Staphylococcus

Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1981 Sep 19, 111(38), 1382 - 6
{Toxic shock syndrome}; Stalder H et al.; Two young female patients are presented who answered to the criteria for diagnosis of toxic shock syndrome, which was first described in 1978 and reached an epidemic peak in 1979 and 1980 in the USA . The disease almost exclusively affects women using tampons during menstruation and is characterized by fever, hypotony, multisystem involvement and exanthema following by skin desquamation . The disease is closely associated with the isolation of S . aureus in the vagina or elsewhere and is probably caused by a staphylococcal toxin.

Int J Cancer, 1981 Sep 15, 28(3), 277 - 84
Staphylococcal protein A enhances natural killing activity against lymphoid tumor cell lines; Patel PC et al.; Protein A (pA), was found to augment the natural killing (NK) activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes against Burkitt's lymphoma-derived Raji and Daudi cells . This pA-enhanced NK activity was determined using the 51Chromium release microcytotoxicity assay . It was found that the increased NK activity was dependent on the concentration of pA used . In addition, the pA-enhanced NK activity was dependent on the time of incubation of pA with the effector and target cell mixture . Pretreatment of effectors for 16 h or more dramatically increased the NK activity against a wide range of tumor targets of different origin and possessing either B, T or null cell surface characteristics . The presence of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-genome in the target cells did not influence the pA-enhanced NK activity . Nylon-wool column-fractionated, non-adherent lymphocytes (enriched in NK cells) showed an increased NK activity in the presence of pA than unfractionated lymphocytes . Pretreatment of certain targets with pA rendered them more sensitive to NK lysis . Interferon production was readily detected in supernatants from cultures of pA-treated effectors or effector-target mixtures, but not in supernatants from pA-treated target cultures tested . Results of different physicochemical treatments indicate that the pA-induced interferon is of gamma type (type II) . Thus, the data presented suggest that the pA-induced enhancement of NK activity is most likely mediated by the pA-induced interferon.

Bol Med Hosp Infant Mex, 1981 Sep-Oct, 38(5), 741 - 8
{Atypical bacterial forms in septicemia . (L-forms) . Preliminary report}; Larracilla Alegre J et al.; This paper refers to the presence of atypical bacterial forms in the blood culture of 40 children who evolved with septicemia . Bacterial growth appeared in 18 (45%) patients in ordinary cultures . With hypertonic culture media 26 (65%) patients showed positive results . In 13 cases the reverted bacteria coincided with those isolated in ordinary culture media . In 12 patients (30%) whose cultures in normal media were negative, abnormal atypical bacterial forms were identified . Gram-negative bacteria predominated and Staphylococcus epidermidis was observed to develop with a certain frequency.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1981 Sep, 173(6), 471 - 7
Distribution of the different Staphylococcus species according to their meat or dairy origin; Delarras C et al.; 152 Micrococcaceae strains, originating from meat or dairy products, already classified by the "Single Linkage" technique according to their biochemical profiles, into 13 taxa of food origin, are identified using the G + C content and biochemical tests, to the species of Staphylococcus described by Kloos and Schleifer . -The strains originating from near meat or dairy products are mainly S . aureus coagulase negative and S . xylosus biotype 2, the strains from raw milk include more varied species and correspond to S . epidermidis, S . hominis, S . aureus coagulase positive: the Staphylococcus found in different cheeses are principally S . xylosus biotype 1 . - The API 20 Staph biochemical gallery enables the identification, in the Staphylococcus taxa (Schleifer) of most of the Staphylococcus strains isolated from meat or dairy products.

J Clin Microbiol, 1981 Sep, 14(3), 322 - 5
Detection of cell-associated or soluble antigens of Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1 to 6, Legionella bozemanii, Legionella dumoffii, Legionella gormanii, and Legionella micdadei by staphylococcal coagglutination tests; Wilkinson HW et al.; Current methods used for the detection of whole-cell isolates of Legionella or for the detection of Legionella soluble antigens are technically impractical for many clinical laboratories . The purpose of this study was to explore practical alternatives . The results showed that whole cell isolates of Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1 to 6, Legionella bozemanii, Legionella dumoffii, Legionella gormanii, and Legionella micdadei were identified specifically by a simple slide agglutination test or slide coagglutination test in which the reagent antisera are first bound to staphylococcal protein A . Soluble antigens were also identified specifically by the slide coagglutination test and by a sandwich immunofluorescence assay . The latter test may be useful in detecting antigen in body fluids of patients with legionellosis or in environmental samples.

Infect Immun, 1981 Sep, 33(3), 827 - 33
Specific receptor binding of staphylococcal enterotoxins by murine splenic lymphocytes; Buxser S et al.; We describe a reliable assay to measure the specific binding of 125I-labeled staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) by murine spleen cells . Toxin binding by lymphocytes was specific in that it was inhibited by unlabeled SEA but not by unrelated proteins . The biological activity of SEA (T-lymphocyte mitogenesis) correlated with toxin binding to splenic lymphocytes . In the presence of high concentrations of {125I}SEA, specific binding increased rapidly and approached saturation after 2 h . Toxin binding was sensitive to temperature and pH and was directly proportional to the concentration of spleen cells in the incubation mixture . We estimated that there was a single class of toxin-binding sites, which had an apparent equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) of 8 x 10(-7) M and numbered 3,600 sites per cell . SEA and the antigenically distinct compounds staphylococcal enterotoxins B and E in excess competitively inhibited binding of {125I}SEA to mouse spleen cells . Our data suggest a common class of binding sites for the three staphylococcal enterotoxins.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1981 Sep, 76(3), 316 - 21
Interstitial nephritis caused by methicillin . Studies in a case complicating staphylococcal sepsis with acute glomerulonephritis; Silverstein RL et al.; A 16-year-old student was admitted with acute, oliguric renal failure complicating staphylococcal sepsis . During treatment with methicillin drug hypersensitivity was suspected, and antibiotic was changed to vancomycin; by day 19 hemodialysis was discontinued . Renal biopsy showed two pathologic processes: acute exudative glomerulonephritis and widespread tubulointerstitial nephritis . In addition to glomerular immunoglobulin and C'3 deposits, interstitial and focal tubular basement membrane deposits of IgG were seen . Antiserum to DPO (methicillin) haptens localized apparently to the same tubular sites, as did fluorescein-conjugated antibodies from the patient's serum . The data suggest that interstitial nephritis was caused by serum antibodies to methicillin which bound to sites in renal tubules to which methicillin also had fixed . The acute tubulointerstitial nephritis complicated acute oliguric glomerulonephritis of staphylococcal sepsis.

Immunology, 1981 Sep, 44(1), 187 - 92
The adjuvant activity of fatty acid esters . The role of acyl chain length and degree of saturation; Bomford R; Water-in-oil emulsions of metabolizable fatty acid esters, with the non-toxic surfactant Pluronic L122 as emulsifying agent, potentiated the humoral response to bovine serum albumin and staphylococcal toxoid in the mouse . Adjuvant activity was increased by changing the chemical nature of the esters as follows: (i) using a series of ethyl esters, adjuvant activity appeared when the acyl chain length of the fatty acid component was 16 or greater; (ii) isobutyl and isopropyl esters of palmitic acid (C16:0) were superior to ethyl; (iii) the ethyl esters of oleic (C18:1) and linoleic (C18:2) acids were better than stearic (C18:0) . Since emulsions prepared with longer chain saturated esters are very viscous or solid at room temperature, and unsaturated esters are chemically reactive, emulsions were prepared with differing proportions of ethyl caprate (C10:0) and butyl stearate . At a ratio of 9:1 the emulsions possessed the low viscosity of ethyl caprate, but gained the adjuvant activity of butyl stearate . 125I-labelled BSA was retained in the footpad to a significantly greater extent than with a caprate emulsion, but reasons are given for believing that slow release of antigen is not the only mechanism of adjuvant activity . The ester emulsions caused more acute but less chronic local inflammation (footpad swelling) than Freund's incomplete adjuvant.

Transfusion, 1981 Sep-Oct, 21(5), 483 - 92
A comparison of methods for detecting leukocyte antibodies in autoimmune neutropenia; McCullough J et al.; A six-month-old girl and an 18-month-old boy with autoimmune neutropenia due to anti-NA1 are described . The antibodies were detected by granulocyte microagglutination, and their disappearance in the girl coincided with a return of a normal neutrophil count . The autoantibodies in both patients also reacted in the granulocyte cytotoxicity (GC) assay, and in one patient, in the staphylococcal protein A (SPA) assay . However, neither the GC nor the SPA assays showed the anti-NA1 specificity found by agglutination, and the presence of GC and SPA antibodies did not coincide with neutropenia . These three leukocyte antibody techniques may detect different antibodies and have different clinical significances . This report provides additional evidence of the existence of autoimmune neutropenia and indicates that the clinical role of neutrophil antibodies detected by different serologic techniques is not yet established . Antibodies detected by granulocyte agglutination were clinically significant in these two patients with autoimmune neutropenia, while the results of testing with GC and SPA were not.

Dis Colon Rectum, 1981 Sep, 24(6), 445 - 8
Pseudomembranous enterocolitis: a historical and clinical review; O'Connor TW; Pseudomembranous enterocolitis (PMEC) was first documented in 1893 . Since this initial description, confusion has reigned in the medical literature concerning its nature and differentiation from such entities as necrotizing enterocolitis and staphylococcal enterocolitis . Since the 1950s, volumes have been written on PMEC and its association with a multitude of different antibiotics . PMEC has generally been used as somewhat of a "wastebasket" designation, being applied to any postoperative patient who develops significant diarrhea while on broad-spectrum antibiotics . More recently, a resurgence of interest in PMEC has led to its recognition as a specific disease entity and to a greater understanding of its etiology . The current review traces the history of PMEC, distinguishes if from similar disease processes, and describes its clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management . PMEC is particularly distinguished from antibiotic-associated diarrhea and certain forms of antibiotic-associated colitis.

J Immunol, 1981 Sep, 127(3), 1044 - 7
Induction of human immunoglobulin secretion . I . Synergistic effect of B cell mitogen Cowan I plus T cell mitogens or factors; Saiki O et al.; Synergistic effects of B cell mitogen Staphylococcus bacteria strain Cowan I (Cowan I) plus T cell mitogens in generating immunoglobulin-secreting cells (ISC) from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) were investigated . ISC were assayed by reverse plaque-forming cells with protein A-coated red blood cells . Low concentrations of pokeweed mitogen (PWM) plus Cowan I gave superadditive effects on ISC induction, generating 3 to 10 times as many ISC as optimal amounts of either mitogen alone . The mitogens together and separately showed similar kinetics of ISC; synergy was observed at every day tested . Plaque-forming cells of IgM, IgG, and IgA classes all showed strong synergy, together routinely representing 20% of initial MNC . At day 7 of culture, over 80% of non-E-rosetting cells were ISC . Cell donors tested gave these strong responses even if they were low responders to either mitogen alone . Cowan I plus other T cell mitogens, PHA, Con A, and protein A, also provided good signals for B cell activation . Cowan I induced marked proliferation of purified B cells, but T cell-helper signals were required for differentiation to ISC . T cell-helper factor, induced by PWM or PHA, also showed synergistic effects with Cowan I in induction of ISC . Purified B cells did not respond to T cell-helper factor(s) alone to proliferate or differentiate to ISC . These results indicate that optimal ISC induction occurs with a B cell mitogen plus T cell signals acting synergistically.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1981 Sep, 34(9), 1211 - 34
{Evaluation of the effect of a cephamycin antibiotic agent, cefmetazole, for the postoperative infections (author's transl)}; Heat-shock proteins of Drosophila are associated with nuclease-resistant et al.; Proteins produced in cultured Drosophila cells during the heat-shock response (HSPs) were recently shown by autoradiography to be confined in large measure to the cell nucleus . We report here that nuclear HSPs are not associated with nucleosomes solubilizes by treatment with staphylococcal nuclease at low ionic strength nor are HSPs released by extraction with high salt, which solubilized most of the remaining histones and DNA . Possible functions of nuclear HSPs are discussed.

J Immunol, 1981 Sep, 127(3), 917 - 23
Structural studies of a human gamma 3 myeloma protein (Goe) that binds staph protein A; Recht B et al.; The partial amino acid sequence of the Fc region of an unusual monoclonal immunoglobulin molecule (Goe), which had the allotypic markers Gm (b0, b3, b5, s, t, v), rarely encountered in Caucasians, was determined . Protein Goe was previously shown to belong to the gamma 3 subclass by antigenic typing, to possess a gamma 3-like hinge region and a gamma 1-like carboxy-terminal octadecapeptide, and to bind to staphylococcal protein A . The sequence of protein Goe resembled that of gamma 3 molecules except for the presence of tyrosine at position 296, alanine at position 339, and histidine and tyrosine at positions 435 and 436 . It is of interest that histidine 435 appears to play an important role in binding to Staph protein A . Since tyrosine and phenylalanine at 296 and 300 are typical of G3m(g) molecules, whereas protein Goe is G3m(g-), this may correspond to the non-b1 allotypic marker . Of the numerous explanations to account for these findings, the most likely possibilities are that protein Goe is either a hybrid molecule or the product of a germ line gene representing the G3m s allotype, which is rare in Caucasians and common in Mongoloid populations . Support for the latter alternative is provided by the isolation from normal serum of a small amount of a protein having many of the properties of protein Goe.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1981 Sep, 20(3), 359 - 65
Penicillin and tetracycline resistance plasmids in Staphylococcus epidermidis; Totten PA et al.; The genetic nature of penicillin (Pc) and tetracycline (Tc) resistance plasmids in Staphylococcus epidermidis were studied and compared with those in S . aureus . Of 10 S . epidermidis strains transduced for penicillin resistance, we could isolate Pc plasmids from only 3 . One of these plasmids also encoded for cadmium resistance and another encoded for resistance to ethidium bromide, traits also associated with S . aureus Pc plasmids . Endonuclease fingerprinting of the Pc plasmids from the two species revealed extensive heterogeneity . Two S . epidermidis strains were also transduced for tetracycline resistance . Both harbored plasmids indistinguishable from S . aureus Tc plasmids as judged by endonuclease fingerprinting . These data suggest that genetic exchange between S . aureus and S . epidermidis occurs in vivo.

Blood, 1981 Sep, 58(3), 658 - 61
Leukotriene B4 is a potent and stereospecific stimulator of neutrophil chemotaxis and adherence; Palmblad J et al.; We studied the effects of leukotrienes on in vitro functions of neutrophil polymorphonuclear (PMN) granulocytes . Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) evoked a stimulated and directed migration of neutrophils under agarose with an optimum concentration of 10(-6)M, whereas two nonenzymatically formed isomers (compounds I and II) induced this response at 10(-5)M . Leukotriene C4 (LTC4) and 5-hydroxyeicosate-traenoic acid (5-HETE) did not affect this PMN migration . At the same optimum concentrations, LTB4 and compounds I and II augmented PMN adherence to nylon fibers . The chemotactic and adherence responses were of the same magnitude as with formal-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP) at 10(-7)M . None of the leukotrienes influenced the spontaneous or phagocytosis-associated chemiluminescence or the ability to kill Staphylococcus aures . The cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin, inhibited only partly the fMLP-induced migration at high concentrations and stimulated migration at 2.5 x 10(-7)M, suggesting that arachidonic acid was then mainly metabolized by the lipoxygenase pathways . The lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase inhibitor, eicosatetraynoic acid, inhibited both spontaneous and stimulated migration at greater or equal to 2.5 x 10(-5)M, but not at lower concentrations . Thus, since LTB4, and to a lesser degree compounds I and II, stimulated migration and adhesion, it is suggested that these mediators could be of importance for the emigration of neutrophils from blood vessels to areas of inflammation.

Tsitologiia, 1981 Sep, 23(9), 1047 - 52
{Frequency of acrocentric chromosomal associations and their silver staining in human lymphocytes in immune reactions}; Frolov AK; Ag-staining of the nucleolar organizer regions of acrocentric chromosomes of T-lymphocytes did not change during the immune response in children with porotitis and in those being in contact with parotitis-suffering children, as well as in young adults previously immunized by staphylococcal anatoxin . This character displayed individual peculiarities . No differences in these age groups were detected . A positive correlation was found between the size of Ag-band and the ability of chromosomes to make associations . Ag-staining and participation of G-chromosomes in associations was higher than those markers in D-chromosomes.

Klin Wochenschr, 1981 Aug 17, 59(16), 877 - 88
Neutropenia after penicillins: toxic or immune-mediated?
Neftel KA, Walti M, Spengler H, von Felten A, Weitzman SA, Burgi H, de Weck AL.
Eight patients treated with a total of 220-550 million U penicillin-G developed neutropenia . These cases have been compared with eight patients receiving a similar dose of pencillin-G with no adverse reactions and with eight untreated subjects . All penicillin-treated patients showed raised levels of anti-IgG antibodies and lymphocyte culture stimulation indices . These values were highest in the neutropenia group . Both of the two tests significantly discriminated the three groups . Antineutrophil antibodies could be detected in four of seven neutropenic patients with a staphylococcal-slide-assay while indirect immunofluorescence and microcytotoxicity tests failed to reveal these antibodies . The literature dealing with neutropenias induced by penicillin-G and its congeners is reviewed . We conclude that (1) penicillin-G in doses exceeding a total of 200 million U frequently induces neutropenia, (2) an immune-mediated pathogenesis a highly probable, (3) neutropenia after penicillins is different from two hither-to accepted types of this side effect, (4) sufficiently high amounts of penicillin-G intravenously always induce sensitization against this drug.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1981 Aug, 34(8), 1178 - 84
A pharmacokinetic analysis of ampicillin in the cerebrospinal fluid of rabbits with staphylococcal meningitis; Morikawa Y; Pharmacokinetic differences between a bolus and a 60 minutes continuous intravenous administration of 100 mg/kg dose of ampicillin in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were evaluated in the rabbits with experimental staphylococcal meningitis . The maximum concentrations in CSF were 19.3 micrograms/ml for bolus injection and 7.24 micrograms/ml for 60 minutes continuous infusion . Half-lives (T1/2) in CSF and CSF/serum ratios of T1/2 were 29.9 minutes and 1.3 minutes for bolus injection and 48.1 minutes and 1.9 minutes for 60 minutes continuous infusion, respectively . These findings indicate that extremely high concentrations of short duration in serum are required to elevate the concentrations in CSF and the maintenance of certain concentrations in serum are required to keep concentrations above the therapeutic concentrations in CSF . The mean penetration rate derived from the CSF/serum ratios of AUC were 11.1% for bolus injection and 5.5% for 60 minutes continuous infusion . Thus bolus injection is considered to be superior to 60 minutes continuous infusion pharmacokinetically . Bacterial meningitis is one of the diseases in which therapeutic concentrations of antibiotics are difficult to attain at the the site of infections . Therefore, when an intravenous ampicillin is going to be used in the treatment of bacterial meningitis, bolus injection is preferred to 60 minutes continuous infusion.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1981 Aug, 89(4), 199 - 204
A polypeptide antigen from a strain of Staphylococcus simulans . 2 . Antigenic and biological properties; Osland A et al.; A purified polypeptide antigen from Staphylococcus simulans CCM 2705 produced one precipitation line by double diffusion in agar with rabbit antiserum against homologous whole bacteria . The purified antigen did not induce antibody production in rabbits . However, when the antigen was complexed with methylated bovine serum albumin, antibodies with specificity against the polypeptide were produced . The antigen did not sensitize normal or tanned erythrocytes for agglutination in antiserum . The polypeptide antigen induced a primary skin reaction and was toxic for mice . It also induced production of MIF as demonstrated by the migration inhibition test . The polypeptide was found to be a leukotaxigen . No difference between C4 normal and C4 deficient serum was noted . C5 was found to be necessary for the induction of chemotaxis.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1981 Aug, 89(4), 193 - 7
A polypeptide antigen from a strain of Staphylococcus simulans . 1 . Purification and some chemical data; Osland A; A polypeptide antigen isolated from Staphylococcus simulans was shown mainly to contain alanine and aspartic acid in a molar ratio of 3:1 . The circular dichroism spectre showed only positive ellipticities, and oxidation by D-amino acid oxidase showed the presence of D-alanine . 65 per cent of the alanine was present as the D-isomer as estimated by gas-liquid chromatography . Analytical ultracentrifugation showed that the polymer sedimented as a homogeneous peak with an S20, W value of 2.8.

