JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr, 1986 Mar-Apr, 10(2), 160 - 5 Lack of modulation of postoperative immunosuppression by isotonic amino acid infusion; Neuvonen P et al.; Effects of an isotonic amino acid solution on the immune defence systems of surgical patients were studied . Twenty-two patients admitted for major abdominal operations were randomly allocated into two groups . Eleven of them received 1 liter of 3% amino acid solution daily for 5 days postoperatively, while 11 control patients received balanced 5% glucose-containing electrolyte solutions . Immune variables were studied preoperatively and at 1, 3 to 4, and 6 to 7 days postoperatively . These studies included leukocyte and differential counts, T (OKT3+), B (sIg+), T helper/inducer (OKT4+) and suppressor/cytotoxic (OKT8+) cell determinations, measurement of in vitro lymphocytic responses to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (StaCw) in cultures of separated lymphocytes, and to PHA, concanavalin A (Con A), and PWM in whole blood cultures . B lymphocyte functions were studied by measuring synthesis of immunoglobulins IgG, IgM, and IgA in the cell culture medium when lymphocytes were stimulated with PWM alone and in the presence of Con A or hydrocortisone . Postoperative amino acid infusion slightly improved the capacity of lymphocytes to synthetize and secrete IgG and IgM . By contrast, no improvement was seen in cell counts or lymphocyte transformation patterns. J Clin Microbiol, 1986 Mar, 23(3), 640 - 2 Comparison of a yellow latex reagent with other agglutination methods for the identification of Staphylococcus aureus; Brown WJ; A new commercial yellow latex agglutination reagent (Bacto-Staph) was compared with the slide and tube coagulase tests and three other commercial reagents for the identification of 283 Staphylococcus aureus and 54 non-S . aureus staphylococcal strains . Test sensitivities for the identification of S . aureus were as follows: tube coagulase, 99.6%; slide coagulase, 98.6%; Bacto-Staph, 99.6%; Staphylatex, 98.6%; Sero STAT Staph, 98.2%; and Staphyloslide, 97.5% . No false-positive reactions were observed with any of the commercial reagents. J Clin Microbiol, 1986 Mar, 23(3), 416 - 20 Use of 51Cr release to measure the cytotoxic effects of staphylococcal leukocidin and toxin neutralization on bovine leukocytes; Loeffler DA et al.; Leukocidin toxin from Staphylococcus aureus produces specific cytolytic effects on neutrophils and macrophages . The most commonly used method for determination of leukocidin activity is microscopic examination for characteristic morphological changes in toxin-treated cells . The 51Cr release assay was modified to allow quantitation of the cytolytic effects of leukocidin on bovine peripheral blood neutrophils and lymphocytes . Toxin neutralization by serum and milk samples was quantitated by this method . The neutralizing abilities of the various samples were found to correlate with the levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG1) specific for leukocidin . Undiluted normal serum samples, however, were capable of partially preventing the cytotoxic effects of leukocidin . The assay was shown to be an effective means of quantitating the cytotoxic activity of leukocidin on neutrophils as well as demonstrating neutralization of cytotoxicity by milk and serum samples. Am J Kidney Dis, 1986 Mar, 7(3), 250 - 3 Massive hemorrhage from a lumbar artery following percutaneous renal biopsy; Wall B et al.; We report a case of severe lumbar artery bleeding following percutaneous renal biopsy . A 68-year-old man with a history of rheumatoid arthritis, gold therapy, and Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia underwent a percutaneous renal biopsy to evaluate nephrotic syndrome and renal insufficiency . Following the procedure, he developed signs of severe hemorrhage . A selective renal angiogram revealed an intrarenal bleeding site that was occluded by selective embolization . The patient failed to stabilize however, and repeat angiography was performed two days later . A lumbar artery was identified as a second bleeding site, and was also occluded by selective embolization . The bleeding was controlled, but the patient developed serious complications and died five days later. J Infect Dis, 1986 Mar, 153(3), 593 - 600 An in vitro investigation of the intracellular bioactivity of amoxicillin, clindamycin, and erythromycin for Staphylococcus aureus; Anderson R et al.; The intraphagocytic bioactivities for Staphylococcus aureus of amoxicillin, clindamycin, and erythromycin (0.0075-20 micrograms/ml) were measured in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) with the combination of a fluorochrome microassay and a radioassay . PMNLs with normal or depleted membrane-associated oxidative metabolism were used to investigate the interactions that may occur between the intrinsic O2-dependent antimicrobial systems of human phagocytes and antimicrobial agents in the elimination of intracellular microbial pathogens . Neutralization of O2-dependent antimicrobial systems with retention of phagocytic capacity was achieved with use of PMNLs from four children with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) or NaF-pulsed normal PMNLs . None of the test antibiotics possessed intracellular bactericidal activity . Clindamycin and erythromycin possessed significant intracellular bacteriostatic activity relative to the modest activity of amoxicillin . Optimal intracellular bioactivity of all three antibiotics was obtained with normal PMNLs relative to NaF-pulsed or CGD PMNLs, a result indicating the existence of beneficial interactions between the antimicrobial agents and the O2-dependent antimicrobial systems of PMNLs. J Infect Dis, 1986 Mar, 153(3), 586 - 92 Effect of penicillin G on Staphylococcus aureus phagocytosed by human monocytes; van den Broek PJ et al.; The effect of penicillin G on Staphylococcus aureus after phagocytosis by human monocytes was compared with the effect on nonphagocytosed bacteria . Intracellular S . aureus was obtained by incubation of monocytes and preopsonized S . aureus for 3 min at 37 C; phagocytosis was stopped by cooling the test tubes in crushed ice . Nonphagocytosed bacteria were removed by differential centrifugation followed by two washes of the cells . Morphological studies with lysostaphin confirmed the intracellular localization of approximately 70% of the bacteria after this procedure . The antibacterial activity of penicillin G was assessed by incubation of monocytes containing ingested S . aureus with the drug at 37 C, and determination of the number of viable cell-associated bacteria was assessed microbiologically at various intervals . Inactivation of the intracellular killing mechanism of the monocytes by omission of serum during incubation allowed measurement of the effect of penicillin G apart from the bactericidal activity of the cells . The effect of penicillin G on nonphagocytosed bacteria was assessed after incubation of preopsonized S . aureus in medium with the drug . The results show that the effect of penicillin G on intracellular S . aureus is two to seven times stronger than the effect on nonphagocytosed S . aureus. J Bacteriol, 1986 Mar, 165(3), 878 - 83 Plasmid instability in regenerating protoplasts of Staphylococcus aureus is caused by aberrant cell division; Gruss A et al.; Elimination of plasmids from regenerating S . aureus protoplasts occurred when the regeneration medium contained sucrose but not when it contained sodium succinate . This difference was caused by the occurrence of cell division prior to regeneration of the cell wall on sucrose but not on succinate . Coexisting compatible plasmids were cured independently; coexisting incompatible plasmids were cured jointly . These results support the hypothesis that plasmid pools exist as physically sequestered units in protoplasts and that curing is a consequence of the segregation of such units during abnormal division of wall-less organisms. Crit Care Med, 1986 Mar, 14(3), 198 - 201 Role of corticosteroids in the development of pneumonia in mechanically ventilated head-trauma victims; Braun SR et al.; The development of pneumonia was monitored in head-trauma patients requiring mechanical ventilation . Of the 66 patients studied, 15 (23%) developed pneumonia within 14 days after ICU admission . In each case the diagnosis was based on x-ray evidence and at least two of the following: increased white blood cell count, increased fever, and/or increased sputum production with a predominant organism on the sputum stain . Coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus was the most common etiologic agent . There was no difference in the occurrence of pneumonia between patients treated with no steroids or with low, moderate, or high steroid doses . Although there was an association between thiopental use and the development of pneumonia, dexamethasone treatment was not a significant risk factor in the development of pneumonia in this patient population. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1986 Mar, (3), 56 - 62 {Delayed hypersensitivity and nonspecific cellular immunity . The role of mono- and polynuclear phagocytes}; Gordienko SM; Differences in the influence produced by sensitization with BCG vaccine and Staphylococcus aureus and by the reaction of delayed hypersensitivity (DH) induced, respectively, by the injection of old tuberculin and staphylococcal phagolysate on the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages and blood leukocytes in different animals were experimentally demonstrated . A considerable activation of the bactericidal and ingesting functions of macrophages was observed in animals showing a pronounced DH reaction (rabbits, guinea pigs and mice), while in Wistar rats no such activation was noted . The latter showed no DH reaction after sensitization with BCG vaccine and the injection of the specific antigen . Among different strains of mice, the activation of macrophages occurred in the animals with the most pronounced DH reaction . Sensitization with BCG vaccine led to an insignificant sensitization of macrophages, and sensitization with S . aureus even suppressed the phagocytic activity of macrophages . The treatment of mice with antimacrophagal preparations (carrageenan, silica and trypan blue, but T-lymphocyte antiserum) before and after the injection of the specific antigen into the sensitized animals abolished the stimulation of anti-infection immunity. J Infect, 1986 Mar, 12(2), 105 - 9 Infections after craniotomy: a retrospective study; van Ek B et al.; A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the rate of infection directly related to craniotomy . Of 246 craniotomies performed in 1981, 234 could be evaluated . The overall incidence of infection was 8.1% (19 infections in 18 patients) . The infection rate was 15.2% after insertion of a ventricular shunt (seven infections after 45 ventriculostomies) . Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Propionibacterium acnes were the most frequent isolated micro-organisms . We recommended a double-blind prospective study to evaluate the possible benefit of antibiotic prophylaxis in craniotomies. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1986 Mar, 39(3), 394 - 403 Studies on beta-lactam antibiotics . XII . Synthesis and activity of new 3-ethynylcephalosporin; Kawabata K et al.; The synthesis of the orally absorbed 3-ethynylcephalosporin is described . In addition, the structure-activity relationships and oral absorption in rats of 7 beta-{(Z)-2-(2-amino-4-thiazolyl)-2- carboxymethoxyiminoacetamido}cephalosporins having various aliphatic hydrocarbon groups at the 3-position are discussed . Of these cephalosporins, 3-ethynyl-cephalosporin exhibited better activity against Staphylococcus aureus than the other cephalosporins and showed moderate oral absorption in rats. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1986 Mar, 39(3), 384 - 93 Studies on beta-lactam antibiotics . XI . Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of new 3-(2,2-dihalovinyl)cephalosporins; Kawabata K et al.; The synthesis and in vitro antibacterial activity of 7 beta-{(Z)-2-(2-amino-4-thiazolyl)-2-carboxymethoxyiminoacetamido}- 3-(2,2-dihalovinyl)cephalosporins are described . 3-(2,2-Dihalovinyl)cephalosporins exhibited excellent antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, especially showed higher activity against Staphylococcus aureus than the corresponding 3-vinylcephalosporin. Infect Control, 1986 Mar, 7(3), 164 - 7 Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: how reliable is laboratory reporting? Fleming DW, Helgerson SD, Mallery BL, Foster LR, White MC. Microbiology laboratories in Oregon were surveyed in 1981 to determine how often methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was being reported to physicians in the state . Results of this survey were surprising in three respects . First, the mean percent of S . aureus isolates reported by laboratories as methicillin-resistant was 8.3% . Second, a significant inverse correlation was found between the percent of reported MRSA and laboratory size (p = 0.0001) . Finally, laboratories which retested initially resistant isolates reported significantly less MRSA (mean 3.3%, median 1%) than those laboratories which accepted initial results (mean 20%, median 12%) (p = 0.0001) . Independent testing by the Centers for Disease Control of isolates reported to be MRSA confirmed that some misidentification was occurring . Participating laboratories were notified of our initial findings and their potentially serious clinical ramifications . Laboratories were resurveyed in 1982, and a significant decrease in the reported MRSA to a mean percentage of 3.4% was observed (p = 0.002) . It is unlikely that this situation is unique to Oregon, and similar misreporting of MRSA to physicians in other areas of the country may be compromising the safe and effective treatment of S . aureus infections. Am J Trop Med Hyg, 1986 Mar, 35(2), 290 - 6 An oocyst-transmitted outbreak of toxoplasmosis: patterns of immunoglobulin G and M over one year; Sulzer AJ et al.; Sera from 32 patients who became ill after jungle combat training were tested for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii using the indirect immunofluorescence test . Swift rises of both IgG and IgM antibodies occurred within 2 weeks of infection . Reduction in IgM titers, due to competitive suppression by IgG antibody, occurred in most but not all cases . Suppression of IgM reaction by IgG antibody could be prevented by adsorption of serum with Staphylococcus aureus containing protein A . Antibody of the IgM class could be detected at greater than or equal 1:256 level in many sera at 6-month and 1-year intervals after exposure . In groups with exposures such as were experienced in this study, the presence of IgM antibody titers in single serum specimens cannot be used to indicate recent exposure . Both IgG and IgM antibody may rise together to high levels very rapidly after infection; IgM did not precede IgG antibody in our 32 subjects. