthopedic surgery, whereby the infection was temporarily sustained by S . epidermidis during pathogen change . The findings are demonstrated and compared with the literature.

Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol, 1984 Sep-Oct, 20(5), 694 - 8
{Effect of gamma irradiation on immobilized trypsin}; Ryl'tsev VV et al.; The effect of ionizing radiation of 0.05-10 Mrad on trypsin immobilized on dialdehyde cellulose was being studied . After irradiation the activity of native trypsin decreases by 25%, as compared with the initial, while the activity of immobilized trypsin remains constant . Before immobilization cellulose undergoes special pretreatment that leads to a decrease in the initial contamination . Some samples of modified cellulose were contaminated by staphylococcus culture (200,000 microbes per 0.2 g) and then exposed to irradiation of 0.05-0.4 Mrad . A distinct correlation between the irradiation dose (0.05-0.4 Mrad) and contamination of the object was registered.

Vet Microbiol, 1984 Sep, 9(5), 487 - 95
Production of enterotoxin(s) by Staphylococcus hyicus; Adesiyun AA et al.; Five strains of Staphylococcus hyicus (3 of subspecies hyicus and 2 of chromogenes) were tested serologically for their ability to produce known and unknown enterotoxin(s) and were also examined using monkey bioassays . None of the 5 strains produced any detectable level of the known enterotoxins A--E . However, all of them produced emetic responses in 2 or more of 6 cynomologus monkeys when culture growth was fed intragastrically . One of the 5 strains (S . hyicus subspecies hyicus, VII 76) produced emetic responses in 3 of 6 monkeys with 50 ml of culture growth . The other 4 strains required 1 l of culture broth (concentrated 20-fold) to produce an emetic response in at least 2 of 6 monkeys . Enterotoxin production is, therefore, not unique to S . aureus species . Since some of these organisms do not produce coagulase and thermonuclease, they would be ignored in food hazard evaluation.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1984 Sep, 2(4), 293 - 9
Incidence, adherence, and antibiotic resistance of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species causing human disease; Needham CA et al.; Fifty-two isolates of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species recovered from the blood or intravenous catheters of patients with clinically significant disease were compared to 60 similar isolates from patients who were presumably colonized . All isolates were identified and evaluated for ability to adhere to smooth surfaces, and resistance to anti-staphylococcal penicillins . S . epidermidis, S . hominis, and S . haemolyticus were the most frequently occurring species, representing 65%, 15%, and 10%, respectively, of disease isolates and 57%, 25%, and 8% of colonizers . The seven other species recovered accounted for only 10% of the total in both groups . Differences in isolation rates of each species within the two groups were not significant and were reflective of their reported incidence in the normal flora . All species of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (except S . capitis and S . cohnii, which were isolated in very small numbers) were capable of adhering to smooth surfaces . S . hominis disease isolates were all capable of adherence, and the difference between the disease isolates and colonizers was statistically significant (p less than 0.02) . This was not true for any other species that was analyzed nor for all isolates considered as a whole . Resistance to anti-staphylococcal penicillins was documented for all coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species, and was more frequent in S . epidermidis disease isolates than colonizers (p less than 0.05) . No correlation was found between resistance to antistaphylococcal penicillins and ability to adhere.

J Clin Pathol, 1984 Sep, 37(9), 1029 - 31
Influence of glycaemic normalisation by an artificial pancreas on phagocytic and bactericidal functions of granulocytes in insulin dependent diabetic patients; Gin H et al.; Ten insulin dependent diabetic patients were maintained in normoglycaemia for 36 h with an artificial pancreas . Circulating polymorphonuclear leucocytes were extracted and incubated with staphylococcus before and after treatment; phagocytic and bactericidal activities were studied . Granulocytes from diabetic patients showed a decreased ability to absorb staphylococcus and a reduced capacity for intracellular destruction of bacteria . These two functions were improved after 36 h of normoglycaemia but were not corrected.

Infect Immun, 1984 Sep, 45(3), 566 - 71
Staphylococcal toxic shock toxin specifically binds to cultured human epithelial cells and is rapidly internalized; Kushnaryov VM et al.; Staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome toxin (TST) was labeled with 125I under mild conditions without apparent destruction of the molecule . {125I}TST bound specifically to human epithelial (Chang) cells in culture; the binding was inhibited by a 100-fold excess of unlabeled toxin . Scatchard analysis of the binding data indicated about 10(4) receptor sites per cell and a dissociation constant (Kd) of 4 X 10(-9) M . When cells pretreated with TST at 4 degrees C were swiftly transferred to 37 degrees C, the amount of surface-bound toxin rapidly declined, as determined by release of noninternalized label from the cell surface . Half-time (t1/2) of internalization was about 1.5 min . Ultrastructural studies showed that toxin labeled with ferritin-conjugated antibodies entered the cytoplasm via coated pits forming coated vesicles in the first 2 min of incubation at 37 degrees C . The coated vesicles coalesced with transport vesicles that are ultrastructurally unlike receptosomes . Thus, the unusual ultrastructural pattern of this internalization suggests that TST is initially internalized by receptor-mediated endocytosis and then enters an alternate pathway involving translocation in special transport vesicles, perhaps to other cells.

Crit Care Med, 1984 Sep, 12(9), 838 - 9
Prolonged high-frequency jet ventilation; Mendez M et al.; A 26-yr-old woman with bilateral staphylococcal pneumonia developed respiratory failure . Conventional ventilation failed and high-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) was successfully instituted . Bronchopleural fistulas required prolonged (73 days) support with HFJV . A bronchoscopy performed after 37 days of mechanical support showed no abnormalities . Computed tomography (CT) of the chest demonstrated severe cystic abnormalities . Pulmonary function tests performed 1 and 6 months after recovery showed small-airway dysfunction . HFJV proved safe for prolonged use.

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol, 1984 Sep-Oct, 93(5 Pt 1), 483 - 7
Natural cytotoxicity and interferon production in patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis; Naiman HB et al.; The observation that interferon (IFN) therapy causes regression of lesions in some patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) raises the possibilities that these patients may have abnormalities in endogenous IFN production or in antitumor immune responses stimulated by IFN . We have measured IFN production and natural cytotoxicity (NK activity) in nine patients with RRP, three of whom were receiving exogenous IFN at the time of testing . Production of IFN-gamma induced by the T cell mitogen Staphylococcus enterotoxin A was normal in all patients . Production of IFN-alpha induced by two viruses (Sendai and Newcastle disease viruses) was normal in the six untreated patients, but significantly lower in the patients on IFN therapy . Natural cytotoxicity against K562 target cells, both spontaneous and IFN-stimulated, was normal in all RRP patients tested . Thus, we have shown that the NK-IFN system was intact in untreated patients with RRP . IFN-alpha production in the RRP patients on IFN therapy was low . The significance of these findings is discussed.

J Clin Invest, 1984 Sep, 74(3), 849 - 58
Staphylococcal alpha-toxin elicits hypertension in isolated rabbit lungs . Evidence for thromboxane formation and the role of extracellular calcium; Seeger W et al.; Staphylococcal alpha-toxin is known to damage mammalian cell membranes . Studies of erythrocytes indicate that the native toxin generates a discrete transmembrane channel with an effective diameter of 2-3 nm . (Fussle, R., S . Bhakdi, A . Szeigoleit, J . Tranum-Jensen, T . Kranz, and H.J . Wellensiek . 1981 . J . Cell Biol . 91:83-94.) In isolated rabbit lungs, perfused with recirculating blood- and plasma-free perfusion fluid, the mediation of a toxin-provoked vascular pressor response by the triggering of the arachidonic acid cascade and its dependence on extracellular calcium were investigated . Dose-dependent pulmonary artery pressor responses were elicited by the injection of 0.5-5 micrograms staphylococcal alpha-toxin into the pulmonary artery . The pressor responses were completely abolished by preincubation of the toxin with neutralizing antibodies or by preformation of alpha-toxin hexamers in vitro . They were accompanied by the release of the arachidonic acid metabolites thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (stable metabolites of thromboxane A2 and prostaglandin I2, respectively) into the perfusion fluid . They were blocked by inhibitors of thromboxane synthetase, cyclooxygenase, and phospholipase, as well as by substances that interfere with calcium-calmodulin function . alpha-Toxin induced selective release of potassium, but not lactatedehydrogenase into the medium . Calcium depletion of the intravascular space did not suppress the toxin-dependent potassium release but did abrogate the pressor response and the release of the arachidonic acid metabolites . When calcium was reintroduced into the circulation without the application of a second toxin stimulus, marked pressor responses paralleled by the release of arachidonic acid metabolites occurred . The conclusion drawn from these studies is that staphylococcal alpha-toxin provokes pulmonary vascular hypertension which is apparently mediated by thromboxane A2 formation, which surpasses the biological effect of the simultaneously formed prostaglandin I2 . The triggering of the arachidonic acid cascade is strictly dependent on extracellular calcium and may be mediated by a nonphysiological calcium bypass through transmembrane toxin channels with subsequent stimulation of phospholipase activity.

Clin Immunol Immunopathol, 1984 Sep, 32(3), 387 - 91
Defective interferon-gamma production in ataxia-telangiectasia; Paganelli R et al.; The in vitro production of interferon-alpha and -gamma (IFN) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from four patients with ataxia-telangiectasia was compared to that of healthy controls . Normal values of IFN-alpha were obtained in all cases . However, patients with ataxia-telangiectasia showed a great reduction or absence of IFN-gamma production after induction with either staphylococcal enterotoxin B or galactose oxidase . This defect was accompanied by the absence of secretion of another lymphokine, namely, interleukin 2 (IL-2), in one case . Lymphoproliferative response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was severely depressed in all patients . Near normal values of T lymphocytes were found, but the ratio of OKT4+/OKT8+ subsets was reduced in most patients, due to a decrease of OKT4+ lymphocytes . Deficiency of IFN-gamma may contribute to the abnormalities of immune functions and immunoregulation observed in ataxia-telangiectasia, and it may represent an additional cause of the high incidence of viral infections and neoplasia in this disease.

Ophthalmic Surg, 1984 Sep, 15(9), 770 - 2
Bacterial contamination of donor corneas; Karjalainen K et al.; Bacterial contamination was studied in 146 donor corneas stored in McCarey-Kaufman (M-K) medium at 4 degrees C . Ninety-six corneas from 48 respirator connected donors were compared with other donor corneas . Staphylococcus epidermidis was the major contaminant . Cultures were more often positive and mixed flora more frequently present in donors who had been on a respirator prior to excision of the corneas . The contamination by bacteria other than Staphylococcus epidermidis and by mixed growth was the leading cause for excluding donor corneas . No case of bacterial endophthalmitis was encountered among 66 recipients, 40 of whom obtained a respirator connected donor cornea.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Sep, 26(3), 347 - 50
Comparative penetration of cefonicid and cefazolin into the atrial appendage and pericardial fluid of patients undergoing open-heart surgery; Dudley MN et al.; The penetration of cefonicid and cefazolin into cardiac tissue was compared after a single 30-mg/kg dose in 30 patients undergoing aortocoronary artery bypass graft surgery . Samples of the right atrial appendage, pericardial fluid, and serum were obtained at various times and assayed for drug content . The concentrations of cefonicid in serum and the atrial appendage were at least twice those observed for cefazolin at a given time after a dose . The mean (+/- standard deviation) atrial appendage-serum ratio was 0.47 +/- 0.14 for cefonicid and 0.34 +/- 0.06 for cefazolin (P less than 0.005) . Pericardial fluid concentrations of cefonicid were slightly lower than those observed in patients receiving cefazolin (P greater than 0.05) . A single intravenous dose of cefonicid provides high and sustained concentrations in serum and cardiac tissue and thus may be useful in antibiotic prophylaxis of certain surgical procedures; however, further study of the efficacy of this agent in the prevention and treatment of infections associated with Staphylococcus spp . is needed.

Am J Trop Med Hyg, 1984 Sep, 33(5), 851 - 6
Pathogenic free-living amebae . Immunocytologic demonstration and species identification; Culbertson CG et al.; This report describes methods for preparation, immunologic marking, and staining of amebae in formalin-fixed brain tissue, and in exudates, discharges and body fluids . The suggested procedures provide slide preparations of unknown specimens together with known amebae from cultures as controls, all on a single slide for each antiserum . This allows for cytologic studies of host cells, morphology of the amebae present, and specific immune marking of the amebae by use of immune sera and protein A Staphylococcus . Such preparations may also be used for immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescence . The need for the utilization of direct microscopic examination by the methods suggested here, or comparable ones, is discussed.

Blut, 1984 Sep, 49(3), 203 - 11
A monoclonal antibody to hemoglobin F; Muensch H et al.; A monoclonal antibody BMU7-17 which recognizes an antigenic site unique to the cyanogen bromide fragment, CB2 (residues 56 through 133) of the gamma-chain of human hemoglobin has been produced using cell hybridization techniques . The antibody does not crossreact with hemoglobin A, the isolated alpha- or beta-chains, or with hemoglobin of various mammals . Affinity chromatography on Staphylococcal protein A-Sepharose 4B and radial immuno-diffusion revealed the antibody to be of the mouse IgG 1 class . BMU7-17 identifies F cells in adult and in cord blood specimens, as demonstrated by an indirect immunofluorescence assay . The dissociation constant of the antibody as determined using tritiated hemoglobin F with a double antibody radioimmunoassay has a Kd = 1.2 X 10(-9) moles by Scatchard plot analysis.

Cell Immunol, 1984 Sep, 87(2), 434 - 44
Histamine-releasing activity . IV . Molecular heterogeneity of the activity from stimulated human thoracic duct lymphocytes; Lett-Brown MA et al.; Previous studies with the lymphokine, histamine-releasing activity (HRA), showed that HRA consisted of a heterogeneous group of molecules . The possibility of using thoracic duct lymphocytes (TDL) as a source of large quantities of HRA has been investigated . Antigen-stimulated TDL synthesize and release HRA in quantities similar to an equivalent number of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) . Streptokinase (SK) antigen routinely caused TDL to produce HRA approximately 15,000 Da . In contrast, staphylococcus enterotoxin B (SEB) induced the formation of a heterogeneous mixture of HRAs with apparent molecular weights of 50,000 and 15,000 . Two peaks of activity (HRA I and II) were recovered when the supernatant from SK-stimulated TDL was subjected to ion-exchange chromatography . Interestingly, basophil chemotactic activity (BCA) was also eluted in these two peaks . Although interferon (IFN) is also released by antigen-stimulated TDL, the nonidentity of IFN and HRA was established by fundamental differences in chromatographic properties and specific antisera to IFN . In contrast, these studies suggest that HRA and BCA may be present on the same molecular entity.

J Clin Immunol, 1984 Sep, 4(5), 388 - 94
Interferon production in primary immunodeficiencies; Matricardi PM et al.; Alpha- and gamma-interferon (IFN) production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 18 patients affected by primary immunodeficiency syndromes was examined and compared with that of 20 normal donors . Patients included 8 with common variable immunodeficiency (CVI), 2 with congenital agammaglobulinemia, 4 with ataxia-telangiectasia, 2 with hyper-IgE syndrome, 1 with chronic EBV infection, 1 with combined immunodeficiency, and 1 with immunodeficiency with hyper-IgM . No spontaneous IFN production was observed in either patients and controls . Newcastle disease virus-induced alpha-IFN production was found to be normal in all patients . Gamma-IFN was induced by both galactose oxidase and staphylococcal enterotoxin (B) . Gamma-interferon production was low or undetectable in patients with ataxia-telangiectasia, in immunodeficiency with hyper-IgM, and in hyper-IgE syndrome . No major defect of gamma-IFN was found in other types of immunodeficiency, despite the presence of occasional low producers (1 of 8 CVI patients and 1 case of congenital agammaglobulinemia) . No correlation was found between IFN production and natural killer activity in individual patients . The analysis of lymphocyte subsets by monoclonal antibodies revealed gross imbalances of helper/inducer and suppressor/cytotoxic subpopulations, but no overall correlation could be established with gamma-IFN production . The observation of major defects in gamma-IFN yield only in diseases with depression of T cell-mediated immunity might contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenetical mechanisms in these diseases . Moreover, future studies should monitor these in vitro functions and their modifications by in vitro or in vivo manipulations.

J Clin Invest, 1984 Sep, 74(3), 1090 - 7
Precipitation of the thyrotropin receptor and identification of thyroid autoantigens using Graves' disease immunoglobulins; Heyma P et al.; The thyrotropin (TSH) receptor is a putative target for autoantibodies in Graves' hyperthyroidism and therefore, should be capable of being identified, isolated, and structurally characterized by immunological means . To this end, four sera from patients with hyperthyroidism, three of which inhibited the binding of 125I-TSH to Triton-solubilized human thyroid membranes, were used to isolate TSH receptors by immunoprecipitation . To account for an effect of TSH binding or receptor occupancy on the ability of Graves' immunoglobulins to precipitate TSH receptors, two approaches were taken: (a) specific 125I-TSH binding activity was measured after solubilized thyroid membranes had been incubated with Graves' sera followed by precipitation with Staphylococcus protein A ("receptor depletion"); (b) TSH binding sites were labeled with 125I-TSH and the complexes were precipitated using Graves' sera and Staphylococcus protein A ("receptor precipitation") . The three sera which inhibited 125I-TSH binding depleted 125I-TSH binding activity between 30-80% . Preformed complexes between Staphylococcus protein A and immunoglobulins in these sera were also able to deplete 125I-TSH binding activity . However, after receptor depletion, the one serum that did not inhibit 125I-TSH binding was associated with a significant increase in 125I-TSH binding . All four sera specifically precipitated 80-100% of receptors identified by prelabeling with 125I-TSH . The dilutions of sera that precipitated 50% of 125I-TSH-receptor complexes ranged from 1:150-1:20 . Complexes were partially precipitated by high concentrations of control sera (1:20), but the relative potency of control sera was at least fourfold less than Graves' sera . Immunoprecipitates of 125I-labeled thyroid membranes were analysed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography to reveal Graves'-specific bands of reduced molecular weights of 100-110,000, 80-90,000, and 70-75,000 . These bands were similar to those obtained from 125I-labeled thyroid membranes purified by TSH affinity chromatography . Thus, Graves' immunoglobulins: (a) precipitate unoccupied and occupied TSH receptors, (b) in one case, neither inhibit binding nor immunodeplete the unoccupied receptor but immunoprecipitate 125I-TSH-receptor complexes, suggesting that binding of TSH may initiate an interaction between the binding site and a separate immunoreactive molecule, and (c) identify the molecular structure of Graves' autoantigens, putatively, the TSH receptor.

Nucleic Acids Res, 1984 Aug 24, 12(16), 6493 - 510
Nucleosome arrangement in alpha-satellite chromatin of African green monkey cells; Smith MR et al.; By analyzing the accessibility of restriction endonuclease sites in African green monkey alpha-satellite chromatin, we demonstrate the absence of a unique phase relationship between nucleosomes and alpha-satellite DNA . The data indicate a minimum of three different positions for nucleosome cores relative to the alpha-satellite sequence and suggest a random distribution in at least some regions . In addition, while we confirm published reports that staphylococcal nuclease cuts the alpha-satellite sequence in chromatin at a highly preferred site, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of nuclear digests demonstrates that this site is preferentially cut by staphylococcal nuclease even when it is within the nucleosome core . These data indicate that staphylococcal nuclease is not useful for determining nucleosome positions on alpha-satellite DNA, and perhaps on other specific DNA sequences as well.

Am J Dis Child, 1984 Aug, 138(8), 715 - 9
Staphylococcus epidermidis septicemia in children with leukemia and lymphoma; Friedman LE et al.; Staphylococcus epidermidis is emerging as a cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients . From January 1980 through June 1982, there were 150 episodes of septicemia in 92 children with leukemia and lymphoma at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York . Staphylococcus epidermidis was the fourth most common organism isolated, responsible for 12.7% of all septicemic episodes . Only nine of 53 isolates were sensitive to methicillin; all were sensitive to vancomycin . Staphylococcus epidermidis septicemia was associated with immunosuppressive chemotherapy (94.7%); broad-spectrum antibiotics (79.0%); catheters and drains (73.7%); neutropenia (63.2%); skin or soft-tissue infections (42.1%); prior septicemia (42.1%); concurrent polymicrobial septicemia (21.1%); and prolonged hospitalization (mean, 39 days) . Of 19 patients, two died . Increased awareness of the pathogenic potential of S epidermidis in children with hematologic malignancies and prompt alteration of therapy to an effective antimicrobial agent, in most cases vancomycin hydrochloride, is required when the organism is isolated in patients known to be at risk with clinical evidence of septicemia.