Thorax, 1981 Aug, 36(8), 590 - 5
Surgical management of pericarditis in Zaria, Nigeria; Mabogunje OA et al.; Over eight years, 58 rural Nigerians with pericarditis were treated surgically in Zaria using basic surgical facilities . Eighteen patients had purulent pericarditis, associated with staphylococcal pneumonia in children, or pneumococcal pneumonia in adults . Treatment with antibiotics and prompt pericardiectomy appeared to be superior to drainage, since a quarter of those initially treated with surgical drainage developed early constriction and required pericardiectomy soon after . Thirteen patients had chronic pericardial effusions, of whom one had epicardial constriction and two had cardiomyopathy . Twenty-seven patients had chronic constrictive pericarditis but tuberculosis was confirmed histologically in three only . Echocardiographic findings remained unchanged in five patients evaluated before and after pericardiectomy . Eight of the 13 patients who died had already developed myocardial or hepatic insufficiency before operation, because of late presentation or diagnosis . Greater awareness of the significance of precordial pain in this rural population where ischaemic heart disease is rare would help in making an earlier diagnosis.

Tsitologiia, 1981 Aug, 23(8), 901 - 6
{Structural study of the chromatin of the myxomycete Physarum polycephalum in the mitotic cycle}; Dolidze MG et al.; The chromatin structure of Physarum polycephalum was studied with electron microscope at different phases of its mitotic cycle . At the S-phase and during mitosis, the chromatin has a nucleosomal structure . At the early G2-phase the chromatin structure changes, long regions of non-beaded structure being found in the chromatin fibers . At the late G2-phase, the major part of chromatin loses its globular organization, with chromatin fibres without a pronounced subunit structure prevailing in the preparations . Biochemical data show that the amount of chromatin resistant to staphylococcal nuclease varies during the mitotic cycle . The amount of nuclease-resistant chromatin is equal to 80% at the S-phase, to decrease up to 50-60% by the early G2-phase . Successive changes of chromatin structure at different levels of its transcriptional activity are found . Lability of nucleosomes is shown to increase with the increase in the transcriptional activity of chromatin, thus leading presumably to the chromatin structural alterations during the mitotic cycle.

Neurosurgery, 1981 Aug, 9(2), 142 - 4
Rationale for prophylactic antibiotics and neurosurgery; Savitz MH et al.; A program of antimicrobial prophylaxis for neurosurgical patients was implemented at three community hospitals after review of the previously recorded cases of postoperative sepsis and the antibiotic sensitivity of the prevailing pathogen, Staphylococcus . No primary wound infections occurred in a series of 1000 consecutive operations . The rational basis for prophylactic antibiotics is discussed.

J Cell Biol, 1981 Aug, 90(2), 533 - 6
Sizing of protein A-colloidal gold probes for immunoelectron microscopy; Slot JW et al.; Gold particles in colloidal solutions often vary considerably in size . The finest sols (diameter less than 15 nm), especially, are very heterogeneous, as is indicated by coefficients of variance (CV) of 25-35% . We have complexed staphylococcal protein A with gold particles (PA/Au) and then fractionated the preparations by glycerol or sucrose gradient centrifugation into very homogeneous subfractions . In this way, PA/Au probes of almost any size between 4.5 and 15 nm could be prepared . The variation of the gold particles in these fractions resulted in CV's between 9 and 16% . The reactivity of the PA/Au complex was not affected by the gradient procedure, as was shown by single- and double-labeling immunocytochemistry of ultrathin cryosections of rat pancreatic tissue.

Br J Surg, 1981 Aug, 68(8), 587 - 9
Ventilatory capacity after three methods of anaesthesia for inguinal hernia repair: a randomized controlled trial; Godfrey PJ et al.; One hundred consecutive male patients undergoing elective inguinal herniorrhaphy were randomized to receive general, epidural or local anaesthesia, and the patterns of ventilation were studied before and after operation . General anaesthesia caused more depression of FEV1 and FVC than the other two methods, but no important arterial hypoxia or clinical chest complications ensued . One patients suffered minor staphylococcal wound infection, and one died of massive pulmonary embolism on the eleventh day.

J Clin Periodontol, 1981 Aug, 8(4), 295 - 310
Comparison of the in vivo and in vitro antibacterial properties of antiseptic mouthrinses containing chlorhexidine, alexidine, cetyl pyridinium chloride and hexetidine . Relevance to mode of action; Roberts WR et al.; A study was carried out to compare the antibacterial properties of four cationic antiseptics, three of which are available as commercial mouthrinse preparations . Minimum inhibitory concentrations for alexidine, cetyl pyridinium chloride, chlorhexidine gluconate and hexetidine against a range of standard test organisms, were determined by tube dilution . Similar values for Oxford staphylococcus were then obtained in Dubos medium to which protein as yeast, or food extract, or serum was added in doubling dilutions to 16% . Salivary bacterial counts after a single rinse with the antiseptics or water throughout the day were measured in 10 subjects together with the duration of any residual antiseptic activity in the saliva . All antiseptics were effective at low concentrations against the organisms tested but the minimum inhibitory concentration values for hexetidine were the highest . Food extract and serum markedly increased the minimum inhibitory concentration values of all antiseptics, although alexidine and hexetidine were the least affected in percentage terms . The activity of a 1% povidone iodine preparation, used for comparison, was almost completely vitiated . An immediate significant fall in salivary bacterial counts was produced by the cationic antiseptics . Return to pre-rinse levels was seen for hexetidine after 90 min, cetyl pyridinium chloride after 3 hours, alexidine after 5 hours and chlorhexidine gluconate after 7 hours . Residual salivary antibacterial activity remained to 90 min for cetyl pyridinium chloride, to 3 hours for hexetidine and alexidine and to 5 hours for chlorhexidine gluconate . The antibacterial properties measured, in particular the duration of effect in vivo, may be relevant to the anti-plaque activity of cationic antiseptics.

J Microsc, 1981 Aug, 123(Pt 2), 215 - 26
Cell surface labelling with gold colloid particulates: the use of avidin and staphylococcal protein A-coated gold in conjunction with biotin and fc-bearing ligands; Tolson ND et al.; Procedures for preparing gold colloid particles stabilized with either avidin or protein A are described . Methods of using these general utility tracers for localizing biotinylated and fc bearing immunoglobulins are outlined and, as examples of the way in which these methods can be applied, procedures for identifying epidermal growth factor receptors and surface fibronectin on ovarian granulosa cells are described.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1981 Aug, 89(4), 253 - 60
Cross-reactions between Staphylococcus epidermidis and 23 other bacterial species; Espersen F et al.; By quantitative immunoelectrophoretic methods, 43 antigens were found in a mixture of sonicated preparations of four Staphylococcus epidermidis strains, using corresponding rabbit antiserum . Two of the antigens were identified as cell wall teichoic acid and a peptidoglycan antigen, respectively . Using this antigen/antibody reference system, cross-reactions between S . epidermidis antigens and antigens from other bacterial species were investigated . Fourteen of the S . epidermidis antigens cross-reacted with antigens from all S . aureus strains investigated . Only few cross-reactions were found between S . epidermidis and bacteria not belonging to the Micrococcaceae . The antigenic relatedness, expressed as a matching coefficient, seems promising for taxonomic work.

Ann Rheum Dis, 1981 Aug, 40(4), 409 - 13
Prevalence of anti-beta-2 microglobulin autoantibodies in sera of rheumatoid arthritis patients with extra-articular manifestations; Falus A et al.; The frequency and concentration of specific factors binding beta 2 microglobulin were investigated in sera and synovial fluids of patients and in sera of normal controls . High anti-beta 2 m activity was detected in the sera of adult RA patients, particularly in those of with extra-articular disease . Similarly, anti-beta 2 m was present in the synovial fluids of RA but not of osteoarthrosis patients . Both the binding of anti-beta 2 m activity to the Sepharose staphylococcal protein A and its elution position in the second 'IgG' peak after Sephadex G-200 gel filtration suggest the antibody nature of the activity . The possibility of differences not only in titre but also in the specificity of heterologous and homologous anti-beta 2 m antibodies are discussed.

Cardiovasc Res, 1981 Jul, 15(7), 404 - 10
Selective bacterial adherance to cardiac endothelial cells in tissue culture; Peterson LR et al.; The adherence of 16 gram-positive bacterial isolates and eight gram-negative bacterial isolates to cardiac endothelial cells from rabbits, chickens, pigs and opossums was evaluated using a tissue culture system . A single coagulase-negative staphylococcus was significantly more adherent over cell cultures and controls than any other organism tested . Adherent bacteria were sticky to most surfaces tested . No differences in adherence were demonstrated between gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria when they were compared as groups.

Bol Med Hosp Infant Mex, 1981 Jul-Aug, 38(4), 585 - 94
{The value of the staphylococcal clumping test in the diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation in the infected infant}; Ortiz Mendez VM et al.; The staphylococcal clumping test for measurement of fibrin split products is a simple, rapid and trustworthy method in the diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation . Three groups of patients were studied, a) with anatomicopathological findings of DIC, 26 cases; b) with predisposing factors for DIC, 50 cases and c) control group, 50 cases . The p value was less than 0.001 for the staphylococcal clumping test, equivalent to 100% trustworthiness in confirming the diagnosis of DIC.

Lab Anim, 1981 Jul, 15(3), 263 - 5
Kidney disease in the rabbit: a histological survey; Hinton M; Histological lesions were observed in the kidneys of 77 (32.5%) of 237 rabbits which were either found dead or were killed because they were unwell, and in 19 (25%) of 75 apparently healthy adult rabbits . Lesions associated with an infectious process such as renal abscesses, staphylococcal nephritis, pyelonephritis and pyelitis were the principal finding in rabbits up to 5 months of age, while renal fibrosis, with or without dystrophic calcification, was the most common lesion observed in rabbits aged over 10 months . Spontaneous amyloidosis was seen in 2 rabbits.

Am J Dis Child, 1981 Jul, 135(7), 650 - 2
Evaluation of modified gowning procedures in a neonatal intensive care unit; Agbayani M et al.; The effect of modified gowning techniques in a neonatal intensive care unit was evaluated . During alternate two-month intervals, no gowns were worn over street clothes in patient care areas by staff or visitors . Mortality and infections rates during these "modified" gowning intervals were the same as during the gowning periods . However, the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis was significantly greater in the modified gowning periods (7/353) than in the gowning periods (1/371) . An expansion of this one-year study to include another year showed an even greater effect . The prevalence of bacteria at three anatomic sites (nares, umbilicus, and groin) on days 2, 4, 7, 10, 14, 21, and 28 of hospitalization was comparable between those studied during modified gowning and gowning intervals . Exceptions were the significantly increased prevalence of Staphylococcus epidermidis in the groin (days 21 and 28) during gowning and S aureus in the nares (day 28) during modified gowning periods.

Plast Reconstr Surg, 1981 Jul, 68(1), 43 - 9
Capsules, infection, and intraluminal antibiotics; Burkhardt BR et al.; Staphylococcus epidermidis, a normal cutaneous inhabitant previously shown to be present in 67 percent of nipple secretions, has been cultured from 55 percent of surgical mammary pockets prior to implant insertion and from the interior of 71 percent of fibrous capsules explored at open capsulotomy . Cephalothin and gentamicin placed within the lumen of inflatable breast implants in vitro have been shown to diffuse outward through the silicone shell . The use of intraluminal cephalothin and gentamicin in vivo has significantly reduced our incidence of capsular contracture following both primary mammary augmentation and secondary open capsulotomy . The authors believe that the cause of fibrous capsular contracture may be a low-grade periprosthetic infection, and that the unique permeability characteristics of the silicone shell may permit sustained antimicrobial activity at the surface of the prosthesis.

Plast Reconstr Surg, 1981 Jul, 68(1), 34 - 42
Does infection play a role in breast capsular contracture?
Shah Z, Lehman JA Jr, Tan J.
The formation of capsular contracture around silicone implants continues to be the most common complication of augmentation mammaplasty . To date, the etiologic factors in the formation of capsular contractures have remained inconclusive . In the present study, the role of subclinical infection with S . epidermidis as a cause of capsular contracture was evaluated in 16 rabbits using miniature silicone implants . All the implants on the side contaminated with varying concentrations of S . epidermidis developed breast capsular contractures . Using Baker's classification, they were graded III or IV, while the controls were all considered to be either grade I or II . Grossly, the capsules on the contaminated side were firm, fibrous, and 2 to 3 times thicker than the controls, and this was confirmed histologically using micrometry . Implants contaminated with 10(7) bacteria uniformly extruded . The present study seems to indicate that subclinical infection with Staphylococcus epidermidis may be one of the causes of capsular contracture around breast implants.

J Histochem Cytochem, 1981 Jul, 29(7), 870 - 3
A rapid method for immunofluorescent staining of paraffin sections using iron-containing protein A microspheres; Widder KJ et al.; A method to rapidly perform immunofluorescence or light microscopic staining on formalin-fixed paraffin sections has been devised utilizing magnetic albumin microspheres containing Staphylococcal protein A . Because the protein A constituent of the microspheres has the property of binding the Fc portion of immunoglobulin G (IgG) class antibodies, the microspheres can be used to rapidly bind antigen-antibody complexes by the Fc portion of the antibody . Deparaffinized sections were stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated antibody (IgG fractions) by standard techniques, after which the protein A microspheres were layered over the sections . Distinct fluorescence of sections was noted with the addition of the microspheres, whereas only autofluorescence was present with direct staining alone . The microspheres were also visualized by light microscopy by a subsequent Prussian blue reaction, staining the Fe3O4 within the microsphere matrix . This method represents a more rapid method for identifying antigens in tissues embedded in paraffin than has previously been reported.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1981 Jul, 124(1), 60 - 4
Immunodiagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in rabbits . Fungal antigen detected by radioimmunoassay in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; Andrews CP et al.; To improve antemortem diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, we used a radioimmunoassay to detect an Aspergillus fumigatus antigen in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and evaluated this technique in a model of disseminated aspergillosis . Antigen was detected in 91% of BALF samples obtained from 11 rabbits with major pulmonary aspergillosis . In an additional 10 rabbits with only minor pulmonary involvement, antigen was detected in 40% of concentrated lavage samples . In contrast, antigenlike activity was found in only 1 of 17 BALF samples from control animals with systemic candidiasis, in none of 9 control animals with staphylococcal pneumonia and in none of 10 normal control animals . Although antigen was present in the serum of 76% of animals infected with Aspergillus, 27% of those with major pulmonary involvement had antigen detected in BALF alone . We found that an extracellular microbial antigen can be detected in BALF and that this technique in the disseminated aspergillosis model is both sensitive and specific for invasive pulmonary disease.

Muscle Nerve, 1981 Jul-Aug, 4(4), 289 - 95
Acquired canine myasthenia gravis: immunocytochemical localization of immune complexes at neuromuscular junctions; Pflugfelder CM et al.; In the acquired form of myasthenia gravis in dogs, there are circulating antibodies to acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) and a reduction in the number of AChRs in the postsynaptic membrane . In this study, immune complexes were localized at the neuromuscular junctions in biopsy samples from 10 myasthenic dogs by immunocytochemical means employing conjugates of staphylococcal protein A and horseradish peroxidase . Immune complexes were observed in approximately 70% of the neuromuscular junctions studied in both type 1 and type 2 myofibers . Thus, acquired canine myasthenia gravis appears to involve immune-mediated mechanisms that destroy AChRs in a manner similar to myasthenia gravis in humans . Protein A was also observed to bind principally to elastic fibers in small arteries and arterioles of some myasthenic and control dogs; however, the significance of that localization is unknown.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1981 Jul, 78(7), 4611 - 5
Monoclonal antibodies against beta nerve growth factor and their effects on receptor binding and biological activity; Zimmermann A et al.; Two hybrid cell lines, MC beta-1 and MC beta-2, secreting monoclonal antibodies against mouse submaxillary gland beta nerve growth factor (beta NGF), were produced by interspecies hybridization of spleen cells from rats immunized with beta NGF and mouse myeloma cells . The antibodies secreted by the two hybridomas are of the IgG1 subclass and bind staphylococcal protein A . The equilibrium dissociation constant of the beta NGF--antibody complex was determined for the MC beta-1 antibodies in solid phase and in solution . On protein A-coated surfaces the Kd is 3 X 10(-10) M, 2 orders of magnitude lower than the Kd 2 X 10(-8) M obtained in solution . The antigenic site recognized by MC beta-1 antibodies is present on each protomer of the beta NGF dimer, and the binding affinity of the second antibody molecule is similar to that of the first . The MC beta-1 antibodies inhibit neurite outgrowth from sensory neurons . Because this inhibition directly correlates with the inhibition of binding to the higher affinity beta NGF receptors, it suggests that beta NGF complexed with two antibody molecules does not bind to the receptor and is biologically inactive.