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1986 Mar, 83(5), 1458 - 62 Induction of c-myc expression in human B lymphocytes by B-cell growth factor and anti-immunoglobulin; Lacy J et al.; Purified human B lymphocytes were examined for transcriptional expression of c-myc in response to mitogenic stimulation by the method of in situ hybridization using 35S-labeled DNA probes . The level of c-myc expression increased 10- to 20-fold within 2 hr after the addition of anti-mu, formalinized Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain I, or B-cell growth factor, as compared to resting B cells . After 72-96 hr of mitogenic stimulation, c-myc expression remained elevated 5-fold, but expression among individual cells had become more heterogeneous than at early time points . To determine whether c-myc expression in human B lymphocytes is phase specific within the cell cycle, mitogen-stimulated cells were sorted by DNA content into populations of cells in G0/G1, S, and G2/M phases of the cell cycle . Examination of c-myc expression in phase-specific cells revealed that c-myc expression was elevated in all phases of the cell cycle, but it appeared to be maximally expressed in S phase . These studies suggest that c-myc expression in normal human B lymphocytes is cell-cycle dependent and remains elevated in all phases of the cycling cell. J Vasc Surg, 1986 Mar, 3(3), 535 - 9 Antibiotic prophylaxis in vascular surgery: pharmacokinetic study of four commonly used cephalosporins; Fradet G et al.; Plasma levels of antibiotics often do not correlate well with their tissue levels . To determine optimal antibiotic coverage for prophylactic effect in vascular surgery, we studied the tissue pharmacokinetics of four cephalosporins in dogs: cefazolin, cefoxitin, cefamandole, and moxalactam for 3 hours after a single (25 mg/kg) intravenous injection . The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of these antibiotics for the three most common pathogens involved in graft infections (Staphylococcus aureus, S . albus, and Escherichia coli) and their tissue concentration (TC) in the plasma, muscle, subcutaneous tissue, and aortic wall were assayed . The data are presented as TC/MIC ratio . Cefoxitin and moxalactam failed to achieve an effective therapeutic TC/MIC ratio (greater than 10) for S . aureus and S . albus in all the tissues studied whereas cefoxitin and cefamandole were above therapeutic levels . All antibiotics achieved an effective therapeutic ratio against E . coli, but cefamandole performed better (p less than 0.05) than cefoxitin; the latter reached effective levels at 3 hours . Cefamandole attained the most effective bioactive aortic tissue levels when the three most common pathogens were considered together and should therefore be considered as an antibiotic agent of choice for prophylaxis in vascular surgery. J Med Microbiol, 1986 Mar, 21(2), 169 - 71 Typing of strains of Staphylococcus aureus by Western Blot analysis of culture supernates; Krikler SJ et al.; Extracellular proteins produced by Staphylococcus aureus strains were examined by Western Blot analysis with blood donor plasma as a source of antibodies . Comparison of epidemiologically related strains showed strong concordance between plot pattern and phage type. J Cell Biol, 1986 Mar, 102(3), 932 - 42 Receptor-mediated endocytosis of asialoglycoproteins by rat hepatocytes: receptor-positive and receptor-negative endosomes; Mueller SC et al.; We have used combinations of subcellular fractionation, specific cytochemical tracers, and quantitative immunoadsorption to determine when, where, and in which intracellular structure internalized asialoglycoproteins (ASGPs) are segregated from their receptor . All membrane vesicles containing the receptor (R+ vesicles) were quantitatively immunoadsorbed from crude microsomes with Staphylococcus aureus cells and affinity-purified anti-ASGP receptor . Using this assay, we varied the time and temperature of exposure of perfused livers to 125I-asialoorosomucoid (125I-ASOR) and followed the movement of ligand from R+ to R- vesicles . After 2.5 min at 37 degrees C, 98% of the internalized ligand could be immunoadsorbed and thus was in R+ vesicles . Over the next 12 min of continuous 37 degrees C perfusion with 125I-ASOR, an increasing fraction of the ligand was not immunoadsorbed and therefore was present in R- vesicles . A maximum of 30% of the ligand could be found in R- vesicles (14-44 min) . When livers were maintained at 16 degrees C, ligand was internalized but remained in R+ vesicles . Furthermore, ligand accumulating in R- vesicles at 37 degrees C remained there when livers were cooled to 16 degrees C . R- endosomes could be separated from R+ endosomes by flotation on sucrose density gradients and visualized by the presence of sequestered ASOR-horseradish peroxidase (ASOR-HRP) . These structures resembled those labeled by ASOR-HRP in situ: R+ vesicles were relatively dense (1.12 g/cc), frequently tubular or spherical and small (100-nm diam), corresponding to the peripheral and internal tubular endosomes; R- structures were of lower density (1.09 g/cc), large (400-nm diam), and resembled internal multivesicular endosomes (MVEs) . Endocytosed ASOR-HRP was found in both the peripheral and internal tubular endosomes in situ under conditions where 95% of the ligand was present in R+ vesicles by immunoadsorption, whereas MVEs containing ASOR-HRP were predominant in situ when ligand was found in R- vesicles and were often in continuity with the tubular internal endosomes . All of these results suggest that complete segregation of ligand and receptor occurs after arrival in the Golgi-lysosome region of the hepatocyte and that MVEs are R- and represent the final prelysosomal compartment. Ann Emerg Med, 1986 Mar, 15(3), 329 - 32 Pathogen identification of abscesses and cellulitis; Meislin HW; The goal of culturing abscesses and/or cellulitis is to identify the offending pathogen in order to understand and treat the infection . Abscesses respond to incision and drainage . Antibiotics are not indicated in the patient with normal host defense, and thus in these patients cultures and Gram stains are not indicated . In immunocompromised patients, in patients with abscesses of the central face, and in those with abscesses that contain gas or involve muscle or fascia, Gram stain, culture, and antibiotics are necessary . The Gram stain is a reliable indicator of sterile abscesses, abscesses in pure culture (especially Staphylococcus aureus), and those in mixed anaerobic culture . Location and odor of abscesses are clues to offending bacteria . Cultures of tissue or blood in patients with cellulitis usually are positive in less than 40% of cases, regardless of the technique used . Hemophilus influenzae cellulitis in pediatric patients is an exception; blood cultures are positive in more than two-thirds of cases . Although not specific, certain types of cellulitis show different clinical characteristics . Treatment with elevation, warm soaks, and antibiotics is still the mainstay of therapy . Gram stain and culture are limited to those patients who do not respond to initial therapy or who are immunocompromised. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol, 1986 Mar, 8(3), 147 - 50 The immunoenhancing effect of cianidanol (C) on macrophages and on the T-cell system; Rauch G; Substance C {(+)-catechin; (+)-cyanidanol-3)}, which has been used for liver therapy since 1976, showed efficient immunostimulating properties in studies undertaken to investigate its mode of action . The compound had a significant effect on activation of macrophages, cytotoxic-T-lymphocytes and natural killer cells in mice in a dose-dependent manner . It also inhibited leukocyte migration in the presence of an antigen by 10.5% . Substance C significantly increased spontaneous lymphocyte transformation and spontaneous pokeweed mitogen (PWM)- and Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC)-induced immunoglobulin synthesis in vitro . Furthermore, it exerted a stimulating effect on lymphocyte PHA-reactivity . In patients with HBV-positive chronic active hepatitis (CAH) it increased the ratio of OK4/OK8 cells . Its efficacy is comparable to that of the known immunostimulator inosine . The effect of cianidanol upon rosette formation in patients suffering from chronic liver diseases and healthy controls is qualitatively and quantitatively comparable to that of levamisole . The results of these studies are presented and discussed in regard to its efficacy in the therapy of HBsAG(+) and HBeAG(+) hepatitis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1986 Mar, 29(3), 461 - 3 Enoxacin compared with vancomycin for the treatment of experimental methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis; Gilbert M et al.; Enoxacin administered orally was compared with vancomycin administered intravenously for the treatment of experimental methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis . The MICs and MBCs of both enoxacin and vancomycin for an inoculum of 5.0 X 10(5) CFU of the methicillin-resistant S . aureus strain per ml were 1.56 microgram/ml . With an inoculum of 10(8) CFU/ml, enoxacin at 6 micrograms/ml and vancomycin at 180 micrograms/ml resulted in similar decreases in numbers of methicillin-resistant S . aureus in broth . Methicillin-resistant S . aureus endocarditis in rabbits was treated with enoxacin at 100 mg/kg orally every 12 h or vancomycin at 30 mg/kg intravenously every 12 h for 3 or 5 days . Enoxacin treatment for 3 or 5 days and vancomycin treatment for 5 days significantly reduced bacterial counts of vegetations compared with those in untreated control rabbits after 1 day of infection . Bacterial counts of vegetations after vancomycin treatment for 3 days did not differ significantly from those of untreated controls . Bacterial counts of vegetations in the four therapeutic groups did not differ significantly from one another . In uninfected rabbits single doses of vancomycin at 30 mg/kg administered intravenously achieved much higher concentrations in serum than did single doses of enoxacin at 100 mg/kg administered orally . Enoxacin had an elimination half-life in serum that was approximately 1.5 times longer than that of vancomycin . This study demonstrated that enoxacin administered orally is as effective as vancomycin administered intravenously for the treatment of experimental methicillin-resistant S . aureus endocarditis. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol, 1986 Mar, 8(3), 139 - 45 Influence of cianidanol on specific and non-specific immune mechanisms; Daniel PT et al.; The influence of Cianidanol (Ci), a cytoprotective radical scavenger, on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was assessed with respect to its immunomodulatory function . In previous studies performed in our laboratory, a bidirectional influence of Ci on the immune response was observed, depending on its concentration . In order to elucidate this effect, the influence of Ci on macrophage (M phi) and B-cell function was investigated . A marked dose-dependent suppression of M phi phagocytosis by Ci could be detected . Furthermore, PGE2 synthesis of non-activated and PHA-activated PBMC was inhibited in the presence of Ci . This effect was shown to be due to an inhibition of M phi cyclooxygenase . It was also demonstrated that neither spontaneous nor Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I induced proliferation of highly purified B-cells was enhanced by Ci . Similar results were obtained by measuring the influence of Ci on immunoglobulin secretion of purified B-cells, exposed to Klebsiella membrane preparations . From these data it can be concluded that the previously described enhancing effect of Ci on immunoglobulin secretion is probably T-cell mediated. J Clin Immunol, 1986 Mar, 6(2), 114 - 20 An analysis of the cellular requirements for the production of soluble interleukin-2 receptors in vitro; Nelson DL et al.; Following activation in vitro, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) express cell-associated interleukin-2 receptors (IL-2R) and also release soluble IL-2R into culture supernatants . The present studies were undertaken to define which normal cells were responsible for the release of soluble IL-2R in vitro . Both cell-associated and soluble IL-2R were quantitatively measured with a "sandwich" enzyme-linked immunoassay employing two monoclonal antibodies . PBMC were separated into populations of surface immunoglobulin-negative cells (T cells and monocytes) and surface immunoglobulin-positive cells (B cells and monocytes), and the T-cell population was further separated into OKT4-positive (OKT4+) cells and OKT4-negative (OKT4-) cells . Following activation with phytohemagglutinin, pokeweed mitogen, and the monoclonal antibody OKT3, large amounts of soluble IL-2R were released by PBMC, unseparated T cells, OKT4+ T cells, and OKT4- T cells . The population containing B cells and monocytes made small but readily detectable amounts of soluble IL-2R when stimulated with these T-cell mitogens; likely the result of contaminating T cells in the population . However, when highly purified B cells were stimulated with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan and recombinant IL-2, they also released small amounts of soluble IL-2R . The release of soluble IL-2R by T cells appeared monocyte dependent when OKT3, but not phytohemagglutinin, was employed for activation, and monocytes themselves released no detectable IL-2R under the conditions employed . These studies define the cellular requirements for the release of soluble IL-2R in vitro and demonstrate that such receptors are released by B cells, T cells, and both OKT4+ and OKT4- T-cell subsets. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1986 Mar, 17(3), 365 - 72 Elimination of nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus with mupirocin ('pseudomonic acid')--a controlled trial; Casewell MW et al.; In a blind controlled trial 2% mupirocin ointment was applied four times a day for five days to the anterior nares of 32 healthy volunteers who were followed-up for at least five weeks . Mupirocin eliminated the persistent carriage of Staphylococcus aureus in all subjects within two days of starting mupirocin . Two weeks after the course S . aureus could not be detected, even in low numbers, in nose swabs from any of the 32 volunteers, and even after five weeks only six had resumed carriage . Of the 14 subjects who ultimately resumed carriage, 57% acquired a different phage type and 29% showed a relapse of colonisation with their pre-treatment strain . There was no evidence of overgrowth with Gram-negative organisms and pre- and post-treatment isolates of S . aureus were sensitive to mupirocin with MICs of 0.06 mg/l or less . There were no side-effects . We suggest that mupirocin may become the topical agent of choice for the elimination of S . aureus from the anterior nares. J Clin Microbiol, 1986 Mar, 23(3), 509 - 12 Latex agglutination test for staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome toxin 1; Igarashi H et al.; A reversed passive latex agglutination method, in which latex particles were sensitized with specific anti-toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) immunoglobulin, was found to be a simple and sensitive method for the detection of TSST-1 production by Staphylococcus aureus strains . The minimum amount of TSST-1 detectable was approximately 1.0 ng/ml . Of 41 S . aureus isolates from toxic shock syndrome patients and controls, 23 were positive for TSST-1 production, whereas only 20 strains were positive for TSST-1 production by an Ouchterlony immunodiffusion method . The reversed passive latex agglutination method was used to examine S . aureus strains isolated in Japan from staphylococcal infections, feces from healthy individuals, food from poisoning outbreaks, and market food. Mol Cell Biol, 1986 Mar, 6(3), 758 - 67 Absence of a structural basis for intracellular recognition and differential localization of nuclear and plasma membrane-associated forms of simian virus 40 large tumor antigen; Jarvis DL et al.; The simian virus 40 large tumor antigen (T-ag) is found in both the nuclei (nT-ag) and plasma membranes (mT-ag) of simian virus 40-infected or -transformed cells . It is not known how newly synthesized T-ag molecules are recognized, sorted, and transported to their ultimate subcellular destinations . One possibility is that these events depend upon structural differences between nT-ag and mT-ag . To test this possibility, we compared the structures of nT-ag and mT-ag from simian virus 40-infected cells . No differences between the two forms of T-ag were detected by migration in polyacrylamide gels, by Staphylococcus aureus V8 partial proteolytic mapping of methionine- or proline-containing peptides, or by two-dimensional tryptic peptide mapping of methionine-containing peptides . The carboxy-terminal, methionine-containing tryptic peptide was identified in the two-dimensional maps and was shown to be identical in nT-ag and mT-ag . Thus, a structural basis for the recognition and differential localization of T-ags could not be demonstrated . The carboxy terminus of the T-ag encoded by mutant dlA2413 is derived from the alternate open reading frame of the simian virus 40 early region, in analogy with the theoretical early gene product, T*-ag . We used this mutant to identify peptides unique to T*-ag . None of these peptides were detected in maps of mT-ag; only wild-type T-ag-specific peptides were found . These findings suggest that T*-ag does not represent the membrane-associated form of T-ag, but that mT-ag is encoded within the same reading frame used for nT-ag. Arch Microbiol, 1986 Mar, 144(2), 131 - 6 Enterotoxin A production in Staphylococcus aureus: inhibition by glucose; Smith JL et al.; In this study, we investigated the relationship between carbohydrate metabolism and repression of staphylococcus enterotoxin A (SEA) in Staphylococcus aureus 196E and a pleiotrophic mutant derived from strain 196E . The mutant, designated at strain 196E-MA, lacked a functional phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase system (PTS) . The mutant produced acid, under aerobic conditions, from only glucose and glycerol . The parent strain contained an active PTS, and aerobically produced acid from a large number of carbohydrates . Prior growth in glucose led to repression of SEA synthesis in the parent strain; addition to the casamino acids enterotoxin production medium (CAS) led to more severe repression of toxin synthesis . The repression was not related to pH decreases produced by glucose metabolism . When S . aureus 196E was grown in the absence of glucose, there was inhibition of toxin production as glucose level was increased in CAS . The inhibition was related to pH decrease and was unlike the repression observed with glucose-grown strain 196E . The inhibition of SEA synthesis in mutant strain 196E-MA was approximately the same in cells grown with or without glucose and was pH related . Repression of SEA synthesis similar to that seen with glucose-grown S . aureus 196E could not be demonstrated in the mutant . In addition, glucose-grown S . aureus 196E neither synthesized beta-galactosidase nor showed respiratory activity with certain tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle compounds . Glucose-grown strain 196E-MA, however, did not show suppressed respiration of TCA cycle compounds; beta-galactosidase was not synthesized because the mutant lacked a functional PTS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Clin Microbiol, 1986 Mar, 23(3), 576 - 81 Elimination of nonspecific cytomegalovirus immunoglobulin M activities in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay by using anti-human immunoglobulin G; Joassin L et al.; Direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods offer several advantages in assessing past or recent exposure to cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, but there persist many pitfalls in the use of these methods for determining specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) . The efficiency of absorption of sera by IgG-coated latex beads, aggregated human IgG, or Staphylococcus aureus, i.e., for removing nonspecific CMV IgM activities, was evaluated in comparison with the effect of an anti-human IgG hyperimmune serum . Large routine series comprising serum samples from patients of various clinical groups and healthy individuals were examined . The CMV IgM-positive samples were at first treated with latex or aggregated IgG, but these absorptions left too many CMV IgM-positive individuals . S . aureus increased the nonspecific activity of some sera and, in other cases, removed or impaired specific IgM activities . The anti-IgG treatment caused the disappearance of nonspecific CMV IgM activities that had resisted the other treatments, whereas specific activities remained intact . Utilizing this method, only 1.03% of the routine series patients remained CMV IgM positive by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, a figure in good agreement with a mean probability of CMV antibody acquisition of 0.33% for the population living in Belgium . On the other hand, in a series of patients who were investigated for serological response to several viruses, eight individuals displayed multiple IgM activities after anti-IgG treatment . In these cases, most IgM activities were found in patients who had IgG toward the related antigen for a long time before transient IgM was detected . This result implies that to assess a diagnosis of primary infection, it is necessary to examine serial specimens for IgG acquisition accompanying specific IgM. Hepatology, 1986 Mar-Apr, 6(2), 252 - 62 Abnormalities of neutrophil phagocytosis, intracellular killing and metabolic activity in alcoholic cirrhosis and hepatitis; Rajkovic IA et al.; Neutrophil functions of phagocytosis and intracellular killing of bacteria were examined in 40 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis of whom 18 had a superimposed acute alcoholic hepatitis . In 65% of these, defective neutrophil phagocytosis was demonstrable, and in 62.5% there was a defect of intracellular killing of either Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli . Studies of the patients' serum failed to reveal inhibitors of neutrophil function . Additional assays of superoxide (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide production, hexose monophosphate shunt activity, degranulation and cellular levels of granule enzymes and glutathione revealed that these neutrophil defects are caused by both reduced production of superoxide and defects of degranulation . The hydrogen peroxide/superoxide molar ratio was raised in patients' neutrophils, and the strong inverse correlation found between the value of this ratio and intracellular levels of reduced glutathione would be consistent with the hypothesis that the neutrophils from patients with cirrhosis are unable to detoxify hydrogen peroxide effectively and that this is a result of reduced levels of glutathione in the cells . The consequent increase in oxidant stress, both intra- and extracellularly, may be the cause of phagocytic and degranulation defects . The reduced responses of patients' neutrophils may be caused by previous exposure of the cells to activating stimuli in circulation, as evidenced by depleted intracellular levels of granule enzymes and glutathione . Neutrophils from the patients with a superimposed acute alcoholic hepatitis had depressed phagocytosis in the early stages of incubation but, on the whole, neutrophils from these patients had a greater capacity for ingestion and killing of bacteria than neutrophils from patients with cirrhosis alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Biochem J, 1986 Mar 1, 234(2), 413 - 20 Modification of ovine opsin with the photosensitive hydrophobic probe 1-azido-4-{125I}iodobenzene . Labelling of the chromophore-attachment domain; Davison MD et al.; The hydrophobic photosensitive probe 1-azido-4-{125I}iodobenzene (AIB) partitioned preferentially into photoreceptor disc membranes and, upon u.v . irradiation, became covalently bound to opsin and phospholipid . The labelling of both protein and phospholipid was linearly related to AIB concentration . The amount of probe incorporated into protein was not significantly different when membranes were irradiated at -100 degrees, 4 degrees or 25 degrees C, but irreversible aggregation of monomeric opsin was dramatically reduced by performing the photolysis at -100 degrees C . Labelling of opsin after irradiation at -100 degrees or 4 degrees was not significantly reduced by the presence of lysine in the aqueous buffer, indicating that significant amounts of reactive species did not enter the aqueous phase . The incorporation into phospholipid, unlike that into opsin, decreased as the temperature of irradiation increased . Some labelling of opsin occurred on incubation with pre-photoactivated AIB, indicating that reaction may also occur with reactive species of longer lifetimes than the nitrene . Proteolysis of labelled opsin with Staphylococcus aureus V8 proteinase yielded two radiolabelled membrane-bound fragments . The location of the modified sites (cysteine, tryptophan, tyrosine, lysine and histidine residues: all nucleophiles) in the smaller fragment was entirely consistent with putative models for the protein derived from other studies. J Dairy Sci, 1986 Mar, 69(3), 670 - 5 Milk plasmin, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, and antitrypsin as determinants of bacterial replication rates in whey; Mattila T et al.; Quarter milk samples were collected monthly on a selected herd of 80 Ayrshire cows having a high frequency of subclinical mastitis . Analysis of bacterial growth rates in milk showed that whey prepared from infected or inflamed quarters stimulated bacterial growth . Milk N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, antitrypsin, and plasmin activities all showed positive correlations with bacterial replication rates (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) in respective whey samples as determined by a turbidometric micro-technique . Increased bacterial replication rates in mastitic whey represent an increased yield of the key nutrients for bacteria . Bacterial growth enhancement can be partly explained by proteose-peptone originating from plasmin activation and casein degradation . However, as multiple regression analysis showed that a combination of the predictor variables: antitrypsin, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and plasmin explained enhancement of bacterial growth better than plasmin alone, other factors connected with inflammation should be sought when searching for growth-enhancing factors in whey . Milk plasmin activities showed increasing activities toward end of lactation (before drying off) as well as during later lactation (age of cow in years minus 2) . Bacterial replication was enhanced in parallel with these changes in plasmin activities. Pediatr Res, 1986 Mar, 20(3), 227 - 31 The effect of breast-feeding on proliferation by infant lymphocytes in vitro; Stephens S et al.; The effect of breast-feeding on the development of lymphocyte responsiveness in infants has been studied . Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 15 breast- and 15 bottle-fed infants were obtained sequentially between 6 days and 9 months of age . A number of agents were used to stimulate the cells in vitro and the resulting proliferative responses were compared between the two feeding groups . A hanging drop microculture system using serum-free medium, enabled spontaneous proliferation and proliferative responses to several stimuli (T and B cell mitogens, allogeneic lymphocytes, and antigen) to be studied at a range of cell concentrations and days of culture . Significant age-related differences were found between the responses of cells from the two feeding groups . Spontaneous proliferation and proliferative responses to the T cell mitogen phytohaemagglutinin and the antigen tetanus toxoid were significantly greater in the breast-fed group at the two earliest ages studied (6 days and 6 wk) . Responses to mitogens which predominantly affect B cells, such as pokeweed mitogen and Staphylococcus aureus (Cowan), were similar in both feeding groups at this age . In contrast, from 3 to 9 months of age, responses of cells from bottle-fed infants were significantly greater to all stimuli than responses from breast-fed infants . One possible explanation for the higher level of proliferation by cells from newborn breast-fed infants, is that these infants may absorb the cell-growth factors and lymphokines known to be present in human colostrum and milk . These factors may stimulate T cells and/or their precursors in vivo.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Acta Virol, 1986 Mar, 30(2), 126 - 30 Structural proteins of Getah virus isolates from Japan and Malaysia; Srivastava AK et al.; Purified preparations of Getah virus strains have been analysed by sodium-dodecyl-sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) to reveal their structural proteins . Two envelope proteins (E1 and E2) and core protein (C) were found with the prototype AMM2021 strain both under reducing and nonreducing conditions, while separation of E1 and E2 was observed only under nonreducing conditions for 3 strains isolated in Japan . Limited digestion by Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease revealed difference in the peptide patterns of E1 between AMM2021 and Japanese isolates . Mobility of E1 and E2 was slower for the virus grown in BHK21 cells compared with the virus grown in Aedes albopictus cells, indicating host-controlled modification on the envelope glycoproteins. J Hosp Infect, 1986 Mar, 7 Suppl A, 57 - 63 The effect of teicoplanin on leukocytic activity and intraleukocytic micro-organisms; Fietta A et al.; The interference of teicoplanin with certain phagocyte activities was investigated in comparison with that of vancomycin . Neither teicoplanin nor vancomycin interfered with chemotaxis, adherence, phagocytosis or nitroblue tetrazolium reduction of human neutrophils . Teicoplanin, but not vancomycin, enhanced intracellular killing by neutrophils from normal donors and from a patient with chronic granulomatous disease . Human monocytes in the absence of fresh human serum did not significantly kill Staphylococcus aureus but when pre-treated with teicoplanin 90% of phagocytozed bacteria were killed during 4 h incubation. J Hosp Infect, 1986 Mar, 7 Suppl A, 19 - 27 Genetics of multiply-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Kayser FH et al.; A substantial portion of recently isolated, multiply-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was shown to carry R-determinants in plasmids . Some of these plasmids were small (3 Mdal) and carried only one R-marker . Others were 18-36 Mdal in size and carried two or more R-determinants . Several of the larger plasmids could be transferred by a conjugation-like process . The location of R-markers on transposable DNA sequences also was observed . Transposition as well as stable integration of R-plasmids into the chromosome can explain the frequent observation of chromosomal location of resistance . Chromosomal resistance might be an advantage for an organism frequently exposed to antibiotics . Molecular evidence suggests that methicillin resistance resides on additional chromosomal DNA . The organization of staphylococcal genomes as well as efficient transfer processes explain the genetic versatility of Staph . aureus, which has resulted in the development of multiply-resistant strains. J Hosp Infect, 1986 Mar, 7(2), 137 - 48 Properties of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonizing patients in a burns unit; Lacey RW et al.; One hundred cultures of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were isolated from patients in a Regional Burns Unit between December 1984 and May 1985 . These organisms produced large amounts of beta-lactamase which readily hydrolyzed flucloxacillin but they were sensitive to teicoplanin, dicloxacillin and cephalothin at 37.5 degrees C . The MRSA strains did not differ from methicillin-sensitive isolates in sensitivity to unsaturated fatty acids, survival in serum and plasma or desiccation . However, each culture of this strain was negative or only weakly-positive for bound coagulase and cell bound protein A . Few (eight out of 44) cultures contained plasmids and the resistance to four antibacterials was not transferable in mixed cultures . No attempt was made to isolate patients colonized with MRSA which were rarely isolated elsewhere in the hospital. Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 1986 Mar, 11(3), 281 - 9 Activation specificity of commonly employed mitogens for canine B- and T-lymphocytes; Krakowka S et al.; Six day in vitro cultures of canine mononuclear leukocytes with or without prior carbonyl iron depletion were established with 5 commonly employed mitogens . Cultures were assessed for B-cell differentiation by induction of cytoplasmic and supernatant released IgG, M and A and T-cell differentiation by expression of Thy-1 antigen on the cell surface of lymphoblasts . The mitogen concanavalin A was shown to be a restricted T-cell mitogen, whereas pokeweed mitogen and protein A from Staphylococcus aureus stimulated maximal B-cell differentiation . These data establish the mitogenic specificity for canine lymphocytes in unfractionated peripheral blood leukocyte cultures and will permit an in vitro evaluation of various substances upon T- and B-lymphocyte functions. Cell Immunol, 1986 Mar, 98(1), 137 - 44 Activation of bovine neutrophils by recombinant interferon-gamma; Steinbeck MJ et al.; The effect of recombinant bovine interferon-gamma (r-IFN-gamma) on neutrophil functions was investigated and compared to the effects of an unpurified lymphokine preparation . Incubation of purified bovine neutrophils with r-IFN-gamma or antigen-induced lymphokine for 2.5 hr at 37 degrees C resulted in impairment of the ability of neutrophils to migrate under agarose, and an enhancement of their ability to mediate antibody-dependent and antibody-independent cell-mediated cytotoxicity against chicken erythrocytes . Neither the lymphokine preparation nor the r-IFN-gamma had any influence on Staphylococcus aureus ingestion, or iodination by neutrophils . The lymphokine preparation enhanced cytochrome c reduction by neutrophils and was weakly chemotactic, whereas the r-IFN-gamma had neither of these effects . Only 5 min of r-IFN-gamma preincubation with neutrophils were needed to trigger protein synthesis by the neutrophils resulting in inhibition of random migration . Therefore, recombinant interferon-gamma acts as a neutrophil migration inhibition factor and a neutrophil activation factor resulting in enhanced neutrophil-mediated antibody-dependent and -independent cell-mediated cytotoxicity . Many, but not all, of the in vitro effects of an unpurified lymphokine preparation on neutrophil function can be attributed to the interferon-gamma contained in the lymphokine. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr, 1986 Mar-Apr, 10(2), 169 - 71 Effect of dietary nucleotides on response to bacterial infections; Kulkarni AD et al.; A nucleotide-free diet (NFD) suppresses cellular immunity including suppression of both murine allograft rejection and murine graft-vs-host disease in H2 mismatched marrow recipients . To explore the effect of this diet upon response to a bacterial challenge, BALB/c mice were placed upon one of four diets: NFD, NFD supplemented with 0.25% RNA (NFR) and NFD reconstituted with either 0.06% adenine (NFA) or 0.06% uracil (NFU) . After 8 weeks on the diets, which supported normal growth in all groups, each dietary group of 10 mice was challenged with an intravenous injection of 1 X 10(7) live Staphylococcus aureus (Strain ATCC 25923) . By 120 hr postinoculation all mice in the NFD group had died; mortality was only 56% in the NFR group (p less than 0.05) . Addition of uracil resulted in mortality similar to that of the NFR group . Addition of adenine resulted in mortality close to that of the NFD group . Thus, dietary nucleotide restriction increases the mortality from staphylococcal sepsis . Addition of certain dietary nucleotides appears to decrease this susceptibility to bacterial challenge. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1986 Feb 26, 135(1), 146 - 53 Redistribution of protein kinase C during mitogenesis of human B lymphocytes; Guy GR et al.; G0 human tonsillar B-lymphocytes were stimulated to divide by the polyclonal mitogen Staphylococcus Aureus Cowan strain 1 (SAC) and by the combined use of 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and the calcium ionophore ionomycin . The activities of protein kinase C, which requires Ca++ and phospholipid as co-factors, and a proteolytically cleaved form of this enzyme (protein kinase M), which is independent of calcium and phospholipid control, were determined in soluble and particulate fractions obtained from activated B cells . Treatment of G0 B cells with SAC or TPA together with ionomycin caused redistribution of protein kinase C from the soluble to the particulate fraction where the 80,000-Dalton protein kinase C was cleaved to give rise to a 50,000-Dalton form of the kinase which was also found in the cytoplasm . These data suggest that redistribution and proteolytic cleavage of protein kinase C are key signal transduction events in B cell mitogenesis. J Biol Chem, 1986 Feb 25, 261(6), 2860 - 5 Newly synthesized Na,K-ATPase alpha-subunit has no cytosolic intermediate in MDCK cells; Caplan MJ et al.; Recently published data indicate that the alpha-subunit of Na,K-ATPase, a transmembrane protein of animal cell plasma membranes, is synthesized as a soluble precursor . In the present experiments we demonstrate that an apparent "soluble" form can indeed be detected in crude cytosolic fractions prepared by centrifugation from MDCK cells disrupted by sonication . We find, however, that this form has no precursor-product relationship with membrane-associated alpha-subunit . The quantity of unsedimentable alpha-subunit can be greatly diminished by increasing the centrifugal field employed to remove membranous vesicles from the cytosol fraction . Sonication of membrane pellets generates alpha-subunit which, like the "soluble" form, resists pelleting . Finally, cytosol fractions prepared from cells disrupted by sonication contain membrane-bound vesicles which can be immunoadsorbed on Staphylococcus aureus cells coated with a monoclonal antibody directed against alpha-subunit . We find, therefore, that the previously observed soluble precursor of alpha-subunit is actually a component of small unpelleted membrane vesicles generated by harsh disruption conditions . When cells are disrupted by less violent techniques no newly synthesized alpha-subunit can be detected in the cytosol fraction . We calculate that to escape detection under our experimental conditions a bona fide soluble precursor of alpha-subunit must have a cytosolic t1/2 less than 20 s . We conclude that the alpha-subunit is most probably inserted into the bilayer cotranslationally. Eur J Biochem, 1986 Feb 17, 155(1), 173 - 82 The protein phosphatases involved in cellular regulation . Primary structure of inhibitor-2 from rabbit skeletal muscle; Holmes CF et al.; The complete primary structure of inhibitor-2, a specific inhibitor of protein phosphatase-1, has been determined . The protein consists of a single polypeptide chain of 203 residues, and has a relative molecular mass of 22835 Da . This molecular mass is significantly lower than earlier estimates based on sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . The threonyl residue phosphorylated by glycogen synthase kinase-3 is located at position 72 . The molecule is very hydrophilic, lacks cysteine residues and the single tryptophanyl and phenylalanyl residues are at positions 46 and 139, respectively . The N-terminal alanyl residue is N-acetylated . Digestion with Staphylococcus aureus V8 proteinase, trypsin, or cleavage with cyanogen bromide, destroyed the biological activity of inhibitor-2, demonstrating that many large fragments (e.g . 1-49, 49-92, 67-101, 108-134, 142-182 and 163-197) are inactive . Digestion with clostripain generated a peptide comprising residues 25-114 which retained 2% of the inhibitory potency of the parent molecule . There is no sequence homology between inhibitor-2 and inhibitor-1. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1986 Feb 14, 869(3), 337 - 49 Purification of a 190 kDa protein from smooth muscle: relationship to talin; O'Halloran T et al.; Several studies of vinculin-binding proteins have described a 190 kDa protein in chicken gizzard smooth muscle which binds radioiodinated vinculin . We have purified and studied the 190 kDa protein from chicken gizzard smooth muscle . By indirect immunofluorescence, an antiserum raised against the 190 kDa protein stains adhesion plaques (focal contacts), ruffling membranes, and fibrillar streaks on the dorsal and ventral surfaces of fibroblasts . Both the binding to vinculin and the location of the protein in fibroblasts are properties shared with talin, a 215 kDa protein in smooth muscle and fibroblasts . Because antisera against talin and the 190 kDa cross-react the relationship of these two proteins has been investigated further . Upon prolonged storage at 4 degrees C, purified talin degrades into a 190 kDa fragment . A 190 kDa fragment is also generated from talin by the Staphylococcus aureus V-8 proteinase and by trypsin . Comparison of partial peptide maps of talin and the 190 kDa protein reveal that the proteins are very similar and when the 190 kDa fragment of talin is compared with the purified 190 kDa protein by partial proteolytic digestion no differences are found in the pattern of peptides generated . In addition, the amount of 190 kDa protein detected in muscle tissues excised from chick embryos can be drastically reduced if proteinase inhibitors are added to the tissue homogenates . We conclude that the purified 190 kDa dalton protein is a proteolytic fragment of talin . Although markedly reduced by proteinase inhibitors, detection of the 190 kDa protein is not completely abolished, suggesting that some talin may already be cleaved within living cells. J Biol Chem, 1986 Feb 5, 261(4), 1890 - 903 DARPP-32, a dopamine- and cyclic AMP-regulated neuronal phosphoprotein . Primary structure and homology with protein phosphatase inhibitor-1; Williams KR et al.; The complete amino acid sequence of bovine brain DARPP-32, a dopamine- and cyclic AMP-regulated neuronal phosphoprotein, which is a potent and specific inhibitor of the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase-1, has been determined . The S-14C-carboxymethylated protein was subjected to enzymatic cleavage by endoproteinase Lys-C, endoproteinase Arg-C, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease, and to chemical cleavage by cyanogen bromide . The overlapping sets of peptides were purified by high performance liquid chromatography and subjected to amino acid sequencing by automated Edman degradation to deduce the complete sequence . The protein consists of a single NH2-terminal blocked polypeptide chain of 202 residues, with a calculated molecular mass of 22,591 daltons, excluding the unidentified NH2-terminal blocking group . This molecular mass is significantly lower than earlier estimates based on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or hydrodynamic measurements . The threonine residue that is phosphorylated by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (Hemmings, H . C., Jr., Williams, K . R., Konigsberg, W . H., and Greengard, P . (1984) J . Biol . Chem . 259, 14486-14490), and that must be phosphorylated for the expression of inhibitory activity, is located at position 34 . The molecule contains only 1 cysteine residue and 1 tryptophan residue, at positions 72 and 161, respectively . DARPP-32 is very hydrophilic, and contains a stretch of 16 consecutive acidic residues from position 119 to 134 . The predicted secondary structure suggests the presence of 47% alpha-helix, 7% beta-sheet, and 46% random coil, with 11 beta-turns . Comparison of the complete amino acid sequence of bovine DARPP-32 with that of rabbit skeletal muscle protein phosphatase inhibitor-1 revealed a significant amount of sequence identity in the NH2-terminal regions of these two proteins . The active region of inhibitor-1 has been localized to an NH2-terminal fragment (Aitken, A., and Cohen, P . (1982) FEBS Lett . 147, 54-58), the part of the molecule that is most similar to DARPP-32 . These data suggest that these two protein phosphatase inhibitors may share a common structural basis for their inhibitory activity and may be related by a common ancestral gene. Eur J Biochem, 1986 Feb 3, 154(3), 503 - 10 The complete amino acid sequence of vitelline coat lysin; Haino-Fukushima K et al.; The vitelline coat lysin of a top shell, Tegula pfeifferi, is a single polypeptide consisting of 118 amino acid residues and having a relative molecular mass of 13800 . The complete amino acid sequence of the vitelline coat lysin was determined by the analyses of five peptides obtained by cyanogen bromide degradation and three fragments obtained by Staphylococcus aureus protease digestion of the protein . The sequence showed the presence of microheterogeneities in the vicinity of the C-terminal half of the molecule and the existence of two homologous domain structures. Aust N Z J Ophthalmol, 1986 Feb, 14(1), 69 - 73 Infection after retinal detachment surgery; Hadden OB; In 250 consecutive retinal detachment operations performed by the author, there were 14 cases (5.6%) of infection of the scleral buckle . The commonest infecting organism was Staphylococcus aureus . The surgery in these infected cases took longer than average, and utilized more than the usual amount of silicone sponge; a higher proportion were reoperations . After an average follow-up of 22 months, only six of the 14 had vision of 6/36 or better and of these, two had persisting inferior traction detachments . On the basis of this study and others, the preferred management of infected scleral buckles is to remove the sponge as soon as the diagnosis is made . The risk of redetachment is a lesser evil than the sequelae of prolonged inflammation which include traction retinal detachment, massive periretinal proliferation, and premacular fibrosis. Antibiot Med Biotekhnol, 1986 Feb, 31(2), 138 - 41 {Purification and properties of staphylococcal hyaluronidase}; Kvesitadze GI et al.; Microbial hyaluronidase (EC 4.2.2.1) was isolated from the culture fluid of Staphylococcus aureus 0-15 with purification by precipitation with 1 volume of ethyl alcohol, chromatography on DEAE cellulose and ultrafiltration through DA type membranes with the pore size of 0.65 micron ("Millipore") and PM-10 membranes ("Amicon") . The specific activity of the enzyme averaged to 2700 turbidimetric units or 32130 IU . 6585-fold purification of the enzyme was performed . The optimum action on hyaluronic acid was observed at pH 5.0-6.5 . Hyaluronidase was inhibited by Fe3+, Fe2+ and Cu2+, activated by Ca2+ and stabilized by 0.15 M NaCl . It was detected that the enzyme had two molecular forms with the isoelectric points of 5.4 and 6.5 and the molecular weights of 55 000 and 24 0000 D respectively . The glycoprotein nature of the enzyme was shown . The immobilized form of hyaluronidase on activated polyglucin, a soluble biocompatible polymer was prepared . The form is characterized by higher thermostability. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1986 Feb, 4(2), 133 - 8 In vitro evaluation of clindamycin in combination with oxacillin, rifampin, or vancomycin against Staphylococcus aureus; Ho JL et al.; In a study of antibiotic combinations of clindamycin with rifampin, oxacillin, or vancomycin using the time kill-curve method, the combination of clindamycin and rifampin were sometimes synergistic (5 of 15 times), otherwise indifferent and always enhanced killing of fifteen tested Staphylococcus aureus isolates . In contrast, vancomycin and clindamycin or oxacillin and clindamycin were either indifferent or antagonistic (approximately 50%) . Vancomycin alone, however, was generally as effective as the combinations of clindamycin and rifampin. Arthritis Rheum, 1986 Feb, 29(2), 166 - 73 Phagocytosis and intracellular killing of Staphylococcus aureus by polymorphonuclear cells from synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis; Breedveld FC et al.; The phagocytosis and intracellular killing by synovial fluid (SF) polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) of 10 patients with rheumatoid arthritis was studied . PMN phagocytosis was assessed by morphologic and microbiologic methods and intracellular killing was measured independently of continuous phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus . Phagocytosis of S aureus by SF PMN or peripheral blood (PB) PMN was as effective in the presence of synovial fluid as in the presence of serum . On average, SF PMN ingested S aureus opsonized with synovial fluid and serum more efficiently than patient or donor PB PMN did . Enhanced ingestion of S aureus was associated with increased expression of C3 receptors on the membrane of SF PMN . In the presence of heat-inactivated synovial fluid, the capacity of SF PMN to ingest S aureus was greater than that of patient or donor PB PMN . Under these conditions, phagocytic activity was correlated with Fc receptor expression . SF PMN was found to be as active in killing S aureus as PB PMN from healthy donors. J Hyg (Lond), 1986 Feb, 96(1), 67 - 73 International outbreak of staphylococcal food poisoning caused by contaminated lasagne; Woolaway MC et al.; An outbreak of staphylococcal food poisoning in Europe caused by contaminated lasagne was detected and monitored by both national and international surveillance systems . The common source was a pasta-producing factory in Italy and high levels of Staphylococcus aureus were detected in packets of dried lasagne distributed in Luxembourg, the UK, France and Italy . Forty-seven cases were reported in the UK . Outbreaks of staphylococcal food poisoning attributed to mishandling during the food processing stage are uncommon and pasta as the food vehicle is rare . Prompt recognition of the outbreak and rapid identification of the food vehicle enabled most of the consignment to be withdrawn from the market. Br J Ophthalmol, 1986 Feb, 70(2), 122 - 5 Bacteriology and tear protein profiles of the dry eye; Seal DV et al.; The concentrations of tear lysozyme, lactoferrin, ceruloplasmin, IgA, and IgG have been estimated in patients with dry eyes at the same time as semiquantitative bacterial culture was performed of the conjunctivae and lids . Staphylococcal isolations were quantified and biotyped . There was no increased conjunctival colonisation by any particular biotype of Staphylococcus aureus or Staph . epidermidis, and similar numbers of conjunctivae were sterile as in controls (33%); neither were any pathogens such as pneumococci or haemophili isolated . We consider that the conjunctiva of the dry eye, without the lacrimal secretion components of lysozyme and lactoferrin, has an alternative protective antibacterial mechanism which is derived from serum proteins via chronically inflamed vessels. Arch Surg, 1986 Feb, 121(2), 169 - 72 Influence of dietary nucleotide restriction on bacterial sepsis and phagocytic cell function in mice; Kulkarni AD et al.; Although enzyme defects in purine metabolism have revealed the importance of these substrates to maintenance of a normal immune response, the role of exogenous nucleotides on the cells that mediate the host defense system has remained largely unexplored . Recent investigations have revealed that dietary nucleotides are vital to the maintenance of cell-mediated responses to antigen stimulation . To test the influence of dietary nucleotide deprivation on resistance to infection, Balb/c mice were maintained on chow, a nucleotide-free (NF) diet, or an NF diet repleted with adenine, uracil, or RNA . Mice on the NF diet suffered 100% mortality following intravenous challenge with Staphylococcus aureus, while chow-fed and RNA- or uracil-repleted mice demonstrated significantly greater resistance to this bacterial challenge . Macrophages from mice on the NF diet had decreased phagocytic activity as measured by uptake of radiolabeled bacteria compared with mice maintained on the NF diet supplemented with adenine, uracil, or RNA . No change in S aureus antibody response was noted on the various diets . Although the mechanism of this suppression of nonspecific immunity remains unclear, provision of nucleotides to defined diets appears vital to maintain host resistance to bacterial challenge. Surg Gynecol Obstet, 1986 Feb, 162(2), 169 - 73 Efficacy of silver sulfadiazine in the treatment of prosthetic arterial bypass graft infection; McDaniel MD et al.; Infection is an uncommon but unfortunate complication of prosthetic arterial bypass grafting . Because previously described methods of treatment of such infections which do not involve excision of the graft have not met with uniform success, we undertook a study of the efficacy of silver sulfadiazine cream in the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infections of polytetrafluoroethylene carotid artery bypass grafts in dogs . At the time of bilateral grafts placement in 14 dogs, wounds were inoculated with at least 2 X 10(7) organisms . Three days later all wounds were opened . The wounds of seven dogs were treated with daily applications of silver sulfadiazine cream and the wounds of the other dogs were treated with daily applications of povidone iodine ointment . The dogs were sacrificed at 30 days or at the earliest evidence of arterial beeding from the wounds, whichever came first . Cultures of the wound were taken, and graft and artery histologic findings were studied at the time of sacrifice . Although survival of the dogs treated with silver sulfadiazine was marginally better than that of the dogs treated with povidone iodine, viable bacteria were present in microabscesses in many apparently healed wounds in the former group . We conclude that daily applications of silver sulfadiazine cream does not reliably eradicate staphylococcal infections involving polytetrafluoroethylene arterial bypass grafts. J Infect Dis, 1986 Feb, 153(2), 209 - 16 Ubiquinone-8 stimulates phagocytosis in macrophages by modulation of the kinetics of the Fc receptor; Block LH et al.; The effect of exogenous ubiquinone-8 (Q8) on IgG- and C3b-mediated phagocytosis of sensitized sheep red blood cells and of opsonized Staphylococcus aureus by macrophages was studied by morphological and quantitative methods . Q8 stimulated the initial events of phagocytosis, that is, attachment and ingestion, in which occupancy of the Fc receptor by IgG was shown to be of critical significance . The kinetics of competitive inhibition of phagocytosis of opsonized bacteria by macrophages by using Fc fragments suggested the intimate role of the kinetics of the Fc receptor in the initial events of phagocytosis and, further, the modulation of the kinetics of the Fc receptor by Q8 as the basis of enhanced phagocytosis by Q8. Infect Immun, 1986 Feb, 51(2), 431 - 9 Affinity purification of staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 and its pathologic effects in rabbits; Reeves MW et al.; Toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1) was purified to apparent homogeneity by chromatofocusing and affinity chromatography . The amino acid composition of the toxin was very similar to that reported for TSST-1 by other investigators . The amino-terminal amino acid was serine . A partial specific volume of 0.73 ml/g