Infect Immun, 1984 Aug, 45(2), 483 - 90
Demonstration of interleukin 1 activity in apparently homogeneous specimens of the pI 5 form of rabbit endogenous pyrogen; Hanson DF et al.; Rabbit mononuclear cells from oil-induced peritoneal exudates were purified by centrifugation on Percoll gradients, suspended in tissue culture medium, and stimulated with opsonized Staphylococcus epidermidis . The supernatants from these macrophages caused fever when injected intravenously into rabbits (endogenous pyrogen {EP} activity) . The EP activity was contained in two protein fractions, with pIs of 7.3 and ca . 5.0 . The same fractions caused mouse thymocytes to incorporate tritiated thymidine when incubated in vitro with small quantities of phytohemagglutinin (interleukin 1 {IL-1} activity) . The pI 5.0 form of EP was purified to apparent homogeneity by sequential use of ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration, ion-exchange chromatography, hydrophobic chromatography, and high-resolution isoelectric focusing . EP and IL-1 activities were not separable by any of these procedures . Active fractions from isoelectric focusing were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate . Only one band was visible as judged by a silver staining method, and IL-1 activity could be recovered by renaturing eluates from the same region of sodium dodecyl sulfate gels run in parallel . An estimate of specific activity was made by comparing the intensity of stained bands of EP with the intensity of bands containing known quantities of lysozyme or RNase . By this criterion, the specific activity of purified pI 5 EP was between 17,000 and 58,000 degrees C U/mg of protein, and the specific activity in terms of IL-1 was between 59 million and 360 million U per mg of protein . These observations suggest that both EP and IL-1 activities can be expressed by a single molecular species . The implications of this coincidence are discussed . It was also shown that highly purified pI 5 EP obtained from macrophages stimulated in the presence of 14C-labeled amino acids contained significant 14C radioactivity . This suggests that the pI 5.0 EP, like the pI 7.3 form, was synthesized de novo from amino acid precursors.

Arch Intern Med, 1984 Aug, 144(8), 1597 - 9
Thrombotic and infectious complications of Hickman-Broviac catheters; Jacobs MB et al.; Hickman-Broviac catheters are often used when long-term venous access is required . Although generally safe, catheter-related thrombosis and infection are two of the most frequent and clinically important complications associated with their use . A 47-year-old woman with breast cancer had a Hickman catheter placed for chemotherapy; subsequently, the superior vena caval syndrome developed due to a large thrombus surrounding the catheter tip . A very low dose of streptokinase successfully lysed this clot within 12 hours . A 60-year-old woman with acute myelogenous leukemia had a Hickman catheter placed to facilitate induction and maintenance chemotherapy . Two episodes of catheter-related Staphylococcus epidermidis sepsis later developed, the first of which cleared without removal of the cannula.

J Pediatr Surg, 1984 Aug, 19(4), 358 - 61
Staphylococcus epidermidis sepsis in pediatric patients: clinical and therapeutic considerations; Scherer LR et al.; This report concerns 60 children with documented Staphylococcus epidermidis sepsis . There were 34 boys and 26 girls, ages 2 weeks to 15 years . The primary diagnosis included malignancy (13), congenital (13) or acquired (11) gastrointestinal disorders, prematurity (7), cardiac defect (5), hydrocephalus (2) and miscellaneous (9) . Clinical presentation included fever (54), tachycardia (15), lethargy (20), hypotension (8), irritability (6), increased gastric residuals (6) and apnea/bradycardia (3) . A documented source of sepsis was noted in 56 patients, including percutaneous central venous catheters (23), Broviac catheters (17), umbilical arterial catheters (6), wound (3), V-P shunt (2), cardiac defect (2), cholangitis (1), chest tube (1) and peripheral arterial line (1) . There were six sepsis-related deaths, four in premature infants . Two of six infected subclavian catheters were treated successfully with vancomycin . Infection was successfully cleared in 20 of 23 infected Broviac catheters with vancomycin through the line . However, six were eventually removed for tract infection (1), persistent fever (2), and Candida sp . infection (3) . Although once considered a non-pathogenic skin contaminant, S . epidermidis has emerged as a serious pathogen in hospitalized, immunosuppressed, premature and malnourished pediatric patients . Indwelling catheters enhance the likelihood of infection in these patients . Aggressive antimicrobial therapy is vital in this potentially lethal infection . Vancomycin proved efficacious in this series.

Arch Microbiol, 1984 Aug, 138(4), 321 - 8
Structure and biosynthesis of teichoic acids in the cell walls of Staphylococcus xylosus DSM 20266; Fiedler F et al.; The simultaneous occurrence of a N-acetylglucosaminyl poly(ribitolphosphate) (beta-GlcNAc) and a N-acetylglucosaminyl poly(glycerolphosphate) (alpha-GlcNAc) in the cell walls of Staphylococcus xylosus DSM 20266 was demonstrated by different experimental lines: (1) Fractionation of extracted cell wall teichoic acid on DEAE-cellulose, (2) investigation of the composition of cell walls in the growth cycle, (3) in vitro biosynthesis using crude membranes as the source of enzyme . The polymerization of these polymers starts from CDP-ribitol and CDP-glycerol, respectively . In the presence of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine both polymers are substituted with N-acetylglucosamine at a level and with the identical anomeric configuration found in the native cell wall teichoic acids . The in vitro biosynthesis of poly(glycerolphosphate) was unique in that it was highly stimulated by UDP-N-acetylglucosamine and to a lower extent by other UDP-activated sugars . Kinetic studies have provided evidence that this stimulation is due to an increase of Vmax while Km is unchanged . Competition experiments have indicated that poly(ribitolphosphate) and poly(glycerolphosphate) were synthesized in the in vitro system in a close spatial relationship.

Ann Rheum Dis, 1984 Aug, 43(4), 607 - 9
Pyogenic osteomyelitis presenting as an acute sterile arthropathy; Platt PN et al.; We report two cases of osteomyelitis secondary to staphylococcal septicaemia, presenting with large sterile effusions in adjacent joints . In both cases the clinical features were suggestive of septic arthritis . Multiple joints were involved in each patient . Initial radiographs showed no abnormalities.

Am Surg, 1984 Aug, 50(8), 446 - 9
Temporary use of an eroded bipolar pacemaker system; Tyndal EC et al.; Over a 2.5-year period, of 176 bipolar pacemaker procedures, six were complicated by erosion (incidence, 3.4%) . One patient was treated whose pacemaker was inserted at another hospital . Time from insertion to presentation ranged from 5 to 23 months . When infection was present, Staphylococcus epidermidis was found to be the offending organism . We have used a staged method for managing this problem . Initially, the bipolar pulse generator was exteriorized and worn suspended around the neck while infection was controlled . A new pacemaker system (catheter and pulse generator) was inserted from the opposite side once infection was controlled . The main advantage of this type of approach is that the old pacing catheter and old bipolar generator can be used as an effective temporary pacing system, while the infection is being controlled thus eliminating the step of inserting a temporary pacing catheter after the eroded generator and catheter have been removed . A temporary pacing catheter is only safe and effective for a few days (perhaps up to a week), and this may not be sufficient time to be sure that infection is locally controlled . In addition, the patient can be ambulatory as the old permanent catheter is not likely to be dislodged easily as compared with a temporary catheter . Follow up ranging from 2 to 23 months has shown this to be an effective method for treating bipolar pacemaker erosion or infection in all instances without further infection or complication.

Eur J Immunol, 1984 Aug, 14(8), 708 - 13
The E receptor regulates interferon-gamma production: four-receptor model for human lymphocyte activation; Wilkinson M et al.; The E receptor (binds sheep erythrocytes) is found on virtually all human T cells . Here we show that a monoclonal antibody 9.6, which recognizes and binds the E receptor, inhibited interferon-gamma production by human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes induced with the mitogens phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, Staphylococcal enterotoxin A and the monoclonal antibody OKT3 . Metabolic activation (RNA and DNA synthesis) in human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes in response to mitogens was also sharply inhibited by 9.6 . This inhibitory effect occurred early during the induction phase since 9.6 had much diminished inhibitory effects when added 15-24 h after induction; peak IFN-gamma production and DNA synthesis occurred 3-4 days post induction . An early event inhibited by 9.6 appeared to be interleukin 2 (IL 2) receptor formation since: (a) the ability of mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes to absorb IL 2 was inhibited by 9.6, and (b) lines of T lymphocytes which already expressed IL 2 receptors were largely resistant to the inhibitory effects of 9.6 on IFN-gamma production and DNA synthesis . The tumor promoters 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate and teleocidin largely reversed the inhibition by 9.6 of IFN-gamma production and metabolic activation induced by mitogens . A model for the control of IFN-gamma induction involving four receptors, those for mitogens, tumor promoter, IL 2 and erythrocyte, is proposed.

Crit Care Med, 1984 Aug, 12(8), 634 - 7
Comparison of the sterility of long-term central venous catheterization using single lumen, triple lumen, and pulmonary artery catheters; Miller JJ et al.; The incidence of thrombocytopenia and catheter-induced infection and colonization after the use of triple lumen (TLC), pulmonary artery (PA), and single lumen central venous (CVP) catheters was studied in 29 critically ill patients . Catheter-induced sepsis was documented in 7% of patients with TLC and 10% of patients with CVP and PA catheters . Thirty-three percent of TLC, 20% of PA and 10% of CVP catheters became contaminated during the study . Staphylococcus epidermidis most commonly caused catheter sepsis and contamination . Only patients with PA catheters showed significant decrease in their platelet count . We conclude that use of TLC catheters in critically ill patients does not appear to increase the risk of infectious disease and thrombocytopenia.

J Clin Microbiol, 1984 Aug, 20(2), 248 - 54
Single radial hemolysis test for quantitation of complement-fixing antibodies to non-hemagglutinating viruses; Fulton RE et al.; A single radial hemolysis test, which overcomes many of the problems of conventional complement fixation tests, was developed for the quantitation of virus complement-fixing antibodies . The test procedure utilized staphylococcal protein A-coated sheep erythrocytes immobilized in agarose into which antigen was incorporated . Undiluted heat-inactivated serum samples were allowed to diffuse radially from wells punched in the agarose . Protein A served to concentrate the subsequent antigen-antibody reaction on the surface of the erythrocytes . Zones of hemolysis were developed by flooding with complement . With adenovirus as a model, basic test parameters were defined, and optimum reagent concentrations and diffusion conditions were determined . A positive linear relationship was found to exist between zone diameter and increasing log concentration of specific antiserum . No correlation was found between zone diameter and total concentration of immunoglobulin G in test sera . Sera rendered anticomplementary by the addition of carrageenan produced hemolytic zones equal to diameter to those observed with untreated sera . Seventy-seven human sera with known complement fixation titers were tested by this method . Good correlation (r = 0.74) between the complement fixation test and single radial hemolysis was observed . This test was highly reproducible and more sensitive than the conventional complement fixation test.

J Clin Microbiol, 1984 Aug, 20(2), 298 - 9
Use of a simple separation column in detection of immunoglobulin M antibody to Epstein-Barr virus; Sumaya CV et al.; The use of a new commercial separation column on whole test serum improved the method for detecting immunoglobulin M antibody to Epstein-Barr virus . The efficiency of this product in absorbing interfering immunoglobulin G was similar to that of another absorption product, staphylococcal protein A, but it has the advantage of being stable without refrigeration.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1984 Aug, (8), 62 - 4
{Fibroblast phosphatase activity in the staphylococcal infection process}; Dzhidzheishvili LSh et al.; The study of the phosphatase activity of chick fibroblasts in the process of staphylococcal infection by the electron-histochemical method has revealed the presence of correlation between the degree of cytoplasmic destruction in fibroblasts and the level of acid phosphatase activity . Changes in the phosphatase activity of fibroblasts in the process of bacterial infection, depending on the presence of homologous bacteriophages in the system used as a model, have also been studied.

Boll Ist Sieroter Milan, 1984 Jul 31, 63(3), 262 - 6
{The Pavia Center for the study and diagnosis of leptospirosis}; Bianchi L; According to his deep experience in this field, the Author greatly appreciates the program agreed during this congress . He thinks that Leptospirosis is a still widely diffused zoonosis, for which accurate diagnostic work-up is requested, coupled to an adequate epidemiologic study . Among his own contributions to this argument, the A . remarks the studies on the experimental infection of the guineapig with L . icterohaemorrhagiae, providing evidence that jaundice and lethal course of the illness are due to the Leptospira and not, as it was currently supposed, to an overcoming Staphylococcal septicemia . Furthermore the A . observed a striking epidemic by L . pomona affecting 90 out of 120 rice-workers in the neighbourhood of Pavia . This Leptospira, previously unreported in Europe, was found to be carried by Norvegian rats captured in that country . These data were in contrast with the more frequent incidence, in this work environment, of L . bataviae, carried by Micromis minutus sorcinus . Following the amount of observations and researches in this field "Center for study and diagnosis of Leptospirosis" was founded in 1954, and is still working in Pavia . The necessity of isolation of the infective agent, in addition to the simple serologic study, was claimed by the observation of five cases of meningitis in young pigherds, in which L . canicola (instead of the more common L . pomona) was demonstrated and ielded from the CSF of a patient . In the field of veterinary medicine, the A . demonstrated the L . australis A as responsible of some cases of miscarriages in openair breeded cattle . In those cases the hedgehog (Erinaceus europeus) was the natural carrier.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1984 Jul 25, 774(2), 247 - 53
Effect of staphylococcal alpha-hemolysin upon anion transport in the rabbit erythrocyte; Austin JW et al.; Equilibrium exchange of SO4(2-) was measured prior to and during hemolysis in rabbit erythrocytes exposed to staphylococcal alpha-hemolysin . The anion-transport protein of the rabbit erythrocyte has also been identified . Equilibrium exchange of SO4(2-) was measured by both efflux and influx of 35SO4(2-) . The rate of influx of SO4(2-) in rabbit erythrocytes exposed to alpha-hemolysin was twice that of the untreated cells . The rate of SO4(2-) efflux was unchanged by alpha-hemolysin . Inhibition of anion exchange with 4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid (DIDS) did not inhibit hemolysis, therefore, the increased influx of SO4(2-) may occur through a DIDS-insensitive pathway.

J Biol Chem, 1984 Jul 25, 259(14), 8924 - 33
Amino acid sequence of the coagulogen from Limulus polyphemus hemocytes; Miyata T et al.; The complete amino acid sequence of the coagulogen from hemocyte lysates of Limulus polyphemus has been determined by sequencing the peptides obtained from tryptic, chymotryptic, staphylococcal protease V8 and lysyl endopeptidase digestions . These results established the following sequence: (formula; see text) Limulus coagulogen consists of a single chain with a total of 175 amino acid residues and the molecular weight is calculated to be 19,675 . It contains 16 half-cystines in disulfide linkages, with 5 half-cystines located in a cluster in the COOH-terminal 14 residues . The sequence of Limulus coagulogen is very close to that for the coagulogen of Tachypleus tridentatus (Japanese horseshoe crab), having 69% sequence homology . The 16 half-cystines of these coagulogens are in the same positions, suggesting a very similar conformation . Moreover, the COOH-terminal tripeptide regions of the A chain (from the NH2-terminal end to Arg-18) and peptide C (from Lys-19 to Arg-46), both of which seem to interact with a Limulus clotting enzyme to liberate peptide C, are completely conserved . From secondary structure predictions by the method of Chou and Fasman (Chow, P.Y., and Fasman, G . D . (1974) Biochemistry 13, 211-222), the coagulogen appears to contain an alpha-helical region in the peptide C segment, released by the clotting enzyme, suggesting a marked conformational change in the transformation of the coagulogen to the coagulin gel . beta-sheet and reverse turn regions are distributed in the B chain segment (from Gly-47 to the COOH-terminal end) . It is likely that the 16 half-cystines and abundant beta-sheet structure make the coagulogen molecule compact.

Eur J Immunol, 1984 Jul, 14(7), 589 - 94
Pneumococcal cell wall phosphorylcholine elicits polyclonal antibody secretion in mice; Bach MA et al.; Immunization of mice with phosphorylcholine (PC)-bearing Staphylococcus pneumoniae Type 2, strain 36a (R36a) results in both a PC-specific and a polyclonal increase in splenic plaque-forming cells . The polyclonal increase was observed in all strains tested, including those bearing an X-linked immune defect resulting in an undetectable anti-PC immune response . The magnitude of the polyclonal response is directly related to the amount of bacterial surface PC as detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay . Congenitally athymic (nude) mice mount an anti-PC plaque-forming cell response after R36a immunization but fail to produce a significant polyclonal response . From our results it appears that PC on the cell wall of a bacterium acts both as a polyclonal activator and a specific antigen, stimulating each by different mechanisms.

Clin Orthop, 1984 Jul-Aug, (187), 129 - 33
Splash basin contamination in orthopaedic surgery; Baird RA et al.; Samples of splash basin fluid were cultured at the end of 78 randomly selected orthopedic operations . Fifty-eight (74%) of the specimens were positive on culture . Staphylococcus epidermidis was the prevalent organism . Thirty-four (59%) of the positive cultures grew multiple organisms . Seven (12%) grew more than 100 colonies per 100 ml specimen . This study demonstrates that splash basin fluid is frequently contaminated and may be a source of wound contamination during orthopedic surgery . Implants should not be placed in the splash basin, and instruments placed in it should not be returned to the operative wound.

Plast Reconstr Surg, 1984 Jul, 74(1), 124 - 6
Release of axillary scar contracture with a latissimus dorsi flap; Knowlton EW; A case is presented of a patient who underwent an elective axillary augmentation that was complicated by hematoma, capsular contracture, and a staphylococcal wound infection . Attempts to correct the deformity with multiple capsulotomies and axillary contracture releases were unsuccessful . Following these procedures, a thick axillary scar contracture formed that was adherent to the breast capsule and severely limited abduction of the arm . The patient underwent release of the axillary scar contracture with a latissimus dorsi muscle flap . The superiorly based lateral portion of the muscle was transposed to fill the dead space between the axillary scar and adherent breast capsule . A Z-plasty was also used to lengthen the cutaneous scar . Abduction of the arm improved to 130 degrees postoperatively . Lengthening of the skin contracture could be provided by a Z-plasty, but separation of the deeper scar matrix required normal soft-tissue interposition . The lateral portion of the latissimus dorsi muscle was chosen to fill this dead space.

Infect Immun, 1984 Jul, 45(1), 41 - 6
Oligosaccharide structures mediating agglutination of sheep erythrocytes by Staphylococcus saprophyticus; Gunnarsson A et al.; Agglutination of sheep erythrocytes by Staphylococcus saprophyticus was used as a model system for adherence studies . Glycolipids were isolated from sheep erythrocyte membranes, and oligosaccharides were prepared by trifluoroacetolysis . The oligosaccharides were characterized by sugar analyses, methylation analyses, gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy . We showed that oligosaccharides containing terminal beta-D-galactose-p-(1-4)-beta-D-2-acetamido-2-deoxyglucose-p-(1- were good inhibitors of the hemagglutination of sheep erythrocytes by S . saprophyticus.

Infect Control, 1984 Jul, 5(7), 339 - 41
Contamination of irrigation solutions in an operating theatre; Andersson BM et al.; Sterile irrigation solution, used in open systems in a conventional orthopedic operating theatre, were examined for bacterial contamination . At the end of 13 of 21 operations (duration greater than or equal to one hour) the solution tested displayed the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis and/or diphtheroid rods and/or other species . It is concluded that irrigation by solutions, kept in open bowls during an operation, is a potential source of contamination.

Vopr Med Khim, 1984 Jul-Aug, 30(4), 51 - 3
{Levels of biogenic amines in the salivary and lacrimal glands in experimental staphylococcal pancreatitis in rats}; Mikhailov VV et al.; Staphylococcal intoxication caused distinct alterations in content of biogenic amines estimated in salivary, lacrimal and pancreatic glands . Development of pancreatitis was accompanied by a decrease in content of adrenaline and noradrenaline in all the glands studied, while histamine content was increased in pancreas and-unaltered in salivary and lacrimal glands.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1984 Jul, 96(1), 261 - 4
Autoradiography of ganglioside antigens separated by high-performance thin-layer chromatography with their antibodies; Kasai N et al.; An improved method is described for the detection of ganglioside antigens with the antibodies on thin-layer chromatograms . The method involves the following steps: Separation of gangliosides on a high-performance thin-layer chromatographic plate, application of antibody solution, and detection of bound antibody with {125I}staphylococcal protein A . Using specific antibodies against gangliosides GM4, GM1, GD3, and asialo GM1 ganglioside, the method allowed positive identification of these antigens on thin-layer plates . It also provides a convenient means of assessing the specificity of an anti-glycolipid antibody.

Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 1984 Jul, 6(3-4), 291 - 305
Solid-phase radioimmunoassay for the detection of immunoglobulins against bovine Brucella abortus; Lawman MJ et al.; A sensitive radioimmunoassay for the detection of Brucella abortus antibody is described . The assay, performed in flexible 96-well microplates coated with Brucella abortus antigens, utilizes 125I-labeled staphylococcal protein A to detect antibody to Brucella abortus . The parameters of the assay have been analyzed using well recognized statistical methods . Least squares analysis of antigen concentration, antiserum dilution, antigen by antiserum and replicates within antigen by antiserum, estimated an r2 of 0.98, a coefficient of variation of 3.58 and a standard deviation of 0.10 . Results of regression analysis of serum dilution versus antigen concentration (ranging from 635 micrograms/ml to 6.35 ng/ml) indicated that an antigen concentration of 6.35 micrograms/ml was the most efficient for describing antibody variability (r2 = 0.98, with a coefficient of variation = 3.28) . Regression analysis also revealed a closer correlation between the radioimmunoassay with complement fixation test (r2 = 0.98) than with the standard tube test (r2 = 0.84) . Detection of specific antibody assessed by radioimmunoassay was 4 to 64 fold more sensitive than the standard tube test titer and 16 to 32 fold more sensitive than the complement fixation test titer . The results described here indicate that this radioimmunoassay is very sensitive and may be capable of discriminating between false positives and false negatives, thereby, improving the diagnostic efficiency of Brucella serologic tests.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1984 Jul, 81(14), 4554 - 7
Recombinant human gamma-interferon induces human monocyte polykaryon formation; Weinberg JB et al.; Monocyte or macrophage polykaryons (MP) are seen in different tissues in various inflammatory states and in normal bone (osteoclasts) . The factors controlling the formation and the function of MP are not completely understood . This study was designed to evaluate the effects of the lymphokine gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) on human monocyte function in vitro . Purified recombinant IFN-gamma {20-200 units/ml (0.1-1.0 nM)} caused the appearance of MP in cultures of normal human monocytes cultured in 10% unheated autologous serum . The MP were noted by as early as 36 hr of culture with fusion indices of 40%-60% and up to 160 nuclei per cell . The effect was seen with both recombinant IFN-gamma and natural IFN-gamma produced by Staphylococcal enterotoxin A-stimulated lymphocytes, but IFN-alpha (leukocyte-derived and recombinant) and IFN-beta did not induce MP formation . The activity of the IFN-gamma was destroyed by heating at 56 degrees C for 4 hr, incubating at pH 2 for 3 hr, or incubating with antibody against IFN-gamma . Populations of monocytes incubated 3 days with 100 units of IFN-gamma per ml (0.5 nM) had enhanced capacity to produce H2O2 in response to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and increased content of acid phosphatase and plasminogen activator . As determined by autoradiography, the MP did not incorporate {3H}dThd into their nuclei . Thus, the IFN-gamma appears to induce MP formation by a process of monocyte fusion, and to "activate" monocytes, as judged by various parameters.

Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 1984 Jul, 6(3-4), 353 - 64
Polyclonal activation of canine B lymphocytes evaluated by a protein A reverse hemolytic plaque assay; Felsburg PJ et al.; This paper describes the optimal culture and assay conditions for the polyclonal activation of canine lymphocytes with pokeweed mitogen and the quantitation of immunoglobulin secreting plaque-forming cells (PFC) using a staphylococcal protein A-reverse hemolytic plaque assay . The assay permits the quantitation of total immunoglobulin secreting PFC as well as class-specific immunoglobulin secreting PFC . On the optimal day of culture, a mean of 176 IgA PFC/10(6), 575 IgM PFC/10(6), 1276 IgG PFC/10(6), and 2158 total PFC/10(6) cells were generated following polyclonal activation . This study provides a simple and reproducible assay for the delineation of the immunoregulatory mechanisms involved in the differentiation of canine B lymphocytes.

J Clin Microbiol, 1984 Jul, 20(1), 65 - 9
Aminoglycoside resistance among blood culture isolates; Huovinen P et al.; A total of 633 blood culture isolates were collected from 1981 to 1982 from seven major Finnish hospitals, including all university central hospitals . Susceptibility of the strains to gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin, and netilmicin was determined by the Sensititre microtiter procedure . Resistance against any of these agents occurred in 1.3 to 6.5% of all strains studied . In the Turku University Central Hospital, an increased number of tobramycin- and gentamicin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis were found; the frequency of strains resistant to tobramycin was 57% and to gentamicin was 29% versus frequencies of 16 and 18%, respectively, which were observed in the other hospitals . An explanation for this might be a change in the use of aminoglycosides in the Turku University Central Hospital; within 3 years, 1979 to 1981, the consumption of tobramycin and amikacin had increased 330 and 290%, respectively, whereas the use of gentamicin had decreased to 24% of that in the beginning of the period . Resistance against tobramycin was mediated by enzymes APH(2")-AAC(6') and ANT(4').

Medicine (Baltimore), 1984 Jul, 63(4), 189 - 200
Hickman catheter infections in patients with malignancies; Press OW et al.; The infectious complications associated with implantation of 1,088 Hickman catheters (HCs) in 992 patients reported in 18 published series are presented (including data on 129 previously unreported HCs from our own institution) . HCs allow reliable long-term venous access (mean, 92.4 days) with low complication and infection rates (0.30 and 0.14 cases per 100 catheter days, respectively) . Exit site infections were the most common form of infection encountered (45.5%), followed by septicemia alone (30.8%), tunnel infections (20.3%), and septic thrombophlebitis (3.5%) . Staphylococcus epidermidis (54.1%) and S . aureus (20.0%) were the most common pathogens responsible for catheter infections . HC infections were associated with a low mortality rate (maximum rate of 0.5%) . Risk factor analysis of 129 HCs demonstrated that catheter thrombosis was the major risk factor associated with development of catheter infection . Presence of fever, distant infection, neutropenia or antibiotic administration on the day of catheter insertion was not significantly associated with HC infection in this series (although there was a trend suggesting an increased risk of infection of HCs inserted during febrile episodes) . Based on observations at our institution and from a review of the literature, tentative recommendations for management of the various types of HC infections are outlined.

J Cell Biol, 1984 Jul, 99(1 Pt 1), 53 - 7
A novel approach for scanning electron microscopy of colloidal gold-labeled cell surfaces; de Harven E et al.; A method is described for the use of scanning electron microscopy on the surface of gold-labeled cells . It includes the use of 45- or 20-nm colloidal gold marker conjugated with Staphylococcal protein A . The marker is best recognized on the basis of its atomic number contrast by using the backscattered electron imaging mode of the scanning electron microscope . When the backscattered electron signal is mixed with the secondary electron signal, an optimum correlation between the distribution of the labeled sites and the cell surface structures is demonstrated . The method is illustrated by its application to the identification of human circulating granulocytes . Its good resolution, high contrast, and good labeling efficiency offers a promising approach to the specific localization of cell surface antigenic sites labeled with particles of colloidal gold.

Infect Immun, 1984 Jul, 45(1), 281 - 5
Monoclonal antibodies to staphylococcal enterotoxins B and C: cross-reactivity and localization of epitopes on tryptic fragments; Thompson NE et al.; Murine monoclonal antibodies reactive with staphylococcal enterotoxins B (SEB) and C1 (SEC1) were isolated by hybridoma techniques . Of the nine antibodies, three reacted only with SEB, two reacted with SEB and SEC1, three reacted with all subtypes of SEC, and one reacted only with SEC2 and SEC3 . All of the antibodies reacted with protein blotted onto nitrocellulose from electrophoresis gels which corresponded to the enterotoxin band . Fragments of SEB and SEC1 were generated by limited digestion of the toxin with trypsin . With the immunoblot technique, four of the five antibodies reactive with SEB reacted with the tryptic fragment of molecular weight 17,000, and the five antibodies reactive with SEC1 reacted with the tryptic fragment of molecular weight 14,000.

Vopr Virusol, 1984 Jul-Aug, 29(4), 441 - 7
{Diagnosis of herpetic lesions of the central nervous system}; Kogan IL et al.; The results of the use of the two new methods for early diagnosis of herpes simplex virus infection based on immuno-mediated hemagglutination and hemadsorption are presented . In these methods, staphylococcal diagnostic preparations with two kinds of adsorbed antibody are used which allow the presence of the virus to be detected and simultaneously identified . These tests help to detect virus both in the liquid phase at 1-8 days after the onset of the study (immune competition test) and in infected culture cells within the first few days postinfection and long before the appearance of marked cytopathic effect (immune hemadsorption tect) . The employment of these methods for the diagnosis of herpetic affection of the central nervous system in children increases by 10-15% the rate of detection of herpes simplex virus with simultaneous identification of the virus.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1984 Jun 16, 782(2), 177 - 86
Evidence for attachment of interphase chromatin to the nuclear matrix via matrix-bound nucleosomes; Barbashov SF et al.; Chromatin structure has been studied in the sites of attachment to the nuclear matrix in interphase mouse liver and spleen nuclei . The patterns of fragmentation of the DNA belonging to these sites (0.3-2% of total DNA in spleen and liver, respectively) with staphylococcal nuclease and DNAase I were very close to those of usual nucleosomal chains . Moreover, the nuclear matrix preparations contained all five major histones, including H1, in almost stoichiometric amounts . The histone/DNA ratios for the matrix were also similar to those found in nuclei . These findings and the size of the matrix-protected DNA indicated that interphase chromatin was attached to the nuclear matrix via matrix-bound nucleosomes and, to a much lesser extent, oligonucleosomes up to 5-6 units long . Two-dimensional electrophoretic separation of the matrix-bound histones revealed that modifications of histone H1 and, probably, of other histones were distinguished from those in bulk chromatin . Study of binding of exogenously added labeled histone octamers or mononucleosomal size DNA to nuclear matrix excluded the possibility of their artifactual trapping during the isolation procedure.

Biochem J, 1984 Jun 15, 220(3), 773 - 80
Phosphorylation of ovine rhodopsin . Identification of the phosphorylated sites; Thompson P et al.; Light-dependent phosphorylation of sheep opsin was obtained in purified discs to which was added a partially purified preparation of rhodopsin kinase . A maximum ratio of 1.8 mol of phosphate/mol of rhodopsin bleached was obtained . Perturbing the lipid bilayer did not alter the phosphorylation ratio . Dephosphorylation in both segments and discs was only achieved when the supernatant fraction from a retina homogenate was added . Complete dephosphorylation required the presence of the detergent dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide in the incubation medium . Treatment of phosphorylated disc membranes with Staphylococcal aureus V8 proteinase generated two membrane-bound fragments, only one of which (V8-S, Mr 12 000) was labelled, together with a soluble seven-residue peptide that contained {32P}phosphoserine . Peptide sequencing, together with subdigestion procedures, localized the phosphorylation sites to serine residues at positions 334, 338 and 343 in the whole sequence and threonine residues at positions 335 and 336.

J Biol Chem, 1984 Jun 10, 259(11), 6790 - 7
Natural human interferon-gamma . Complete amino acid sequence and determination of sites of glycosylation; Rinderknecht E et al.; Fresh human peripheral blood lymphocytes were induced with desacetylthymosin -alpha 1 and staphylococcal enterotoxin B . The induced gamma interferon (or IFN-gamma, immune interferon, type II interferon) was purified to homogeneity utilizing controlled-pore glass, concanavalin A-Sepharose, Bio-Gel P100, or Sephacryl S-200, and reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography . This procedure resulted in two active species with apparent Mr = 20,000 and 25,000 as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . Both species were found to have identical amino acid sequences with a pyroglutamate residue as NH2-terminus . In both cases six different COOH termini were found . They are, at least qualitatively, identical in both species . There are two possible Asn-X-Ser/Thr glycosylation sites . Both carry carbohydrates in the Mr = 25,000 species whereas in the Mr = 20,000 species only one site is glycosylated . This likely explains the difference in apparent molecular weight between the two species and the expected molecular weight based upon the amino acid sequence.

Arch Ophthalmol, 1984 Jun, 102(6), 891 - 4
Corneal ulcers associated with contact lens wear; Galentine PG et al.; We reviewed the experience with ulcerative keratitis associated with contact lens wear at Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, from Jan 1, 1978 through July 1, 1983 . Of the 322 cases of ulcerative keratitis, 56 cases (17%) were associated with the use of contact lenses . Twenty-nine (52%) of the 56 cases of contact lens-associated ulcers were culture positive . Pseudomonas was the most common isolate, occurring in 13 (23%) of the 56 cases . Staphylococcus species were the second most common, occurring in 11 (20%) of the 56 cases . In this series, contact lens-associated ulcers were seen frequently in those wearing soft lenses (48/56 cases or 86%) and in those wearing aphakic lenses (32/56 cases or 57%) . Contact lens use is an increasingly important risk factor for the development of corneal ulcers . Prompt, appropriate, and intensive treatment is necessary to prevent visual loss.

Infect Control, 1984 Jun, 5(6), 279 - 83
Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteremia associated with vascular catheters: an important cause of febrile morbidity in hospitalized patients; Sattler FR et al.; Seventeen episodes of persistent Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteremia (one to nine days) occurred in 16 patients with vascular catheters during a 26-month period . Cases were statistically more likely to have a longer hospitalization (54 v 7.6 days, p less than .0005), longer duration of antibiotic therapy (22 v 2.5 days, p = .002), presence of a central venous pressure (CVP) catheter (14 v 2, p less than 3 X 10(-8), and presence of an arterial catheter (4 v 1, p = 0.037) than randomly selected hospitalized patients matched for age, sex, and date of admission . However, when cases were compared with similarly matched non-bacteremic patients having CVP catheters, these characteristics were not significantly different in the two groups . Furthermore, exposure to total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and duration of TPN were not significantly different between cases and controls . Hence, the presence of a CVP catheter appeared to be the major risk factor for S . epidermidis bacteremia . In 16 episodes, patients had temperature greater than 38.6 degrees C without another identifiable cause, and the average white cell count for the case group was 19,400/mm.3 Seven patients also had diaphoresis, confusion, hypotension, or oliguria . Temperatures returned to normal in 13 within 24 hours after catheter removal, and all patients were afebrile and symptom-free within 72 hours . Thus, vascular catheter-associated S . epidermidis bacteremia was an important case of febrile morbidity in these patients.

Tsitologiia, 1984 Jun, 26(6), 648 - 51
{Residual structures revealed after the action of staphylococcal nuclease on decondensed metaphase chromosomes}; Nasedkina TV et al.; The isolated Chinese hamster metaphase chromosomes were decondensed in 0.6 M NaCl solution and digested by staphylococcal nuclease on electron microscope grids . The residual structures as seen in electron microscope as isolated aggregates scattered over the entire area occupied by the chromosome . Prior to digestion, the material in the chromosome did not form presumably an integral protein structure similar to a scaffold.

Postgrad Med J, 1984 Jun, 60(704), 433 - 4
Acute renal failure due to glomerulonephritis associated with staphylococcal infection; Maher ER et al.; Acute renal failure developed in a diabetic with staphylococcal arthritis and septicaemia in the absence of endocarditis . Renal biopsy showed proliferative glomerulonephritis and there was evidence of alternative pathway of complement activation . Renal function recovered following haemodialysis for 2 months . The association of glomerulonephritis with staphylococcal infection is reviewed.

Postgrad Med J, 1984 Jun, 60(704), 431 - 2
Hypoglycaemia and septicaemia; Walsh TD; A patient with severe hypoglycaemia complicating staphylococcal septicaemia is reported . No recognized cause of hypoglycaemia was detected during life or at autopsy . This case adds to the existing evidence that through several possible mechanisms septicaemia can give life-threatening hypoglycaemia.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1984 Jun, 32(5 Pt 2), 552 - 5
{Value of rifampin in the treatment of staphylococcal septicemia}; Estavoyer JM et al.; Analysis of 20 cases of staphylococcal septicemia, observed over 1 1/2 months in a general hospital, confirms that these infections are frequent and severe . They occurred in compromised hosts and were nosocomial infections in 2/3 of cases . An intravenous device (particularly a central venous catheter) was associated with 70% of staphylococcal septicemia . Study of bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics and clinical course leads to advocate that high risk patients with fever be initially given rifampin combined with netilmicin.

Acta Med Okayama, 1984 Jun, 38(3), 227 - 37
Differential sensitivity to aphidicolin of replicative DNA synthesis and ultraviolet-induced unscheduled DNA synthesis in vivo in mammalian cells; Seki S et al.; In vivo in mammalian cells, ultraviolet-induced unscheduled DNA synthesis was less sensitive to aphidicolin than was replicative DNA synthesis . Replicative DNA synthesis in HeLa, HEp-2, WI-38 VA-13 and CV-1 cells was inhibited more than 97% by aphidicolin at 10 micrograms/ml, whereas aphidicolin inhibition of DNA synthesis in ultraviolet-irradiated cells varied between 30% and 90% depending on cell types and assay conditions . Aphidicolin inhibition of unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) in HeLa cells increased gradually with increasing aphidicolin concentration and reached approximately 90% at 100 micrograms/ml aphidicolin . A significant fraction of UDS in ultraviolet-irradiated HEp-2 cells was resistant to aphidicolin even at 300 micrograms/ml . Considered along with related information reported previously, the present results suggest that both aphidicolin-sensitive and insensitive DNA polymerases, DNA polymerase alpha and a non-alpha DNA polymerase (possibly DNA polymerase beta), are involved in in situ UDS in these ultraviolet-irradiated cells . Comparison of staphylococcal nuclease sensitivity between DNAs repaired in the presence and in the absence of aphidicolin in HEp-2 cells suggested that the involvement of DNA polymerase alpha in UDS favored DNA synthesis in the intranucleosomal region.

J Pediatr Surg, 1984 Jun, 19(3), 258 - 62
Caval catheterization in the intensive care nursery: a useful means for providing parenteral nutrition to the extremely low birth-weight infant; Ogata ES et al.; We provided parenteral nutrition to 40 very low birth-weight premature infants (birth weight 815 +/- 17 grams, gestational age 27 +/- 2 weeks) with a superior vena cava catheter . To avoid the risk of transport, catheterization was performed under sterile conditions in the intensive care nursery . The central venous catheter facilitated administration of calories to sustain growth, especially in infants whose catheters remained in place for 3 weeks or longer . The overall incidence of catheter related sepsis was high (30%) but the majority of cases were due to Staphylococcus epidermidis and resolved without incident . Other complications of parenteral nutrition were minimal . This approach is a safe and effective means of providing nutrition to the very low birth-weight infant.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1984 Jun, 13 Suppl C, 31 - 42
The combination of oxacillin with rifampicin in staphylococcal infections: a review of laboratory and clinical studies of the Institut Jules Bordet; Van der Auwera P et al.; In-vitro study of the combination of oxacillin with rifampicin has shown that a complex interaction occurs between the two drugs: a high oxacillin/rifampicin ratio was associated with antagonism, a low ratio was more likely to result in synergy--the combination acquired a higher rate of killing . Oxacillin significantly prevented or delayed the regrowth of rifampicin-resistant mutants, and antagonism for high oxacillin/rifampicin ratios only affected rifampicin-susceptible strains . The two clinical studies that we have performed suggested that the addition of rifampicin to standard treatment improved the clinical outcome of the patients with staphylococcal infections, and this was particularly true for the most severe infections . Failures were not associated with the emergence of rifampicin-resistant strains; the combination was not associated with more superinfections nor with more toxicity or intolerance . Serum bactericidal activities reflected a similar complex interaction to that observed in vitro by time-kill curves or checkerboard techniques.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1984 Jun, (6), 93 - 6
{Indices of immunoallergic reactivity and of nonspecific body resistance in staphyloderma patients}; Mar'iasis ED et al.; Clinico-immunological study has revealed that staphylococcal pyoderma develops simultaneously with the sensitization of the body to the infective agent, resulting from recent or past cases of angina, sinusitis, etc . This sensitization enhances the sensitivity of the body to pyococci and thus creates the prerequisites not only for the primary disease, but also for subsequent relapses . This is facilitated by the suppression of nonspecific resistance, observed in the patients.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1984 Jun, 32(5 Pt 2), 588 - 90
{Verification of the effectiveness of neutralization in the in vivo study of antiseptics}; Reverdy ME et al.; Well defined controls of the effectiveness of antiseptic neutralizing agents in vitro already exist (Afnor Standards for antiseptics and disinfectants) . Conversely, there is currently no standard method for verifying how effectively such agents neutralize antiseptics which have been applied to the skin . We describe a method in which the neutralizing solution is first applied to the antiseptic-treated skin and then filtered to remove skin flora . The effect of the neutralizing agent is then checked using a test organism (Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 14990) in parallel with four controls: viability of the test organism (T1), activity of the untreated antiseptic (T2), non-bactericidal effect of the neutralizing agent (T3) and of skin secretions (4) . Skin sampling was carried out using Gaschen's bag method for the hands and the Williamson and Kligman method modified by Fleurette for other sites . Twelve soaps and/or antiseptics were studied . In each case, activity of the antiseptic (T2) was confirmed, except when the product under study was a non-bactericidal soap . Bacterial counts obtained in controls T3 and T4 and in the neutralization test itself were always greater than 80% of the control value (T1) . Occasionally, the counts in the neutralization test exceeded 100% of the T1 value, probably because of the dispersal effect of the triton X100 present in the neutralizing solution . This method thus offers a means of standardizing the study of antiseptics in vivo . In addition, the test organism, Staphylococcus epidermidis, is more representative of the skin flora than the bacterial strains recommended by Afnor for in vitro studies.

Br J Haematol, 1984 Jun, 57(2), 337 - 47
Platelet crossmatch tests using radiolabelled staphylococcal protein A or peroxidase anti-peroxidase in alloimmunized patients; Yam P et al.; Refractoriness to random-donor platelets as a result of alloimmunization remains a major problem in long-term platelet transfusion therapy despite the use of HLA-matched platelets . We have therefore studied the use of two methods for detection of platelet associated IgG as platelet crossmatch tests for the selection of platelet donors . These methods use radiolabelled staphylococcal protein A (125I-SPA) and peroxidase anti-peroxidase (PAP), respectively . One hundred and ten crossmatch tests using 125I-SPA were performed retrospectively in 18 alloimmunized patients . The results indicated that the predictive value of a positive or a negative test was 87%; the sensitivity was 73% and the specificity was 95% . Results with the PAP test were similar . The HLA types were known for 48 donor-recipient pairs . With few exceptions, there was a correlation between the results of the platelet crossmatch tests and the effectiveness of platelet transfusion regardless of the degree of HLA match . These results indicate that platelet crossmatch tests may be valuable even when closely HLA matched donors are not available . A large-scale prospective study is warranted, particularly in highly immunized patients.