J Virol, 1981 Jul, 39(1), 207 - 18
Purification and translation of murine mammary tumor virus mRNA's; Dudley JP et al.; We have studied the functions of the intracellular RNAs of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) by purification and translation in vitro . Two major size classes of MMTV RNA, 35S and 24S RNA, were isolated from MMTV-infected rat (XC) cells and cultured mammary tumor cells by preparative hybridization of whole cell or polyadenylated RNA to cloned MMTV DNA covalently bound to chemically activated paper disks (diazobenzyloxymethyl paper) . Genomic-length (35S) RNA was prepared free of 24S RNA by rate zonal sedimentation in sucrose gradients . Experiments using {3H}uridine-labeled cellular RNA indicated that the preparative annealing method was highly specific and capable of effecting a 300-fold enrichment for viral RNA; the recovered RNA appeared to be intact under denaturing conditions and directed synthesis of full-length gag and env polypeptides in vitro . The products of in vitro translation were identified by gel mobility, immunoprecipitation tests with antisera against gag and env products, and partial digestion with Staphylococcus V8 protease . The 35S RNA species directed synthesis of several gag-related polypeptides, including three previously reported in extracts of infected cells; 24S RNA directed synthesis of two polypeptides closely related to env proteins from infected cells . Therefore, 35S RNA includes mRNA's for gag and gag-pol, whereas 24S RNA is the mRNA for env . These results help establish the position of env on the physical map of the MMTV genome and bear upon the coding potential of the genome.

Immunology, 1981 Jul, 43(3), 447 - 57
Antibody to myelin basic protein in extracts of multiple sclerosis brain; Bernard CC et al.; Autoimmunity to a neural antigen is a suspected cause of multiple sclerosis (MS), and a candidate autoantigen is myelin basic protein (MBP) . Accordingly, saline extracts of brain from patients with MS and other diseases were prepared and the content of immunoglobulin (Ig) determined . Antibody to MBP was measured with a highly-sensitive solid-phase radioimmunoassay using 125I-staphylococcal Protein A . Anti-MBP activity was detected in brain extracts of all eleven MS patients, and in seven out of the eight brain extracts from the patients with other diseases; however the level of anti-MBP activity was significantly higher in the MS extracts (P less than 0.01) . Analysis of the MS brain extracts after purification by affinity chromatography columns revealed that the anti-MBP activity was specifically mediated by IgG and resided in the IgG1, IgG2, and/or IgG4 subclasses.

Cancer Res, 1981 Jul, 41(7), 2714 - 7
Common antigenic determinants on human melanoma, glioma, neuroblastoma, and sarcoma cells defined with monoclonal antibodies; Seeger RC et al.; Antigenic determinants that are common to melanomas, gliomas, neuroblastomas, and sarcomas but that are minimally or not detectably expressed by adult tissues were defined with monoclonal antibodies . Quantitative absorption of monoclonal antibody (Ab 165) with adult tissues followed by testing on antigen-positive UCLA-SO-M14 melanoma cells did not demonstrate antigenic determinant (Ag 165) in brain, lung, liver, kidney, intestine, adrenal, and muscle, Absorption of Ab 376 demonstrated Ag 376 in adult lung but minimal or no antigen in other tissues . Both antigens were associated with a variety of fetal tissues . Assessment of 28 human tumor cell lines with the 131I-staphylococcal Protein A-binding test demonstrated that Ab 165 reacted strongly with melanomas and gliomas and weakly with sarcomas . Ab 376 reacted strongly with melanomas, gliomas, neuroblastomas, and sarcomas . Neither of these antibodies reacted appreciably with carcinoma or teratoma cell lines . Absorption of Ab 165 and Ab 376 with noncultured tumors demonstrated that melanomas, sarcomas, and neuroblastomas can have greater quantities of these antigens in vivo than do normal adult tissues . Qualitative and quantitative antigenic heterogeneity within positive classes of tumors was demonstrated for both cultured and noncultured tumors . The differences in antigen expression in vivo between normal and neoplastic cells suggest potential value for these antibodies in immunodiagnosis and possibly immunotherapy.

Med Clin (Barc), 1981 Jun 25, 77(2), 77 - 80
{Sweet's syndrome: report of two cases (author's transl)}; Miro Meda JM et al.; In 1964 Sweet described a new syndrome, characterized by the association of fever, neutrophilic leukocytosis, erythematous plaque affecting the extremities, neck and face, with histologically verified polymorphonuclear perivascular dermal infiltrates and a rapid response to corticosteroids . Although some 100 cases have since then been described the pathogenesis remains obscure . We present two cases which showed all criteria for Sweet's syndrome, in which the initial presentation of acute onset with fever, multiple skin lesions and especially the poor general state on one, made use at first think of an infectious process such as staphylococcal or gonococcal sepsis, in which case diagnosis must be differential . Only when the causal agent is known and an early skin biopsy is done can correct diagnosis and treatment be established.

Biochemistry, 1981 Jun 23, 20(13), 3784 - 91
Amino acid sequence of p15 from avian myeloblastosis virus complex; Sauer RT et al.; The complete amino acid sequence of the p15 gag protein from avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV) complex has been determined by sequential Edman degradation of the intact molecule and of peptide fragments generated by limited tryptic cleavage, cleavage with staphylococcal protease, and cyanogen bromide cleavage . AMV p15 is a single-chain protein containing 124 amino acids . The charged amino acids tend to be clustered in the primary structure . p15 contains a single cysteine at position 113 which may be essential for the p15 associated proteolytic activity . However, p15 shows no appreciable sequence homology with papain or other classical thiol proteases.

Nouv Presse Med, 1981 Jun 13, 10(26), 2171 - 4
{Acquired Willebrand factor deficiency associated with monoclonal IgG kappa gammapathy . Presence of an inhibitor of ristocetin co-factor (author's transl)}; Sitbon N et al.; An 85-year-old woman without personal history of haemorrhages was found to have qualitative and quantitative deficiency of Factor VIII persisting at least 6 months . Asymptomatic monoclonal IgG kappa gammopathy was also discovered in the same patient, together with a circulating inhibitor of ristocetin co-factor . The fact that the inhibitory effect was reduced after the patient's serum IgG's were bound to staphylococcal protein A suggests that the inhibitor belonged to that category of immunoglobulins, although the authors were unable to detect it after elution.

Arq Neuropsiquiatr, 1981 Jun, 39(2), 192 - 202
{Spinal epidural abscesses: report of 5 cases}; Braga FM et al.; Five cases of acute spinal epidural abscess, all in male, two of them in children (6 and 7 years old) and the others in patients older than fifty years are reported . In four cases the pathology was related to skin infection and the staphylococcus was the main agent . All the patients had a severe infectious clinical picture, pain on the spine, radicular or spinal cord involvement or both . There was a delay in diagnosis showing that this pathology is still rather unknown . The cases were treated surgically . Two patients died, two had a complete recovery and the last one recovered with neurological deficit . The patients who died had impairment of the cervical cord and were operated on in very bad general and neurological conditions . Revision of literature was performed and the authors discussed the various aspects of this disease.

J Clin Pathol, 1981 Jun, 34(6), 670 - 3
Trypsinised human O erythrocytes in the detection of rubella-specific IgM by sera fractionation on sucrose density gradient and absorption with staphylococcal protein A; Al-Nakib W; Detection of rubella virus-specific IgM employing trypsin-treated human group O erythrocytes was evaluated using the method of sera fractionation on sucrose density gradients (SDG) and that of sera absorption with staphylococcal protein A . The former method proved to be highly specific and sensitive in confirming or excluding rubella by demonstration of specific IgM . In contrast, the latter method provided comparable results in only 71.43% of specimens tested by both methods while false-positive or -negative IgM results were obtained in the remaining 28.57% of specimens . In view of these results, therefore, it is recommended that all those specimens found positive for specific IgM by the protein A method must be confirmed by another procedure, possibly that of specific IgM reduction with 2-mercaptoethanol.

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 1981 Jun, 20(6), 751 - 7
Quantitative ocular bacteriology: a method for the enumeration and identification of bacteria from the skin-lash margin and conjunctiva; Cagle GD et al.; Type 1 Calgiswabs were used to collect bacterial specimens from the skin-lash margins and conjunctivae of normal volunteers . The swabs were held in a nonnutritive balanced salt solution during transportation to the laboratory . Alginate swabs were dissolved in a two-step procedure in TC Eagle's medium and 2.5% sodium hexametaphosphate solution . Aliquots of suspended bacteria from the dissolved swab were plated on blood agar . After incubation, bacterial colonies present were enumerated and identified . Cultures from both the skin-lash margin and conjunctiva show significant variation in the number and types of microorganisms isolated . Quantities of bacteria isolated from the lid margin were usually greater than from the conjunctiva . Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most prevalent bacterium isolated . The adsorption of bacteria onto alginate swabs from bacterial suspensions and the recovery of a red pigment-producing organism from the conjunctivae of rabbit eyes previously inoculated show that the method is sensitive and highly reproducible.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1981 Jun, 44(3), 646 - 53
Human B cell function in normal individuals of various ages . 1 . In vitro enumeration of pokeweed-induced peripheral blood lymphocyte immunoglobulin-synthesizing cells and the comparison of the results with numbers of peripheral B and T cells, mitogen responses, and levels of serum immunoglobulins; Nagel JE et al.; The effect of age on the in vitro generation of immunoglobulin-secreting cells in pokeweed mitogen-stimulated cultures was examined using a staphylococcal protein A plaque assay . Although there was no statistically significant decrease with age in the numbers of plaque-forming cells, subjects whose cells failed to produce immunoglobulin were four times more common amongst individuals over 55 years of age . Simultaneously-measured T and B lymphocyte numbers . 3H-thymidine incorporation by mitogen-stimulated cultures, and serum immunoglobulins were comparable in both the young and the aged.

Immunopharmacology, 1981 Jun, 3(2), 179 - 85
Effect of methylprednisolone on the production of neutrophil migration inhibition factor by T lymphocytes (NIF-T); Wong LG et al.; Glucocorticoids may suppress cell-mediated immunity by inhibiting lymphocyte mediator production or reducing the responsiveness of target cells to these mediators . Our laboratory recently described a newly recognized T-lymphocyte mediator, neutrophil migration inhibition factor from T-lymphocytes (NIF-T) . In this report we assessed the effect of glucocorticoids on NIF-T activity . Methylprednisolone (MP) at concentrations as low as 10-7 M inhibited NIF-T activity from peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in response to staphylococcal protein A (SPA) and concanavalin A (Con A) . However, MP at concentrations as high as 10-4 M did not after the responsiveness of neutrophils to NIF-T . Therefore, the effect of MP on NIF-T activity was due to inhibition of mediator production . The effect of MP on NIF-T production was reversible in 24 hours . This finding is consistent with the clinical observation that alternate day therapy does not suppress cell-mediated immunity . Serum taken from a patient as early as one hour after oral administration of 100 mg of prednisone inhibited NIF-T production in vitro; serum obtained at 48 hr after prednisone had no measurable effect on NIF-T activity, In addition . MP inhibited NIF-T production by previously activated lymphocytes.

Am J Hosp Pharm, 1981 Jun, 38(6), 861 - 3
Effect of antipyretics on the length of hospital stay of pediatric patients with bacterial infections; Munzenberger PJ et al.; Antipyretic use in pediatric patients with uncomplicated bacterial infections was characterized, and the effect of such therapy on the length of hospital stay of these patients was studied . Study patients were divided into six groups of 30 patients . Patients with pneumococcal pneumonia, staphylococcal cellulitis, or H . influenzae meningitis receiving at least two antipyretic doses were compared with their counterparts receiving one or no antipyretic doses . Of the total 299 antipyretic doses administered, 284 were acetaminophen . Patients with H . influenzae meningitis received a mean of 4.57 doses per patient, which was significantly greater than the other study groups (p less than 0.05) . In contrast, patients with staphylococcal cellulitis received the highest mean dose of 12.51 mg/kg of acetaminophen . There appeared to be a relationship between the admitting temperature and the mean length of hospital stay; higher admitting temperatures were correlated with increased length of stay . Analysis of covariance for the different study groups indicated no significant difference in length of hospital stay (p greater than 0.05).

Eur J Immunol, 1981 Jun, 11(6), 509 - 16
Genetic control of the immune response to staphylococcal nuclease . XI . Effects of in vivo administration of anti-idiotypic antibodies; Sachs DH et al.; The effects of prior treatment with heterologous anti-idiotypic antibodies on the response to staphylococcal nuclease (Nase) have been examined . Previous studies have shown that 100% of A/J mice treated with Nase in completes Freund's adjuvant produce anti-Nase antibodies possessing a characteristic idiotype (Id) . Mice treated with anti-Id antibodies followed by Nase produced levels of Id equal to or greater than those of control animals treated with Nase alone . The appearance of Id in treated mice preceded the appearance of anti-Nase activity, and animals treated with anti-Id alone produced high levels of Id without detectable anti-Nase activity . Id expression in such animals could be detected using anti-Id reagents produced in several different species suggesting that it represented true idiotope expression rather than unrelated molecules reactive only with the anti-Id reagent used for initial treatment . Isolation of the nonantigen-binding Id-bearing molecules (Id') showed them to be immunoglobulins bearing the same idiotopes as do anti-Nase antibodies . However, quantitative comparisons of Id levels vs . amount of Id or Id'-bearing immunoglobulin suggested that the nonantigen-binding immunoglobulins bore fewer idiotopes per molecule than did anti-Nase antibodies . Evidence was also obtained for the production of some nonantigen-binding Id-bearing molecules during the normal immune response Nase . These findings are therefore consistent with the existence of a network of Id-anti-Id interactions in the immune response to Nase.

Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1981 Jun, 91(6), 763 - 5
{Method of electron-autoradiographic study of nucleic acid biosynthesis in bacteria during phagocytosis}; Pal'tsyn AA et al.; Leukocytes from healthy men exposed to Staphylococcus epidermis were incubated with 3H-uridine and 3H-thymidine . The level of nucleic acid synthesis by phagocyted bacteria was examined by electron microscopic autoradiography . The method makes it possible to correlate bacterial and phagocyte functions with their ultrastructures.

J Dermatol Surg Oncol, 1981 Jun, 7(6), 483 - 91
Microbial findings in cancers of the breast and in their metastases to the skin . Implications for etiology; Cantwell AR Jr et al.; In four cases of carcinoma of the breast, variably acid-fast coccoid forms were found in sections from their metastases to the skin and in one of these cases in sections of the primary carcinoma . In this one case, similar-appearing corcoid forms were observed within the sections of the primary malignancy . In this same case, Staphylococcus epidermidis was cultured and studied at once and as it aged for development of forms comparable to those found in the microscopic sections of the neoplastic process . The implications of the findings for etiology of carcinoma of the breast are discussed.

Circulation, 1981 May, 63(5), 1104 - 9
Echocardiographic appearance of the Chiari network: differentiation from right-heart pathology; Werner JA et al.; As echocardiography is being used more often, its value and accuracy are becoming more fully appreciated . Coincident with wider application of this imaging technique is the potential for identifying normal anatomic variants and their possible erroneous interpretation as pathologic states . In this report we describe the M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiographic features of a congenital remnant known as the Chiari network . This structure can present as a highly mobile, highly reflectant echo target that can be seen in several locations in the right atrium . We report here an index case that could be well examined echocardiographically and that was a cause of considerable concern due to the presence of congestive heart failure and a history of staphylococcal endocarditis . The presence of the Chiari network was confirmed pathologically . Subsequently, we found similar echocardiographic findings in 19 of 1248 patients (1.5%) studied in our laboratory . This congenital remnant, which is found pathologically in 2-3% of normal hearts, could be confused with valve disruption, vegetation or other mass lesion, particularly when associated with a suggestive clinical situation.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1981 May, (5), 87 - 9
{Experimental study of the protective activity of a complex staphylococcal antigen and toxoid when administered in combination}; Egorova NB et al.; The data obtained in the experimental study of the protective activity of an antigenic staphylococcal complex prepared by the method of aqueous extraction and staphylococcal toxoid (native and adsorbed) are presented . The study carried out on the model of septic staphylococcal infection in rabbits indicated that after immunization with the mixture of the above-mentioned preparations the survival time of the rabbits increased to a greater extent than after immunization with each of these preparations separately . This regularity was especially pronounced under the aggravated conditions of infection with the mixture of strains.

J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus, 1981 May-Jun, 18(3), 22 - 8
Phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis; Beauchamp GR et al.; There is growing evidence that a variety of corneal disorders may be expressions of altered immune mechanisms . Phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis is probably such a condition . Typically described as arising from hypersensitivity to tuberculin protein, other antigens clearly may participate, particularly staphylococcus products . When corneal involvement occurs, it need not be confined to the peripheral cornea . The symptoms of the process may be disproportionate to obvious findings and so exaggerated as to suggest a psychiatric disorder . Resultant visual deficits, if the disease is corneal, progressive, unrecognized, and untreated may be profound . Representative examples of this disease are cited . Immune mechanisms are reviewed . The importance of recognizing the characteristic sign and symptom complex is stressed . Appropriate diagnostic studies and treatment regimens are presented.

Antibiotiki, 1981 May, 26(5), 370 - 4
{In vivo and in vitro antibiotic sensitivity changes}; Chudner VZ; Spontaneous changes in staphylococcal sensitivity to 7 antibiotics were studied during a year . 9 hospital strains of Staph . aureus were used . The strains were subculture-in vitro . One of the cultures was subcultured in vivo in 17 dogs with experimental chronic osteomyelitis . It was found that sensitivity of the same culture increased in vivo to 4 antibiotics and in vitro to 1 antibiotic . The increased sensitivity to all 7 antibiotics in vitro was recorded with respect to 4 strains, to 6 antibiotics with respect to 1 culture and to 3 and 4 antibiotics with respect to 2 strains . 4 strains manifested a decrease in sensitivity to 1--6 antibiotics . The causes of the changes found require further investigation.

J Chir (Paris), 1981 May, 118(5), 331 - 7
{Chronic staphylococcal osteomyelitic abscess of the popliteal fossa . One case (author's transl)}; Fery A; Moulonguet and Rousset's chronic staphyloccalosteomyelitic abscess is one aspect of Ollier and Poncet's albuminous periostitis . This extra-osseous form of chronic osteomyelitis was observed in a typical clinical picture in a 45-year-old man, 18 years after an acute hematogenous osteomyelitis of the femur . Diagnosis was mainly based on clinical findings, no additional information being gained from currently available complementary investigations, puncture biopsy or after excision . Ultrasonography alone was able to distinguish the lesion from a soft tissue tumor . Complete recovery occurs after surgical excision of this affection, which is rare, but may become of topical interest following abusive use of antibiotics . A general review of the published literature completes this historically interesting observation.

Br J Cancer, 1981 May, 43(5), 696 - 700
Human monoclonal antibodies to lung-cancer antigens; Sikora K et al.; Lymphocytes obtained from hilar and bronchial lymph nodes from 23 patients undergoing radical surgery for carcinoma of the bronchus were fused with established rat or mouse myeloma lines . 62% of the resultant hybrids were found to be secreting human Ig detected by a sensitive staphylococcal Protein A-coupled SRBC assay . Immunoglobulins synthesized by such hybrids were internally labelled with 3H-lysine and their antibody activity against a variety of membrane preparations determined . Nine monoclonal antibodies were found which bound to molecules on lung-cancer membranes and not on normal lung membranes from the same patient.