was calculated for the toxin from the amino acid data, and a molecular weight of 19,200 +/- 1,300 was determined by hydrodynamic methods . New Zealand white rabbits of both sexes were equally susceptible to the lethal effects of the toxin; however, older rabbits (greater than 12 months) were far more susceptible than young adults or weanlings . The 50% lethal dose of TSST-1 in older rabbits was 50 to 60 micrograms/kg when injected subcutaneously and 20 to 30 micrograms/kg when injected intravenously . Enhancement of lethal endotoxin shock by TSST-1 could not be demonstrated when both toxins were injected subcutaneously; however, lethal shock did occur when endotoxin (10 micrograms/kg) was injected intravenously after TSST-1 had been injected by either the subcutaneous (50 to 60 micrograms/kg) or the intravenous (20 to 30 micrograms/kg) route . Endotoxin alone was not lethal at a dose of 500 micrograms/kg of body weight when injected subcutaneously . When injected intravenously, endotoxin at a dose of 500 micrograms/kg was not lethal in weanling males or in females in any age group; however, young (6 to 7 months) and adult (greater than 12 months) males were killed by endotoxin doses as low as 45 to 50 micrograms/kg . Histopathologic studies of rabbits by both sexes which died as a result of TSST-1 alone or in combination with endotoxin showed extensive damage to organs rich in lymphoid and mononuclear phagocytic cells such as the thymus, mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, and spleen . Severe congestion of these organs as well as erythrophagocytosis and lymphoid depletion in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes were noted . Congestion and hemorrhage were also found in the heart, lungs, trachea, and thymus . The systemic pathology produced by TSST-1 was strikingly similar to that seen in humans who had died of toxic shock syndrome and in rabbits with subcutaneous chamber inoculated with toxic shock case strains of Staphylococcus aureus . Rabbits that were not killed by the toxin suffered a very rapid and severe leukopenia followed by leukocytosis with a left shift . Lymphopenia was also noted as was a mild but persistent anemia . With the exception of the early leukopenia, very similar hematologic findings have been noted in humans with toxic shock syndrome. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1986 Feb, 29(2), 209 - 11 Persistent staphylococcal bacteremia in an intravenous drug abuser; Barg NL et al.; A patient with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia received vancomycin (MIC = 0.8 microgram/ml, MBC = 15 micrograms/ml) and heparin simultaneously through the same intravenous line to treat a septic deep venous thrombosis . Bacteremia persisted for 7 days . Bacteremia terminated when the simultaneous infusion of heparin and vancomycin through the same line was stopped . This suggested that an interaction between vancomycin and heparin may have occurred, which resulted in a reduction in vancomycin activity . To test for such an interaction, mixtures of heparin and vancomycin in various concentrations were made and tested for antimicrobial activity against the organisms in the patient . A precipitate formed at the concentrations achieved in the intravenous lines, and when the vancomycin concentrations were measured by bioassay, a 50 to 60% reduction in activity was noted . In contrast, when these solutions were prepared and mixed at microgram concentrations, a precipitate was no longer observed, and antimicrobial activity was not reduced . Heparin appeared to interact unfavorably with vancomycin at the concentrations in the intravenous lines when these drugs were administered simultaneously to patients . This may be the cause of poor therapeutic responses to vancomycin in some patients, especially those infected with tolerant organisms. J Dairy Sci, 1986 Feb, 69(2), 340 - 3 Carryover of preformed staphylococcal enterotoxins and thermostable deoxyribonuclease from raw cow milk to Khoa--a heat-concentrated Indian milk product; Varadaraj MC et al.; Preformation of enterotoxins and thermostable deoxyribonuclease by Staphylococcus aureus in raw cow milk and their carryover to Khoa--a heat-concentrated (98 degrees C for 15 to 20 min) Indian milk product--was evaluated . Detectable enterotoxins and deoxyribonuclease, as evidenced in the zone diameters of 10 to 16 mm, were performed in 10 h incubation of milk samples inoculated with strains of Staphylococcus aureus at 1 X 10(6) cfu/ml of milk . Both preformed enterotoxins and thermostable deoxyribonuclease were carried over to Khoa from raw milk . The study implies the use of good quality raw milk free from pathogenic organisms for preparation of milk products such as Khoa. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1986 Feb, 17(2), 173 - 84 Comparative in-vitro activity of antibiotics incorporated in acrylic bone cement; Beeching NJ et al.; We compared the persistence of antibacterial activity around antibiotic-impregnated acrylic bone cement discs which were serially transferred on seeded agar plates . On plates inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, CMW1 discs containing 2.5% by dry weight of cephalothin, coumermycin or fusidic acid (as diethanolamine fusidate) produced zones of inhibition for four to eight weeks when transferred daily . In contrast, ceftriaxone, cotrimoxazole, rifampicin and vancomycin ceased to be inhibitory within a week . Discs made of 'Palacos-R with Garamycin,' which contains gentamicin 1.25%, had an intermediate duration of activity . When Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 was used as the test organism, ceftriaxone and 'Palacos-R with Garamycin' showed activity for almost three weeks, cephalothin and cotrimoxazole were briefly inhibitory and the remainder not at all . When discs were transferred each week instead of daily, the ranking of antibiotics was similar but antibacterial activity persisted for longer . A combination of gentamicin plus fusidic acid in CMW1 was active for a much shorter time than either fusidic acid alone or 'Palacos-R with Garamycin' . We conclude that coumermycin is a promising new agent for incorporation in acrylic cement. Fiziol Zh SSSR Im I M Sechenova, 1986 Feb, 72(2), 221 - 3 {Effect of folliculin and estradiol-dipropionate on the phagocytic properties of the blood neutrophils of the female white rat}; Pol'shin VV et al.; In the female rat blood, prior to and 5, and 50 days after bilateral ovarectomy with the substitutional administration of 50 units of folliculin and estradiol--dipropionate subcutaneously every 48 hrs for 50 days, a progressing decrease of the phagocytic activity was observed . Under the effect of estradiol--dipropionate the phagocytic activity reduced after ovarectomy was gradually returning to the initial level, whereas under the effect of folliculin the phagocytic activity increased proportionally to the time of incubation of blood with Staphylococcus aureus bacterial areas . The phagocytic activity of the blood neutrophiles seems to depend on estrogens. J Clin Microbiol . 1986 Feb;23(2):387. Evaluation of the newly modified AutoMicrobic system gram-positive susceptibility-MIC card for detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Lally RT et al.; AutoMicrobic system (Vitek Systems, Inc., Hazelwood, Mo.) gram-positive susceptibility-MIC (GPS-MIC) cards and GPS cards were compared for their ability to detect methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in two groups of isolates . MRSA isolates from the first group were detected at rates of 23 and 85%, and MRSA isolates from the second group were detected at rates of 95 and 88% for GPS and GPS-MIC cards, respectively . Detection of MRSA by the AutoMicrobic system lacks sensitivity and remains unsatisfactory unless accompanied by supplemental testing. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1986 Feb, 29(2), 333 - 6 Possible physiological functions of penicillin-binding proteins in Staphylococcus aureus; Georgopapadakou NH et al.; There are four penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) in Staphylococcus aureus, of which PBPs 2 and 3 are essential . Cefotaxime binds selectively to PBP 2, and cephalexin binds to PBP 3, each at its respective MIC . The morphology of S . aureus strains grown in the presence of the two antibiotics was examined by phase-contrast and scanning electron microscopy . Exposure of the cells to cefotaxime at concentrations at which it bound selectively to PBP 2 resulted in the extrusion of cytoplasm and cell lysis, whereas exposure to cephalexin at concentrations at which it bound exclusively to PBP 3 resulted in cell enlargement and the cessation of septation . The latter morphological response was very similar to that produced by norfloxacin . The results suggest that in S . aureus, PBP 2 may be the primary peptidoglycan transpeptidase, and PBP 3 may be involved in septation. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1986 Feb, (2), 12 - 4 {A nonuniform sequential procedure for diagnosing Staphylococcus aureus}; Nechmirev AB; The possibility of the sharp differentiation of S . aureus in the nonuniform successive statistical identification procedure with the use of signs ranked by their differential information content . The procedure starting from the signs with greater information content permits the identification of S . aureus in 100% of cases. Arthritis Rheum, 1986 Feb, 29(2), 212 - 9 Abnormal B cell function in patients with Behçet's disease; Suzuki N et al.; We evaluated B lymphocyte function in 23 patients with Behcet's disease at various stages . The patients with active disease, but not those with inactive disease, were found to have elevated numbers of cells spontaneously secreting immunoglobulin and a decreased B cell response to the T cell-independent B cell mitogen, Staphylococcus aureus Cowan 1 . Moreover, B cells from almost all patients with Behcet's disease were unresponsive to the T cell-dependent polyclonal activator, pokeweed mitogen . These results indicate that B cell abnormalities, including some which are associated with disease activity, could be involved in the pathogenesis of Behcet's disease. Cancer Genet Cytogenet, 1986 Feb 1, 20(1-2), 73 - 87 Sequential chromosome abnormalities in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a study of 13 cases; Ohtaki K et al.; The chromosomal constitution of stimulated lymphocytes in 13 patients with B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) were sequentially examined using polyclonal B cell activators (PBA), i.e., Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), lipopolysaccharide W from E . coli (LPS), pokeweed mitogen (PWM), and protein A from Staphylococcus aureus (PA) . Of the 11 patients (44 samplings) with abnormal clones, 2 patients had only trisomy 12, 6 patients had trisomy 12 plus other clonal abnormalities, such as +8, +9, +16, +18, 6q-, 15q+, and t(4;15), and the remaining 3 cases had various clonal abnormalities other than trisomy 12, such as trisomy 3, 8, 20, 21, and insertion of #7 and #12 . These findings suggest that even though trisomy 12 may be a common abnormality in B-CLL, various other abnormal clones may also be present in vivo for relatively long periods of time . It appears that stimulated lymphocytes in patients with previous therapy tend to show chromosome abnormalities more frequently than those in untreated patients. Aust N Z J Surg, 1986 Feb, 56(2), 131 - 3 Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis: a review of 222 cases; Mackay AJ et al.; The results of 222 cases of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis operated on at the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children in Perth, from 1979 to 1984, have been reviewed . There were no deaths, but there was a 7% incidence of wound infection and a 72% incidence of postoperative vomiting . Staphylococcus Aureus was cultured from 62% of the infected wounds . Prophylaxis against Staphylococcus Aureus infection and delayed introduction of feeding are suggested. Microbiol Sci, 1986 Feb, 3(2), 53 - 8 Plasmids in multiresistant Staphylococcus aureus; Gillespie MT et al.; Contemporary clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus possess a formidable array of determinants for resistance to antimicrobial agents, a number of which are plasmid encoded . The plasmids detected in such multiresistant isolates from Australia, Europe and the USA are compared and some of the potential genetic rearrangements involved in their evolution discussed. Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss, 1986 Feb, 79(2), 154 - 61 {Tricuspid endocarditis . Value of echocardiography . Developmental data . Apropos of 11 cases}; Maraud L et al.; Clinical and echocardiographic data of 11 patients with tricuspid valve endocarditis (TE) were analysed to determine diagnostic criteria and to study the outcome of this condition . The study population comprised 6 men and 5 women (average age 38.4 +/- 18 years) . TE was the only lesion in 9 cases; there was 1 case of associated pulmonary and aortic valve endocarditis, and in the other patient mitral and aortic valve endocarditis was also present . Five patients were heroin addicts . In 5 cases, the causative organism was Staphylococcus aureus . The clinical presentation was usually atypical with a systolic murmur rarely characteristic in 9 patients and signs of right ventricular failure in only 3 patients . On the other hand, 8 patients had one or more episodes of acute pneumonia or typical pulmonary embolism . The diagnosis was established by echocardiography which demonstrated the valvular vegetations . The outcome was favourable in 10 patients, only one of whom required surgical intervention . Two dimensional echocardiography provided valuable information about the evolution of the valvular vegetations, frequently showing regression after medical therapy. South Med J, 1986 Feb, 79(2), 193 - 6 Intravenous antibiotics at home; Harris LF et al.; Intravenous antibiotics can be administered safely and effectively and at substantially less cost in a home environment . Patients who are candidates for this treatment must be in stable condition clinically, possess a ready venous access, and show the mental and physical capabilities required to administer intravenous medication . Antibiotics must be delivered promptly and retain their sterility and activity until infusion . Close monitoring of the patient during therapy is essential . Orthopedic infections, mainly osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, and bursitis, have thus far been our most frequently treated infections, with Staphylococcus aureus, aerobic gram-negative bacilli, and S epidermidis the most commonly encountered pathogens . Penicillins, cephalosporins and aminoglycosides have been given most often . Cure rates have exceeded 85%, and many patients resume usual activities during treatment . Complications are unusual, cost savings are substantial, and patient satisfaction is maximal. Hum Immunol, 1986 Feb, 15(2), 150 - 63 A monoclonal antibody that recognizes the alpha chain of HLA-DR antigens; Knudsen PJ et al.; A monoclonal antibody, HC2.1, has been generated that specifically reacts with both the denatured and the in vitro translated alpha chain of the DR antigen . Although HC2.1 antibody reacted with the alpha chain of protein immunoprecipitated by two DR-specific monoclonal antibodies, L227 and LB3.1, it did not react with the alpha chain of the DQ1 antigen immunoprecipitated by the monoclonal antibody, Genox 3.53 . The isoelectric focusing pattern of the alpha chain precipitated by HC2.1 antibody was invariant across a range of DR specificities within a panel of lymphoblastoid cells . The alpha chain of DR antigen from a B cell line was purified by HC2.1-Sepharose immunoaffinity chromatography and limited amino acid sequence analysis was carried out with Staphylococcus aureus SV8 protease fragments purified by high-pressure liquid chromatography . The sequence analysis confirmed that the antigen reactive with HD2.1 antibody is encoded by the DR alpha chain gene. J Bacteriol, 1986 Feb, 165(2), 373 - 8 Additional DNA in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and molecular cloning of mec-specific DNA; Beck WD et al.; Additional DNA was shown to be present in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by one- and two-dimensional restriction endonuclease analyses of the chromosomal DNA . A 3.5-kilobase Bg/II fragment, which was present in methicillin-resistant strains but not in the isogenic methicillin-sensitive parental strain, was cloned into newly constructed plasmid pWDB1 in Escherichia coli . Hybridization of this 3.5-kilobase Bg/II fragment with different methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant S . aureus clinical isolates indicated that the fragment represents part of the methicillin resistance determinant (mec) . In addition, the fragment carries a sequence that is present in some large staphylococcal plasmids, as well as in penicillinase plasmid pI524. Endocrinology, 1986 Feb, 118(2), 573 - 82 The identification of a plasma membrane 3,3',5-triiodo-L-thyronine binding protein on the cultured Swarm rat chondrosarcoma chondrocyte and the lack of its up-regulation by insulin in vitro; Stevens RL et al.; Primary cultures of Swarm rat chondrosarcoma chondrocytes were examined for the presence of T3 plasma membrane binding proteins and their possible regulation by insulin . Incubation of this tumor cell with {125I}T3 at 4 C yielded saturable and reversible binding of the radioligand . As assessed by LIGAND computer analysis, the binding data in one experiment revealed two classes of {125I}T3 binding sites with association constants of 2.2 X 10(9) M-1 and 4.8 X 10(6) M-1, and binding capacities of 4.9 X 10(3) and 1.9 X 10(6) sites per cell, respectively . Whole cells and a preparation enriched for plasma membrane were affinity labeled with N-bromoacetyl-{125I}T3 (N-BrAc-{125I} T3), and the molecular weights of the radiolabeled proteins were analyzed both by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by Sephadex G-200 gel filtration chromatography . One major chondrosarcoma protein of 55,000 mol wt and two minor proteins of 47,000 and 33,000 mol wt bound N-BrAc-{125I}T3, suggesting that the mol wt of the T3 binding protein was 55,000 . As assessed by isoelectric focusing, the 55,000 mol wt protein had an isoelectric point of 5.1 . The radiolabeled 55,000 mol wt chondrosarcoma protein was immunoprecipitated with anti-T3 and anti-GH3 plasma membrane T3 antisera . The high degree of homology between this chondrocyte N-BrAc-{125I}T3 binding protein and the protein on rat GH3 cells was demonstrated by a comparison of the peptide maps of Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease and elastase digested radiolabeled binding protein . Although culture of the chondrocytes in medium containing insulin resulted in an approximate 400% increase in plasma membrane {125I}insulin binding, no significant increase in {125I}T3 binding was observed . Thus, expression of the T3 plasma membrane binding protein was similar to that observed previously for the insulin-like growth factor-II receptor on these chondrosarcoma chondrocytes in not being influenced by the concentration of insulin in the culture medium. Cell Immunol, 1986 Feb, 97(2), 371 - 85 Immunomodulation of human leukocytes by staphylococcal enterotoxin A: augmentation of natural killer cells and induction of suppressor cells; Platsoucas CD et al.; Staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA), a protein isolated from culture supernatants of Staphylococcus aureus, is a potent T-cell mitogen and an inducer of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) . We report here that SEA exhibits a number of significant in vitro immunomodulatory functions . In vitro treatment of human peripheral blood monocyte-depleted lymphocytes with SEA resulted in significant augmentation of their natural killer cytotoxicity against target cells from hemopoietic (K562, Daudi) or solid (melanoma, lung, colon) human tumor cell lines . SEA was found to be more effective than interferons-alpha (natural or Escherichia coli-derived) in augmenting natural killer (NK) cytotoxicity of peripheral blood lymphocytes . Studies on the kinetics of the augmentation revealed a significant increase of NK within 3 hr of in vitro treatment with SEA at 37 degrees C . A neutralizing monoclonal antibody specific for human IFN-gamma did not affect the augmentation of natural killer cytotoxicity by SEA, suggesting that SEA augmented natural killer cytotoxicity primarily by a mechanism not involving induction of interferon-gamma . Furthermore, in vitro treatment with SEA resulted in significant augmentation of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and of natural killer-like cytotoxicity, generated in mixed lymphocyte culture, against the K562 targets . Induction of suppressor cells to proliferative responses of autologous or allogeneic mononuclear cells to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or to allogeneic cells in mixed lymphocyte culture was observed after in vitro treatment of peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes with SEA for 24 or 48 hr at 37 degrees C . In addition, the presence of SEA in mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC) resulted in significant inhibition of the generation of specific T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity in MLC . These results suggest that SEA, which may be involved in S . aureus infections and in treatment with extracorporeal perfusion systems over S . aureus columns, can regulate a number of significant lymphoid functions. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1986 Feb, 29(2), 325 - 6 In vitro comparison of A-56619, A-56620, amifloxacin, ciprofloxacin, enoxacin, norfloxacin, and ofloxacin against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Smith SM; Seven quinolone antibiotics were tested against 115 isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus . The MICs for 90% of the strains tested were 0.5 microgram/ml for A-56619, A-56620, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin; 2.0 micrograms/ml for amifloxacin and enoxacin; and 4.0 micrograms/ml for norfloxacin . Killing kinetic studies showed a similar killing rate for all seven antibiotics. Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1986 Feb, 5(1), 93 - 7 Serum bactericidal titer as a predictor of outcome in endocarditis; Hackbarth CJ et al.; A study was conducted in 89 rabbits with experimental aortic valve endocarditis caused by three different strains of Staphylococcus aureus to determine whether there was a correlation between the peak serum bactericidal titer of the four drugs tested and the vegetation titer . After four days of therapy both the rabbits with and those without sterile vegetations had median peak bactericidal titers of 1 : 8 . The mean vegetation titers did not correlate with the mean bactericidal titers . The serum bactericidal test does not measure the relative rate of killing of the bacteria by the drugs . Although the test remains clinically useful for documentation of bactericidal activity, the minimum level of activity necessary for the test to serve as a predictor of outcome remains to be defined. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1986 Feb, 29(2), 250 - 7 Effects of growth of methicillin-resistant and -susceptible Staphylococcus aureus in the presence of beta-lactams on peptidoglycan structure and susceptibility to lytic enzymes; Qoronfleh MW et al.; Growth of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus DU4916 in the presence of methicillin yielded crude cell walls that showed an increased rate of autolysis and purified cell walls (PCW) and peptidoglycan (PG) that had increased susceptibilities to autolysin extracted with LiCl and to lysozyme . The PG of cells grown in the presence of methicillin had markedly decreased cross-linking and O acetylation . Growth of the methicillin-susceptible strain H in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of cefoxitin, a specific inhibitor of penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 4, caused a substantial decrease in PG cross-linking and O acetylation and increased susceptibilities of PCW and PG to LiCl-extracted autolysin and to lysozyme . Strain DU4916 cells grown in the presence of methicillin did not show an increased rate of autolysis or an increased susceptibility to vancomycin- or D-cycloserine-induced lysis, even though their PG was hypo-cross-linked . This implies that the potential for increased autolysis is controlled in intact cells and that this regulation may be involved in the methicillin resistance phenomenon . Growth of the methicillin-susceptible strain DU4916S in the presence of methicillin yielded PCW and PG that showed small increases in susceptibilities to LiCl-extracted autolysin and to lysozyme and a small decrease in PG cross-linking . Comparison of the PBPs of a penicillinase-nonproducing derivative of strain DU4916 (DU4916-K7) with those of strain DU4916S in intact cells and isolated membranes revealed that PBPs 1 to 4 had similar high beta-lactam antibiotic affinities in both strains and identified an additional PBP, PBP2(1), with low beta-lactam affinity in the methicillin-resistant strain DU4916-K7 . The low degree of cross-linking of PG in strain DU4916 cells grown with methicillin was probably due mainly to inhibition of the secondary cross-linking function of PBP 4. Arch Dermatol, 1986 Feb, 122(2), 166 - 9 The adherence of Staphylococcus aureus to human corneocytes; Cole GW et al.; Staphylococcus aureus has a peculiar ability to colonize the skin of patients with atopic dermatitis . We examined the possibility that this might be due to a specific ability of this pathogenic staphylococcus to adhere to atopic stratum corneum . We used an in vitro model to show that S aureus does have an unusual ability to adhere to atopic corneocytes when compared with corneocytes obtained from patients with other cutaneous diseases, including psoriasis . Protein A--a component of the staphylococcal cell wall--may be responsible in part for this adherence phenomenon . This trait did not extend to the other gram-positive bacteria tested. J Biol Chem, 1986 Jan 25, 261(3), 1427 - 33 Isolation and characterization of staphylocoagulase chymotryptic fragment . Localization of the procoagulant- and prothrombin-binding domain of this protein; Kawabata S et al.; Several strains of Staphylococcus aureus secrete a protein, staphylocoagulase, that binds stoichiometrically to human prothrombin, resulting in a coagulant complex designated staphylothrombin . In the present study, staphylocoagulase was digested with alpha-chymotrypsin and the resulting fragments were isolated by gel filtration . One fragment (Mr 43,000) exhibited a high affinity for human prothrombin (Kd = 1.7 X 10(-9) M), which is comparable to the affinity observed using intact staphylocoagulase (Kd = 4.6 X 10(-10) M) . A complex of the Mr 43,000 fragment and prothrombin possessed both clotting and amidase activity essentially identical to that observed in a complex of intact staphylocoagulase and prothrombin . A second fragment (Mr 30,000) exhibited weaker affinity for prothrombin (Kd = 1.2 X 10(-7) M) . While clotting activity was not observed with a complex of this fragment and prothrombin, it nonetheless possessed a weak amidase activity . A third fragment (Mr 20,000) was found to bind to prothrombin, but the resultant complex did not exhibit clotting or amidase activity . Amino-terminal sequence analyses of these staphylocoagulase fragments revealed that the Mr 43,000 fragment constitutes the amino-terminal portion of staphylocoagulase and also contains the Mr 30,000 and 20,000 fragments . Moreover, the amino-terminal sequence of the Mr 20,000 fragment was identical to that observed for the Mr 30,000 fragment . From these results, we conclude that the functional region of staphylocoagulase for binding and activation of human prothrombin is localized in the amino-terminal region of the intact bacterial protein. Biochemistry, 1986 Jan 14, 25(1), 54 - 9 Resolution of highly purified toxic-shock syndrome toxin 1 into two distinct proteins by isoelectric focusing; Blomster-Hautamaa DA et al.; Highly purified toxic-shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1) was prepared by differential