Clin Orthop, 1984 Jun, (186), 57 - 9
Mycotic aneurysm of the external iliac artery caused by migration of a total hip prosthesis; Ryan JA et al.; A 77-year-old patient had a mycotic aneurysm of the left external iliac artery secondary to migration of a total hip prosthesis . Symptoms included pain, numbness, decreased hip motion, and a temperature of 38.5 degrees . The left leg was shortened, externally rotated, and swollen . There was anterior thigh hypoesthesia and quadriceps paralysis . A pulsatile mass in the lower left quadrant of the abdomen emitted a thrill and a loud bruit . A preoperative arteriogram facilitated diagnosis and planning of surgery . A transpubic femorofemoral bypass graft was used to reroute blood to the left lower limb, avoiding vascular reconstruction in the area of the aneurysm, a suspected site of infection . A false aneurysm was determined and was then isolated . The prosthesis was removed . During this operation, the acetabular component was found freely mobile within the false aneurysm . Cultures of the removed vascular tissue grew Staphylococcus epidermidis . An arteriogram should be obtained prior to operation for any medial intrapelvic displacement of a total hip prosthesis to diagnose the extent of vascular involvement . Physical examination may not reveal the aneurysm, but signs of neuropathy or venous thrombosis may suggest this diagnosis.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1984 Jun, 81(11), 3516 - 20
Appearance of cytotoxic antibody to viral gp70 on feline lymphoma cells (FL-74) in cats during ex vivo immunoadsorption therapy: quantitation, characterization, and association with remission of disease and disappearance of viremia; Liu WT et al.; Fifty cats with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection and leukemia-lymphoma complex were treated by ex vivo immunoadsorption with Staphylococcus protein A-bound filters . Most cats responded to therapy . Twelve showed tumor regression, including disappearance of tumor cells, but died later of other complications . Three have had long-term remission of more than 1 year and remain healthy . A consistent finding in these three cats was the appearance during treatment of a complement-dependent cytotoxic antibody against cat lymphoma cells (FL-74) . The cytotoxic antibody increased substantially during treatment . Appearance and increase of the cytotoxic antibody was associated with disappearance of FeLV from blood and remission of leukemia . By electroblot analysis, antibody to FeLV protein (Mr, 70,000) was detected in serum prior to detection of the cytotoxic antibody . The cytotoxic antibody was found by immunofluorescence to be specific for antigens on membranes of viable FL-74 cells . By using monoclonal antibodies to FL-74 cells and to components of FeLV, the cytotoxic antibody was shown to be directed against gp70, a glycoprotein of Mr 70,000, but not against p27 of FeLV or other membrane antigen(s) of FL-74 cells . The development of a high concentration of cytotoxic antibody to FeLV gp70 may play an important role in tumor regression and in disappearance of FeLV infection.

Cell Biophys, 1984 Jun, 6(2), 87 - 102
Comparison of the active and inactive chromatin structures of genes transcribed by RNA polymerases I and II; Lohr DE; The coding sequences of the yeast 35S rDNA gene and of the yeast galactokinase gene both show clear staphylococcal nuclease nucleosome profiles under conditions in which the gene is inactive (galactokinase) or less active (rDNA) . Under conditions of more active expression, the galactokinase gene shows marked smearing in the digestion profiles . The rDNA gene shows a qualitatively similar change in digestion patterns . There is a typical nucleosomal DNase I ladder on the coding sequences of both genes, regardless of the state of activity . In contrast to the coding sequences, the rDNA upstream region chromatin shows a nonnucleosomal profile . The nonnucleosomal character is more pronounced when the gene is more active . On the galactokinase upstream region chromatin, there is a nucleosomal structure, with some minor modifications, when the gene is inactive and a clear nonnucleosomal structure when the gene is expressed.

J Hosp Infect, 1984 Jun, 5(2), 147 - 54
Aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in neurosurgical infections . Per-operative culture with flexible contact agar film; Kamme C et al.; Fourteen of 80 patients (17.5 per cent) who underwent elective craniotomy preceded by a strict pre-operative routine of skin decontamination contracted postoperative wound infection . Most of the infections were probably from endogenous sources and from eight of the wounds low-virulent resident skin bacteria, Propionibacterium acnes and/or Staphylococcus epidermidis, were isolated . Since thorough pre-operative preparation of the skin did not reduce the incidence of infection to an acceptable level, antibiotic prophylaxis might be indicated in this type of surgery.

Arch Neurol, 1984 Jun, 41(6), 637 - 9
Staphylococcal CNS infections treated with vancomycin and rifampin; Vichyanond P et al.; Three children had staphylococcal infections of the CNS . In two cases the organisms were resistant to methicillin sodium . Each case was treated with a combination of vancomycin hydrochloride and rifampin; in one instance vancomycin alone had been unsuccessful . The addition of rifampin resulted in prompt clinical and bacteriologic resolution . Satisfactory levels of rifampin were achieved by administering the drug either orally or intravenously, and in one patient oral administration of rifampin produced assayed levels in subdural pus many times that required for minimal bactericidal activity . Combination therapy with vancomycin and rifampin is recommended for staphylococcal infections of the CNS.

Wien Klin Wochenschr, 1984 May 25, 96(11), 426 - 7
{The first case of AIDS in the Tyrol}; Auhuber I et al.; This case report deals with a description of the first case of AIDS in Tirol . Our patient was an intravenous drug abuser and presented with both opportunistic infections (candidiasis, interstitial pneumonia due to Pneumocystis carinii) and with Kaposi's sarcoma . He died within 4 weeks as a result of staphylococcal septicaemia refractory to intensive chemotherapy.

Antibiotiki, 1984 May, 29(5), 382 - 6
{Distribution of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms among newborn infants in an intensive care unit}; Kudinova TI et al.; Bacteriological assay of the nasal, fauces and feces microflora of 40 newborns of the Department of Intensive Therapy revealed their primary colonization with various opportunistic microorganisms from the environment . Sensitivity of the isolates to 15 antibiotics was tested . It was shown that multiple resistance strains predominated . The staphylococcal strains were mainly resistant to benzylpenicillin, ampicillin, erythromycin and polymyxin . The enterococci were most frequently resistant to methicillin, lincomycin, kanamycin, monomycin and neomycin . Tetracycline and chloramphenicol resistant strains of E . coli were detected . Marked resistance to carbenicillin, ampicillin, cephuroxim and cephaloridin and high sensitivity to cephotaxim and gentamicin were determined in the Klebsiella strains with the method of serial dilutions on solid media . The presence of opportunistic microorganisms with multiple resistance to antibiotics, ate appearance of the own microflora and decreased immunological defence may be the cause of infection in newborns of departments of intensive therapy . Circulation of antibiotic-resistant strains in departments for newborns is fraught with a threat of hospital infections.

Antibiotiki, 1984 May, 29(5), 365 - 9
{Potentiation of the antimicrobial action of antibiotics in combination with oxytocin}; Bukharin OV et al.; The antimicrobial effect of oxytocin in combination with 39 antibacterial drugs was studied in vitro with the use of 30 strains of different test cultures . It was shown that oxytocin had a capacity for potentiating the antibiotic effect on many microbial species . The potentiation ratio depended on the antibiotic and microbial species used and ranged from 2 to 24 times . The combined therapy with oxytocin and antibiotics was tested on animals with experimental staphylococcal sepsis . The survival rate of more than 50 per cent was observed only in the group of animals treated with the combinations of antibiotics and oxytocin, while in the other groups the death rate amounted to 100 per cent . The most favourable combinations of oxytocin and antibiotics were used in the treatment of 260 patients with pyoinflammatory affections of the soft tissues (mastitis, postinfection suppuration, paraproctitis, etc) . In the majority of cases, the surgical treatment was replaced by the paracentetic treatment with local application of the combinations of oxytocin and antibiotics . This markedly decreased (by 3-4 times) the periods of temporary disability, provided better cosmetic results of the treatment and lowered consumption of the dressing material.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1984 May, (5), 92 - 5
{Characteristics of regression interrelations between the immune reactions to different staphylococcal strains in chronic inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tracts}; Poniakina ID et al.; Regressive interrelations between antibody titers to 13 staphylococcal museum strains in the blood serum, polypous fluid and saliva of patients with chronic polypous rhinosinusitis and chronic tonsillitis were studied . The presence of sharply defined positive interrelations between antibody titers in the blood serum and polypous fluid of patients with chronic polypous rhinosinusitis with respect to all staphylococcal strains under study and the absence of significant interrelations between antibody titers in the blood serum and saliva of patients with chronic tonsillitis were shown . The problem of the importance of positive or negative interrelations between individual staphylococcal strains is discussed.

J Reprod Immunol, 1984 May, 6(3), 133 - 40
Circulating immune complexes in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy; Alanen A et al.; Circulating immune complexes (CICs) were measured in sera of pregnant women with pre-eclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and pregnant women with renal disease, using four different CIC assays: platelet 125I-labelled staphylococcal protein A test ( PIPA ), conglutinin-binding ELISA, C1q-binding ELISA and rheumatoid factor binding inhibition ELISA . CICs were shown to be present in the sera of 47% of women with severe pre-eclampsia, in 20% with mild pre-eclampsia and in 18% of women with normal pregnancy using the PIPA test . The PIPA test was capable of discriminating between patients with renal disease, which were all positive, and women with uncomplicated hypertension, which were all negative . All patients positive in the PIPA test, and most patients with a positive RFbI -ELISA test, had various amounts of proteinuria . Although half of the women with severe pre-eclampsia showed the presence of CICs in the PIPA test, the amount of these complexes was low and not constant in serial samples from the same patient.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1984 May, 56(2), 247 - 52
Precipitation of 19S IgM rheumatoid factor-IgG circulating immune complexes in patients with juvenile arthritis by polyethylene glycol and separation by immobilized protein A; Moore TL et al.; Immune complexes (IC) in sera and synovial fluid (SF) from patients with juvenile (rheumatoid) arthritis (JA) were isolated by making use of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to precipitate IC and then using staphylococcal protein A to separate the IC . The isolated IC were compared to IC in sera analysed by sucrose density gradients and measured by the C1q solid phase assay (ClqSPA) . Isolated IC from sera of 10 of 16 JA patients demonstrated significant 19S IgM rheumatoid factor (RF) titres in their acid elutes utilizing the haemolytic assay . IgM and IgG were detected by low level radial immunodiffusion in the acid eluate of sera in all 10 patients who had significant RF titres . In isolated IC from SF, three of five JA patients had significant 19S IgM RF titres detected in their acid eluates . By sucrose density gradient analysis of these sera, elevated levels of IC detected by ClqSPA were found in the fractions of greater than or equal to 19S comparable to the previous isolated 19S IgM-IgG complexes . This detection of IC like material containing 19S IgM and IgG by the present method further supports the participation of classic and hidden 19S IgM RF in IC formation in JA patients.

Infect Immun, 1984 May, 44(2), 401 - 5
In vivo effect of staphylococcal enterotoxin A on peripheral blood lymphocytes; Zehavi-Willner T et al.; Staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) administration to monkeys produced an initial lymphocytic leukopenia lasting approximately 24 h . Lymphocytes isolated from blood circulation (PBL) during this stage had normal or decreased {3H}thymidine incorporating activity . After 48 h, however, a significant increase (five- to sixfold) in {3H}thymidine incorporating activity into PBL was apparent . The peak of incorporating activity (seven- to eightfold) was reached 3 to 4 days after SEA administration, followed by a gradual decline, reaching the baseline after 2 weeks . The increased levels of {3H} thymidine incorporation in PBL were concomitant with the conversion of lymphopenia into lymphocytosis, accompanied by the release of many immature cells into the circulation . Lymphocytes isolated 24 h after SEA administration in vivo did not respond to the mitogenic action of SEA in vitro . Lymphocytes isolated at later stages after SEA challenge were fully activated by toxin . From a series of studies, it was concluded that SEA administered to monkeys caused, during the initial 24 h, the removal of a great proportion of lymphocytes from the circulation, followed by the release of new immature cells with augmented DNA synthesis activity . The lymphocytic leukocytosis state declined gradually and reached normal levels between 3 and 4 weeks after the SEA challenge . The biological implications of the hematological changes occurring after SEA challenge in vivo are discussed.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1984 May, (5), 95 - 9
{Immunological effectiveness of the combined vaccination of donors with inactivated chromatographic influenza vaccine and adsorbed staphylococcal anatoxin}; Gel'fand AS et al.; The influence of combined immunization with inactivated chromatographic vaccine and adsorbed staphylococcal toxoid on the activity of the immune system of volunteer donors has been studied . With the T- to B-cell ratio in the peripheral blood remaining stable, the third injection of staphylococcal toxoid induces a certain suppression of the capacity of lymphocytes for blast transformation in the presence of mitogen and specific antigens . The intensity of the accumulation of anti-alpha-staphylolysin is subject to considerable individual variations and depends on its level prior to immunization . The level of influenza antihemagglutinins remains most stable when the interval between the injection of inactivated chromatographic influenza vaccine and the beginning of immunization with adsorbed staphylococcal toxoid is 3-6 months.

Zhonghua Min Guo Wei Sheng Wu Ji Mian Yi Xue Za Zhi, 1984 May, 17(2), 77 - 80
{Detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin by latex agglutination inhibition test}; Lee CL et al.; Latex agglutination inhibition test was developed for the detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin . Water soluble carbodiimide was used for coupling enterotoxin to latex particles . Test samples were added to the anti-enterotoxin serum at first . Then, enterotoxin-linked latex particles were added to the mixture . When enterotoxin was present in the test sample, it reacted with anti-enterotoxin antibodies and inhibited antitoxin to agglutinate enterotoxin-linked latex particles . The inhibition of latex agglutination resulted in tho formation of sedimentation in the button of the well of microtiter or microcentrifuge tube . The test was read after 8 hours or overnight incubation at room temperature and the concentration of staphylococcal enterotoxin B as low as 0.5 micrograms/ml could be detected.

Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1984 May-Jun, 135A(3), 353 - 65
Comparison of cell wall teichoic acid fractions isolated from three different encapsulated strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis; Ohshima Y et al.; Teichoic acid preparations extracted from the cell wall of three serologically different encapsulated strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis, ATCC-31432 (capsular type I), SE-360 (capsular type II) and SE-10 (capsular type III) were purified by DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-50 column chromatography . The preparations showed immunological heterogeneity by an agar diffusion test . The chemical properties of the cell wall teichoic acid preparations of capsular types I and III were regarded as N-acetyl-glucosaminyl glycerol-phosphate polymers containing N-acetylglucosamine and phosphate at molar ratios of 0.22-1.0 and 0.33-1.0, respectively . The preparation of capsular type II was assumed to be an alpha-glucosyl glycerol-phosphate polymer containing glucose and phosphate at a molar ratio of 0.49-1.0, and it reacted strongly with concanavalin A . Moreover, alanine, glycine, serine and lysine were shown, among these preparations, to be a common amino acid composition . These results indicate that cell wall teichoic acids obtained from these strains were biochemically and immunologically different from each other.

Immunology, 1984 May, 52(1), 175 - 9
Gamma-interferon induction in human lymphoblasts compared with fresh mononuclear leucocytes: earlier synthesis, rapid shut-off and enhancement of yields by metabolic inhibitors; Wilkinson MF et al.; The mechanisms of gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) induction in fresh human peripheral blood mononuclear leucocytes (PBML) and proliferating lymphoblasts were compared . Cotreatment with mitogen (Staphylococcal enterotoxin A) and tumour promoter (mezerein) was used to induce maximum IFN-gamma production and thus to study the induction process under optimum conditions . Total IFN yields were about the same from both cell types . Proliferating lymphocytes produced IFN much earlier and more transiently than fresh PBML . Experiments with actinomycin D indicated that de novo synthesis of RNA was required for IFN-gamma production in both PBML and lymphoblasts, but that for maximal IFN-gamma production, lymphoblasts required RNA synthesis for a shorter period (1 hr) after induction than did fresh PBML (greater than 15 hr) . Appropriate schedules of treatment with metabolic inhibitors actually increased IFN production in lymphoblasts . This 'superinduction' could not be demonstrated for fresh PBML, implying differences in the turn-off of IFN-gamma production in these two cell types . Taken together, these results indicate that IFN-gamma expression is regulated differently in quiescent and activated lymphocytes.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1984 May, 95(5), 1445 - 57
Amino acid sequence of Japanese horseshoe crab (Tachypleus tridentatus) coagulogen B chain: completion of the coagulogen sequence; Takagi T et al.; The complete amino acid sequence of the B chain derived from Tachypleus tridentatus coagulogen was determined . It consisted of a total of 129 amino acid residues with a NH2-terminal glycine and COOH-terminal phenylalanine . Sequence studies of the whole B chain and the fragments obtained from the digests with trypsin, alpha-chymotrypsin, thermolysin and Staphylococcal protease V8 showed the following sequence: (sequence; see text) These structural studies of the B chain and the previously established amino acid sequences of the A chain and peptide C derived from T . tridentatus coagulogen, now make it possible to complete the whole sequence of coagulogen consisting of 175 amino acid residues with the molecular weight of 19,723.

Postgrad Med J, 1984 May, 60(703), 370 - 3
Hyperkalaemia in diabetes mellitus--potential hazards of coexisting hyporeninaemic hypoaldosteronism; Large DM et al.; Two patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (Type I), developed severe, life-threatening hyperkalaemia, the first following treatment with spironolactone, the second during treatment for staphylococcal septicaemia when glucose-induced hyperkalaemia occurred . Investigations demonstrated co-existing hyporeininaemic hypoaldosteronism . Prompt recognition of this combined hormone-deficiency syndrome led to appropriate treatment and recovery . The biochemical features and clinical importance of hyporeninaemic hypoaldosteronism are discussed.

J Periodontol, 1984 May, 55(5), 278 - 82
The effect of surface adsorption and staining reactions on the antimicrobial properties of some cationic antiseptic mouthwashes; Moran J et al.; The phenomenon of surface adsorption appears fundamental to the antiplaque activity of the cationic antiseptics . Moreover, reaction with chromogenic material is relevant to the local side effect of staining . The purpose of this investigation was to determine how such local reactions affect the antibacterial activity of some of these antiseptics . The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of commercial mouthrinses containing alexidine, cetyl pyridinium chloride, chlorhexidine gluconate and hexetidine against Oxford staphylococcus (NCTC 6571) and Escherichia coli (NCTC 10418) was established by tube dilution . The effect on the MIC values against O . staphylococcus of adding polymethylmethacrylate polymer or against E coli of adding a standard tea solution was then measured . The zones of inhibition around acrylic blocks soaked in the respective antiseptics, with and without postexposure washings, were measured . The effects on zone width of placing the antiseptic-soaked blocks in tea were recorded . The MIC values of alexidine, cetyl pyridinium chloride and chlorhexidine gluconate, but not hexetidine, were all increased by adding polymethylmethacrylate to cultures . Tea added to the culture increased the MIC values against E . coli for alexidine, chlorhexidine and hexetidine, but not for cetyl pyridinium chloride . Zones of inhibition around antiseptic-treated blocks were reduced by washing and, in the case of hexetidine, completely abolished . Tea-soaking further reduced the zones of inhibition for alexidine and chlorhexidine, but not cetyl pyridinium chloride.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Hum Pathol, 1984 May, 15(5), 486 - 90
Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy associated with large-muscle arteritis; Warlow R et al.; This is the reported case of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy associated with large-muscle arteritis . Additional features included severe thrombocytopenia, IgG lambda paraproteinemia, and terminal staphylococcal and candidal infections.

Infect Immun, 1984 May, 44(2), 234 - 40
Effects of staphylococcal enterotoxin A on the rat gastrointestinal tract; Beery JT et al.; Staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) was administered orally (15 micrograms) to two groups of rats . A marked immune reaction was evoked in the stomach and proximal small intestine of the first group . The second group of rats was used to study the absorptive fate and sites of action of orally administered SEA, utilizing immunoperoxidase staining . After oral dosing of the second group of rats . SEA-related immunoperoxidase staining was confined to: (i) neutrophils and macrophages, principally in the duodenum, and (ii) glomerular neutrophils and cells of the proximal convoluted tubules . Peroxidase staining of the kidney was noted within 15 min of exposure, indicating that SEA or some major postabsorption antigenic product can promptly pass through an intact gastrointestinal mucous membrane and become renally localized . Intestinal and renal detoxification and removal was indicated by an absence of detectable antigen in rats 180 min postexposure . Neuronal binding of SEA in the gastrointestinal tract was not demonstrable.

Antibiotiki, 1984 May, 29(5), 338 - 44
{Experimental effect of lysozyme on macrophage metabolism and resistance to infection}; Shcherbakova EG et al.; The peritoneal macrophages of mice treated with lysozyme were studied by cytochemical assay . In single and repeated doses of 0.5-5 mg/kg lysozyme induced an increase in macrophage metabolism . This was evident from an increased activity of succinate dehydrogenase, NADP X N-DH and the enzymes catalyzing glycolysis typical of these cells (lactate dehydrogenase and alpha-glycerophosphate) . The changes in the activity of the enzymatic systems were most pronounced in minute and less mature macrophages after repeated administrations of the drugs . In a dose of 50 mg/kg lysozyme somewhat decreased the activity of a number of the enzymes . In the doses optimal for the macrophage activity lysozyme had a low effect on the infection resistance and slightly increased the cephotaxim efficiency in experimental staphylococcal infection . This may be mainly due to the immunomodulating effect of lysozyme and its low effect on the large macrophages having the bactericidal effect.

Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd, 1984 May, 44(5), 307 - 10
{Chlamydia trachomatis--laparoscopy specimen-taking and diagnosis of salpingitis}; Hoyme UB et al.; To determine the microbiological aetiology of salpingitis, swab specimens for chlamydial cultures from the fimbriae and cul-de-sac were obtained by means of a new laparoscopic instrument in 47 patients with salpingitis . Due to technical problems with the new method, 19 women were lost for evaluation; however, eight of the remaining 28 (28.6%) had positive chlamydial cultures . No other bacteria were found in the cul-de-sac fluid . Laparoscopy was used in 45 additional patients to aspirate cul-de-sac fluid . Chlamydia trachomatis was found in three women (6.7%), Bacteroides fragilis and Staphylococcus epidermidis in one each.