Ann Plast Surg, 1981 May, 6(5), 393 - 5
A preliminary report on the use of Staphage Lysate for treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa; Kress DW et al.; Eight patients, 7 with hidradenitis suppurativa and 1 with chronic recurrent staphylococcal abscess, all of whom failed to respond to antibiotic therapy, conservative therapeutic measures, and surgery, were experimentally placed on Staphage Lysate . Treatment after appropriate skin testing consisted of subcutaneous infections of 0.1 ml and intranasal installation of 0.3 ml of Staphage Lysate . Treatments were weekly for twelve weeks, biweekly for six months, and then monthly . Complications, which occurred early, were minimal and involved rash, vertigo, malaise, chills, nausea, fever, and headache . Six of the 8 patients reported noticeable improvement in odor, consistency, and amount of drainage and considerable decreases in pain . Seven of the 8 patients reported improvement in the ability of lesions to drain spontaneously, and a decrease in the frequency of inflammatory nodules . All 8 patients reported that the inflammatory periods were definitely shorter . Early data suggests that Staphage Lysate is a useful adjuvant in the treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa.

Ann Ophthalmol, 1981 May, 13(5), 629 - 31
Endophthalmitis after cataract extraction: a retrospective case study; Singh G; A 43-year-old man was diagnosed as a case of near-mature senile cataract, chronic simple glaucoma, and pterygium both eyes . Pterygium shaving and extracapsular cataract extraction were done together . Thick aftercataract was diagnosed with moderate iridocyclitis on fourth postoperative day . Treatment was started with atropine and steroids, but without any relief . A second operation of curette evacuation of aftercataract was done to rule out and treat the presumed lens induced uveitis, but the condition further deteriorated . In next four days the eye had to be evacuated . On culture material, Staphylococcus epidermidis (albus) growth was detected . Keeping in mind the possibility of postoperative endophthalmitis from the very beginning, doing vitreous aspiration, using lens matter for culture-sensitivity in early stages, and starting of intraocular antibiotics might have helped to save the eye.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1981 May, 89(5), 1565 - 72
Interaction of initiator Met-tRNArMet (Escherichia coli) and Gly-tRNAIGly (Staphylococcus epidermidis) with bacterial elongation factor Tu:GTP complex; Tanada S et al.; Jekowsky et al . reported recently that elongation factor Tu:GTP complex from Escherichia coli protected aminoacyl-tRNA from digestion by pancreatic RNase (I) . On the basis of their finding, we have developed the "RNase-resistance assay" for determination of the dissociation constant of aminoacyl-tRNA from aminoacyl-tRNA:EF-Tu:GTP complex . By the use of this sensitive assay, the dissociation constants were estimated to be 3.6 x 10(-7) M for Ala-tRNA1Ala (Torulopsis utilis), 7.9 x 10(-8) M for Phe-tRNAPhe (Escherichia coli), 8.1 x 10(-7) M for initiator Met-tRNAfMet (Escherichia coli), and 5.4 x 10(-6) M for Gly-tRNA1Gly (Staphylococcus epidermidis) participating in cell wall biosynthesis . Moreover, using a relatively large amount of EF-Tu:GTP, we have been able to detect the ternary complexes of initiator Met-tRNAfMet and Gly-tRNA1Gly with EF-Tu:GTP even by the method of gel filtration.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1981 May, 29(5), 285 - 91
{Radioimmunological assay for antithyroglobulin antibodies, with the use of staphylococcal protein A as separating agents (author's transl)}; Lefort G et al.; The staphylococcal cell wall protein A is known to bind specifically and rapidly to most of human immunoglobulin G . We have utilised this immunoadsorbent in a radio-immunoassay for antithyroglobulin antibodies (anti-Tg), to separate autoantibodies-125I thyroglobulin complexes from free 125I thyroglobulin (125I Tg) . There was no specific precipitation of 125I Tg in the presence of 95,6% of sera from normal subjects (N = 45) . In graves' disease, 56/65 hyperthyroid patients sera were positive, and so were 12/13 sera from patients with primary hypothyroidism . This assay showed a good correlation with the second antibody method, while much more rapid and slightly more sensitive . Compared with the new assay, the red cell agglutination test exhibited a high frequency of false negative results . This rapid, sensitive and inexpensive method provide an easy and reliable tool to screen sera acceptable for thyroglobulin measurement.

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol Suppl, 1981 May-Jun, 90(3 Pt 3), 58 - 62
Antimicrobial therapy for chronic suppurative otitis media; Fairbanks DN; In chronic draining ear associated with a tympanic membrane perforation and/or cholesteatoma, the infection is that of bacterial contamination . Both aerobic and anaerobic organisms are found, notably Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, and enteric organisms, particularly Bacteroides . The disease exists because of a structural defect in the middle ear cleft, which requires surgery as definitive treatment . Medical therapy is valuable as a temporary measure, in preoperative preparation, and in prevention and management of intracranial extension . Topical therapy with antibiotic ear drops is often helpful, but also important is local care with cleansing, drying, and antiseptic solutions or powders . Therapy is usually directed against the Pseudomonas organism with aminoglycosides and polymyxins, but Bacteroides fragilis now looms as an important pathogen in 13% of affected patients, requiring chloramphenicol . Since drugs directed against Bacteroides ae ineffective against Pseudomonas, and vice versa, there is no one agent we can rely upon for treatment of both . What we are all looking for, of course, is that brand new antibiotic the FDA hasn't released yet: "panaceamycin." It hasn't even been developed yet . None of the ones we have are a panacea; and until we get one, we will have to stick with what we have, exercise clinical judgment, and base our antibiotic selections on, if not proven culture results, then at least established microbial probabilities.

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 1981 May-Jun, 89(3 Pt 1), 381 - 5
Topical therapeutics for otitis media; Fairbanks DN; In chronic draining ear associated with a tympanic membrane perforation, cholesteatoma, or both, the infection is that of bacterial contamination . Both aerobic and anaerobic organisms are found, notably pseudomonas, staphylococcus, and enteric organisms, particularly bacteroides . The disease exists because of a structural defect in the middle ear cleft, which requires surgery as definitive treatment . Medical therapy is valuable as a temporary measure in preoperative preparation, and in prevention and management of intracranial extension . Topical therapy with antibiotic ear drops is often helpful, but also important is local care with cleansing, drying, and antiseptic solutions or powders . Therapy is usually directed toward the pseudomonas organisms with aminoglycoside-polymyxin combination otic drops . However, Bacteroides fragilis now looms as an important pathogen in 13% of affected patients . Chloramphenicol otic drops are indicated when such an infection is suspected or identified.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1981 May, 78(5), 2898 - 902
Anti-Rho(D) IgG binds to band 3 glycoprotein of the human erythrocyte membrane; Victoria EJ et al.; Alkali-extracted erythrocyte ghost membranes from Rho(D)-positive and Rho(D)-negative donors were incubated with human immune anti-Rho(D) IgG and nonimmune IgG . After sensitization with IgG, the integral membrane proteins were solubilized in Brij 36T nonionic detergent and chromatographed by gel filtration . There was a distinct resolution of IgG into free and membrane-complexed forms . The IgG-complexed membrane proteins were isolated by the use of a staphylococcal protein A affinity support . The protein A-bound complexes were examined for polypeptide composition by gel electrophoresis after elution . Only Rho(D)-positive membrane proteins incubated with immune anti-Rho(D) IgG revealed intact band 3 . Control Rh-negative membrane proteins that had reacted with immune anti-Rho(D) IgG and the Rh-positive membranes that had reacted with nonimmune IgG showed only low molecular weight fragments of band 3 that bound nonspecifically to IgG . Arguments are presented supporting a band 3 localization for the Rh antigen.

Rev Chir Oncol Radiol O R L Oftalmol Stomatol Chir, 1981 May-Jun, 30(3), 199 - 205
{Therapeutic management of fracture-induced osteitis}; Denischi A et al.; Fractural osteitis is considered to be exclusively of external origin, being due either to accidental wounds, or to operatory wounds . The infection is usually either with a single strain of germs, or with a small number of strains, most frequently a staphylococcus strain with a necrototizing effect on the bone structure . The prophylaxis has a determinant role, and the authors stress the organisatory measures, as well as the medical attitudes that should prevail in the face of an open fracture . In the case of closed fractures that have been infected as a result of surgery the necessity for an "early reintervention" is stressed . Late postoperative osteitis may develop in a consolidated focus, and is called osteitis of the repaired bone . It may also develop as an osteoarthritis or, and this is more serious, as a suppurated pseudarthrosis . The therapeutic attitude depends on the condition, and may consist in the removal of the osteosynthesis material, removal of the sequestered bone tissue, a so-called: "mis-a-plat" of the cavity with muscular tissue and application of septopal pearls, or a two-stage spongious graft according to Papineau, under protection of the external fixation when the necessity arises.

J Infect Dis, 1981 May, 143(5), 693 - 9
A rapid radioimmunoassay using 125I-labeled staphylococcal protein A for antibody to varicella-zoster virus; Richman DD et al.; A sensitive radioimmunoassay for serum antibody to varicella-zoster virus is described; it uses 125I-labeled staphylococcal protein A and a specially designed immunofiltration apparatus . The assay accurately distinguishes between individuals who are susceptible and those who are immune to infection with varicella-zoster virus . In addition, it can detect passive antibody in recipients of varicella-zoster immune globulin . This radioimmunoassay also detects the heterologous antibody responses that occasionally occur in patients infected with herpes simplex virus, which also have been detected by other antibody assays . The particular advantages of this assay are the use of noninfectious reagents, the speed of execution (less than 3 hr), the requirement for only small quantities of serum (30 microliters), the objectivity of end-point determination, and the capability of screening large numbers of sera . Consequently, this radioimmunoassay is especially useful for the rapid identification of susceptible individuals, which is essential for the appropriate management of patients and hospital personnel after exposure to varicella.

J Natl Cancer Inst, 1981 May, 66(5), 827 - 9
Analysis of human tumor cells for Ia-like antigens with monoclonal antibodies; Howe AJ et al.; Cultured and noncultured human solid tumors were analyzed for expression of Ia-like antigens with the use of two monoclonal antibodies and a rabbit antiserum against human Ia-like antigens . Of 27 tumor cells tested, 3 melanomas bound antibodies {e.g., 21,563 cpm 131I-labeled staphylococcal protein A ({131I}SpA) with monoclonal antibody Q5/6}, but 24 others (1 melanoma, 9 neuroblastomas, 1 medulloblastoma, 3 gliomas, 4 sarcomas, 2 colon carcinomas, 2 transitional cell carcinomas of the bladder, 1 teratoma, and 1 squamous cell carcinoma of the lung) did so minimally or not at all (0-427 cpm {131I}SpA with antibody Q5/6 . Monoclonal antibody Q5/6 was quantitatively absorbed with homogenates of 32 noncultured tumors to determine if Ia-like antigens were expressed by neoplastic cells in vivo . Ten milligrams (wet wt) each of 5 of 7 noncultured melanomas removed more than 83% (median, 85%) of the antibody . In contrast, 10 mg each of 10 neuroblastomas, 7 carcinomas, 4 sarcomas, and 4 Wilms' tumors removed less than 47% (median, 19%) of the antibody; even 100 mg of these tumors removed less than 68% (median, 44%) of the antibody.

Infect Immun, 1981 May, 32(2), 508 - 12
Human B lymphocytes produce leukocyte interferon after interaction with foreign cells; Weigent DA et al.; Enriched human B-cell populations cocultivated with xenogeneic or allogeneic tumor cells produced 1,000 to 10,000 U of leukocyte interferon per ml . In contrast, cocultivation of enriched plastic-adherent or T-cell populations with xenogeneic or allogeneic cells produced only 10 to 30 U of interferon . The population of cells producing the interferon absorbed to nylon wool and not sheep erythrocytes . They showed a strong mitogenic response to the B-cell mitogen Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide but not the T-cell mitogen staphylococcal enterotoxin A . In addition, treatment of this cell population with goat anti-human immunoglobulin M and complement depleted the cell population synthesizing the interferon . Together, these in vitro findings strongly suggest that the cells producing most of the interferon after interacting with foreign cells belong to the B-cell population . These results also suggest that the cells that produce most of the leukocyte interferon after interacting in vivo with tumors or other cells made foreign to the body by certain viruses most likely belong to the B-lymphocyte population.

Br J Exp Pathol, 1981 Apr, 62(2), 142 - 5
Inflammatory reactions to staphylococcal protein A in mice; Kinsman OS et al.; To throw more light on the role of Protein A (a cell-wall component of most strains of S . aureus), in infection and inflammation, due to this organism the immediate inflammatory reaction has been studied in hairless and hairless/obese mice after s.c . injection of the protein into the footpad following various forms of immunization or pretreatment (described) . Non-immunized mice showed an inflammatory reaction to Protein A, as judged by swelling, reaching a peak 2 h after injection . This might have been due to a nonspecific interaction between certain mouse Igs and Protein A . When specific antibody levels were raised by prior immunization or infection, the swelling was greatly increased . No delayed reaction was seen at 24 or 48 h, nor was a positive patch test obtained . The difference in results seen in mice and other animals may be due partly to the fact that intradermal injections are not possible in the mouse, or because in the mouse, unlike other subjects which have been used, histamine does not play a part . Mice do not show anaphylactic shock and this may be a function of the class of murine Igs interacting with Protein A . Further studies on these factors are required.

J Neurol Sci, 1981 Apr, 50(1), 63 - 79
Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis . Characterization of serum factors causing demyelination and swelling of myelin; Grundke-Iqbal I et al.; Serum factors in rabbits with white matter-induced experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (WM-EAE) were studied with respect to their role in demyelination in vitro in organotypic central nervous system (CNS) tissue cultures and in vivo in the myelinated retina of the rabbit eye . By absorption with staphylococcal protein A, IgG was quantitatively separated from the other serum proteins . No IgG was demonstrable in the absorbed IgG-depleted sera by Ouchterlony double diffusion, immunoelectrophoresis and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . Both the IgG-depleted WM-EAE sera and the IgG fractions had complement-dependent demyelinating activity on CNS cultures, and both contained immunoglobulin binding to myelin and oligodendroglia of the cultures, as demonstrated by an immunoperoxidase technique . However, only the purified IgG fractions in the absence of complement induced swelling of myelin and proliferation of oligodendroglial processes with redundant myelin in tissue cultures . The IgG-depleted complement-inactivated WM-EAE sera produced no morphological changes . In the rabbit eye model, antibody-dependent cell-mediated demyelination was observed only with the IgG fractions but not with the IgG-depleted EAE sera . No oligodendroglial proliferation occurred . These studies demonstrate for the first time that in CNS cultures, non-IgG immunoglobulins as well as IgG mediate complement-dependent demyelination and that these bind to myelin and oligodendrocytes, whereas only IgG causes myelin swelling and oligodendrocyte proliferation.

Arch Ophthalmol, 1981 Apr, 99(4), 609 - 10
Photosensitivity to sulfisoxazole ointment; Flach A; A 35-year-old man demonstrated sulfisoxazole diolamine-induced photosensitivity during treatment for staphylococcal blepharitis . This reaction was easily avoided by applying the ointment at bedtime and covering the eyelids during sun-bathing while in therapy . A drug-induced photosensitivity reaction should be considered in cases of staphylococcal blepharitis resistant to or aggravated by eyelid-margin therapy with sulfonamides.

Urology, 1981 Apr, 17(4), 303 - 9
Renal carbuncle: diagnosis and management; Fallon B et al.; Six cases of renal carbuncle are presented . Nonstaphylococcal carbuncles now greatly outnumber those of staphylococcal origin . Diagnostic modalities are discussed . No radiologic or laboratory investigation is specific, but the diagnosis should be suspected in most cases if adequate attention is given the patient's signs and symptoms . Surgical treatment is recommended.

Infect Immun, 1981 Apr, 32(1), 98 - 104
Characterization of a bactericidal lipid developing within staphylococcal abscesses; Dye ES et al.; Extraction of staphylococcal abscesses by the Folch procedure revealed that all of the staphylocidal activity was present in the lipid fraction . Further separation of the lipids indicated that the bactericidal activity resided in the free fatty acid pool . Lipids similarly extracted from mesenteric or epididymal fat tissue, either before of after activation, did not possess comparable activity . Myristic, palmitic, palmitoleic, linoleic, and oleic acids, as well as lysolecithin, also failed to exhibit the properties of the fatty acid fraction obtained from abscess homogenates . These findings suggest the staphylocidal fatty acid is not a common host lipid.

Am J Med, 1981 Apr, 70(4), 924 - 7
Hepatitis B infection in hospital personnel during an eight-year period; policies for screening and pregnancy in high risk areas; Pantelick EL et al.; From 1972 through 1979, acute hepatitis, type B, or asymptomatic hepatitis B surface (HBs) antigenemia developed in 34 employees at Yale-New Haven Hospital . The average yearly incidence of the infection was 1.2 cases per 1,000 employees . The incidence was highest in those administering venipunctures followed, respectively, by those in the emergency room, hemodialysis unit, housestaff, laboratory, general nursing, and support service personnel . Three cases were detected during eight years of routine screening of personnel; in 1972, one of these, a pregnant nurse working in the hemodialysis unit, was moved from that unit . Subsequently, seven personnel in the unit have been transferred during pregnancy . However, staphylococcal pneumonia was acquired by one of them on a medical floor, and another nurse, seeking work in oncology, was not hired while pregnant . Both cases resulted in administrative complaints . Currently, we screen personnel in the hemodialysis and venipuncture units quarterly for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody (anti-HBs) (participation is optional for those in the emergency room and oncology) and strongly urge seronegative pregnant women to transfer from these areas.