precipitation with ethanol and resolubilization in water followed by successive electrofocusing in pH gradients of 3-10, 6-8, and 6.5-7.5 . TSST-1, thus isolated, migrated as two distinct protein bands with isoelectric points of 7.08 (TSST-1a) and 7.22 (TSST-1b) . When tested by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, both toxins migrated as homogeneous bands with molecular weights of 22 000 . The gel bands were visualized by silver staining . The two toxins have nearly identical amino acid compositions and are immunologically identical as shown by Ouchterlony reactivity against TSST-1 hyperimmune serum . TSST-1a and TSST-1b have the same biological activities as TSST-1: the capacity to induce fever, enhancement of host susceptibility to lethal endotoxin shock, nonspecific T lymphocyte mitogenicity, and suppression of immunoglobulin M synthesis against sheep erythrocytes . These two proteins have been isolated from several different TSS-associated Staphylococcus aureus strains . The data suggest that the differences in isoelectric point result either from the presence of a cofactor or from alternative conformations . Since only two bands appear, microheterogeneity as a result of deamination or acetylation is unlikely. FEBS Lett, 1986 Jan 6, 194(2), 309 - 12 Epidermolytic toxin from Staphylococcus aureus binds to filaggrins; Smith TP et al.; The affinity of epidermolytic toxin from Staphylococcus aureus for proteins from the target tissue has been tested by a Western blotting procedure . Particular proteins in a 1 M phosphate extract of epidermis reacted on nitrocellulose blots with a probe prepared by the conjugation of toxin with peroxidase . Protein extracted into 50 mM Tris-HCl did not react . The probe detected profilaggrin, filaggrin and a smaller unidentified polypeptide . It is suggested that the interaction is relevant to the mode of action of the toxin. Eur J Biochem, 1986 Jan 2, 154(1), 135 - 40 Isolation of a domain of villin retaining calcium-dependent interaction with G-actin, but devoid of F-actin fragmenting activity; Hesterberg LK et al.; Villin is an F-actin binding protein located in the microfilament bundle of intestinal epithelial cell microvilli . Extensive in vitro proteolysis with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease results in the production of a stable domain (apparent Mr 44000) which can be isolated due to its Ca2+-dependent interaction with G-actin bound to immobilized DNase-I, the standard procedure for the purification of villin . This 44-kDa fragment retains a single Ca2+ binding site with an apparent Kd = 2 X 10(-6) M, binds to G-actin, and inhibits the rate of actin polymerization . However, the 44-kDa domain does not shown any Ca2+-activated severing activity nor does it compete with villin for F-actin binding . These results suggest that villin contains three domains: headpiece containing an F-actin binding site, 44-kDa fragment containing a G-actin binding site, and an amino-terminal fragment responsible for the Ca2+-dependent severing activity. Arch Gynecol, 1986, 237(4), 229 - 33 Staphylococcus aureus--toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 antibody titers in serum of German women; Loch EG et al.; In a prospective study the distribution of Toxic-1 (TSST-1) antibody titers was proved by 236 menstruating, tampon using volunteers . They are divided in 7 different age groups . Up to 11% of the volunteers under 25 years had no TSST-1 antibody-titers at all . Over 25 years of age this could be detected . In the group over 40 years of age 98% were found with antibody-titers up than 1:100 . So it may be suggested that there is no general causal relationship between any type of tampon on TSS. Acta Neuropathol (Berl), 1986, 69(1-2), 17 - 22 Regional morphology and biochemistry in experimental brain abscesses; Bothe HW et al.; Brain abscesses were induced experimentally in six cats by stereotactic inoculation of Staphylococcus aureus A8 into the white matter of the left cerebral hemisphere . Seven days later, the brains were frozen in situ with liquid nitrogen and subsequently sawn into coronal sections of 5 mm thickness, while being cooled with liquid nitrogen . Thin slices were taken from those sections containing the largest expanse of abscess: slices of 5 micron thickness were stained histologically, and in adjacent 20 micron slices the regional distribution of ATP and glucose was mapped using substrate-specific bioluminescence methods . Furthermore, the NADH fluorescence from the surface of the tissue section was recorded . Six layers could be distinguished histologically in the abscess capsule, five of which showed different substrate patterns . Only in two layers a low metabolic activity could be observed, as shown by slight ATP bioluminescence . The pattern of the biochemical substrates in the white matter surrounding the abscess indicated a reduction in the cellular oxygen availability. J Infect, 1986 Jan, 12(1), 57 - 63 Resolution of fever in Staphylococcus aureus septicaemia--retrospective analysis by means of Cusum plot; Walters S et al.; The treatment of Staphylococcus aureus septicaemia continues to be an important clinical challenge . Spikes of fever during antibiotic therapy complicate assessment of the response . In an attempt to analyse response to treatment in terms of resolution of fever we have retrospectively studied 17 patients with microbiologically proven S . aureus septicaemia . The data from temperature charts of such patients were converted to Cusum plots and analysed in order to estimate time to defervescence of fever and time to abolition of fever following the start of antibiotic therapy . Compared with conventional temperature charts, the Cusum data allowed defervescence of fever to be clearly seen . When the Cusum data were used, the time to defervescence of fever from the onset of antibiotic treatment was 21.7 h (range 8-96 h) and to abolition of fever 58.3 h (range 12-180 h) . Antibiotic treatment was changed in 61% of patients on the basis of continued fever shown on the conventional temperature chart . In all of these patients, however, the Cusum plot showed clear evidence of response. Infection, 1986 Jan-Feb, 14(1), 38 - 43 Efficacy of penicillin G, flucloxacillin, cefazolin, fusidic acid, vancomycin, rifampicin and fosfomycin in muscular infections in mice due to Staphylococcus aureus; Haag R; Two strains each of sensitive, penicillinase-producing, methicillin-resistant and "tolerant" Staphylococcus aureus were used to infect mice intramuscularly . The mice were then treated with three doses each of fosfomycin, vancomycin, rifampicin, fusidic acid, penicillin G, flucloxacillin or cefazolin intravenously . Infections due to sensitive strains were effectively treated with all antibiotics investigated except fusidic acid . Fosfomycin, vancomycin, rifampicin and flucloxacillin showed the best activity against penicillinase-producing strains . Fosfomycin and vancomycin were equally effective against infections due to methicillin-resistant S . aureus . Infections caused by "tolerant" strains again responded best to fosfomycin, vancomycin and rifampicin. J Assoc Off Anal Chem, 1986 Jan-Feb, 69(1), 44 - 6 Evaluation of an improved MPN medium for recovery of stressed and nonstressed Staphylococcus aureus; Lancette GA et al.; Two media used for recovery of foodborne Staphylococcus aureus were compared: trypticase soy broth with 10% salt (TSBS), used in the official AOAC method, and TSBS with 1% sodium pyruvate added (PTSB) . Adding pyruvate increased recovery of 4 heat-stressed and nonstressed S . aureus foodborne strains from artificially contaminated mashed potato and ham salad substrates . The overall geometric means for the 2 media differed significantly at the alpha = 0.05 level . Recovery of S . aureus from 70 replicates of naturally contaminated Monterey Jack cheese was highest in PTSB . The overall geometric means/g were 63 in TSBS and 96 in PTSB. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1986 Jan, 17(1), 37 - 44 Accumulation of gentamicin by Staphylococcus aureus: the role of the transmembrane electrical potential; Gilman S et al.; Accumulation of gentamicin by gentamicin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus was examined by using the ionophorous antibiotic, valinomycin and the protontranslocating ATPase inhibitor N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide . The effects of these inhibitors on the transmembrane electrical potential (delta psi) were determined by measuring the equilibrium distribution of the tetraphenylphosphonium ion . The results indicate a direct correlation between delta psi and the extent of gentamicin uptake . However, under conditions where a significant delta psi existed across the plasma membrane, uptake of gentamicin was negligible . A threshold delta psi may thus be required to initiate gentamicin uptake . The proposed threshold delta psi appears to vary depending upon the external concentration of gentamicin. Am J Vet Res, 1986 Jan, 47(1), 152 - 3 Variation of neutrophil function with age in calves; Hauser MA et al.; Neutrophil function was evaluated on 2 occasions in 5 calves from each of the following age groups: 4 to 5 weeks, 9 to 11 weeks, 16 to 19 weeks, and 12 to 14 months . Of the neutrophil functions examined, the iodination reaction, which evaluates the activity of the myeloperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide-halide antibacterial system of the neutrophil, reflected the most marked differences among age groups . The iodination values for the 2 youngest age groups were approximately 52% of the value for the oldest cattle . This difference could not be attributed to the amount of myeloperoxidase in the neutrophil granules . Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity also tended to be lower in neutrophils from the 3 younger age groups . Nitroblue tetrazolium reduction, a measure of superoxide anion generation by neutrophils, was lower in the youngest age group only . The capability of neutrophils to ingest Staphylococcus aureus was higher in the 3 youngest groups of calves than in the oldest group . The observed differences in neutrophil function in young vs older calves may be partially responsible for the increased susceptibility of young calves to infectious disease. Pediatr Infect Dis, 1986 Jan-Feb, 5(1), 59 - 67 Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in children; Storch GA et al.; We reviewed the records of 20 patients with bacteremia caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and 49 patients with methicillin-susceptible S . aureus (MSSA) bacteremia occurring during a 39-month period . Sixteen of the MRSA bacteremias were clinically significant, as were 42 of the MSSA bacteremias . MRSA bacteremia was almost always nosocomial and occurred mainly in very young patients who were often prematurely born and severely compromised by underlying diseases . In contrast patients with MSSA bacteremia were frequently older children who had no underlying disease and acquired their bacteremic illness in the community . The seven patients with nosocomial MSSA bacteremia had characteristics similar to those of the patients with MRSA bacteremia . Fatality rates for patients with clinically significant bacteremia were 50% for MRSA and 2% for MSSA . Treatment of MRSA bacteremia with vancomycin was effective, provided it was begun early . At hospitals with endemic MRSA it may be necessary to use vacomycin in the initial treatment of nosocomial bacteremia in high risk patients until the identity and antimicrobial susceptibility of the bloodstream pathogen can be determined. Nephron, 1986, 42(2), 116 - 9 Infections associated with subclavian dialysis catheters: the key role of nurse training; Vanherweghem JL et al.; Two hundred subclavian dialysis catheters were placed in 148 patients who kept them in place for a total of 2,798 days . Catheterization time ranged from 1 to 79 days with an average of 14.0 +/- 1.0 days per catheter and 18.9 +/- 1.0 days per patient . Twenty nine catheters were infected, 17 of which were the source of bacteremias due to Staphylococcus epidermidis in 13 cases and to Staphylococcus aureus in 4 cases . The incidence of sepsis was not significantly greater in diabetic patients, in patients with corticotherapy or in patients presenting an underlying systemic disease . On the contrary, the incidence was greater in hospitalized patients (15 bacteremias during 1,948 catheter days) than in ambulatory patients (2 bacteremias during 850 catheters-days) as well as during a period corresponding to a greater number of untrained nurses enrolled in the dialysis team . During this period, 6 sepsies occurred in 19 catheters (other periods: 7 sepsies/116 catheters, p less than 0.01) . 6 of 28 nurses had less than 3 months of professional experience (other periods: 1 of 25, p less than 0.01) . These data underline the key role of nurse training in the prevention of catheter-related infections. Arch Surg, 1986 Jan, 121(1), 37 - 40 Susceptibility to bacterial sepsis . Accurate measurement by the delayed-type hypersensitivity skin test score; Tchervenkov JI et al.; To test the hypothesis that any alteration in the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin test response (not necessarily total anergy) reflects increased susceptibility to bacterial sepsis, male Sprague-Dawley rats presensitized to keyhole-limpet hemocyanin were subjected to a 30% full-thickness scald burn . Susceptibility to bacteria was assessed by the intradermal injection of Staphylococcus aureus 502A . The DTH response decreased following burn injury from 6.6 to 3.9 mm on days 2 and 8 . Skin abscess size increased from 5.8 to 9.3 mm on day 2 and 8.9 mm on day 8 . There was a significant inverse correlation between DTH skin test score and abscess size . Histologically there was no difference in the overall leukocyte accumulation in the abscess or the DTH reaction between the two groups, yet the overall size of the abscess was greater and the swelling of the dermis in the DTH response was less in the burned rats. J Infect Dis, 1986 Jan, 153(1), 109 - 15 Distinguishing complicated from uncomplicated bacteremia caused by Staphylococcus aureus: the value of "new" and "