J Biol Chem, 1984 Apr 25, 259(8), 4947 - 56
Evolution of alpha-lactalbumins . The complete amino acid sequence of the alpha-lactalbumin from a marsupial (Macropus rufogriseus) and corrections to regions of sequence in bovine and goat alpha-lactalbumins; Shewale JG et al.; alpha-Lactalbumin was purified from a whey protein fraction of the milk of the red-necked wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) . The complete amino acid sequence was determined from the results of automatic sequenator analyses of the intact protein, the three cyanogen bromide fragments, and of peptides generated from the larger, COOH-terminal CNBr fragment by digestion with trypsin or staphylococcal protease . This is the first sequence to be determined of an alpha-lactalbumin from a marsupial and differs from known eutherian alpha-lactalbumins in size and locations of deletions in alignments with the homologous type c lysozymes, as well as in having amino acid substitutions at 8 sites that are invariant in known eutherian proteins . Some corrections are also reported for two regions of sequence in both bovine and goat alpha-lactalbumins . The new and previously published information on alpha-lactalbumin sequences is analyzed in relation to the evolutionary history of the alpha-lactalbumin line as well as the relationship of structure to function in these proteins.

J Biol Chem, 1984 Apr 10, 259(7), 4596 - 602
Partial purification and characterization of microtubular protein from Trypanosoma brucei; Stieger J et al.; The tubulin proteins of the parasitic hemoflagellate Trypanosoma brucei brucei were purified and characterized . Cytoskeletal microtubules of trypanosomes do not disrupt under conditions used to solubilize brain tubulins . Trypanosomal tubulins, solubilized by extensive sonication, were partially purified from the crude cell extracts by taxol-mediated polymerization . Taxolinduced microtubules were identified by electron microscopy and analyzed biochemically . They consist predominantly of two proteins of about 52,000 and 56,000 Da . Their mobilities on sodium dodecyl sulfate gels differ slightly from those of bovine brain tubulins . Immunological cross-reactivity with antibodies raised against bovine brain tubulins confirmed the nature of the trypanosomal proteins . Peptide mapping of bovine and trypanosomal alpha- and beta-tubulins was performed by enzymatic digestion with staphylococcal protease V8 and chemical cleavage with N-chlorosuccinimide . In both cases, the peptide patterns generated from the trypanosomal alpha- and beta-tubulins were closely related to each other . This suggests that the trypanosomal alpha- and beta-tubulins may have remained more conserved during evolution than the tubulins from higher eukaryotes . The trypanosomal alpha-tubulin is post-translationally modified in vivo by the reversible addition of a tyrosine residue at its COOH terminus . As in higher eukaryotes, this reaction is completely specific for the alpha-polypeptide chain . Our observation represents the first documentation of the occurrence of COOH-terminal tyrosinolation of alpha-tubulin in an eukaryotic microorganism.

J Forensic Sci, 1984 Apr, 29(2), 412 - 7
Bacterial transmigration as an indicator of time of death; Melvin JR Jr et al.; Time of death is difficult to evaluate in many forensic science situations . We have developed an animal model for assessing the time of death by evaluating the transmigration of normal microbiota through the wall of the small intestine . A segment of small intestine was removed from decapitated CF-1 mice ( Carnsworth Farms) and suspended in vitro in a beaker containing sterile phosphate-buffered saline . Bacterial transmigration was evaluated in this model over a three-day period at select temperatures (4, 25, and 37 degrees C) by microbiological cultures and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) . Evidence of bacterial transmigration by SEM occurred within 2 to 3 h at 37 degrees C, 5 to 6 h at 25 degrees C, and 72 h at 4 degrees C . Analysis of the microbiological data indicated a differential flux of select bacterial and mycotic organisms . Staphylococcal species were the first organisms to be cultured from the suspending saline . These organisms are known to elaborate powerful protease enzymes that may play an important role in the degeneration of gut tissues . Coliform-type organisms and candida species were found at later times after death . The last major groups of bacteria to be identified were a variety of anaerobic species . This model may be adaptable to certain situations in human forensic pathology.

Clin Immunol Immunopathol, 1984 Apr, 31(1), 102 - 8
Effects of staphylococcal protein A on distribution of immune complexes in rats and uptake by phagocytic cells; Siag WM et al.; Immune complexes (IC) of 125I-P30 anti-P30 when injected iv into normal BN rats were primarily sequestered in the spleen . Protein A (PA) when mixed with IC or when injected 6 hr before or after IC inhibited significantly the deposition of IC in the spleen . PA also inhibited deposition of IC in spleens of nude rats which lack thymus-dependent cells and functions . In vitro, PA enhanced significantly the uptake and catabolism of IC by PMN, but inhibited the uptake of IC by macrophages . This differential effect of PA on PMN and macrophages may partially explain the effect of PA on the deposition of IC in vivo.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1984 Apr, 81(7), 1986 - 90
Cloning and expression of cDNA encoding a bovine adrenal cytochrome P-450 specific for steroid 21-hydroxylation; White PC et al.; We isolated a cDNA clone encoding a bovine adrenal cytochrome P-450 specific for steroid 21-hydroxylation (P-450C21) . Serum from rabbits immunized with purified P-450C21 precipitated a single protein from the products of an in vitro translation reaction using bovine adrenal mRNA . This protein migrated with P-450C21 on NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . After sucrose gradient sedimentation, mRNA encoding P-450C21 was found in the 19S fraction . This fraction was reverse transcribed into double-stranded cDNA and inserted into the Pst I site of pBR322 by the dC X dG tailing procedure . Escherichia coli cells transformed with recombinant plasmids were screened with an in situ immunoassay using anti-P-450C21 serum and 125I-labeled staphylococcal protein A . Two colonies consistently bound anti-P-450C21 serum . They were identified as carrying the same plasmid by restriction mapping . This plasmid, pC21a, contains an insert of 520 base pairs . It hybridizes with mRNA encoding P-450C21 . The peptide encoded by the insert in pC21a is highly homologous to two peptides isolated from porcine P-450C21 and shows limited homology to the P-450 induced by phenobarbital in rat liver . This clone may be useful in studying the molecular genetics of human congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency.

Cancer Genet Cytogenet, 1984 Apr, 11(4), 395 - 8
Cell cycle analysis of stimulated lymphocytes of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia; Sadamori N et al.; To clarify the cell cycle duration of stimulated cells in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL), sister chromatid differentiation (SCD) methodology was utilized . So-called polyclonal B-cell activators (PBA), i.e., staphylococcus bacteria strain Cowan I (Cowan I), pokeweed mitogen (PWM), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and lipopolysaccharide W from E . coli 055:B5 (LPS), were examined . Most metaphases on day 2 (48 hr) of culture were in first division (M1), and about half of the metaphases on day 3 (72 hr) of culture were in the second division (M2), and many of the metaphases on day 4 (96 hr) of culture were in the third division . These facts suggest that the optimal culture time for cytogenetic study of B-CLL should be 3 days or less to avoid in vitro artifacts.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1984 Apr, 56(2), 311 - 6
Applications of fluorescent antibody for detecting capsular substances in Staphylococcus epidermidis; Ichiman Y; A fluorescent antibody technique was developed for the determination of the type of capsule of strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis . Many mouse virulent and avirulent strain populations were investigated . Of 300 fresh isolates of Staph . epidermidis, 27 were mouse virulent strains and of these 74.1% and 25.9% were mono- and polyvalent, respectively . The frequency of capsular type antigens I, II and III, produced by the 27 virulent strains was found to be 18.5%, 88.9% and 18.5%, the majority being capsular type II . In the mouse avirulent strains, capsular type antigen production was demonstrated in 263 out of 273 strains examined and mono- and polyvalent capsular types comprised 52.3% and 44.0%, respectively . Capsular type I, II, III strains and non-typable strains occurred at frequencies of 15.0%, 95.2%, 34.9% and 3.7% respectively, the majority of mouse avirulent strains also being capsular type II . These results indicate that a majority of ordinary Staph . epidermidis produced capsular type antigens although the capability is quantitatively different according to strain.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1984 Apr, (4), 104 - 8
{Effect of trypsin on the immune response in localized staphylococcal infection}; Prokopenko LG et al.; The influence of trypsin on the formation of immune response induced by a thymus-dependent antigen at different periods of localized staphylococcal infection has been studied . A single intramuscular injection of bovine trypsin has been found to enhance immune response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) in healthy mice and, to a still greater degree, in mice with localized staphylococcal infection . the development of localized staphylococcal infection has been shown to have no influence on the manifestation of the immuno-suppressive effect of splenocytes in SRBC-immunized mice or to enhance this effect . The injection of trypsin decreases the immunosuppressive effect of splenocytes in healthy or staphylococcus-infected hyperimmune mice.

J Gen Microbiol, 1984 Apr, 130 ( Pt 4), 803 - 7
The microbial ecology of pilosebaceous units isolated from human skin; Leeming JP et al.; A method allowing isolation and microbiological analysis of individual pilosebaceous units (follicles) was used to study biopsies of back skin obtained from volunteer acne vulgaris patients . The main microbial groups isolated were members of the genera Propionibacterium, Staphylococcus and Pityrosporum . The incidence (and mean density) of these organisms in 140 normal follicles was 12% (2.6 X 10(5) per follicle), 4% (5.5 X 10(3) per follicle) and 13% (10(2) per follicle) respectively . Colonized follicles were not distributed evenly amongst the subjects studied . The results are analysed and discussed from an ecological standpoint.

Vet Rec, 1984 Mar 31, 114(13), 313 - 5
Cutaneous staphylococcosis in rabbits; Okerman L et al.; An outbreak of cutaneous staphylococcosis caused high mortality among newborn and very young rabbits . The most typical lesions were exudative dermatitis in the youngest, subcutaneous abscesses in rabbits of all ages and mastitis in lactating does . Generalised staphylococcosis was a frequent secondary manifestation of the disease.

J Immunol Methods, 1984 Mar 30, 68(1-2), 1 - 9
A sensitive screening method of detecting anti-granulocyte antibodies employing radiolabeled staphylococcal protein A; Lazar GS et al.; We describe an improved method of detecting anti-granulocyte antibodies utilizing radiolabeled staphylococcal protein A (SPA) . The results of this SPA assay were compared to data obtained with leukoagglutination tests and granulocyte indirect immunofluorescence techniques . We have shown that the SPA assay is highly sensitive and reproducible . In addition, absorption studies confirmed that the assay is specific for granulocytes . The SPA assay is performed in microtiter plates, and requires significantly fewer granulocytes and less test sera than previously described techniques . Also, we have shown that granulocytes prepared for this assay can be separated and stored for up to 48 h . Therefore, the SPA assay described herein is particularly useful for screening of sera and is one of the most sensitive assays available for detecting anti-granulocyte antibodies.

J Immunol Methods, 1984 Mar 16, 67(2), 371 - 7
Production of mitogen-free immune interferon and T-cell growth factor by human peripheral blood lymphocytes induced with biotin-labeled staphylococcal enterotoxin A; Clark BR et al.; A method for the facile removal of mitogens or inducers of lymphokine production from cell culture medium of stimulated cells is described . The technique is based on the covalent attachment of biotin to mitogen or inducer and the removal of the biotinylated products from stimulated cell culture medium using immobilized avidin . Using this procedure, biotin-labeled staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA-B) was shown not to differ significantly from unmodified SEA in its capacity to stimulate mitogenesis and induce production of immune interferon (IFN) and T-cell growth factor (TCGF) in cultures of human mononuclear cells from peripheral blood . SEA-B was also shown not to differ from SEA in its binding to SEA antibodies . Results of mitogenicity studies and competitive radioimmune assay (RIA) measurements indicate that SEA-B is essentially completely removed from stimulated cell culture medium by absorption with avidin coupled to Sepharose 4B.

Biochem J, 1984 Mar 15, 218(3), 893 - 7
Evidence for two forms of ligandin (YaYa dimers of glutathione S-transferase) in rat liver and kidney; Sheehan D et al.; CM-cellulose chromatography of rat liver and kidney cytosol at pH6 reveals the presence of a second Ya-subunit dimer of glutathione S-transferase (GST-F) in addition to the recently described GST-YaYa (GST-L; our nomenclature) {Hayes & Clarkson (1982) Biochem . J . 207, 459-470} . The two forms are structurally similar (by the criteria of CNBr- and Staphylococcus-V8-proteinase-cleavage peptide maps), and both are sensitive to inhibition by haemin . However, their kinetic parameters with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene are quite distinct, and they show differential inducibility by phenobarbitone . These results suggest a similar heterogeneity in Ya-subunits to that previously described for Yb-subunits of glutathione S-transferase and indicate that significant gene duplication may have occurred in these multifunctional intracellular binding proteins.

Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1984 Mar-Apr, 135A(2), 319 - 27
{Digestive and cutaneous colonization of Staphylococcus epidermidis in hairless axenic mice}; Bourlioux P et al.; In order to determine the cutaneous and digestive colonization of S . epidermidis in germ-free HRS mice, several groups of animals were contaminated with this strain according to different methods . The bacterial cutaneous enumerations were performed after preliminary crushing of the cutaneous biopsy . In this study, whatever the method of contamination of germ-free HRS mice, the kinetics of S . epidermidis cutaneous colonization was parallel to the kinetics of intestinal colonization . The isolation of bacteria on skin was possible only when microorganisms were eliminated in faeces (6 h after contamination) . During a single experiment, there was only slight variability in colonization, whether intestinal or cutaneous . Some differences could be found from one experiment to another, but all animals in the same trial showed the same cutaneous bacterial count . This experimental model is characterized by an interrelation between the intestinal and cutaneous ecosystems.

J Immunol, 1984 Mar, 132(3), 1397 - 409
A model for the formation and interconversion of protein A-immunoglobulin G soluble complexes; Hanson DC et al.; We present a model for the formation and interconversion of the soluble complexes formed by reacting staphylococcal protein A (SpA) with rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies . The basic elements of the model are developed from reported hydrodynamic and electron microscopic studies of these complexes (see accompanying companion paper), together with established structural and binding properties of IgG and SpA . The model includes specific symmetry and binding requirements for IgG-SpA combination, and a steric constraint between neighboring IgG molecules . We discuss how such a constraint could influence the assembly and distribution of equilibrium complexes . After formulating a convenient symbolism for representing IgG-SpA complexes, the suggested model is used to construct plausible structures for the four predominant complexes observed in moderate SpA excess . Distributions of these stable complexes at different IgG:SpA ratios, together with LeChatelier's principle and a straightforward thermodynamic derivation, are used to predict likely arrangements of equilibrium structures . Also, a scale model of the unique IgG4-SpA2 complex formed in IgG excess is constructed from reported x-ray diffraction and amino acid sequence data . An intuitive thermodynamic argument is used to show that the suggested steric constraint could cause the rather unprecedented reversible transformation of the four 7 to 15S complexes into the unique 17S complex . A computer simulation is used to predict equilibrium concentrations of the various proposed complexes at different IgG:SpA ratios . In support of the suggested structures, the calculated thermodynamic distributions agree surprisingly well with those measured with the ultracentrifuge . We point out how the proposed arrangements of the complexes, and in particular the 17S complex, can account for many of their novel properties, such as antigen-induced conformational changes . Reported differences in complement activation and precipitate formation by SpA complexes formed with antibodies from various species are also discussed with regard to possible differences in structural arrangements of the complexes.

J Immunol, 1984 Mar, 132(3), 1386 - 96
Electron microscopic and hydrodynamic studies of protein A-immunoglobulin G soluble complexes; Hanson DC et al.; The soluble complexes formed by reacting staphylococcal protein A (SpA) with rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies were characterized by hydrodynamic and electron microscopic methods . In moderate SpA excess, equilibrium mixtures of SpA and rabbit IgG formed four discrete complexes that sedimented at approximately 7, 10, 13, and 15S . The putative complexes were visible by electron microscopy and appeared to contain one, two, three, and approximately five molecules of IgG . Probably because of its elongated shape, SpA was not clearly visible in these mixtures or in control preparations of SpA alone . Both native IgG and IgG modified by cleavage of its single-hinge disulfide bond formed similar complexes on interaction with SpA . It was possible to resolve heterogeneous mixtures of IgG-SpA complexes by using an analytical ultracentrifuge equipped with a photoelectric scanner interfaced to a small computer . The relative concentrations and sedimentation velocities of different complexes in a mixture were determined from computer-generated integral and derivative plots . Both hydrodynamic and electron microscopic methods revealed that the distribution of complexes was sensitive to the IgG to SpA molar ratio . The relative amounts of faster complexes increased as the IgG to SpA molar ratio was increased . Surprisingly, when the IgG to SpA molar ratio was greater than or equal to 2, the complexes were converted into a unique 17S complex . This rather unprecedented transformation was reversible: the addition of excess SpA caused the dissociation of the 17S complex into a mixture of the 7, 10, 13, and 15S structures . The average translational diffusion coefficient of the 17S complex was 2.62 +/- 0.13 Ficks . In the electron microscope, the complex appeared to be exceptionally compact with an average diameter of 287 A . The stoichiometry of the 17S complex, together with sedimentation equilibrium, diffusion, and electron microscopic measurements, indicated that it is composed of four molecules of IgG and two molecules of SpA.

Infect Control, 1984 Mar, 5(3), 127 - 30
Storage of human breast milk; Larson E et al.; The bacteriologic content of expressed breast milk was studied in 30 mothers at the time of expression and after 24 and 48 hours of refrigeration . There were no significant differences in colony counts between the three time intervals . All samples contained Staphylococcus epidermidis . In addition, eight other species were found, including four which were gram-negative . All samples contained less than 10(6) colonies/ml, and there were no significant differences in mean colony counts between samples expressed at home and at the hospital . We conclude that it is bacteriologically safe to refrigerate expressed breast milk for up to 48 hours.

Allergol Immunopathol (Madr), 1984 Mar-Apr, 12(2), 129 - 34
The mechanisms of bronchospasm in experimental microbial sensitization . I . Immunological stage; Beklemishev ND et al.; Immune mechanisms of smooth muscle spastic bronchial reactions were reproduced and studied in isolated guinea pig lungs and found to develop type I, III and IV allergic reactions at sensitization to brucella and staphylococcus . Type I reactions were reproduced in animal lungs with immediate hypersensitivity to soluble microbial antigens . Type III reactions were obtained by transfusion of soluble immune complexes containing microbial antigens into isolated lungs Bronchospastic reactions arose only in the presence of the complement . Antibodies responsible for bronchospasm belonged to the IgG class . Type IV reactions were produced in vitro using supernatants obtained by incubation of lymphoid cells isolated from animals with delayed hypersensitivity with homologic microbial antigens . The supernatants possessed bronchospastic action.

Am J Vet Res, 1984 Mar, 45(3), 491 - 8
Development and characterization of a hybridoma-derived antibody (Aby 1A1) with specificity to canine thymocytes and peripheral T lymphocytes; Krawiec DR et al.; A hybridoma (1A1)-producing antibody with reactivity to canine T-lymphocyte surface antigens was produced, using standard fusion techniques . Antibody secreted from this hybridoma was tested for specific anti-canine lymphocyte activity, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, an indirect-fluorescent antibody assay, and cytotoxicity assay . Antibody 1A1 reacted with canine T lymphocytes, but not with B lymphocytes, and with brain tissue and connective tissue . The antibody was also characterized . Its heavy chain had a molecular weight (mol wt) of 80,000 and its light chain was 28,000 mol wt . The Aby 1A1 is a monoclonal immunoglobulin M with a kappa light chain, and it binds poorly to Staphylococcus A.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1984 Mar, 81(5), 1445 - 7
Selective killing of Fc-receptor-bearing tumor cells through endocytosis of a drug-carrying immune complex; Shen WC et al.; A soluble immune complex was used as a drug carrier targeted to Fc-receptor-positive cells . Two receptor-positive tumor cell lines, WEHI-3 and M5076, were exposed to methotrexate-human serum albumin conjugate (MTX-HSA) in the presence and absence of anti-HSA antiserum . Both cell types were killed by 30 nM MTX when the drug conjugate was given in the presence of antiserum but were totally unaffected in the absence of antiserum . Drug-free HSA given with antiserum had no effect . Both cell lines responded similarly despite their marked difference in phagocytotic activity . One of the two lines, M5076, is defective in MTX transport and hence resistant to free MTX . Since this line would not be affected by MTX released extracellularly from MTX-HSA, its susceptibility implies that MTX is released inside cells, after endocytosis of the complex, and that endocytosis circumvents the transport defect . Two cell lines lacking Fc receptors (CHO and L929) were not influenced by the drug complex . The pharmacologic effect is mediated by a specific ligand-receptor interaction, since Fc receptor-positive cells are protected by an excess of unconjugated HSA and by the addition of a small amount of staphylococcal protein A, which binds to the Fc portion of IgG . These data demonstrate that Fc receptors can be exploited for cellular drug delivery using a common antigen-antibody complex as a drug carrier.