J Invest Dermatol, 1981 Apr, 76(4), 297 - 301
Percutaneous transport in relation to stratum corneum structure and lipid composition; Elias PM et al.; Despite the acknowledged importance of the stratum corneum in limiting water loss and in controlling skin permeability, the basis for these functions remains unknown . To pinpoint those factor(s) of importance for cutaneous barrier function, we correlated the thickness, number of cell layers, and lipid composition of leg vs . abdominal stratum corneum samples with penetration of 3H-water and 14C-salicylic acid across the same tissue sample . Viable upper epidermal sheets were obtained by incubating fresh autopsy or amputation full-thickness skin with staphylococcal exfoliatin . Each sheet was divided into 3 portions . The first piece was mounted in a diffusion cell for penetration studies . The second stratum corneum sample was frozen sectioned, stained with the fluorochrome, ANS, and measured with a micrometer eyepiece . The 3rd piece was pooled with other leg (n = 6) and abdomen (n = 15) specimens for determination of lipid weight percent . In all cases, leg stratum corneum was congruent to 2 times more permeable than abdominal stratum corneum to water and slightly more permeable to salicylic acid, as well . Penetration of both substances correlated inversely with lipid weight % of leg (mean = 3.0%) vs . abdomen (mean = 6.8%), but neither the penetration of water nor of salicylic acid was influenced by the number of cell layers or the thickness of the stratum corneum . We conclude that: differences in the thickness and the number of cell layers in the stratum corneum are insufficient to account for differences in percutaneous transport across leg and abdomen, and that total lipid concentration may be the critical factor governing skin permeability.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1981 Apr, 44(1), 63 - 7
Immunological evaluation of asymptomatic carriers of hepatitis B virus; Levo Y et al.; The immune system of 69 asymptomatic HBsAg carriers with normal liver function tests was evaluated . B cell function, as documented by serum immunoglobulin levels, number of mouse rosette-forming lymphocytes and lymphocyte reactivity to staphylococcal protein A, was intact . On the other hand, T cell function was markedly impaired . This was manifested by a significant decrease in E rosette-forming lymphocytes, an increase in stable rosette-forming cells and decreased reactivity to phytohaemagglutinin and concanavalin A . These data rule out the possibility that the immunological aberrations associated with hepatitis B infection are secondary to liver injury . The abnormal immune state either precedes the viral infection, thus predisposing to the acquisition of a carrier state or, alternatively, is a direct result of the infection.

Biochem J, 1981 Apr 1, 195(1), 317 - 27
Electrophoretic analysis of proteins from single bovine muscle fibres; Young OA et al.; A number of single fibres were isolated by dissection of four bovine masseter (ma) muscles, three rectus abdominis (ra) muscles and eight sternomandibularis (sm) muscles . By histochemical criteria these muscles contain respectively, solely slow fibres (often called type I), predominantly fast fibres (type II), and a mixture of fast and slow . The fibres were analysed by conventional sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and the gels stained with Coomassie Blue . Irrespective of the muscle, every fibre could be classed into one of two broad groups based on the mobility of proteins in the range 135000-170000 daltons . When zones containing myosin heavy chain were cut from the single-fibre gel tracks and 'mapped' {Cleveland, Fischer, Kirschner & Laemmli (1977) J . Biol . Chem . 252, 1102-1106} with Staphylococcus proteinase, it was found that one group always contained fast myosin heavy chain, whereas the second group always contained the slow form . Moreover, a relatively fast-migrating alpha-tropomyosin was associated with the fast myosin group and a slow-migrating form with the slow myosin group . All fibres also contained beta-tropomyosin; the coexistence of alpha- and beta-tropomyosin is at variance with evidence that alpha-tropomyosin is restricted to fast fibres {Dhoot & Perry (1979) Nature (London) 278, 714-718} . Fast fibres containing the expected fast light chains and troponins I and C fast were identified in the three ra muscles, but in only four sm muscles . In three other sm muscles, all the fast fibres contained two troponins I and an additional myosin light chain that was more typical of myosin light chain 1 slow . The remaining sm muscle contained a fast fibre type that was similar to the first type, except that its myosin light chain 1 was more typical of the slow polymorph . Troponin T was bimorphic in all fast fibres from a ra muscles and in at least some fast fibres from one sm muscle . Peptide 'mapping' revealed two forms of fast myosin heavy chain distributed among fast fibres . Each form was associated with certain other proteins . Slow myosin heavy chain was unvarying in three slow fibre types identified . Troponin I polymorphs were the principal indicator of slow fibre types . The myofibrillar polymorphs identified presumably contribute to contraction properties, but beyond cud chewing involving ma muscle, nothing is known of the conditions that gave rise to the variable fibre composites in sm and ra muscles.

Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1981 Apr, 91(4), 449 - 51
{Effect of administration of ampiox and guanosine triphosphate on the concentration of cyclic nucleotides in the muscle tissue of a zone of inflammation}; Nosova IM et al.; Experiments on rabbits with infiltrates induced by intracutaneous injection of staphylococcal culture were made to examine the content of cyclic nucleotides in the adjacent muscle tissue under the effect of administering ampiox alone or combined with guanosine triphosphate (GTP) . Combined injection of ampiox and GTP to the infected animals produced a considerable elevation in the content of cAMP (more than 2 1/2-fold) and in the cAMP/cGMP ratio along with a beneficial therapeutic effect . The possible mechanisms of action of the agents administered are discussed.

J Immunol, 1981 Apr, 126(4), 1620 - 3
Antibody to staphylococcal enterotoxin A-induced human immune interferon (IFN gamma); Langford MP et al.; Antiserum to human gamma interferon (IFN gamma) was produced in rabbits immunized with partially purified (10(4.8) to 10(6.2) antiviral U/mg protein) staphylococcal enterotoxin A-induced IFN gamma . Staphylococcal enterotoxins, phytohemagglutinin M, concanavalin A, and pokeweed mitogen-induced antiviral activity in human leukocyte cultures was neutralized to undetectable levels by the antiserum . However, human leukocyte interferon (IFN alpha), human fibroblast interferon (IFN beta), and mouse interferons were not neutralized by the antiserum . After determining the antiserum was specific for IFN gamma and did not neutralize other known types of interferon, it was used with antibody to human IFN alpha to demonstrate the type(s) of interferon stimulated by some new inducers and antigens . Galactose oxidase- and calcium ionophore-induced interferons were neutralized to undetectable levels by the antiserum to IFN gamma . Interferon produced in leukocyte cultures from tuberculin-negative individuals stimulated with tuberculin-purified protein derivative or old tuberculin was IFN alpha, whereas interferon from tuberculin-positive individuals was a combination of alpha and gamma IFN . In addition, the antiserum neutralized the anticellular and natural killer cell enhancement activities of IFN gamma preparations . The specificity of this antiserum for IFN gamma indicates that it is an additional, powerful tool for identifying and classifying known and new interferons produced in vitro or in vivo and for investigating the role(s) of IFN gamma during the course of infectious, neoplastic, and autoimmune diseases.

J Biol Chem, 1981 Mar 25, 256(6), 2863 - 72
Primary structure of murine major histocompatibility complex alloantigens . Amino acid sequence of the NH2-terminal ninety-eight residues of the H-2Db glycoprotein; Maloy WL et al.; The NH2-terminal 98 amino acid residues of the murine histocompatibility antigen H-2Db have been assigned using radiochemical methodology . This represents the first extensive, continuous sequence information for a histocompatibility antigen encoded by the H-2D locus and allows comparison with the recently determined amino acid sequence of the H-2Kb molecule . The amino acid sequence was obtained from the sequences of three CNBr peptides, CN-E, CN-D, and CN-B, which comprise residues 1-5, 6-52, and 53-98, respectively . The amino acid sequence of CN-E was determined directly while the sequences of CN-D and CN-B were determined by NH2-terminal sequence analyses and sequence determinations of peptides produced by thrombin, staphylococcal V8 protease, and trypsin cleavage . Alignment of the CNBr peptides was accomplished by NH2-terminal sequence analysis of the H-2Db papain fragment (CN-E to CN-D) and by analyzing peptides from a tryptic digest of the intact H-2Db molecule . Positive identification was possible for all amino acids except Asp and Asn-86 which were indirectly assigned (in italics) . The sequence obtained was Gly-Pro-His-Ser-Met-Arg-Tyr-Phe-Glu-Thr-Ala-Val-Ser-Arg-Pro-Gly-Leu-Glu-Glu-Pro -Arg-Tyr-Ile-Ser-Val-Gly-Tyr-Val-Asp-Asn-Lys-Glu-Phe-Val-Arg-Phe-Asp-Ser-Asp-Ala-Glu-Asn-Pro-Arg-Tyr-Glu-Pro-Arg-Ala-Pro-Trp-Met-Glu-Gln-Glu-Gly-Pro-Glu-Tyr-T rp-Glu-Arg-Glu-Thr-Gln-Lys-Ala-Lys-Gly-Gln-Glu-Gln-Trp-Phe-Arg-Val-Ser-Leu-Arg-Asn-Leu-Leu-Gly-Tyr-Tyr-Asn-Gln-Ser-Ala-Gly-Gly-Ser-His-Thr-Leu-Gln-Gln-Met.

J Biol Chem, 1981 Mar 25, 256(6), 3024 - 9
The amino acid sequence of residues 1-104 of CTL-1, a bovine H1 histone; Liao LW et al.; The amino acid sequence of the first 104 residues of calf thymus H1 histone subfraction (CTL-1), one of the H1 histones from bovine thymus, was determined by use of peptides derived from chymotryptic and staphylococcus protease digestion . The first 35 residues differ from the corresponding regions of a rabbit thymus H1 (RTL-3) and trout H1 by 30 and 39%, respectively, while in the region between residues 36 and 104 CTL-1 differs from the rabbit histone by only 4% and from the trout histone by only 16% . Although the differences between CTL-1 and sea urchin H1 are much greater, it is still evident that the sequence between residue 36 and residue 104 has been conserved much more than that between residues 1 and 35.

J Biol Chem, 1981 Mar 10, 256(5), 2480 - 3
Removal of histone H1 from intact nuclei alters the digestion of nucleosome core DNA by staphylococcal nuclease; Smerdon MJ et al.; We have examined the gel profiles of staphylococcal nuclease digests of intact nuclei following different extents of removal of histone H1 by low pH . It was found that the submonomer fragment pattern (i.e . fragments less than 140 base pairs (bp) changed dramatically following removal of H1 . The most striking feature of this change was a marked increase in the relative intensity of a band migrating at 102 +/- 4 bp when about 20-50% of the nuclear DNA is rendered acid soluble . All other submonomer bands decreased in relative intensity . There was no evidence for an approximately 100-bp repeat pattern accompanying the enhanced generation of the 102-bp fragment following H1 removal . This result, along with the comparisons of gel profiles for different extents of digestion, suggests that removal of histone H1 from nuclei results in an increased susceptibility of the DNA to staphylococcal nuclease at one or both ends of many of the core particles and that a strong block to further digestion occurs within these core particles resulting in the formation of a relatively stable 102-bp fragment.

Med Clin (Barc), 1981 Mar 10, 76(5), 206 - 10
{Severe medical sequelae in heroin addicts}; Ortega Carnicer J et al.; Disease secondary to heroin abuse constitutes a rarity in Spain . While there had been no previous cases in earlier years four young heroin addicts were admitted to the Hospital "1st de Octubre" for severe medical complications of their addiction within the last twelve months . Two patients were admitted in deep coma due to drug overdose, being cardiac arrhythmias and pulmonary edema the main associated complications . Cardiac rhythm disturbances are due to a heightened vagal tone, either secondary to inhibition of acetylcholine hydrolysis or to hypoxia, hypercapnia, and acidosis, factors that diminish cholinesterase activity and act synergistically to increase vagal tone . Pulmonary edema secondary to heroin overdose is non-cardiogenic and probably due to hypoxia added to the local action of heroin on the alveolocapillary membrane . The goal of therapy in such cases is to obtain an appropriate alveolar ventilation, the use of continuous positive pressure ventilation being required when there is pulmonary edema . The third patient had staphylococcal pneumonia with multiple abscess formation secondary to venous septic embolization originated peripherally where the drug was injected . Finally, the fourth patient was admitted because of a clinical and biochemical picture of HBsAg negative acute viral hepatitis, having suffered a similar clinical picture three years previously.

Ann Ophthalmol, 1981 Mar, 13(3), 329 - 34
Conjunctivitis in the newborn: observations on incidence, cause, and prophylaxis; Stenson S et al.; One hundred seventy-one cases of neonatal conjunctivitis seen at Bellevue Hospital during the period 1950--1976 were reviewed . An overall incidence of 3.0 cases per 1,000 live births was found . A comparison of the rates of neonatal conjunctivitis with silver nitrate and tetracycline prophylaxis revealed a 100% increase in the rate overall, as well as the rate of gonococcal conjunctivitis with tetracycline . Using conjunctival cultures and cytology, a diagnosis could be established in 73% of the cases, with 41% being bacterial and 32% chlamydial . Staphylococcus was the single most common organism recovered; gonococcus was relatively rare.

Infect Immun, 1981 Mar, 31(3), 929 - 34
Staphylococcal enterotoxins fail to disrupt membrane integrity or synthetic functions of Henle 407 intestinal cells; Buxser S et al.; The potential cytotoxic activity of purified staphylococcal enterotoxins for mammalian cells was evaluated . The effects of staphylococcal enterotoxins A (SEA) and B (SEB) on cell membrane integrity as measured by leakage of labeled cytoplasmic constituents ({3H}uridine), amino acid transport (lysine and aminoisobutyric acid), and macromolecular synthesis (protein, ribonucleic acid, and deoxyribonucleic acid) was evaluated for a human intestinal epithelial cell (Henle 407) . No evidence of cytotoxicity by any of these criteria could be detected for cell monolayers incubated with SEA for periods of between 30 min and 24 h . Purified staphylococcal hemolysins (alpha- and delta-toxins) were shown to exert cytotoxicity by the leakage and amino acid uptake assays . In efforts to detect synergistic effects between enterotoxin and the staphylococcal cytotoxins, membrane functions were evaluated after sequential or combined treatment with enterotoxin and alpha-toxin or with enterotoxin and delta-toxin . In no instance could a contribution to cytotoxicity by the staphylococcal enterotoxin be detected . That the assays were sufficiently sensitive to detect synergistic effects was shown by the greater than additive effects achieved with a combination of alpha- and delta-toxins . The data, contrary to previous reports, showed that staphylococcal enterotoxins did not behave as bacterial cytotoxins.

J Gerontol, 1981 Mar, 36(2), 136 - 41
A comparison of surface antigens of senescent and presenescent human fibroblasts; Moley J et al.; In order to test if there is an alteration in major surface proteins in human fibroblasts as they become senescent in vitro, activity of specific antisera against presenescent and senescent cells was measured . Two strains of human foreskin fibroblasts were grown into senescence by serial transfers . One strain (HF-J) became senescent after 49 population doublings while the second (HF-4) became senescent after 62 . Antibodies were made against these cells while in the presenescent (phase II) and senescent (phase III) stages . Antibody binding to presenescent and senescent cells was measured before and after preabsorption with heterologous cells (e.g., presenescent HF-4 cell stimulated antisera was absorbed with senescent HF-4 cells, etc.) . Two assays were used to measure antibody binding: complement mediated cell lysis and the binding of radiolabeled staphylococcal protein A . The amount of protein A binding after treatment with specific antisera was found to be the same for both senescent and presenescent cells . Likewise no difference in complement mediated cell lysis titers were observed . These results are consistent with the conclusion that senescent and presenescent cells do not differ in major cell surface antigens.

J Infect Dis, 1981 Mar, 143(3), 447 - 59
Recurrent infection in glycogenosis type Ib: abnormal neutrophil motility related to impaired redistribution of adhesion sites; Anderson DC et al.; Neutrophil function was investigated in a male child with glycogenosis type Ib who demonstrated susceptibility to staphylococcal infections and neutropenia . Random motility and directed migration of the patient's neutrophils in vitro were profoundly diminished . The patient's neutrophils stimulated in suspension with chemotactic factors (CFs) generated chemiluminescence that was comparable to or greater than that generated by neutrophils from controls, but the patient's neutrophils failed to assume a normal bipolar configuration in response to chemotactic stimuli . They also failed to demonstrate enhanced adherence after a single exposure to CFs or decreased adherence after sequential exposures to increasing concentrations of CFs . Unlike neutrophils from controls, the patient's neutrophils failed to redistribute surface adhesion sites from lamellipodia (anterior pole) to uropods (tail) after sequential CF stimuli . These findings indicate a functional link between CF-induced configurational changes and altered adhesiveness of neutrophils under conditions of directed locomotion and suggest that a redistribution of surface adhesion sites is related to the mechanism of neutrophil locomotion.

Biochem J, 1981 Mar 1, 193(3), 875 - 85
Isolation and characterization of calmodulin from an insulin-secreting tumour; Hutton JC et al.; A major protein constituent of a rat islet cell tumour that exhibited Ca2+-dependent changes in electrophoretic mobility has been purified to homogeneity and compared in its physicochemical and biological properties with bovine brain and rat brain calmodulin (synonymous with phosphodiesterase activator protein, calcium-dependent regulator, troponin C-like protein and modulator protein) . The protein, like these calmodulins, contained trimethyl-lysine, exhibited a blocked N-terminus and had an identical amino-acid composition and molecular weight on sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis . Peptide "maps' prepared after digestion of the three proteins with trypsin, papain or Staphylococcus V-8 proteinase were virtually superimposable . Ca2+ altered the electrophoretic mobilities the enhanced the native protein fluorescence in an equivalent manner with all three proteins . Equilibrium dialysis experiments demonstrated in each case the binding of 4g-atoms of calcium/mol of protein; the binding sites were equivalent and showed Kd 0.8 microM . Tumour and brain proteins were equipotent as Ca2+-dependent activators of partially purified rat brain cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, and in this action were inhibited in an identical manner by trifluoperazine . The proteins also exhibited the common property of Ca2+-dependent binding to troponin I, histone H2B and myelin basic protein . The estimated tumour content of calmodulin was 450 mg/kg fresh wt., a value similar to that reported in islets of Langerhans . These results further document the validity of the islet cell tumour as an experimental model of Ca2+-mediated molecular events associated with insulin secretion . They also suggest that brain calmodulin may be substituted for endogenous calmodulin in experimental investigations into the mechanism of insulin secretion.

Infect Immun, 1981 Mar, 31(3), 1044 - 53
Immunogenic glycoproteins of laboratory and vaccine strains of Varicella-Zoster virus; Grose C et al.; High-titered antisera were prepared in guinea pigs and rabbits against two strains of varicella-zoster virus (VZV): VZV-32, a low-passage laboratory strain, and VZV-Oka, a vaccine strain attenuated by passage in both human and guinea pig embryo cells . When the animal VZV-immune sera, as well as a human zoster serum, were used to precipitate radiolabeled glycoproteins from VZV-infected cells and the immune precipitates were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography, it was observed that cell cultures infected with either strain had similar electrophoretic profiles containing major glycoproteins of approximate molecular weights 62,000, 98,000, and 118,000 . A prominent high-molecular-weight (approximately 150,000) nonglycosylated polypeptide was identified in both strains also . These determinants were demonstrable by both indirect (staphylococcal protein A-antibody adsorbent) and direct immunoprecipitation, as long as VZV-immune sera with an antibody titer greater than or equal to 1:128 were used . Further analysis of individual caviid VZV antisera demonstrated some heterogeneity which appeared to be related to the method of immunization rather than the level of virus-specific antibody . VZV extracts emulsified with complete Freund adjuvant elicited an antibody response to all major immunogenic viral glycoproteins, whereas guinea pigs inoculated with virus alone during the primary immunization initially produced VZV antibody which failed to precipitate the highest-molecular-weight glycoprotein (gp118) . Thus, Freund-type adjuvants promoted the maturation of the humoral immune response after VZV immunization in outbred guinea pigs.

Cell, 1981 Mar, 23(3), 721 - 9
Mapping the topography of DNA wrapped around gyrase by nucleolytic and chemical probing of complexes of unique DNA sequences; Kirkegaard K et al.; Complexes between DNA gyrase and DNA fragments of unique sequences were used to probe the topography of the DNA with nucleases and dimethyl sulfate . The results indicate that the flanking regions, each 50 bp in size, of a 145--155 bp DNA segment resistant to staphylococcal nuclease contain groups of pancreatic DNAase I-susceptible sites that are spaced 10--11 nucleotides apart . Pairs of adjacent DNAase I-sensitive sites on complementary strands are typically staggered by 2--4 bp . The binding of DNA to gyrase confers no protection against alkylation of the DNA by dimethyl sulfate . These properties of the gyrase-DNA complex are reminiscent of those of the nucleosome, and the common underlying structural feature appears to be wrapping of the DNA around a protein core . The gyrase-DNA complex differs from the nucleosome, however, in that it must possess features necessary for the catalysis of DNA chain breakage and the modulation of the DNA-enzyme interaction by ATP . We present evidence that the breakage and rejoining of the DNA by gyrase occur within a central region of the staphylococcal nuclease-resistant DNA segment . The relation of this observation to the mechanism of DNA supercoiling by gyrase is discussed . Addition of ATP or its beta, gamma-imido analog has essentially no effect on the patterns of susceptibilities to DNAase I, implying that the DNA-enzyme contacts mapped by the nuclease ae little affected by ATP-induced conformational changes.

J Biol Chem, 1981 Feb 25, 256(4), 1754 - 62
Primary structure of the bacteriophage T4 DNA helix-destabilizing protein; Williams KR et al.; The amino acid sequence of the single-stranded DNA-binding protein encoded by gene 32 of bacteriophage T4 has been determined by manual and automated sequencing of peptides derived from cyanogen bromide cleavage and digestion with trypsin, chymotrypsin, and staphylococcal protease . Tryptic digestion of citraconylated or succinylated gene 32 protein yields five peptides containing 4, 27, 42, 65, and 163 residues, respectively, which can be separated by Sephadex chromatography . Each of these tryptic peptides was subjected to automated sequencing and, if necessary, more extensive cleavage . The gene 32 protein contains 301 amino acids and has a molecular weight of 33,487 . Based on its primary structure, the gene 32 protein is predicted to contain 36% alpha helix, 18% beta sheet, and 46% random coil . The native protein can be specifically cleaved at lysine 21 and 253 by limited trypsin digestion . Previous studies have shown that the "B" region (residues 1 to 21) is essential for cooperative binding to single-stranded DNA . The "A" region (residues 254 to 301) has been implicated in controlling the helix-destabilizing "activity" of gene 32 protein and in interacting with other T4 DNA replication proteins . The "A" region has a net charge of -10 and, in addition, contains two unusual stretches of 4 serine residues separated by glycine 284 . The region between positions 72 and 116 contains 6 of the 8 tyrosine residues in the protein and may be important for DNA binding.

J Biol Chem, 1981 Feb 10, 256(3), 1191 - 8
Multiple structural features are responsible for the nuclease sensitivity of the active ovalbumin gene; Senear AW et al.; The ovalbumin gene in chick oviduct nuclei or nucleosomes is digested preferentially by either DNase I or staphylococcal nuclease . Staphylococcal nuclease preferentially cuts between and within core particles of the oviduct ovalbumin gene; thus, the ovalbumin gene is more quickly degraded to mononucleosomes and the DNA within these monomers is digested to a nonhybridizable size significantly faster than the chicken globin gene . Mono- and oligonucleosomes generated by partial staphylococcal nuclease digestion at 0 degrees C, but not at 37 degrees C, retain equal sensitivity to DNase I . Most of this sensitivity persists when histone H1 and most of the non-histone chromosomal proteins are removed with 0.6 M NaCl . On the basis of these observations, we propose that nuclease sensitivity of the oviduct ovalbumin gene is due to covalent modifications of the core histones and that this sensitivity is amplified by interaction of other chromosomal proteins with these modified histones.

Am J Med, 1981 Feb, 70(2), 240 - 6
Cerebrospinal fluid antibodies to neuronal cells: association with neuropsychiatric manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus; Bluestein HG et al.; The validity of the hypothesis that some of the neuropsychiatric manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are mediated by the direct effects of antibody binding to neuronal cell membranes is dependent on the demonstration of antineuronal activity within the central nervous system of patients with active central nervous system disease . Using a radiolabelled staphylococcal protein A assay, we tested cerebrospinal fluid from 27 patients with SLE and central nervous system manifestations, and cerebrospinal fluid from 18 additional patients with SLE but free of central nervous system disease for antibody reactive with the cultured human neuronal cell line SK-N-SH . Cerebrospinal fluid from 20 of 27 patients with active lupus central nervous system disease had increased immunoglobulin G (IgG) antineuronal activity compared with cerebrospinal fluid from two of 18 patients with SLE without central nervous system disease . Ninety percent of the patients with psychosis, organic brain syndrome or generalized seizures had increased IgG antineuronal activity as compared with only 25 percent of the patients who presented with hemiparesis or with chorea/hemiballismus . Antineuronal activity per microgram of IgG was concentrated eightfold in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with active central nervous system disease as compared with the serum activity . Patients with or without active central nervous system disease did not differ significantly in the amount of serum antineuronal binding activity . The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the more diffuse central nervous system manifestations of SLE are a direct result of the interaction of antibody with neuronal cell membranes.

Chest, 1981 Feb, 79(2), 173 - 5
Hematogenous staphylococcal pneumonia secondary to soft tissue infection; Naraqi S et al.; Staphylococcal pneumonia is rare, has a high mortality and morbidity rate, and occurs commonly during influenza epidemics (airborne) or during the course of right sided bacterial endocarditis in drug addicts (blood borne) . In recent years, much emphasis has been given to the staphylococcal infections in intravenous drug abusers . This report describes ten patients with staphylococcal pneumonia resulting from soft tissue infection who were previously healthy and had no history of drug abuse . They were 12 to 45 years old . Eight were male patients . Soft tissue infection was community-acquired in nine and was most commonly located in the lower extremities . Three patients had diabetes . All presented with a clinical picture of acute pneumonia . Hemoptysis occurred in three . Chest roentgenogram showed multiple large or small round discrete densities in most of the patients . Lobar involvement was notably absent . Eight developed cavitary lesions in their lungs . The average length of hospital stay was 40 days . One patient died and six developed complications . Staphylococcal etiology should be suspected in patients with acute pneumonia who have soft tissue infection or have characteristic chest roentgenogram findings; antistaphylococcal agents should be included in the therapeutic regimens of such patients until the results of the cultures are known.

J Immunol, 1981 Feb, 126(2), 508 - 12
Identification and characterization of protein antigens of Leishmania tropica isolates; Handman E et al.; Promastigotes of 4 Leishmania tropica isolates were biosynthetically labeled with 35S-methionine or surface radioiodinated, and the detergent lysates were analyzed by 2 dimensional gel electrophoresis . The protein patterns of cytoplasmic and membrane proteins detected in two independent isolates from simple cutaneous leishmaniasis cases were similar to each other, but were different from 2 isolates taken over a 20-yr interval from a case of leishmaniasis recidiva . The analysis of radioiodinated membrane proteins of L . tropica promastigotes revealed a simple pattern of 6 to 7 labeled major proteins and some minor ones . Unlike cytoplasmic proteins, membrane proteins were highly resistant to digestion by proteases . Partial cleavage of radioiodinated surface proteins by staphylococcal V-8 protease in the presence of 4.5 M urea and peptide mapping confirmed the presence of shared and isolate-specific proteins . The significance of these findings for the classification of Leishmania spp . and the pathogenesis of the different disease states that they cause are discussed.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1981 Feb, 34(2), 211 - 8
Comparative pharmacokinetics of ampicillin and carbenicillin in the cerebrospinal fluid of rabbits with staphylococcal meningitis with reference to half-lives and areas under the curve; Morikawa Y; Pharmacokinetic differences between ampicillin and carbenicillin in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were evaluated in experimental staphylococcal meningitis in rabbits after a single intravenous administration of 100 mg/kg dose of each drug . Half-lives (T 1/2) in CSF and CSF/serum ratios of T 1/2 were 52 minutes and 2.1 for ampicillin and 23 minutes and 1.3 for carbenicillin, respectively . These findings indicate that ampicillin is eliminated from CSF more slowly than carbenicillin . Penetration rates were calculated from CSF/serum ratios of area under the curve (AUC) and were 16.8% for ampicillin and 11.6% for carbenicillin, although the maximum concentration (Cmax) of carbenicillin in CSF was twice as high as that of ampicillin . Thus the penetration rate appeared to be influenced more by T 1/2 in CSF than by Cmax . Cmax in CSF was obtained at 15 minutes for carbenicillin and 30 minutes for ampicillin . As to carbenicillin there were considerable individual variations in CSF levels . The above observations suggest that T 1/2 and AUC in CSF are important parameters when evaluating the usefulness of an antibiotic in the treatment of bacterial meningitis.

Rev Rhum Mal Osteoartic, 1981 Feb, 48(2), 107 - 11
{Inoculation spondylodiskitis}; Rouaud JP et al.; An enquiry on French rheumatology units permitted the authors to collect 122 cases of inoculation spondylodiscitis from 1967 to 1979, whereas over the same period were observed on these units 793 cases of spontaneous non-tuberculous spondylodiscitis . There were also 10 cases of spondylodiscitis after discography . Discal curettage was the most frequent cause . The staphylococcus is the germ most commonly encountered . The course is on the whole favourable, without clinical sequelae and a radiological blockage only occurred in 25 cases.

Antibiotiki, 1981 Feb, 26(2), 83 - 6
{Use of selective media with lincomycin for the directed screening of antibiotic producers}; Ivanitskaia LP et al.; Relation between lincomycin resistance of Micromonospora cultures freshly isolated from soil samples and their capacity for production of antibiotics related to lincomycin by the structure or mode of action was shown . 32 cultures of Micromonospora were isolated from soil platings containing 50--100 microgram/ml of lincomycin . Crude antibiotic substances were recovered with the method of organic solvent extraction from 10 cultures possessing pronounced antibiotic activity . Selective inactivity (MIC more 1000 microgram/ml) of the crude substances with respect to the lincomycin resistant variant of Staph . aureus 209 p was observed, 2 of them having no inhibitory effect on the erythromycin resistant variant of the staphylococcus . The crude antibiotics inhibited the growth of the initial strain of the staphylococcus and its other antibiotic resistant variants in concentrations of 0.5--10 microgram/ml . It was demonstrated with the use of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry that one substance was lincomycin and 4 substances were known macrolides . Efficiency of the simple method of directed screening of antibiotics belonging to definite groups is indicated . Resistance of actinomycetes freshly isolated from natural substrates to various antibiotics is used as the criterion for antibiotic screening . The method provides detection of various antibiotics which are analogs in the structure or mode of action of the selecting antibiotic used for the screening.

Biosci Rep, 1981 Feb, 1(2), 135 - 40
The effect of staphylococcal delta-haemolysin on the secretory activity of the pancreatic beta-cell; Morgan NG et al.; The secretion of insulin from isolated rat islets of Langerhans was found to be stimulated by the surface-active staphylococcal exotoxin, delta-haemolysin . The response was dependent on the concentration of delta-haemolysin, was rapid in onset, and could be maintained for at least an hour in the presence of the agent . The rate of secretion rapidly declined on removal of delta-haemolysin and the islets remained responsive to glucose following toxin treatment . Further characterization of the interaction of this agent with the beta-cell plasma membrane may provide valuable information concerning the role played by this membrane in the regulation of insulin secretion.

Immunopharmacology, 1981 Feb, 3(1), 71 - 81
Inverse relationship between immune interferon induction and mitogen effects on the maturation of the primary antibody response; Archer DL et al.; Staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) is both a potent inducer of immune interferon (IFN-gamma) and suppressor of the murine primary in vitro plaque-forming cell (PFC) response to the thymus-dependent antigen sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) . Staphylococcal enterotoxin D (SED), which is structurally related to but antigenically different from SEA, is, in contrast, a poor inducer of IFN-gamma but a potent accelerator of PFC response maturation . SED added to cultures from 0.01 to 1.0 microgram/ml induced profound enhancement of the PFC response on day 3 of culture . SEA caused no acceleration of PFC maturation and suppressed the day 5 PFC response over an equivalent dose range . At the same concentration, SED only poorly induced IFN-gamma, while SEA was a potent IFN-gamma inducer . SED induced DNA synthesis in C57Bl/6 spleen cell cultures but not athymic nude (Nu/Nu) spleen cells, suggesting that SED is a T-cell mitogen . SED was most effective in accelerating PFC maturation and increasing the magnitude of the PFC response when added to cultures at the time of SRBC addition . SED was an equally effective adjuvant for SRBC of both high and low immunogenicity . Thus, two mitogens that are structurally related have diametrically opposite effects on the primary in vitro thymus-dependent antibody response that maybe related to their relative abilities to induce IFN-gamma . These effects could be related to differential activation of T-cell subpopulations.

J Bacteriol, 1981 Feb, 145(2), 920 - 5
Identification and cloning of the genetic determinant that encodes for the K88ac adherence antigen; Shipley PL et al.; Strains of Escherichia coli capable of causing diarrhea in young pigs are often able to proliferate in the upper small intestine of the infected animal due to the presence of a specific surface antigen, K88 . The genetic determinants for K88 antigen production and the ability to utilize the trisaccharide raffinose (Raf) are carried on a 50-megadalton plasmid . Recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid techniques were used to insert an 8.2-megadalton HindIII fragment carrying the K88ac gene(s) from the K88/Raf plasmid pPS100 into the vector pBR322 . At lease six polypeptides encoded by this fragment were expressed in minicells . These polypeptides ranged in size from 18,000 to 70,000 daltons . The K88ac antigenic subunit, which has an apparent molecular weight of 23,500, was identified by immunoprecipitation with staphylococcal protein A as the coprecipitant.

Arch Dermatol, 1981 Feb, 117(2), 93 - 8
Suppressor cell dysfunction and necrotizing lesions in a child; McGeady SJ et al.; A girl had opportunistic infections and was found to have T-cell dysfunction . During a period of months, recurrent staphylococcal infections, polyclonal hyperglobulinemia, eosinophilia, and peripheral, necrotizing, cutaneous lesions developed . Circulating immune complexes were demonstrated, and abnormal suppressor-cell function was found . At age 36 months, the child died of a staphylococcal pneumonia . At postmortem examination, the thymus gland was found to be histologically abnormal, lacking corticomedullary differentiation . We propose that this patient had a syndrome in which lymphocyte abnormalities and dysfunction of suppressor T cells permitted hyperresponsiveness of antibody-forming cells . Large amounts of circulating antibody and immune complexes were formed, and their deposition led to peripheral tissue injury.

J Histochem Cytochem, 1981 Feb, 29(2), 266 - 70
Conjugation of horseradish peroxidase to staphylococcal protein A with benzoquinone, glutaraldehyde, or periodate as cross-linking reagents; Nygren H et al.; Horseradish peroxidase was conjugated to Staphylococcal protein A by three different two-step procedures using an increasing excess of peroxidase in the second step reaction . The yield of conjugated protein A was analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . Conjugation of peroxidase to protein A with benzoquinone or glutaraldehyde as cross-linking reagents at a 3- to 4-fold molar excess of peroxidase resulted in a high yield of coupled protein A with conjugates of low molecular size . Conjugation of peroxidase to protein A by the periodate method resulted in a high yield of coupled protein A with polymeric conjugates of large molecular size . Based on these results, conjugates produced with glutaraldehyde as cross-linking reagents were further analyzed . The capacity of the conjugates to precipitate human immunoglobulin evaluated by radial immunodiffusion was found to be reduced to about 50% of that of native protein A . Conjugates produced with glutaraldehyde as cross-linking reagent retained 70% of the enzyme activity of native peroxidase.

J Interferon Res, 1981 Feb, 1(2), 315 - 21
Heterogeneity of human gamma interferon preparations: evidence for presence of alpha interferon; Wiranowska-Stewart M; Human gamma interferon (HulFN-gamma) preparations induced with several mitogens (Staphylococcal enterotoxin A, Phytohemagglutinin, or Pokeweed mitogen) had low levels of cross-species antiviral activity on bovine cells (approximately 1-5%) and were not neutralized by antisera to either human interferon alpha (HulFN-alpha) or beta (HulFN-beta) . After purification on controlled pore glass beads (CPG) these preparations could be fractionated into a minor component which was highly active on bovine cells and a major component that was virtually inactive on bovine cells . The highly cross-active component was pH2 stable and was neutralized by an anti-HulFN-alpha antiserum, while the major, lowly cross-active component was pH2 labile and was not neutralized by either anti-HulFN-alpha or HulFN-beta antisera . Chromatography of a CPG-purified mitogen-induced IFN preparation on anti-HulFN-alpha Sepharose showed that, while the large majority of HulFN-gamma preparations passed through the column, a minor component was retained and eluted at pH2 . Thus, human leukocyte suspensions stimulated by mitogens produced predominantly HulFN-gamma, but also produce some HulFN-alpha.

Arch Fr Pediatr, 1981 Feb, 38(2), 77 - 81
{Selective defect on interferon secretion associated with impaired natural killing activity (author's transl)}; Virelizier JL et al.; A 4-year-old boy suffering from repeated, severe bacterial (staphylococcus, pneumococcus, klebsiella, moraxella) and viral (adenovirus) infections did not show any deficiency of either humoral, cellular or non-specific immunity when investigated by classical immunological tests . In contrast, a profound defect of interferon secretion was found in leucocyte cultures induced by mitomycin-treated Raji lymphoblastoid cells or soluble antigens . This was associated with a profound impairment of non-specific "natural" killer (NK) cytotoxic activity of peripheral leucocytes tested in a 4 hour-chromium release assay against K 562 target cells . Addition of leucocyte interferon in culture increased the cytotoxic potential of the patient's leucocytes . Intramuscular administration of interferon completely (but transiently) reversed the NK defect in vivo . The expression of HLA-A and B on the membrane of platelets was diminished, whereas the expression of HLA-A, B and la antigens on the membrane of lymphocytes was normal . This observation indicates that an apparently primitive defect of interferon secretion may result in a special type of immune deficiency with complex biological consequences, some of which can be reversed by interferon therapy.