J Clin Invest, 1984 Mar, 73(3), 611 - 25
Presence of complement-fixing anti-endothelial cell antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus; Cines DB et al.; Vasculitis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with the deposition of IgG and complement in blood vessel walls . However, it is not known whether immune injury to endothelial cells is a part of this process . Therefore, we used a solid phase radioimmunoassay to study the ability of IgG from normal human sera and sera from patients with SLE to bind to endothelial cells . In this assay, cultured human umbilical venous endothelial cells were sequentially incubated with normal or SLE sera, goat anti-human IgG, and 125I-labeled staphylococcal protein A (*SPA) . After exposure to normal sera, 2.5 +/- 0.5% (mean +/- SD) of the added *SPA bound to the cells, whereas after exposure to SLE sera 13.8 +/- 7.6% of the added *SPA bound to these cells . This difference in binding was highly significant (P less than 0.001) . Binding was partially reduced when SLE sera were preincubated with B-lymphocytes or monocytes, but not after exposure to erythrocytes, platelets, or T lymphocytes . Incubation of endothelial cells with the 7S fraction of SLE sera or with the F(ab')2 fragment of SLE-IgG resulted in the deposition of greater than 80% as much IgG as was deposited on endothelial cells by whole serum . However, since higher molecular weight fractions (greater than 7S) of SLE sera were also active, we tested the capacity of endothelial cells to bind IgG complexes . Endothelial cells bound heat-aggregated IgG (HA-IgG) in a saturable manner at one log concentration below the binding of normal monomeric IgG . Binding of HA-IgG to endothelial cells was markedly enhanced by preincubation with a serum source of complement . Both HA-IgG and SLE-IgG also bound to freshly obtained endothelial cells in suspension, as detected by automated fluorescence flow cytometry . Binding of SLE-IgG and HA-IgG to endothelium initiated complement activation, deposition of the third component of complement, and disruption of the monolayer . In addition, SLE-IgG and HA-IgG caused endothelial cells to secrete prostacyclin and caused the adherence of platelets, confirmed by scanning electron microscopy . These studies demonstrate that IgG anti-endothelial antibodies are present in the sera of patients with active SLE . These sera may also contain IgG complexes that are capable of binding to endothelial cells . The association of IgG and complement with endothelial cells may initiate vascular injury in SLE and other human disorders.

Vopr Virusol, 1984 Mar-Apr, 29(2), 240 - 5
{Human immune interferon: production and action}; Aspetov RD et al.; The most marked production of immune interferon by human peripheral blood leukocytes and splenocytes stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) was shown to be achieved when lymphoid cells are propagated under conditions of constant sparing mixing on roller apparatus at a temperature of 37 degrees +/- 0.5 degrees C . The resulting interferon was sensitive to low pH, thermolabile, inactivated by treatment with trypsin, and not neutralised by antisera to human alpha- and beta-interferons . The antiviral properties with regard to vesicular stomatitis and Semliki Forest viruses were practically similar in PHA- and SEA-induced interferon and human alpha- and beta-interferons . The capacity to inhibit colony formation by HeLa cells was 30 times higher in gamma-interferon than the antiproliferative activity of alpha- and beta-interferons.

Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 1984 Mar, 5(4), 313 - 21
Immune complexes in Aleutian disease: demonstration of antibody on isolated virus; Hahn EC; The specific binding of Staphylococcal protein A for mammalian immunoglobulin G was used to demonstrate IgG associated with Aleutian disease virus (ADV) when isolated from infected mink tissues . Protein A specifically bound to mink serum Ig with no reaction with other serum or tissue proteins . Protein A labeled with 131Iodine reacted with crude virus preparations but not with virus that had been purified by freon extraction to the point where it became reactive with antibody by counterimmunoelectrophoresis . Binding to purified ADV was restored when the purified virus was first reacted with antibody . Results of urea treatment indicated this as an alternative method for isolation of ADV free from antibody.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1984 Mar, 81(6), 1679 - 83
Isolation of an angiotensin II-binding protein from liver; Sen I et al.; A protein that specifically binds angiotensin II has been isolated in nearly homogeneous form by two independent approaches after solubilization from rabbit liver particles by treatment with digitonin . The protein purified by either of these methods resembles in size the single radioactive macromolecular component made by using disuccinimidyl suberate to crosslink radioiodinated angiotensin II with its receptor in the solubilized extract . In the first technique, angiotensin II as an affinity ligand specifically extracted the protein from a preparation that had been freed of angiotensin-degrading activity . In the second approach, the angiotensin II-protein complex was specifically precipitated by anti-angiotensin II antibodies and staphylococcal protein A-Sepharose . The protein could be eluted from the affinity column with angiotensin II or 4 M MgCl2 . The angiotensin II-protein complex dissociated in the presence of sulfhydryl-containing reagents, and these could therefore be used to elute it from either the chemical or the immunoaffinity-based matrix . This effect of sulfhydryl-containing reagents and the paradoxical observation that the isolated protein after denaturation exhibited a slower electrophoretic mobility in its reduced form that in its unreduced form suggest that the binding configuration of this protein may be sensitive to reduction.

J Immunol, 1984 Mar, 132(3), 1311 - 6
Role of interleukin 1 in antigen-specific T cell proliferation; Chu E et al.; The role of interleukin 1 (IL 1) in human antigen-specific T cell proliferation was examined . Nylon wool-purified T cells proliferated in the presence of autologous monocytes (Mo.) pulsed for 18 h with tetanus toxoid (TT) antigen (Mo.TT) . Irradiation of Mo.TT with ultraviolet (UV) light (72 J/m2) abolished their capacity to support T cell proliferation and drastically reduced their capacity to secrete IL 1 after stimulation with Staphylococcus albus . The defect in antigen presentation induced by UV irradiation of Mo.TT was reversed in a dose-dependent manner by the addition of two different preparations containing human interleukin 1 (IL 1) . The first preparation consisted of supernatants of Mo . stimulated with Con A for 18 hr and in which Con A activity was blocked by alpha-D-methyl-mannoside (Mo.-Con A-Sup) . The second preparation consisted of human IL 1 partially purified from supernatants of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with S . albus . This IL 1 copurified with human leukocyte pyrogen (LP) and was termed IL 1/LP . Both IL 1-containing preparations enhanced the response of C57BL/6 mouse thymocytes to phytohemagglutinin . A rabbit antibody to human IL 1/LP inhibited the capacity of T cells to proliferate in response to Mo.TT and inhibited the capacity of Mo.-Con A-Sup to reconstitute the T cell response to UV-irradiated Mo.TT . IL 1/LP was not necessary for T cells to recognize the immunogenic moiety presented by Mo., because monolayers of UV-irradiated Mo.TT were equivalent to monolayers of unirradiated MO.TT in their capacity to adsorb TT-reactive T cells specifically . Furthermore, the addition of rabbit antibody to IL 1/LP did not interfere with the capacity of UV-irradiated Mo.TT to adsorb TT-reactive T cells . The results obtained in this study indicate that IL 1 is involved in optimal antigen-driven proliferation of human T lymphocytes.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1984 Feb 29, 119(1), 157 - 62
Differences in the expression of the human interferon-gamma gene in fresh lymphocytes and cultured lymphoblasts; Siggens KW et al.; Fresh human peripheral blood mononuclear lymphocytes and lymphoblasts that had been grown for a period in T-cell growth-factor containing medium were stimulated with staphylococcal enterotoxin A plus mezerein to produce interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) . Growing lymphoblasts produced peak levels of IFN-gamma much earlier after induction than fresh lymphocytes . Quantitation of the steady-state levels of IFN-gamma mRNA showed these to differ markedly between the two cell types over a period of time post-induction . In fresh lymphocytes the steady-state levels of IFN-gamma mRNA increased to a peak level over a period of 4 days while in growing lymphoblasts the peak level occurred after 8 hours . These differences in IFN-gamma mRNA production were shown to be not the result of gross alteration of RNA metabolism following blast transformation.

Lancet, 1984 Feb 18, 1(8373), 365 - 7
Effect of extracellular slime substance from Staphylococcus epidermidis on the human cellular immune response; Gray ED et al.; Staphylococcus epidermidis infection of plastic catheters is often associated with heavy deposits of slime . To test whether this slime affects the human cellular immune response, its effect on the lympho-proliferative response of mononuclear cells to polyclonal stimulators was measured . Slime drastically reduces this response . Its inhibitory action was not immediate but took place over a few days and resulted in destruction of affected cells . The effect is dose related . This inhibition of cellular response may contribute to S epidermidis infection of implanted prostheses.

Anal Biochem, 1984 Feb, 137(1), 106 - 14
The interaction of proteins and cells with affinity ligands covalently coupled to silicon surfaces as monitored by ellipsometry; Mandenius CF et al.; Two methods for the chemical binding of biomolecules to silicon surfaces are described . The first method utilizes an alkyl silane and a nucleophilic reagent to join the biomolecule to the silicon surface; the second method involves crosslinking with glutaraldehyde in order to couple the biomolecule and albumin molecules, which have first been physically adsorbed . The course of binding to the silicon surface has been followed with the aid of ellipsometry . This optical measuring technique estimates the thicknesses of, e.g., organic layers, by measuring the polarization properties of a light beam before and after reflection at surfaces . The method by which the binding of a biomolecule to its corresponding affinity ligand on silicon wafers can be followed with this technique is reported . The systems studied are concanavalin A-Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells, immunoglobulin G-Staphylococcus aureus cells, and an NAD-analog-lactate dehydrogenase . With ellipsometry it was possible to assess how the incubation time and the concentration of the cells and the biomolecules added influenced the results . It was found that an increasing time of incubation and higher concentration resulted in a more complete coverage of the silicon wafer surfaces.

Anal Biochem, 1984 Feb, 136(2), 458 - 64
Isolation of molecules recognized by monoclonal antibodies and antisera: the solid phase immunoisolation technique; Tamura GS et al.; A simple technique for the isolation of antigens recognized by antisera and monoclonal antibodies has been developed . This method, the solid-phase immunoisolation technique, employs the protein-binding properties of polyvinylchloride microtiter plates . Antibodies are adsorbed to the plates either directly or via an anti-immunoglobulin reagent . Antigen is then placed in the wells, and allowed to adsorb to the antibody . The well is washed, and the antigen is then eluted with a denaturing electrophoresis sample buffer for one- or two-dimensional analysis . The solid-phase immunoisolation technique has been used to isolate a variety of cell membrane antigens with high signals and low backgrounds . The ease of the procedure and the high signal-to-noise ratio make this method preferable to the use of a staphylococcal adsorbent for many applications.

Ann Ophthalmol, 1984 Feb, 16(2), 170 - 2
Septic choroidal effusion after scleral buckling operation; Ho PC et al.; We treated a case of suppurative choroidal effusion occurring after a scleral buckling procedure in a diabetic patient . Staphylococcus epidermidis was isolated from culture of the suprachoroidal fluid, but cultures of the vitreous fluid and anterior chamber aspirate yielded no growth . There was no associated infection of the scleral implant material and no formation of scleral abscess . Despite intensive systemic, periocular, and topical therapy with antibiotics and corticosteroids, vision could not be salvaged . We suspect the route of infection was through the scleral perforation site for drainage of subretinal fluid.

South Med J, 1984 Feb, 77(2), 271 - 2
Polymicrobial brain abscess in a homosexual man with Kaposi's sarcoma; Pitlik SD et al.; A progressive visual field defect and fever occurred in a 39-year-old homosexual man with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and Kaposi's sarcoma . Computerized tomography of the brain documented a left parieto-occipital abscess . A specimen obtained at the time of surgical excision of the lesion revealed organisms with morphologic features of Toxoplasma gondii and Candida . Culture of this material grew Staphylococcus epidermidis . Appropriate therapy for this polymicrobial infection resulted in resolution of the fever and clinical improvement . The visual deficit remained unchanged despite antimicrobial therapy.

J Clin Invest, 1984 Feb, 73(2), 397 - 404
Influence of methimazole on murine thyroiditis . Evidence for immunosuppression in vivo; Davies TF et al.; Thionamide drugs are immunosuppressives in vitro . To examine this action in vivo, A/J mice were immunized with human thyroglobulin (hTg) (0.5 mg intraperitoneal injections for 5 d) beginning on days 6, 24, and 43 with or without methimazole (M) (0.05%) and l-thyroxine (T4) (0.1 micrograms/ml to prevent thyroid hypertrophy) in their water supply . Groups (n = 8) were killed on days 37, 42, and 59 . Spontaneous splenic IgG-secreting cells determined by Staphylococcus protein A-linked sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) via indirect plaque-forming cell (PFC) assay indicated polyclonal stimulation induced by the hTg exposure (controls = 2,285 +/- 599, hTg-only = 5,570 +/- 470 PFC per 10(6) spleen cells), but this was significantly reduced in the M plus T4-treated group (3,640 +/- 415 PFC, P = 0.05) . hTg antibody was measured by specific PFC assay using hTg-linked SRBC . Anti-hTg PFC were absent in controls and were 147 +/- 41, 25 +/- 8, and 173 +/- 58 PFC per 10(6) spleen cells in the hTg-only groups on days 37, 42, and 59, respectively . Anti-hTg PFC results in the M plus T4-treated animals were significantly reduced to 0, 15 +/- 5, and 63 +/- 30 anti-hTg PFC . Histological examination revealed a marked thyroiditis in hTg-only animals and a significantly reduced degree of mononuclear cell infiltration and follicular destruction in the M plus T4-treated groups (graded 1.9 compared with 3.6 in hTg-only P = less than 0.01) . Examination of IgG deposition using fluorescent anti-mouse IgG revealed a similar granular pattern and degree of staining in both immunized groups . Control animals that received concurrent T4 administration alone showed similar hTg-induced murine thyroiditis to non-T4-treated animals and could not explain the apparent immunosuppression observed . In conclusion, these data demonstrated that M reduced both the splenic immune response and the degree of thyroiditis after heterologous Tg immunization, while a quantitative difference in the circulating and intrathyroidally deposited Tg antibody was not detected.

J Bone Joint Surg Am, 1984 Feb, 66(2), 228 - 41
Treatment of primary osteoarthritis of the hip . A comparison of total joint and surface replacement arthroplasty; Amstutz HC et al.; Of 285 total hip arthroplasties (260 patients) performed for primary osteoarthritis during a six-year period, 135 were resurfaced using a Tharies prosthesis (total hip articular replacement with internal eccentric shells) and 150 were treated with the Trapezoidal-28 total hip replacement . From each of these two groups 100 hips (ninety-one patients in the Tharies group and eighty-six in the Trapezoidal-28 group) that had been followed for two to seven years were evaluated at the time of follow-up in accordance with a predetermined protocol . The patients were younger in the Tharies than in the Trapezoidal-28 group (average ages, fifty-eight and sixty-six years), included more men (sixty compared with thirty-five), and were more active postoperatively . The average follow-up was forty-seven months for the total joint-replacement group and thirty-eight months for the surface replacement group . At follow-up the ratings for pain, walking, and function according to the University of California at Los Angeles 10-point scale and the clinical results were identical in the two groups . Heterotopic ossification (Brooker grade III or IV) developed after thirteen Trapezoidal-28 and twenty-two Tharies arthroplasties . Radiographs made at six and twelve months and at final follow-up showed that the incidence of radiolucencies about the acetabular component was higher in the resurfacing group: fifty-seven with complete radiolucent lines after an average follow-up of thirty-eight months compared with thirty-six with complete lines after an average follow-up of forty-seven months . There were three failures in the joint-replacement group: a hematogenous staphylococcal deep infection that required a Girdlestone procedure, a femoral stem fracture that required revision, and loosening of an acetabular component for which revision was performed . There was also one dislocation, successfully treated by closed reduction . Similarly, in the resurfacing group there were three failures: two loose acetabular components, revised successfully, and one loose femoral component that necessitated total joint arthroplasty . Multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed that the factors that affected the final extent and width of the acetabular radiolucencies adversely after resurfacing were: any radiolucent lines that were visible at six months, a high level of physical activity after arthroplasty, and a thin superior cement mantle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Clin Immunol Immunopathol, 1984 Feb, 30(2), 178 - 87
Normal lymphocyte responses to mitogens in term and premature neonates following normal and abnormal intrauterine growth; Pittard WB 3rd et al.; Cord blood lymphocyte responses to a panel of four mitogens were studied in 242 neonates using a whole blood technique . The patient population was divided into five gestational-age groups: 20-27.9, 28-32.9, 33-37.9, 38-41.9, and 42-44 weeks . Neonatal lymphocytes undergo a continuous reduction in proliferative responsiveness to the polyclonal ligands phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con A) as gestation progresses from 20 to 44 weeks postconception . This is consistent with their change in unstimulated in vitro blastogenesis which when measured over the same developmental period is greatest in more immature neonates . Neonatal lymphocyte proliferative responsiveness to pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and staphylococcus protein A (SpA), however, was unrelated to gestational age . The influence of intrauterine nutritional deprivation on lymphocyte proliferative responses was studied in clinically uninfected newborns and compared to gestational age-matched controls with a normal nutritional status . Intrauterine nutritional deprivation was not associated with a decrease in mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation . Further, we explored the influence of several perinatal clinical settings commonly associated with fetal distress on cord blood lymphocyte responses to mitogens . Although perinatal stress in the form of low Apgar scores, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, and prolonged rupture of the amniotic membranes was not related to differences in mitogen induced lymphocyte proliferation, mode of delivery was . Cesarean section delivery as compared to vaginal delivery was associated with a significantly greater PHA-, Con A-, and SpA-induced neonatal lymphocyte response . Several alternative explanations for this finding are explored . Lastly, the purified protein thymosin fraction 5 was not associated with alteration in either neonatal or adult mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation.

Cancer Res, 1984 Feb, 44(2), 734 - 43
Tumoricidal response following perfusion over immobilized protein A: identification of immunoglobulin oligomers in serum after perfusion and their partial characterization; Balint J Jr et al.; Previously, we showed that perfusion of plasma from hosts bearing breast adenocarcinoma over immobilized staphylococcal protein A resulted in objective tumor regressions . In the present study, sera perfused in vitro over immobilized staphylococcal protein A were analyzed by physicochemical and immunochemical methods to characterize newly formed products . Sera from normal and breast adenocarcinoma-bearing dogs showed increased levels of C1q-binding IgG after perfusion over a strain of staphylococcus that is protein A rich (Cowan I), but not protein A deficient (Woods 46) . C1q binding levels were also increased in normal and tumor-bearing canine or human sera which were perfused over purified protein A immobilized in collodion charcoal (PACC), and this increase was localized in sucrose density gradient fractions ranging from 7S to 19S . Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of the high-molecular-weight fraction in postperfusion canine sera, isolated by G-200 fractionation and immunoaffinity chromatography, showed predominantly heavy and light immunoglobulin chains of canine IgG . Furthermore, protein A was released from PACC after perfusion with serum or solutions containing IgG or albumin from humans, dogs, and chickens . After serum perfusion over PACC, protein A was identified in the effluent by additional studies as follows: (a) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis showed that eluted 125I-protein A comigrated with the protein A marker; (b) postperfusion C1q-binding complexes, isolated by gel filtration under dissociating conditions and affinity chromatography on IgG-Sepharose showed a single precipitin band with normal human (protein A reactive) but not chicken (protein A unreactive) serum . Protein A released from PACC which appeared in postperfusion sera was associated with immunoglobulins in macromolecular complexes since (a) eluted 125I-protein A was largely (NH4)2SO4 and polyethylene glycol precipitable, whereas free protein A was not, and it sedimented in sucrose density gradient fractions distributed beyond the 7S marker, compared to free protein A which localized below 7S; (b) radiolabeled protein A eluting from PACC after serum perfusion showed 8-fold greater binding to C1q-coated tubes compared to free protein A; and (c) increased C1q-binding IgG in postperfusion sucrose density gradient fractions corresponded to the appearance of protein A in parallel gradient fractions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Chest, 1984 Feb, 85(2), 241 - 3
Prostaglandin E1 therapy . Is it associated with a higher incidence of wound infection in the cyanotic neonate?
Fleming WH, Sarafian LB, Kobayashi RH.
Prostaglandin (PGE1) may be used to maintain ductal patency in the infant with cyanotic congenital heart disease, but the risk of infection may be increased . Between October, 1976 and December, 1982, 38 neonates with complex cyanotic congenital heart disease required operations creating systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunts . Of 13 patients who did not receive PGE1 therapy, none developed a wound infection . Of 25 patients who did receive PGE1 therapy, four (16 percent) developed a significant wound infection . The two patient groups were similar when compared by age and weight at operation, by severity of heart disease and by the presence of other congenital anomalies . Pathogenic Staphylococcus epidermidis was recovered from all infected wounds, all of which responded favorably over a period of two to four weeks with a short course of antibiotics and wound debridement.

J Clin Microbiol, 1984 Feb, 19(2), 194 - 6
Evaluation of three simple and rapid immunological tests for detection of heat-labile enterotoxin of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli; Sen D et al.; Three simple immunological tests, the modified Elek (Biken) test, the modified staphylococcal coagglutination test, and the rapid GM1-horseradish peroxidase-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay have been evaluated for detection of heat-labile enterotoxin of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli . Of the 100 coded E . coli strains tested, 94 gave consistent results with all the three immunological tests; a discrepancy was observed in only 6 strains . Identical results were obtained when the Biken test was conducted with complete and incomplete Biken kits (Meguro Institute Ltd., Osaka, Japan) . All three immunological tests evaluated in this study were found to be sensitive and simple and can be easily adopted by any laboratory for detection of heat-labile enterotoxins of enterotoxigenic E . coli strains.