Tissue Antigens, 1981 Feb, 17(2), 149 - 61
Serological distinction between DR antigens and lymphocyte activating determinants; van Heyningen V et al.; The Burkitt lymphoma (BL)-derived, HLA-DR antigen positive B cell line, EB1, is a consistently low stimulator in MLC . A rabbit antiserum raised against the strongly stimulating BL line DAUDI, after appropriate absorption with EB1, inhibits MLC stimulation by both B cell lines and allogeneic lymphocytes, whilst lectin-induced proliferation is not significantly affected . Indirect immunofluorescence and 125I-staphylococcal protein A binding to cells pre-incubated with this antiserum suggest that the antigen is present on both peripheral B and T cells, as well as on B lymphoblastoid and myeloma lines . We suggest that this antiserum is directed against lymphocyte activating determinant(s) (LADs) and that these are distinct from the serologically defined DR antigens.

J Clin Microbiol, 1981 Jan, 13(1), 66 - 72
Radioimmunoassays that use 125I-labeled protein A for determination of Histoplasma capsulatum-specific immunoglobulin G, A, and M class antibodies in histoplasmosis; Sprouse RF et al.; A radioimmunoassay for determination of human immunoglobulin G, A, and M class antibodies to Histoplasma capsulatum is reported . Yeast-phase antigen from H . capsulatum was adsorbed onto polyvinyl chloride microtiter plates as the solid phase . Human antibodies were allowed to react with this antigen, followed by addition of rabbit anti-human alpha- or mu-heavy chain sera . 125I-labeled staphylococcal protein A was then added and allowed to bind the human and rabbit immunoglobulin G . With this technique, it is possible to evaluate individual human serum samples for antigen-specific classes of antibodies . This assay may be useful for monitoring the immune response in histoplasma infections.

J Allergy Clin Immunol, 1981 Jan, 67(1), 51 - 8
Skin testing in farmers' lung disease; Freedman PM et al.; Intradermal skin tests with a culture filtrate antigen of Micropolyspora faeni grown on a synthetic medium were performed on patients with farmers' lung disease (FLD) and well farmers with and without antibodies to a panel of FLD antigens . Seventy-five percent of the FLD patients, 79% of the well farmers with M . faeni antibody, and 5% of well farmers without M . faeni antibody had a 2+ or greater intradermal immediate skin-test reaction . Prausnitz-Kustner (P-K) reactions were positive using serum of M . faeni immediate skin test-positive FLD patients . IgG-rich fractions from a staphylococcal protein A-Sepharose column of such serum contained the sensitizing factor whereas IgG-depleted fractions did not . M . faeni-specific IgE could not be detected in serum by a polystyrene radioimmunoassay . Positive late-onset (6-hr) skin tests occurred only in FLD patients and farmers with precipitating antibody . Biopsy specimens of the 6-hr reactions revealed a generalized dermal and perivascular polymorphonuclear infiltrate with deposits of immunoglobulin and complement about blood vessels . The skin-sensitizing factor noted in FLD patients and well farmers with antibody is not disease specific . This factor appears to be associated with the IgG-rich fraction of serum, and its role in the pathogenesis of FLD is unclear.

J Bone Joint Surg Am, 1981 Jan, 63(1), 107 - 14
Primary subacute epiphyseal osteomyelitis; Green NE et al.; In eight children with primary subacute osteomyelitis of a femoral or tibial epiphysis, the only complaints were pain and limp . Plain roentgenograms and tomograms showed a well defined lytic lesion in the epiphysis and no evidence of any connection to the metaphysis . Although the bone of the epiphysis was involved in every instance, and the lesion extended to the articular cartilage in most patients, the cartilage itself was not damaged . When the lesions were curetted, six were sterile on routine and anaerobic cultures and on culture for tuberculous and fungal organisms, and Staphylococcus was grown from the other two . In every case the curetted tissue had the characteristic histological appearence of osteomyelitis . All patients were treated with oxacillin and recovered completely . Postoperative roentgenograms showed complete healing with no evidence of damage to the physis or the joint after follow-up of two to eight years.

J Immunoassay, 1981, 2(2), 117 - 36
Rapid and efficient immobilization of soluble and small particulate antigens for solid phase radioimmunoassays; Cleveland PH et al.; A rapid method of antigen immobilization (10 min.) was developed using soluble antigens (bovine serum albumin, epidermal growth factor, and goat IgG) and small particulate antigens (Keyhole limpet hemocynanine and E . coli) by drying them on filter paper discs . This technique results in a high % of the soluble antigen remaining firmly bound, goat IgG (89%), bovine serum albumin (73%) . All the antigens we tested retained their antigenicity after drying as detected by {125I} labeled staphylococcal protein A radioimmunoassay . This method of antigen immobilization was compared to adsorption to plastic wells and was found to be much faster (10 min vs 18 hrs) and was 5 times more efficient than adsorption to plastic wells . Using this technique, we were able to detect as little as 40 ng of bovine serum albumin . These characteristics suggest that this technique of soluble antigen immobilization may be useful in rapid detection of antibodies to many different antigens, as well as detecting ng amounts of the antigens directly.

J Supramol Struct Cell Biochem, 1981, 17(2), 153 - 61
Structural analysis of fibronectin with monoclonal antibodies; Atherton BT et al.; The reactivity of six monoclonal antibodies with fragments of fibronectin produced with trypsin, chymotrypsin, and Staphylococcus aureaus V8 protease is described . All these antibodies reacted with fragments derived from the C-terminal one-third of fibronectin . This region probably contains sites for the binding of fibronectin to cells, and to heparin and may also contain active sites for the reattachment, spreading, and alignment of transformed cells . Analysis of the reactivities of different sets of proteolytic fragments with the antibodies and with other ligands (eg . heparin) allows one to determine overlaps between the fragments and to locate the positions of the different binding sites for antibodies and ligands . One of the antibodies has allowed us to identify a site of structural difference between cellular and plasma fibronectins from hamsters . The site recognized by this antibody is located near to, but not at, the C-terminal end and does not involve carbohydrate groups . Because of its internal location in fibronectin, this difference suggests that there are probably different genes for cellular and plasma fibronectin . These monoclonal antibodies should be useful for further probing the functions present in the C-terminal regions of fibronectin and for determining their locations.

Immunobiology, 1981, 160(2), 196 - 207
Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against bovine luteinizing hormone; Kofler R et al.; Five mouse hybridoma cell lines producing monoclonal antibody against bovine luteinizing hormone (LH) have been established and the respective antibodies characterized by radioimmunoassay, immunofluorescence and immunoelectrophoresis . All antibodies belong to the IgG class and bind to staphylococcus protein A . Intraspecies cross-reactivity studies revealed no reaction with bovine follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) . However, all antibodies showed partial cross-reaction with bovine thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) suggesting a close conformational similarity between bovine LH and TSH . Studies on interspecies cross-reactivity (rat and human) showed that three of these five antibodies strongly react with rat LH but not at all with either rat FSH or rat TSH thus representing monospecific reagents for investigations concerning LH in this species . One of these three antibodies also strongly binds to human LH and to the same extent to human chorionic gonadotropin (CG) but not to human FSH or TSH . It was concluded that at least three different epitopes on the bovine LH molecule are recognized and that they are located on the beta-chain of the hormone.

Z Lebensm Unters Forsch, 1981, 173(5), 351 - 5
{A simple method for the detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin type B in vanilla custard using the ELISA (author's transl)}; Buning-Pfaue H et al.; The ELISA for the detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin type B (SEB) was employed to demonstrate SEB in Dutch Vanilla custard . Due to the sensitivity of the ELISA the extraction procedure, which is necessary when the Ouchterlony test is used, can be abbreviated to a great extent . Two successive extractions at pH 7.4 and pH 4.5 followed by a concentration (1:20) was sufficient to detect 0.1 mcg SEB in 100 g custard.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1981, 13(4), 281 - 2
Treatment of neonatal osteomyelitis with cloxacillin in combination with fusidic acid; Bergdahl S et al.; Four immature infants developed staphylococcal neonatal osteomyelitis . In spite of standard treatment with cloxacillin, gentamicin and surgical drainage new lesions developed in all 4 patients . Following the addition of fusidic acid no further progress was seen in any of the infants . Fusidic acid was administered intravenously for 10-14 days in a dose of 40 mg/kg/day in 2 divided doses . The therapy was well tolerated . Thoracic kyphosis in one patient was the only sequelae seen.

J Immunol Methods, 1981, 45(1), 1 - 14
A rapid immunoadsorbent radioimmunoassay for anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody; Tindall RS et al.; Antibody to the human nicotinic acetylcholine receptor has been demonstrated in the disorder myasthenia gravis and is the pathologic factor producing the characteristic symptoms of the disorder . A rapid, quantitative and sensitive radioimmunoassay using human acetylcholine receptor, affinity labeled with iodinated alpha-bungarotoxin, and utilizing the immunoadsorbent protein A-bearing Staphylococcal aureus is described . The assay has proven as effective and more efficient than double antibody immunoprecipitation assays in diagnostic screening, evaluation of various forms of therapy, determining kinetics of receptor and antibody interaction, and the production of antireceptor antibody by peripheral blood lymphocytes in culture.

Dermatologica, 1981, 163(3), 239 - 48
Variably acid-fast bacteria in a case of systemic sarcoidosis and hypodermitis sclerodermiformis; Cantwell AR Jr; The histologic finding of variably acid-fast coccoid forms in all the available biopsy material (skin, lymph nodes, and lung) from a case of coexisting scleroderma-like cutaneous disease (hypodermitis sclerodermiformis) and systemic sarcoidosis is reported . The morphologic size, shape, and staining characteristics of these microbes, along with the presence of the lung of 'large bodies', suggest that these microbes are cell wall deficient L forms of mycobacteria . Culture of the skin of the scleroderma-like lesion yielded Staphylococcus epidermidis, and the relationship of this isolate to the histologic findings of bacteria is discussed, as well as the possible pathogenic role played by L forms of mycobacteria in collagen disease and systemic sarcoidosis.

Am J Hematol, 1981, 11(1), 77 - 84
Human IgG antigranulocyte antibodies: comparison of detection by quantitative antiglobulin consumption and by binding of 125I staph protein A; Blumfelder T et al.; The amount of IgG in the serum of patients with suspected immune neutropenia that binds to normal paraformaldehyde-fixed human granulocytes was measured simultaneously by a quantitative antiglobulin consumption assay and by binding of 125I-staphylococcal protein A (SPA) . There was a significant linear relationship between the results of these two assays for the sera of 42 different patients . However, SPA binding appeared more sensitive than the quantitative antiglobulin assay for determining IgG antigranulocyte antibodies in serum . In a patient with Felty's syndrome who underwent splenectomy, the results of both assays on sequential serum samples correlated with clinical improvement . Thus, SPA binding appears to be a sensitive and reliable technique for measuring antigranulocyte antibodies, and there is a close correlation between antibody measured by antiglobulin consumption and those detected by SPA binding.

Ann Ophthalmol, 1981 Jan, 13(1), 109 - 11
Peripheral corneal infiltrates in inflammatory bowel disease; Schulman MF et al.; Two patients with ulcerative colitis and one patient with Crohn's disease developed unilateral corneal lesions . There were small white peripheral subepithelial infiltrates associated with mild irritative symptoms . No signs of staphylococcal infection were present, and the intestinal disease was inactive . The corneal lesions cleared rapidly with topical corticosteroids or systemic indomethacin.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1981, 13(1), 65 - 7
Adverse reactions to intravenous administration of fusidic acid; Iwarson S et al.; To study adverse reactions associated with intravenous administration of fusidic acid 6 patients were treated with fusidic acid intravenously in association with a major large bowl operation, and 9 patients were treated in the same way because of staphylococcal infections . The main adverse reaction was thrombophlebitis, which occurred in as many as 12 of 14 patients who were treated for 2 days or longer . Three surgical patients developed postoperative hyperbilirubinaemia, but studies of liver function before and during treatment in 6 of the patients with staphylococcal disease revealed no adverse liver reactions . Intravenous administration of fusidic acid into a peripheral vein for 24 h or more involves an extremely high risk of developing thrombophlebitis.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1981 Jan, (1), 96 - 100
{Experimental study of the possibility of passage of staphylococcal toxoid from mother to fetus}; Ratgauz GL et al.; After the immunization of pregnant rats with purified adsorbed staphylococcal toxoid the antigen could be detected 2-48 hours later in the parenchymatous organs (the liver, the spleen), but not in the blood serum and the amniotic fluid . The rats immunized at an early period of pregnancy showed the presence of the antigen in their placenta and fetuses, while after the immunization at a late period of pregnancy the antigen could be only seldom detected in the placenta and practically never in the fetuses . There are grounds to believe that staphylococcal toxoid does not pass from the mother to the fetus through the completely formed placenta.

Hoppe Seylers Z Physiol Chem, 1981 Jan, 362(1), 81 - 5
Amino acid sequence of the blood group Mg-specific major human erythrocyte membrane sialoglycoprotein; Dahr W et al.; The structure of the N-terminal 21 residues of the blood group Mg-specific major human erythrocyte membrane sialoglycoprotein was investigated, using tryptic MgM peptides and secondary fragments prepared by staphylococcal V8 protease treatment . The sequence Leu-Ser-Thr-Asn-Glu was obtained for the N-terminal five residues . Therefore, the Mg gene appears to have evolved from a Thr leads to Asn mutation of an N allele . This alteration was found to prevent the glycosylation of the amino acids at the second and third positions.

Clin Allergy, 1981 Jan, 11(1), 13 - 20
Cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity in atopic dermatitis; Henocq E et al.; The infiltration by basophils into delayed hypersensitivity skin test sites was examined in patients with atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis and in normal healthy persons . Atopic dermatitis patients, with large amounts of IgE, injected intradermally with staphylococcal antigens showed reactions that were more transient and erythematous than those of normal persons . On histological examination there were numerous, degranulating basophils among the perivascular mononuclear cells . Normal persons, with small amounts of IgE showed typical mononuclear cell infiltration and few basophils . Patients with contact dermatitis, one with much IgE, responded to patch tests to potassium dichromate or to nickel sulphate by delayed type reactions, but on histology, two of the four patients showed a significant infiltration by basophils . It is considered that the erythematous response to the antigen in atopic dermatitis patients is related to the basophil infiltration.

Hum Pathol, 1981 Jan, 12(1), 36 - 48
Similarity of the tracheobronchial mucous glands and epithelium in infants with and without cystic fibrosis; Oppenheimer EH; A retrospective study of 90 infants and young children with cystic fibrosis and 90 age matched controls without cystic fibrosis revealed no essential histologic differences in their tracheobronchial mucous gland reactions with and without pulmonary infection . Although the secretory response to specific stimuli (especially Pseudomonas or staphylococcal infection) varied in individual cases, every change seen in cystic fibrosis was present in the controls . Inactive or normally active mucous glands were usually present in the cystic fibrosis and control infants in the absence of infection . Moderate mucous gland activity in the absence of overt infection was not pathognomonic of cystic fibrosis; it was seen in both groups in response to an irritative stimulus, such as aspirated blood or gastric contents . Mucous gland secretions contained both acid and neutral mucins in the presence of infection, with no real distinction between the cystic fibrosis infants and controls, differing from the predominantly acid mucins in infected polyps of older children . Reparative squamous metaplasia in the tracheobronchial tract occurred more frequently in infants with cystic fibrosis than in controls . Although cystic fibrosis did predispose to progressive pulmonary disease (bronchiolitis, bronchiectasis), similar lung lesions were found in other metabolic and chronic disorders.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1981, 250(1-2), 42 - 6
Selective inhibition of hemolysin production by Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus haemolyticus; Shibl AM; The effect of lincomycin on growth and hemolysin production by Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus haemolyticus is presented . Lincomycin at subinhibitory concentration, clearly inhibited hemolysin yield without appreciably altering final growth density . The cells of these two microbes previously grown in the presence of lincomycin showed very low hemolytic activities upon disruption . The mode of lincomycin action on hemolysin production is discussed.

Arch Dis Child, 1981 Jan, 56(1), 60 - 3
A child with atopic features, raised serum IgE, and recurrent infection treated with levamisole; Businco L et al.; A 6-year-old girl had a long history of severe eczema, asthma, recurrent otitis media, and staphylococcal infections with disseminated chronic skin abscesses . Immunological studies showed a neutrophil chemotaxis defect, hyperimmunoglobulinaemia E, IgE antibodies against cows' milk proteins, absence of IgM, and absence of staphylococcal haemolysins . Neutrophil phagocytic and bactericidal functions and complement system were normal . In the course of treatment with levamisole (2.5 mg/kg, 3 times a week for one year) a striking clinical improvement occurred: the skin lesions and the staphylococcal abscesses gradually cleared and the girl gained weight . There was also a partial correction of the immune deficiency.

Eur J Biochem, 1981 Jan, 113(2), 289 - 94
The staphylococcal phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system . Purification and characterisation of the galactoside-specific membrane-component enzyme II; Schafer A et al.; The galactoside-specific membrane-bound component of the staphylococcal phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system, enzyme IIlac, was purified to homogeneity . The purification procedure involved several extractions steps at the particulate state, followed by solubilisation with Triton X-100 . Up to this stage the biological activity of enzyme II was preserved . Isolation of the homogeneous protein involved gel filtration of the dodecylsulfate-denatured material . An apparent molecular weight of the polypeptide chain was estimated by dodecylsulfate gel electrophoresis . The 55000-Mr protein is visible in dodecylsulfate gels upon induction of the staphylococcal lac operon as a more intensively stained area . Antibodies against the denatured 55000-Mr protein inhibit the mutant complementation assay of enzyme II offered as membrane fragments . This demonstrates that the 55000-Mr protein and enzyme IIlac are identical . Polarity and the solubility of the protein in detergents are typical for an integral membrane protein.

J Immunol Methods, 1981, 40(2), 131 - 41
A rapid technique for detecting IgGFc and complement receptors on T and B cells in the neonatally thymectomized and normal adult rat; Clancy J Jr et al.; Numerous studies have demonstrated the presence of IgGFc and C3 receptors on mammalian lymphoid cells . However, the further characterization of these cells as T, B, or null has been cumbersome and time consuming . A simple method is described for surface fluorescent labeling of (DA X L)F1 rat cell suspensions indirectly with either anti-rat IgM (sIg+) or monoclonal anti-rat thymocyte (sT+) antibody and then rosetting with EA or EAC . Staphylococcus protein A had no significant effect on the level of sIg+ or sT+ attained . From 58-78% of IgGFc+ cells were SIg+ with 14-18% sT+ in the spleen, lymph nodes, and peripheral blood . Almost 100% of C3+ cells were sIg+ . Neonatally thymectomized adults exhibited a 254-413% decrease in sT+ cells but a 154-329% increase in sIg+ and a 177-330% increase in null cells . They also exhibited a 140-400% increase in IgGFc+ and C3+ cells in all lymphoid compartments . Fifty-two to 65% of IgGFc+ cells and again almost 100% of C3+ were sIG+ . The methods and results are discussed as a basis for studies of B and T lymphocyte maturation and function within various rat lymphoid compartments.