J Clin Microbiol, 1984 Feb, 19(2), 97 - 9
Contamination of cultures processed with the isolator lysis-centrifugation blood culture tube; Thomson RB Jr et al.; Overall contamination (on- plus off-streak) of the Isolator (Du Pont Co.) blood culture tube (23%) was greater than that of a conventional broth blood culture bottle (0.6%) or that of a biphasic blood culture bottle (1.3%) . To determine the source of this contamination, Isolator cultures of blood from 59 healthy volunteers and of sterile broth from 60 vials were made . A total of 37% of the blood cultures and 22% of the broth cultures were contaminated (P = 0.06) . Staphylococcus epidermidis-contaminated cultures represented 31 and 10% of the blood and broth cultures, respectively (P = 0.06) . Contamination of plates processed on a bench top, in front of horizontal laminar flow, and in a biological safety cabinet with vertical laminar flow were compared . Processing plates in a biological safety cabinet resulted in a significant reduction in the number of contaminated plates (P less than 0.05) . The contamination rate for 7,874 Isolator blood cultures processed in the biological safety cabinet was significantly decreased to 6.7% on-streak (9.3% on- plus off-streak) . Contamination of Isolator-processed blood cultures originated from the laboratory and the patient . The former can be reduced by inoculating plates in a vertical laminar flow biological safety cabinet and by maintaining adequate quality control of media . The latter may be unavoidable.

Environ Res, 1984 Feb, 33(1), 246 - 60
The effects of T-2 toxin on alveolar macrophage function in vitro; Gerberick GF et al.; T-2 toxin, a metabolite of several Fusarium species, is a mycotoxin of the trichothecene family which occurs in a variety of grains . Previous work in our laboratory showed that T-2 toxin is highly toxic to rat alveolar macrophages in vitro at submicromolar concentrations . The present investigation was undertaken to study the basis of the cytotoxic effects observed . The following parameters of macrophage function were measured: macromolecular synthesis, release of 51Cr, cellular ATP, phagocytosis, and alveolar macrophage "activation." The incorporation of radiolabeled leucine into acid-precipitable molecules was significantly inhibited within 1 hr of treatment at sublethal concentrations, although amino acid uptake was unaffected . Cell volume and release of 51Cr was unaffected by 0.1 microM T-2 toxin after 6 hr but evidence of significant leakage was seen after 18 hr treatment . The capacity of alveolar macrophages to phagocytize Saccharomyces cerevisiae and 3H-Staphylococcus aureus was significantly reduced whereas binding of 3H-S . aureus to the macrophage was not . Macrophage activation with endotoxin (Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide) and mitogen-generated lymphokines, as monitored by incorporation of {14C}glucosamine, was significantly altered at 0.01 microM T-2 toxin . Thus, the data clearly demonstrate that T-2 is toxic to alveolar macrophage function in vitro and suggest that the primary mechanism of this toxicity is related to the inhibition of protein synthesis.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1984 Feb, (2), 36 - 9
{Role of lysogenizing phages in the spread of drug-resistance plasmids in a staphylococcal population}; Zueva VS et al.; The frequency of the transduction of plasmids rms5, rms7, pT127, pC194, pS194 and pUB101 by phages belonging to serological group B (80, 52, 52A, 53, 85, phi 11, S2) in two systems was compared . In system 1 phages for transduction were obtained from plasmid-containing lysogenic donors in the process of induction with mitomycin C; in system 2 phages for transduction were obtained by their multiplication in plasmid-containing nonlysogenic donors . In system 1 the transduction of plasmids rms5, rms7, pT127, pS194 by phage 52A was found to occur with a greater (by 3-5 orders) frequency than in system 2 (the frequency of transduction was 10(-2) to 10(-4), and 10(-6) to 10(-8) respectively) . A similar situation was observed with plasmids rms5 and rms7 and phage 52; plasmid pT127 and phage 53; but not observed with plasmids rms5 and rms7 and phages 80, phi 11 and S2; plasmids pC194 and pS194 and phage 53; plasmid pUB101 and phages 52A, 80 and phi 11; plasmids pC194, pS194 and pT127 and phage 85.

Carcinogenesis, 1984 Feb, 5(2), 245 - 53
Nuclease sensitivity of repair-incorporated nucleotides in chromatin and nucleosome rearrangement in human cells damaged by methyl methanesulfonate and methylnitrosourea; Sidik K et al.; We have examined both the initial nuclease sensitivity and subsequent nucleosome rearrangement of newly repaired regions of chromatin in human diploid fibroblasts treated with methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) and methylnitrosourea (MNU) . We initially examined the effect of these two alkylating agents on DNA replicative synthesis . The results indicate that immediately following damage by MMS or MNU, at a concentration of 2 mM, the level of replicative synthesis is 20-25% of the level in untreated cells . In the MMS-treated cells, this suppression of replicative synthesis is short lived and by 15 h after damage the level of replicative synthesis is approximately 3-fold greater than that in untreated cells . This 'latent stimulation' of replicative synthesis was not observed in the cells treated with 2 mM MNU, although the level of replicative synthesis in these cells did approach the level of untreated cells at later times . When these contributions were corrected for, it was found that the nucleotides incorporated by repair synthesis are initially (i.e., immediately following repair synthesis) both staphylococcal nuclease and DNase I sensitive, and are underrepresented in isolated nucleosome core DNA . Using methods previously described by us, we show that the relative nuclease sensitivity of these regions is quantitatively similar to that of newly repaired DNA following damage by u.v . radiation . Furthermore, the relative nuclease sensitivity of newly repaired DNA is initially high regardless of the time after damage that repair occurs (at least for 13 h after damage) . This feature is also similar to u.v . induced repair synthesis . Finally, pulse-chase experiments demonstrated that following repair synthesis induced by MMS or MNU rearrangements of chromatin structure take place, and both the rate and extent of these rearrangements are similar to that observed for cells treated with u.v . radiation or bulky chemical carcinogens . Thus, our results indicate that the excision repair induced by these two small alkylating agents is associated with the same overall chromatin structural features as the excision repair of DNA damage induced by u.v . radiation and 'u.v.-mimetic' chemicals.

Anal Biochem, 1984 Feb, 137(1), 129 - 33
Detection of lipopolysaccharides in polyacrylamide gels by transfer to nitrocellulose followed by immunoautoradiography with antibody and 125I-protein A: "LPS blotting"; Bradbury WC et al.; Lipopolysaccharides (LPS), which constitute the somatic (O) antigen of gram-negative bacteria, were used to demonstrate the procedure of LPS blotting involving the electrophoretic transfer of electrophoretically resolved LPS from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels to nitrocellulose filters . Immobilized LPS could then be immunoautoradiographically visualized in situ by reaction with specific anti-LPS antibody and subsequent binding of radioiodinated Staphylococcus protein A . LPS blotting is expected to provide an efficient and specific means of investigating the LPS (O) antigens of gram-negative bacteria.

Biochem J, 1984 Jan 15, 217(2), 435 - 40
Organization of a multifunctional protein in pyrimidine biosynthesis . A domain hypersensitive to proteolysis; Rumsby PC et al.; When the multifunctional protein that catalyses the first three steps of pyrimidine biosynthesis in hamster cells is treated with staphylococcal V8 proteinase, a single cleavage takes place . The activities of carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase (EC 6.3.5.5), aspartate carbamoyltransferase (EC 2.1.3.2) and dihydro-orotase (EC 3.5.2.3) and the allosteric inhibition by UTP are unaffected . One fragment, of Mr 182000, has the first and third enzyme activities, whereas the other fragment, of Mr 42000, has aspartate carbamoyltransferase activity and an aggregation site . A similar small fragment is observed in protein digested with low concentrations of trypsin . A similar large fragment is seen after digestion with trypsin and as the predominating form of this protein in certain mutants defective in pyrimidine biosynthesis . These results indicate that a region located adjacent to the aspartate carbamoyltransferase domain is hypersensitive to proteinase action in vitro and may also be sensitive to proteolysis in vivo.

Urol Int, 1984, 39(1), 13 - 5
Fibrinogen degradation products in urological malignant tumors; Riedmiller H et al.; Fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) were determined in a series of 98 patients with malignant urological tumors using a staphylococcal clumping test . The results are compared with the FDP of 61 urological patients without malignant tumors . No difference between the series of radically operated tumor patients and the control group could be found . The FDP in a series of patients with persistent tumors were clearly higher than those of the control group: especially the results for patients with renal cell carcinoma were significantly higher . The highest concentration of FDP was found in patients with metastases . Therefore, FDP in serum could be a possible tumor marker for patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Gerontology, 1984, 30(3), 182 - 7
Fever in the elderly . Production of leukocytic pyrogen by monocytes from elderly persons; Jones PG et al.; In an attempt to explain the diminished febrile response of the elderly, we studied the first step in fever generation, that of production of leukocytic pyrogen (LP) by monocytes . Monocytes from 25 healthy elderly volunteers (ages 65-91) and 24 healthy young volunteers (ages 17-38) were stimulated with Staphylococcus epidermidis to release LP; LP activity in the culture supernatants was assayed by measuring the pyrogenic response in rabbits and rats and the fall in plasma iron and zinc in rats . Monocytes from elderly volunteers produced slightly less LP than monocytes from young volunteers, but the difference was not statistically significant . The amount of LP produced was not correlated with age . Therefore, the diminished febrile response of the elderly is not the result of an intrinsic defect in the monocyte's ability to make LP . Other explanations relating to the central effect of LP and the effector response to LP in the elderly should be sought.

Int J Biochem, 1984, 16(2), 201 - 6
Topology of the functions in molecule of staphylococcal enterotoxin Type A; Noskova VP et al.; Four fragments (F1-F4) of SEA, obtained via papain proteolysis were separated and isolated as individual components by means of the SDS-electrophoresis in polyacrilamide gel . Molecular masses of the pairs F1 + F4 and F2 + F3 are equal to the mass of the intact toxin--a fact that supposes a cleavage of polypeptide chain in two regions of "disulphide loop" in a SEA molecule . Neither fragment possesses any enterpathogenic properties . It was established, that interferonogenic and mitogenic activity of SEA is connected only with the part of molecule corresponding to F1(17,500) and F3(15,000) . Two kinds of antigenic determinants in the SEA molecule were found: one was attributed to F1 and F3 fragments, the other was localised in F2 and F4 . Proteolysis by trypsin led to cleavage of a small peptide from the N-terminal end of toxin molecule . Trypsinized SEA displayed all kinds of biological activity characterizing the native toxin.

An Esp Pediatr, 1984 Jan, 20(1), 33 - 40
{Membranous laryngotracheobronchitis}; Labay Matias MV et al.; Four cases of membranous laryngotracheobronchitis (MLTB) are presented . This entity is defined as an inflammation of larynx, trachea and bronchi, with mucopurulent membranes adhered to subglottic space wall . Radiological study shows irregularity of the proximal tracheal mucosa as well as adhered membranes resembling foreign bodies . Two out of the four children suffered from measles and one had staphylococcal pleuropneumonia . Tracheal aspirate obtained by laryngoscopy yielded S . aureus in two cases, and beta-lactamase positive H . influenzae in another . All patients required nasotracheal intubation and antibiotherapy . Characteristics of MLTB are discussed, pointing out its difference from viral laryngotracheobronchitis . Possibility of MLTB being initially a viral process undergoing bacterial superinfection later on is analyzed.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1984 Jan, 13 Suppl A, 59 - 65
Netilmicin prophylaxis in open-heart surgery; Stanbridge TN et al.; Pericardial fluid, serum and atrial appendage concentrations of netilmicin and gentamicin were determined in 80 patients who received one or two pre-operative doses of either netilmicin 200 mg im or gentamicin 120 mg im . Mean atrial appendage concentrations of netilmicin and gentamicin after a single dose were 4.8 and 2.1 mg/kg; mean serum concentrations were 6.9 and 3.9 mg/l, and mean pericardial fluid concentrations 3.8 and 2.6 mg/l, respectively . After two doses apparent sequestration of the antibiotic in pericardial fluid was observed . A review of the cases of prosthetic valve endocarditis during the last decade suggests that aminoglycoside/isoxazolyl penicillin combinations provide good anti-staphylococcal prophylaxis . A change in the pattern of infections has been observed . The incidence of staphylococcal infection has fallen; early infections may be of fungal aetiology and late infections show a similar distribution of infecting organisms to that seen in native valve endocarditis.

J Pediatr Orthop, 1984 Jan, 4(1), 123 - 5
Staphylococcal osteomyelitis of the carpal scaphoid; Seimon LP et al.; A healthy 11-year-old boy developed staphylococcal osteomyelitis of the carpal scaphoid without any history of antecedent trauma or evidence of other sites of bony involvement . He responded well to antibiotic treatment and surgical drainage . Five months postoperatively there was partial regeneration of the scaphoid on radiographs, and no signs of recurrent infection.

Ann Thorac Surg, 1984 Jan, 37(1), 72 - 7
Management of infected thoracic aortic prosthetic grafts; Hargrove WC 3rd et al.; Between 1975 and 1981, late infection of the prosthesis developed in 4 out of 207 patients (1.9%) who had prosthetic grafts placed in the chest or mediastinum . Organisms were Staphylococcus epidermidis (2 patients), Enterococcus, and Aspergillus . Infection occurred 4 to 57 months after initially clean operations for thoracoabdominal aneurysm, aortic angioplasty with valve replacement, ruptured postcoarctation aneurysm, and type A dissecting aortic aneurysm . All 4 patients were managed successfully and remain free from infection 11 to 42 months later . Based on this experience, several guidelines useful in the management of these infections have evolved: (1) prompt reoperation with complete debridement of infected and necrotic tissue, (2) removal of infected prosthetic material if suture lines are involved, (3) local antiseptic irrigation and appropriate, specific systemic antibiotics, (4) rerouting of blood flow through clean operative fields, and (5) use of pedicle flaps.

Arch Surg, 1984 Jan, 119(1), 102 - 8
Aortofemoral graft infection due to Staphylococcus epidermidis; Bandyk DF et al.; A ten-year review of aortofemoral graft infection documented Staphylococcus epidermidis as the infecting organism in 18 (60%) of 30 cases . Diagnosis of such infection required a high index of suspicion because of its late postoperative appearance (mean interval of 41 months) and the inability to identify a microorganism at operation by routine wound culture or Gram's stain . Clinical findings suggesting graft infection included multiple anastomotic aneurysms (18 patients), perigraft exudate (16 patients), a draining groin mass (five patients), and aortoduodenal fistulas (two patients) . Due to the low concentration and virulence of the organism, aerobic culture of the prosthetic fabric in broth media provided the optimum method of confirming the S epidermidis infection . Total graft excision with immediate vascular reconstruction was the preferred treatment method and resulted in a mortality and major amputation rate of 11%.

Cancer Genet Cytogenet, 1984 Jan, 11(1), 25 - 9
Comparative results with various polyclonal B-cell activators in aneuploid chronic lymphocytic leukemia; Sadamori N et al.; The mitotic index and number of abnormal metaphases of cells stimulated with the various B-cell polyclonal mitogens (PBA) in six B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) cases were evaluated . The PBA included tetradecanoyl-0-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), staphylococcus bacterial strain Cowan I (Cowan I), pokeweed mitogen (PWM), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and lipopolysaccharide W from E . coli 0.55:B5 (LPS) . TPA could stimulate only 1 of 12 samples . Even though Cowan I led to a relatively high mitotic index, abnormal clones were inconsistently obtained with this mitogen . PWM, EBV, and LPS appear to be the most desirable activators of B-CLL cells among the PBA used in this study.

Blood, 1984 Jan, 63(1), 42 - 50
Amidolytic assay of human factor XI in plasma: comparison with a coagulant assay and a new rapid radioimmunoassay; Scott CF et al.; The traditional coagulant assay for plasma factor XI suffers from a relatively high coefficient of variation, the need for rare congenitally deficient plasma, and a poor correlation between precision and sensitivity . We have developed a simple functional amidolytic assay for factor XI in plasma using the chromogenic substrate PyrGlu-Pro-Arg-p-nitroanilide (S-2366) . After inactivation of alpha 1-antitrypsin, CI inhibitor, and other plasma protease inhibitors with CHCI3, plasma was incubated with kaolin, in the absence of added calcium, which limited the enzymes formed to those dependent on contact activation . Soybean trypsin inhibitor was used to minimize the action of kallikrein on the substrate . Once the reaction was complete, corn trypsin inhibitor was used to inactive factor XIIa, the enzyme generated by exposure of plasma to negatively charged surfaces, which had activated the factor XI . The assay is highly specific for factor XI, since plasma totally deficient in that zymogen yielded only 1%-3% of the enzymatic activity in normal plasma under identical conditions . The requirements for complete conversion of factor XI to XIa in plasma within 60 min were, respectively, factor XII, 0.6 U/ml, and high molecular weight kininogen, 0.2 U/ml . Prekallikrein was not an absolute requirement for complete activation but did accelerate the reaction . The intraassay coefficient of variation was 3.4%, and the mean of 35 normal plasmas was 1.00 U +/- 0.24 SD . In addition, a new rapid radioimmunoassay was devised using staphylococcal protein A as the precipitating agent for a complex of factor XI antigen with monospecific rabbit antibody . The mean was 1.01 U +/- 0.30 SD . The correlation coefficients for amidolytic versus coagulant and amidolytic versus radioimmunoassay were r = 0.95 for the former and 0.96 for the latter . Thus, a simple, accurate amidolytic assay and a radioimmunoassay have been devised for measuring factor XI in plasma that correlate well with the coagulant activity of factor XI, as determined in our laboratory.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1984, 43, 56 - 61
Use of clindamycin in lower respiratory tract infections; Schreiner A; The majority of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) are treated "blindly" because the establishment of an aetiological diagnosis is not possible in most cases . The rational choice of therapy mainly rests upon the knowledge of the microbiological epidemiology of LRTI, and on the possible host-parasite relationship . In community-acquired pneumonia, there is general concensus that penicillin maintains its position as the first drug of choice, and that therapy can be changed to erythromycin or tetracycline in cases of therapeutic failure . Treatment of nosocomial pneumonia, and LRTI in immunocompromised patients, calls for antibiotics with a broader antimicrobial spectrum . Clindamycin has an antimicrobial spectrum which makes this antibiotic a possible alternative in community-acquired pneumonia, and its efficacy in pneumococcal pneumonia has been documented . However, as first choice therapy it should be reserved for cases of penicillin allergy, or cases of strongly suspected staphylococcal pneumonia . In aspiration pneumonia--nearly always caused by anaerobic bacteria--penicillin has long been the preferred therapy, even in cases with Bacteroides fragilis . However, recent publications have clearly documented that in primary lung abscess, clindamycin is superior to penicillin . These results are especially important since metronidazole has been shown to be less effective in such cases.

Diagn Imaging Clin Med, 1984, 53(6), 306 - 9
Multiple staphylococcal pneumatoceles in an adult; Olutola PS et al.; A 33-year-old male with staphylococcal pneumonia who presented radiographically with multiple thin-walled pulmonary cavities (pneumatoceles) is reported . The cavities rapidly altered following treatment with antibiotics and the patient clinically improved.

Cancer Immunol Immunother, 1984, 17(1), 42 - 50
Immunologic enhancement of experimental metastasis in the rat; Starkey JR et al.; Using a series of immunologically cross-reactive metastatic tumor variants, we demonstrate that serum from animals bearing pulmonary tumor colonies possesses enhancing properties in the experimental metastasis (lung colony) assay . Enhancement is produced by chronic serum administration and promotes the growth of tumor cells arrested in the lungs which would not otherwise proliferate to form grossly detectable lung nodules . Tumor-bearer serum from animals with lung colonies derived from the most highly metastatic variant examined is shown to possess enhancing properties in both BD-IX(H-1d) and BD-IV(H-1d) rat strains, while tumor-bearer serum from animals with lung colonies derived from the less metastatic parent tumor cell line possesses enhancing properties in the BD-IX rat strain only . Removal of immunoglobulin from enhancing serum by affinity column chromatography simultaneously removes the enhancing factor(s), and enhancing activity correlates with the presence of increased levels of Clq-binding immune complexes in the serum . Serum levels of immune complexes are shown to be more elevated in serum from animals bearing lung colonies derived from the most highly metastatic variant . The enhancing moieties are shown to bind to concanavalin A, but not to staphylococcal protein A, and the active fraction elutes from concanavalin A-Sepharose with alpha-methyl-mannoside . Consideration of immunoprecipitation studies on whole and fractionated enhancing sera, along with studies on affinity purified isotype fractions reveals that the activity resides with antibodies of IgG2b subclass.

Chir Pediatr, 1984, 25(2), 74 - 8
{One complication can mask another: chance discovery of a rare lesion during screening for arthritis of the hip}; Laumonier F et al.; The authors report the case of a new born baby in whom at the fourth day of life, a severe hypocalcemia was discovered . An umbilical arterial catheterization was performed . The evolution was characterized by a staphylococcic septicemia with hip arthritis and partial immune deficit . The mid term survey of the joint status, allowed the unexpected discovery, during an examination held under general anesthesia, of a probable mycotic aneurysm, by abdominal palpation . The lesion was localized on the right common iliac artery and was successfully treated by resection; arterial continuity was possible without venous patch nor prosthesis.

Hybridoma, 1984, 3(1), 41 - 8
Selection of monoclonal antibody to hCG which localizes in human choriocarcinoma growing in the Syrian hamster cheek pouch; Khazaeli MB et al.; Six different monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) were evaluated for radioimmunodetection in Golden Syrian Hamsters bearing a human choriocarcinoma in the cheek pouch (188-516 mIU of hCG/g) . The affinity of three antibodies when determined were high and five of the antibodies were of IgG1 subclass . After i.v . injection of Staphylococcus Protein A (SPA) affinity purified radioiodinated antibodies, tissue distribution studies demonstrated that antibody 061 had higher target-to-nontarget ratios than the other five antibodies . The mean tumor:muscle ratio of 131I-MAb 061 was 27.5 in four animals, where the mean tumor:muscle ratio of four animals injected with 131I-labeled control monoclonal IgG1 Kappa from MOPC-21 murine myeloma (MOPC-21) was only 2.2 . Sharp images of the cheek pouch tumor were obtained at five days following a tracer dose of 131I-061 MAb, but not with the same dose of a 131I-MOPC-21.

Blood, 1984 Jan, 63(1), 154 - 61
Quantification of platelet-bound IgG by 125I-Staphylococcal protein A in immune thrombocytopenic purpura and other thrombocytopenic disorders; Shaw GM et al.; In this report we describe the use of an 125I-Staphylococcal protein A (SPA) assay to measure platelet-bound IgG in the evaluation of 62 thrombocytopenic patients . Platelets from 150 normal subjects were found to bind 146 +/- 112 molecules of SPA per platelet (mean +/- 2 SD) . Nineteen of 20 patients with untreated immune thrombocytopenia had platelet IgG values above this range, with 15 of 20 having values above 1,000 molecules of SPA per platelet . Patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura by clinical criteria, but who had failed conventional therapy (corticosteroids or splenectomy), had a wide range of platelet IgG levels: 4 of 20 had normal values, 6 of 20 had minimally elevated levels in the range seen with nonimmune thrombocytopenia, and 10 of 20 had much higher values . Fifteen patients with thrombocytopenia of apparent nonimmune origin and 7 others with chronic stable thrombocytopenia of unknown etiology were found to have platelet IgG levels within or only slightly above the normal range . Because of its simplicity, accuracy, and clinical correlation, the 125I-SPA assay provides an important new approach for studying platelet IgG in thrombocytopenic states . The data obtained with this technique are similar to those found in immune hemolytic anemia and suggest that the platelet-bound IgG so measured has pathophysiologic relevance in immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

Microbiol Immunol, 1984, 28(12), 1293 - 301
Cross wall synthesis and the arrangement of the wall polymers in the cell wall of Staphylococcus spp; Amako K et al.; The growing process and the fine structure of the cross wall of Staphylococcus were investigated by electron microscopy . Examination of the tangentially sectioned cross wall revealed that it was initially synthesized as a thin cell wall layer by an invaginated cytoplasmic membrane . The wall thickness soon increased by additional synthesis of the wall from the cytoplasmic membrane located at the side region of the cross wall . Scanning electron microscopic observation of sodium dodecyl sulfate-treated and mechanically separated cross walls revealed that the outer surface of the cross wall exhibits regular circular structures and the inner surface showed has an irregular surface . This indicates that cell wall materials were arranged in a regular circular manner in the initially synthesized thin layer . It is conceivable that in Staphylococcus spp . two cell wall synthesizing systems are present: wall-elongation synthesis in which wall materials are arranged in a regular circular manner and wall-thickening synthesis in which wall materials are arranged in an irregular manner.

J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1984, 28(3), 287 - 95
Detection of staphylococcal enterotoxigenicity IV . Strains isolated in 1981 and 1982; Petras P et al.; Enterotoxin A, B, C, D and E detection and typing was undertaken in 807 staphylococcal strains isolated from food, breast milk, clinical material, diarrhoeal stools and hospital-collected swabs in 1981 and 1982 . One hundred and sixty-six of the strains produced enterotoxin, most frequently type A or C, less so type D or B . There were single instances of strains with double toxin production: AB, AC or AD . Nine hundred and ten supernatants collected in 1972-1973 were additionally tested (after a lapse of 8 years) for type D enterotoxin; there were 152 positive specimens, predominantly relating to strains isolated from tinned cocoa and delicatessen, with 26 of the supernatants containing AD and BD enterotoxin combinations . For the first time the authors' laboratory detected strains producing enterotoxin F and the combination.

Connect Tissue Res, 1984, 12(3-4), 287 - 96
Leucine metabolism as a source of acetate in the synthesis of hyaluronic acid; Fraser JR et al.; Synovial fibroblasts were incubated in nutrient medium with either L-{U-14C}leucine or L-{4,5-3H}leucine to reveal peptides associated with hyaluronic acid . Isotope was found in hyaluronic acid extracted from culture medium by repeated density gradient ultracentrifugation, but 76-98% of the labelled hyaluronic acid fraction was recovered as oligosaccharide by Sephadex G-25 gel chromatography after digestion with protease-free staphylococcal hyaluronidase (EC 4.2.99.1) . Radioactivity in acid digests of the oligosaccharide fractions (i) was volatile, (ii) separated similarly to acetate in Biogel P2 chromatography, and (iii) was identified as acetate by melting point after conjugation as a p-phenylphenacyl ester crystallized to constant specific activity . The synovial fibroblast thus possesses metabolic pathways for complete transformation of leucine to acetylCoA, which operate freely in adequate nutrient medium and are a significant source of acetyl groups in hyaluronic acid synthesis.

Ter Arkh, 1984, 56(6), 106 - 9
{Comparative study of various rapid methods of determining fibrinogen transformation products in the diagnosis of intravascular coagulation and fibrinolysis}; Lychev VG et al.; Rapid methods for determination of fibrin-monomer complexes and fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products were studied and compared in 76 patients with different abnormalities in the hemostatic system (acute thromboses, thromboembolism of the pulmonary artery, disseminated intravascular coagulation, immune thrombovasculitis, etc) . The control group consisted of 36 healthy donors . The fibrin-monomer complexes were determined by the paracoagulation tests, the ethanol test (ET) and protamin sulfate tests (PST), whereas fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products (FDP) by the staphylococcus adhesion test (SAT) in which use was made of the Newman D2S strain variety obtained by the authors . It is inferred that the ET, PST and SAT are the most suitable for use in clinical medicine, since they are accessible, simple and quick in performance . However, these tests cannot be regarded as similar or interchangeable, since they are used for studying different products of the coagulation and fibrinolytic transformation of fibrinogen.

Pharmatherapeutica, 1984, 3(10), 642 - 9
Comparison of bone levels after intramuscular administration of cephradine ('Velosef') or flucloxacillin/ampicillin in hip replacement; Brooks S et al.; Serum and bone levels of antibiotics were measured after the intramuscular injection of either 1 g cephradine or 500 mg flucloxacillin plus 500 mg ampicillin in 48 patients undergoing total hip replacement . The results showed that both regimens produced adequate blood levels, but that the levels after cephradine were higher and more prolonged . Bone levels of cephradine were significantly higher than for flucloxacillin or ampicillin . In half of the patients studied, flucloxacillin bone levels were below the limit of detection in both cancellous and cortical bone samples . In all 24 patients, cortical levels of cephradine were satisfactory for anti-staphylococcal activity although cancellous levels were unsatisfactory in 4 patients . The penetration of the antibiotics was greater into cortical bone than into cancellous bone.

Toxicon, 1984, 22(6), 957 - 65
Staphylococcal delta toxin-induced generation of chemiluminescence by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes; Tomita T et al.; Upon exposure to 0.5 hemolytic units of staphylococcal delta toxin, human polymorphonuclear leukocytes repeatedly generated active oxygen, which was detected as luminol dependent chemiluminescence . Gradual loss of the response was, however, observed after repeated exposure to the toxin, and eventually no more chemiluminescence was evoked . On this occasion, if the cells were exposed to another stimulus, such as melittin, chemotactic peptide, phorbol myristate acetate or zymosan, chemiluminescence was again induced . The converse was true if melittin or chemotactic peptide was used as the initial stimulus and delta toxin as a secondary stimulus . These results suggest that there exists a saturable receptor for delta toxin, melittin and other stimuli and that the toxin follows a different transductional pathway to generate chemiluminescence . By using various inhibitors, we found calcium influx, activation of phospholipase A2 and probably lipoxygenase(s) play an important role in delta toxin induced generation of chemiluminescence.

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1984, 29(3), 264 - 8
Heterogeneity of human polyclonal IgE reacting with staphylococcal protein A; Zikan J et al.; A small part of polyclonal IgE (6%) was bound to protein A-Sepharose from the serum of M.P., containing a high concentration of IgE . No monoclonal IgE isolated from the serum of V.L . was bound to this sorbent . This binding of polyclonal IgE appears to be heterogeneous since a multiphasic pattern was observed with discontinuous pH gradient elution from protein A-Sepharose . Also, like IgE from the whole serum, monomeric IgE isolated from the serum of M.P . on Sepharose 6B showed this binding heterogeneity . It is suggested that IgE molecules with different affinities for protein A could belong to different isotypic or allotypic variants.

J Interferon Res, 1984, 4(1), 111 - 4
Effect of glycosidases on the properties of human interferon gamma; Tsujimoto M et al.; Heterogeneity of human gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) induced by the combined treatment with OK-432 and Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) was demonstrated by chromatofocusing . Treatment of IFN-gamma with a mixture of neuraminidase, and beta-galactosidase eliminated the charge heterogeneity . Apparent molecular weight of IFN-gamma was decreased by enzyme treatment . These results suggest that the heterogeneity of IFN-gamma induced in our system was the result of the difference in the content of sialic acids.

Mol Cell Biochem, 1984, 60(2), 137 - 45
Genetic control of the immune response to staphylococcal nuclease . X . Isoelectric focusing spectrotypes of antinuclease antibodies detected by labeling with antigen and with anti-idiotype; Miller GP et al.; Antibody responses of inbred strains of mice to staphylococcal nuclease were studied by isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gels followed by in situ labeling of focused antibodies with radioactive antigen . All A/J mice examined produced antinuclease antibodies of limited heterogeneity, and although there was individual variation in the focusing patterns observed, a characteristic spectrotype produced by all of the animals could be discerned . In order to determine the possible relationship between this characteristic spectrotype and the cross-reactive idiotypes of A/J antinuclease antibodies previously described, focused antibodies were also examined with a radioactively labeled pig anti-(A/J antinuclease) anti-idiotypic antibody preparation . Using this reagent, similar spectrotypes to those observed for antigen binding were seen in all of the individual A/J sera, suggesting that cross-reactive idiotype expression is a reflection of the characteristic spectrotypes observed . The same labeled anti-idiotypic reagent revealed characteristic but different spectrotypes when used to develop focused antinuclease antibodies from individual mice of other strains, suggesting that the use of similar variable region structures may be a common feature of the antinuclease response in mice of different allotypes . These studies thus provide a structural basis for the genetics of idiotype expression defined previously by serologic analysis.

Acta Haematol, 1984, 71(2), 116 - 20
Clinical observations showing the role of some factors in the etiology of multiple myeloma . A study in 7 patients; Aksoy M et al.; 7 cases of multiple myeloma with a history of exposure to benzene, radioactive iodine, chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease and of repeated injections of autovaccine to Staphylococcus albus hemolyticus are described . The relationship between the development of multiple myeloma and possible etiologic factors is discussed.

Arch Surg, 1984 Jan, 119(1), 96 - 100
Staphylococcus epidermidis sepsis in surgical patients; Burchard KW et al.; We examined 58 surgical patients with two or more blood cultures positive for Staphylococcus epidermidis to determine factors associated with risk, mortality, and invasive sepsis . Bacterial sepsis was associated with gastrointestinal (GI) operations, total parenteral nutrition, and a regimen of two or more parenteral antibiotics . Mortality was 46% overall and significantly increased with age greater than 50 years, GI operations, other gram-positive sepsis, recurrent sepsis (positive blood culture 24 hours or more after the first blood culture), and the presence of organisms sensitive to three or less antibiotics . Antibiotic therapy appropriate for more than 50% of the S epidermidis organisms cultured from each patient resulted in significant reduction in mortality . Staphylococcus epidermidis should be considered a significant pathogen in critically ill surgical patients . Invasive S epidermidis sepsis can be recognized and requires specific antibiotic therapy.

Cornea, 1984, 3(2), 131 - 4
Corneal ulcer-infiltrate associated with soft contact lens use following penetrating keratoplasty; Smith SG et al.; A review of 100 patients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty revealed 47 who required therapeutic soft contact lenses in the early postoperative period . Twelve corneal ulcer-infiltrates, 11 of which were culture positive, occurred during soft contact lens wear (23% incidence of this complication in contact lens fitted eyes) . The most common offending organism was coagulase-negative staphylococcus . The only statistically significant risk factor for infection if a lens was used was the presence of a persistent epithelial defect (p = 0.03) . Factors which could not be statistically correlated with corneal ulcer-infiltrate included keratoconjunctivitis sicca, the type of contact lens, the method of donor cornea preservation, lens hygiene, antibiotic and steroid usage, the presence of blepharitis, preoperative bacterial keratitis, and the history of a previously failed penetrating keratoplasty.

IARC Sci Publ, 1984, (57), 709 - 13
Interaction of bis- and mono-N-nitrosoureas with rat liver chromatin in vitro; Morimoto K et al.; The effects of nine N-nitrosoureas (three bis-N-nitrosoureas, five mono-N-nitrosoureas and chloroethyl-N-nitrosourea) on the template activity of rat liver chromatin and Escherichia coli DNA were compared . The template activity of rat liver chromatin was inhibited by some N-nitrosoureas that have relatively strong alkylating activity . The inhibitory effects with respect to E . coli DNA were stronger than those with respect to rat liver chromatin . The inhibitory effects had a tendency to decrease with increasing length of the alkyl chain . The template activity of rat liver chromatin was slightly increased by some N-nitrosoureas, potassium cyanate and some alkyl isocyanates . The chromatin reacting with 1,1'-ethylene-bis-(1-nitrosourea) was more sensitive than the control chromatin to DNase 1 and Staphylococcal nuclease . The solubility of chromatin carbamoylated by 1,1'-ethylene-bis-(1-nitrosourea) was clearly higher than that of control chromatin in the presence of magnesium or calcium ion.

Hybridoma, 1984 Winter, 3(4), 387 - 90
Monoclonal antibodies to canine cell surface antigens: a comparison of screening assays; Ladiges WC et al.; An ELISA for detection of monoclonal antibodies to surface antigens on canine lymphocytes was evaluated, and results were compared with three additional tests: a radioimmunoassay using 125I-labeled staphylococcal protein A (IPA), the fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS II), and CdL . Three potentially interesting hybridomas were subsequently selected from two fusions.

Scand J Urol Nephrol, 1984, 18(3), 215 - 21
Renal transplant wound infection: the value of prophylactic antibiotic treatment; Tillegard A; The incidence of wound infection after 310 renal transplant operations was examined . Among the 78 recipients not given prophylactic antibiotic therapy infection of the transplant wound occurred in 25.6% . Among the 232 patients given prophylactic therapy, with narrow-spectrum antibiotic (cloxacillin), wound infection occurred in only 7.8% . This statistically significant difference in incidence was ascribed to a less frequent occurrence of staphylococcal wound infection in the group of patients receiving antibiotic therapy than in the group not so treated . The presence of wound haematoma, which increased the risk of wound infection, was the only factor predisposing to such infection in this patient series.

Cancer Immunol Immunother, 1984, 17(3), 180 - 9
Activity of antibodies recovered from immune complexes of ovarian cancer patients; Lutz PM et al.; Ascites fluids from ovarian cancer patients contain immune complexes (IC) . Attempts were made to characterize those antigens to which the patient is reacting using antibody recovered from these complexes . Polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation and protein A Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography were used to isolate IC . Dissociation of the IC was achieved by G-150 gel filtration in 0.1 M acetic acid, 0.15 M NaCl . Activity of antibody preparations was measured using a binding assay with 125I-labeled staphylococcal protein A . Confluent monolayers of various cell lines (including human ovarian and cervical carcinoma lines, human lymphoblastoid cell lines, human and chick embryo fibroblasts) were used . Six of nine antibody preparations isolated from ovarian cancer patient IC contained at least some reactivity against all cell types . Specificity was further defined using cell adsorption assays and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . These results indicate what appears to be autoreactivity directed against a normal component(s) of many cells . No evidence for an ovarian cancer-restricted response was shown . Immunoprecipitation analyses showed several polypeptide bands on autoradiograms (49K, 46K, 33K, 25K), which deviated distinctly from the pattern obtained for whole cell extracts.

J Biol Response Mod, 1984, 3(3), 235 - 40
Staphylococcal protein A immunoadsorptive column induces mitogenicity in perfused plasma; Bertram JH et al.; A Phase I trial of therapy with the staphylococcal protein A immunoadsorptive column was conducted in six patients with advanced breast or brain cancer . Four of the patients reacted strongly to the therapy with high fever, chills, and rigors . The plasma of these four patients after perfusion over the column was strongly mitogenic to normal lymphocytes . This mitogenicity apparently was dependent on the amount of protein A on the matrix; small attached doses caused mitogenicity, while higher doses also induced clinical symptoms . Mitogenicity was not due to protein A leached from the column, as determined by heat-inactivation experiments . From these data it appears likely that the mitogenic plasma component generated by perfusion of the plasma over a protein A matrix is responsible, at least in part, for the immunomodulatory activity of the staphylococcal protein A immunoadsorptive column.

Immunol Lett, 1984, 8(2), 79 - 81
Use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect antibodies to staphylococcal protein A in the rabbit; Muehlestein S et al.; An ELISA technique is described which employs both solid phase and labelled free SpA . The technique allows the detection of anti-SpA antibodies in the rabbit . It is not suited for the same purpose with human sera, because human immunoglobulins are not saturated by non-specific interaction with solid phase SpA.

J Clin Pathol, 1984 Jan, 37(1), 65 - 9
Automated detection of micro-organisms in blood cultures by means of the Malthus Microbiological Growth Analyser; Brown DF et al.; A prototype Malthus Microbiological Growth Analyser was compared with conventional methods for examining blood cultures in a trial of 651 cultures mostly from patients with haematological malignancy or undergoing haemodialysis or renal transplantation . Of 100 significantly positive cultures, organisms from 82 grew in the conventional aerobic (+ CO2) bottle, 78 in the conventional anaerobic bottle and 71 in the Malthus bottle . The differences were not statistically significant (p greater than 0.05) . The Malthus system detected 83.6% of significantly positive cultures earlier than the comparable conventional bottles while 7.3% positive cultures were detected earlier by the conventional system . When use of the Malthus system was restricted to the hours of 09.00 to 17.30 daily 27.3% positive cultures were detected earlier by the Malthus system and 16.4% were detected earlier by the conventional system . One of the organisms which grew in the Malthus bottle, a contaminating Staphylococcus epidermidis, was not detected by the Malthus system . Instability of electrodes resulted in 26.9% false positive cultures with the prototype Malthus system . Contamination rates in both the Malthus and conventional anaerobic bottles were lower than in the aerobic bottles.

Int J Artif Organs, 1984 Jan, 7(1), 23 - 6
Changes in circulating immune complexes in tumour patient serum after in vitro or ex vivo affinity chromatography of blood plasma or whole blood over immunoglobulin-binding staphylococcal protein A-Sepharose; Hakansson L et al.; Circulating immune complexes (CIC) were determined in tumour patient sera using three methods . One is based on PEG-precipitation, one on C1q-reactivity, and one on protein A-reactivity . About 25-30% of the sera were positive in at least one of the tests . Incubation of serum with protein A-Sepharose in vitro removed PEG-precipitable CIC from most sera, whereas C1q-reactive CICs had a much lower affinity to protein A . The protein A-reactive complexes showed considerable variation in their binding to protein A-Sepharose, and in some sera the amount of these CICs was actually increased . Similar changes in protein A-reactive CIC were also found during ex vivo treatment of tumour patients with immune adsorption . It is proposed that the binding of immune complexes to protein A can result in remodelling of protein A itself . Results from ultracentrifugation and fractionated PEG-precipitation support this hypothesis.

J Clin Microbiol, 1984 Jan, 19(1), 34 - 8
Comparative evaluation of different enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay systems for the detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins A, B, C, and D; Fey H et al.; We compared four versions of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for their suitability for detecting staphylococcal enterotoxins . The sandwich with labeled antibody proved to be the best . We used it with a sorbent consisting of antibody-coated polystyrene spheres reacted with 20 ml of food extract . The sensitivity of the test was 0.1 ng of enterotoxin per ml, which is far below clinical relevance . The succinimidyl-pyridyl-dithio-propionate enzyme coupling method of Pharmacia was superior to the two-step glutaraldehyde technique . Interfering protein A was eliminated by the simple addition of normal rabbit serum to the extracts . A diagnostic kit is now available.

Diagn Immunol, 1984, 2(4), 228 - 37
The detection of circulating immune complexes containing C1q and IgG using a new rapid serum ELISA test system; Reckel RP et al.; An ELISA sandwich assay for detecting circulating immune complexes (CIC) was evaluated . Heat-aggregated IgG (HAG) containing Clq (HAG:Clq) is used to generate standard curves for quantitation of CIC . Sera from 488 normal donors had an means of 3.8 +/- 15.3 micrograms/ml HAG eq and 97.1% had concentrations less than 35 micrograms/ml HAG eq (2 SD greater than means) and were considered negative . Sera from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in active disease tested 86% positive for CIC (means = 104.5 +/- 63.4 micrograms/ml HAG eq) while 100% with inactive disease were negative (means = 11.4 +/- 3.7 micrograms/ml HAG eq) . Similarly, in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with active disease, 100% were positive (means = 133.1 +/- 50.6 micrograms/ml HAG eq) while 80% with inactive disease were negative (means = 20.4 +/- 21.4 micrograms/ml HAG eq) . In AIDS (AIDS related), 88.5% of AIDS sera and 77.1% of lymphadenopathy syndrome (LAS) sera had elevated CIC . Sera from asymptomatic homosexual controls showed 85% positive for CIC . The serum ELISA test for CIC compared favorably with the 125I-staphylococcus binding assay but was more sensitive than the 125I-C1qBA . The OKT4/OKT8 ratios were also significantly reduced in AIDS and LAS.

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