Res Vet Sci, 1981 Jan, 30(1), 83 - 6
Enzyme immunoassay for detection of antibodies specific for staphylococcal alpha haemolysin in bovine milk; Opdebeeck J et al.; Six lactating cows were inoculated in the external inguinal lymph node region with a staphylococcal cell-toxoid preparation . An additional three cows were inoculated with saline as control animals . Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was used for detection of IgG antibodies in the milk, specific for staphylococcal alpha haemolysin . The positive EIA response in the inoculated cows was followed over an 84 day period . Saline controls showed no response.

Dtsch Z Verdau Stoffwechselkr, 1981, 41(1), 21 - 8
{On acute gastritis (author's transl)}; Wolff G; In reviewing the literature we discussed the problem, whether there is a correspondence between the morphological picture of acute gastritis and the clinical expression including a complex of symptoms "acute gastritis", which should better be called acute dyspepsia . There is no good accord.--The histological main features of acute gastritis are infiltration of mucosa by neutrophils and the leucodiapedesis . this acute gastritis is very seldom the cause of clinical symptoms of acute dyspepsia . Alcohol, spices or drugs may produce a "toxic damage" of the mucosa, but they do not cause an acute gastritis, just as little as some viral diseases or staphylococcal toxins.

Clin Orthop, 1981 Jan-Feb, (154), 201 - 7
Aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in deep infections after total hip arthroplasty: differential diagnosis between infectious and non-infectious loosening; Kamme C et al.; Five separate biopsy samples for bacterial culture were taken at primary total hip arthroplasty in patients without signs of infection and at reoperation of patients with infectious and noninfectious loosening of the prosthesis . Based on the results of the culture, on serologic results and on the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, bacteria of clinical significance could be distinguished from contaminants . Growth in one or two of five biopsy samples was a strong indicator of contamination, while growth in five of five biopsy samples of one or two bacterial species strongly indicated an infection . These diagnostic procedures are applied to differentiate between infectious and noninfectious loosening of the prosthesis . In the delayed infections, the low-virulent aerobic and anaerobic bacteria Staphylococcus epidermidis, Propionibacterium acnes and peptococci were predominant.

Vopr Med Khim, 1981 Jan-Feb, 27(1), 99 - 102
{Role of prostaglandins in islet cell dysfunction in generalized infections}; Morenkova SA et al.; Effect of prostaglandins of the E and F2 alpha groups/PGE and PGF2 alpha/on formation and secretion of insulin was studied in rats inoculated with staphylococcus . Hyperglycemia developed in the animals while the content of insulin in their blood remained normal; the rate of insulin biosynthesis was increased . Content of PGE and PGF2 alpha was distinctly increased in the infected animals as compared with controls . Administration of indometacin into the animals 1 hr before the infection and then twice a day during 3 days /1.5 mg per kg of body weight/ led to a pronounced decrease of the PGE and PGF2 alpha content in blood and to normalization of glucose concentration . Hyperproduction of the prostaglandins under conditions of the infection appears to inhibit the insulin secretion since the elevated rate of the hormone biosynthesis was accompanied by hyperglycemia in the infected animals; at the same time, normal concentration of insulin in blood was not sufficient for normalization of the sugar content . Under conditions of the infection resistance to endogenous insulin apparently developed also.

J Immunol Methods, 1981, 47(2), 191 - 200
Induction of T cell growth factor synthesis in human peripheral blood lymphocytes by staphylococcal protein A; Fleischer B; Staphylococcal Protein A (SpA) induces T cell growth factor (TCGF) production in cultures of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with titers equivalent to those induced by PHA . The optimal time and cell concentration for TCGF production were found to be the same for SpA and PHA . TCGF induction by SpA was blocked by addition of human AB-serum or human IgG, as was the mitogenic effect of SpA . An easy and inexpensive procedure is described for the quantitative removal of SpA from TCGF without loss of TCGF activity.

J Immunol Methods, 1981, 45(3), 221 - 6
Synergistic effects of human B and T lymphocyte mitogens induce uniform, high levels of immunoglobulin secretion among normal donors; Saiki O et al.; Synergistic effects of B-cell mitogen Staphylococcus bacteria strain Cowan I (Cowan I) plus T-cell activator pokeweed mitogen (PWM) in generating immunoglobulin-secreting cells (ISC) from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) were investigated . ISC were assayed by reverse plaque-forming cells uing protein A-coated red blood cells . Low concentrations of PWM plus Cowan I gave superadditive effects on ISI induction, generating 3-20 times as many ISC as optimal amounts of either mitogen alone . The mitogens together and separately showed similar kinetics of ISC; synergy was observed at every day tested . IgM ISC represented 10% of initial MNC from all cell donors tested even if the donors were low responders to either mitogen alone . The numbers of ISC obtained are higher than previous reports and more uniform among donors, making this a superlative method for studies on normal human immunoglobulin secretion.

J Clin Lab Immunol, 1981 Jan, 5(1), 17 - 22
Heterogeneity of polyclonal B-cell activity in systemic lupus erythematosus; Levinson AI et al.; We have examined the abnormal in vitro polyclonal B-cell activity observed in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using a staphylococcal protein A reverse hemolytic plaque assay . We have found the mean level of circulating immunoglobulin secreting cells (IgSC) in 30 SLE patients to be significantly elevated compared to that of normal subjects, although half of the SLE patients fell within the normal range . Cultures of SLE peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MC) stimulated with optimal or suboptimal doses of pokeweek mitogen (PWM) showed depressed IgSC responses as a group, compared to cultures of normal MC (p less than 0.005), although a fraction of patients had normal responses . In 11 of 30 SLE patients, IgSC were less numerous in stimulated than in unstimulated cultures, whereas all normal subjects showed augmented IgSC response in stimulated cultures (p less than 0.005) . Impaired in vitro response was not due to (1) altered PWM induced activation, (2) aberrant kinetic response or (3) decreased survival in culture of SLE MC . Of note, altered IgSC responses did not appear to reflect antecedent in vivo B-cell activation . Numbers of circulating IgSC and PWM-induced IgSC were not correlated with clinical and serological indices of disease activity or status of corticosteroid therapy . These data indicate considerable heterogeneity with respect to polyclonal B-cell activity in SLE, and provide further insight into the relationships of in vivo and in vitro B-cell activation in patients with this disease.

Arch Ophthalmol, 1981 Jan, 99(1), 96 - 9
Intraocular management of endophthalmitis . A systematic approach; Diamond JG; Antibiotics were administered intravitreally to 26 patients with culture-verified endophthalmitis . Vitrectomy surgery was combined with intravitreal antibiotic therapy in 14 of the cases . Pretreatment selection into a vitrectomy or nonvitrectomy group was determined by the duration of the disease, type of predisposing injury, and echographic findings . This diagnostic-treatment grouping allowed management to be initiated on the basis of the existing and potential virulence of the infecting process . The less virulent and often successfully managed Staphylococcus epidermidis accounted for 67% of cases in the nonvitrectomy group and only 14% in the vitrectomized series . During a mean follow-up period of 32 months (range, one to five years), retinal changes were monitored by visual acuity determination, electroretinography, and fluorescein angiography . An overall visual improvement (greater than or equal to 20/400) was found in 73% of the eyes treated . The causes for failure in the remaining cases may be related to retinal damage from the initiating trauma, organism response, and intraocular antibiotic therapy.

Ann N Y Acad Sci, 1981, 377, 158 - 74
The immunopathology of acquired myasthenia gravis; Engel AG et al.; Specific probes (alpha-bungarotoxin for acetylcholine receptor (AChR), staphylococcal protein A for IgG, monospecific antibodies against C3 and C9) labelled with peroxidase were applied to study of the ultrastructure of the MG end plate . In each case of MG there was postsynaptic AChR deficiency, usually greatest at end plates with marked degeneration of junctional folds . Morphometric estimates of postsynaptic AChR correlated linearly with the MEPP amplitude . In each case of MG, IgG was localized on the postsynaptic membrane where AChR is known to be located and on debris in the synaptic space . The abundance of antibody was proportionate to the amount of AChR remaining at the end plate . The localization of C3 was essentially identical with that of IgG . For most cases of MG it can be inferred that binding of IgG and C3 to AChR does not interfere with receptor function . C9, the terminal lytic complement component, was localized on debris in the synaptic space and on remnants of junctional folds . This proves that complement mediated destruction of junctional folds occurs in human MG . Studies in experimental auto-immune MG indicate that antibody-dependent internalization of AChR occurs in subclinical, mild and more severe diseases but increased AChR synthesis can compensate for this in subclinical and mild myasthenia . Complement-mediated injury of the postsynaptic membrane appears to be a requirement for induction of more severe MG.

J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino), 1981 Jan-Feb, 22(1), 68 - 71
Mycotic aneurysm of the left main pulmonary artery in an infant; Deuvaert FE et al.; An exceptional case of mycotic aneurysm of the left branch of the pulmonary artery in a 4 month old baby following documented Staphylococcal Septicaemia is presented . The lesion was successfully treated by left pneumonectomy . The pathogenesis and early appearance of calcifications are discussed.

Acta Microbiol Acad Sci Hung, 1981, 28(1), 25 - 30
A simple procedure for isolation and purification of A-type staphylococcus enterotoxin; Ezepchuk YV et al.; A new procedure is presented for the isolation and purification of A-type staphylococcus enterotoxin . Homogeneous enterotoxin preparation was obtained by purification in 2 phases . In radial double agar-gel immunodiffusion the smallest precipitating dose of the isolated and purified enterotoxin was found to be 1.4-0.7 micrograms protein and 0.4-0.1 micrograms nitrogen . In cat experiments the dose giving a positive reaction was 2 micrograms protein or 0.5 micrograms nitrogen calculated for kg body weight.

Vopr Virusol, 1981 Jan-Feb, (1), 100 - 3
{Characteristics of the primary and secondary DNA structure of staphylococcal phage SB-1}; Andriashvili IA et al.; Equilibrium centrifugation, spectral analysis of thermal denaturation and direct chemical determinations showed staphylococcal phage Sb-I DNA to be characterized by a standard set of nitric bases (28.5 mol.2./% G-C) . No abnormal bases or other extracomponents were found . From the differential spectral analysis of melting interval it is concluded that G-C pairs are distributed along DNA molecule in a Gauss type . Spectrophotometric and thermodynamic parameters of melting show phage Sv-I DNA to have a typical double-stranded structure . DNA is characterized by enthalpies of conformational transitions of spiral=glome delta H=11.4 cal/g and delta H = 9.7 cal/g for 1 x SSC and 0.1 x SSC diluents, respectively.

Intervirology, 1981, 15(2), 111 - 20
Estimation of mouse mammary tumor virus gp52 abundance by protein A assay: a comparison of viral antigen expression on C3H and GR mammary tumor cells; Callis AH et al.; An adherent cell isotopic staphylococcal protein A test (ISPAT) was used to estimate the abundance of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) gp52 cell surface antigen (CSA)on mammary tumor cells . Protein A assays were first utilized, not strictly as a means of antigen detection, but as a means to determine the kinetics of dexamethasone-mediated changes in gp52 cell surface expression . Results indicated increases in gp52 CSA within 4 h of dexamethasone treatment and maximal levels of antigen expression within 12-24 h after treatment . Comparison of gp52 determinants on dexamethasone-stimulated mammary tumor cells demonstrated a greater abundance on C3H Mm5mt/cl than on GR-MMTV cultures . Parallel antigen assays with gp52 and Rauscher murine leukemia virus (R-MuLV) antisera demonstrated that GR-MMTV cells expressed fewer C-type determinants and thus a more preferential expression of gp52 determinants than other cell lines tested . The gp52/R-MuLV binding ratio was only 2.4:1 for C3H cultures in contrast to 5.7:1 for GR cultures . In addition, a comparison of gp52 expression on viral producer and nonproducer cells provided a quantitative estimate of the extent of expression which occurred in a retrovirus nonproducer culture . Results of ISPAT demonstrated that 75% of the gp52 detected on producer cells was present on nonproducer cultures . Comparison of the expression of gp52 CSA and the release of gp 52 into culture fluids during hormone treatments demonstrated that both assays (ISPAT and gp 52 radioimmunoassay) detect and quantitate coordinate changes in the expression and release of MMTV gp52 . In antibody excess, protein A assays provided quantitative estimates of CSA abundance not offered by alternative methods of CSA detection.

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1981, 75(3), 421 - 5
Plasmodium falciparum: assay of antigens and antibodies by means of a solid phase radioimmunoassay with radioiodinated staphylococcal protein A; Avraham H et al.; Human red blood cells (RBC) infected in vitro with Plasmodium falciparum were employed to prepare several types of antigens (sonicated, infected RBC and purified, sonicated merozoites and schizonts) . These antigens, as well as control preparations derived from non-infected RBC, were used to coat plastic tubes, which were subsequently tested for capacity to bind anti-P . falciparum antibodies . Binding was detected by means of radio-iodinated staphylococcus protein A . Sera from patients with recent disease or patients who had a history of P . falciparum infection gave strong binding, while sera of normal individuals had only a low binding activity . Some of the antibodies in the positive sera were directed against RBC, since they could bind to tubes coated with normal RBC antigens and could be removed by absorption with RBC . The specificity of the P . falciparum antibodies was confirmed by inhibition tests: preparations derived from infected blood but not from normal blood inhibited the binding activity of the positive sera, to antigen coated tubes.

Arch Virol, 1981, 69(1), 91 - 4
Interferon (type-alpha and gamma) production by fresh and cryopreserved human mononuclear cells . Brief report; Banerjea AC et al.; A comparative study of interferon (IFN) production (type-alpha and gamma) was carried out using Ficoll-hypaque purified fresh and cryopreserved mononuclear cells from eight normal healthy individuals . Newcastle disease virus-NDV (R2B strain) was used as an inducer for type-alpha and Staphylococcal enterotoxin-A-(SEA) for type-gamma IFN production . There was no significant difference between the titres of type-alpha and gamma-IFN and lymphocyte subpopulations of fresh and cryopreserved mononuclear cells studied under identical conditions.

J Immunol Methods, 1981, 45(2), 137 - 51
Lymphocyte sorting on albuminated CIBA blue dextran-staphylococcal protein A-conjugated sepharose 6MB affinity columns; Duffey PS et al.; Modification of Sepharose 6MB affinity beads by conjugation with CIBA blue dextran and albumination together with siliconization and modification of the bed supports of glass chromatography columns permitted the construction of affinity columns with low non-specific binding characteristics . When used with staphylococcal protein A as the affinity ligand to fractionate antibody-coated lymphocytes, non-specific adherence was reduced to 2--3% of the viable input cells and essentially the entire input cell number could be recovered in viable, functional form . The capacity of the columns permitted quantitative separation of T and B lymphocytes in 250 microliter amounts at cell densities up to 5 X 10(8)/ml on 1.2 ml columns . Once used, the columns may be regenerated and reused numerous times without alteration of their characteristics . The method thus appears useful for preparative separation without loss of large numbers of highly purified cells having normal in vitro reactivity.

Folia Haematol Int Mag Klin Morphol Blutforsch, 1981, 108(3), 447 - 54
{Detection of fibrinolytic split products in patient collections with disordered hemostasis . I . In pathologically verified lung cancer . II . In thrombotic/embolic occurrences}; Bube FW et al.; 56 patients afflicted with pathologically-histologically ensured carcinoma of the lungs and bronchial system as well as 15 patients with thrombotic/embolic processes under streptokinase therapy were examined for defects in their coagulation system and for fibrinogen split products by using methods of reptilase time (RPZ) and staphylococcal clumping test (SCT) . 1 . Quantitatively more split products could be identified in patients after surgery and in those without any specific therapy than in patients under irradiation and chemotherapy . 2 . With growing tumour expansion a more and more diminishing fibrinolytic activity could be observed in all therapy forms . 3 . After initiating cytostatic chemotherapy with adriamycin, the highly molecular split products X and Y increasingly appeared at the initial stage . They disappeared with progressing therapy . 4 . Under streptokinase therapy a characteristic redistribution of the FSP-pool from predominantly highly molecular fragments at the initial stage to lower molecular ones could be observed with falling SCT values and constant RPZ after approximately 48 hours.

Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol, 1981, 64(4), 448 - 55
Detection of HLA-DRw specificities by mixed agglutination; Kaweski S et al.; By means of mixed agglutination test with staphylococcal protein A indicator system, DRw antigens were studied on lymphocytes obtained from tonsils, peripheral blood and thymuses . Monospecific antisera to DRw 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7 which were preadsorbed with pooled platelets gave mixed agglutination titers of 300 or more against B cells of human tonsilar lymphocytes and peripheral blood lymphocytes . The DR phenotypes of human tonsilar lymphocytes and peripheral blood lymphocytes determined by mixed agglutination tests corresponded to those established by lymphocytotoxicity tests . Upon stimulation of thymocytes or T cells of peripheral blood lymphocytes by Con-A, DRw antigens became detectable by mixed agglutination tests . Simultaneous experiments on the stimulated T cells of peripheral blood lymphocytes by membrane fluorescence tests showed that 21-45% of the stimulated T cells possessed DRw antigens at a detectable level, while less than 2% of unstimulated cells were positive . These results indicated that DRw antigens are present in the subpopulation of T cells which may expand in the response to Con-A stimulation.

Biochemistry, 1980 Dec 23, 19(26), 6204 - 8
Purification and characterization of staphylococcal pyrogenic exotoxin type B; Schlievert PM; Staphylococcal pyrogenic exotoxin (PE) type B was purified and characterized biochemically and biologically . The exotoxin was purified from cell-free culture supernatant fluids by using differential precipitation with ethanol and resolubilization in pyrogen-free distilled water followed by preparative thin-layer isoelectric focusing . A final purification of 153-fold was achieved on the basis of the capacity of the exotoxin to produce fever . The toxin migrated as a homogeneous protein with a molecular weight of approximately 18 000 when tested with sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . Hyperimmune antisera raised against the purified exotoxin reacted with partially purified toxin in an immuno-diffusion assay to form a single precipitin line . The isoelectric point of the PE was estimated to be 8.5 . Alanine was identified as the N-terminal amino acid . The exotoxin contained significant amounts of lysine but few aromatic amino acids . The PE was pyrogenic and enhanced host susceptibility to lethal shock and myocardial damage by endotoxin . In addition, the exotoxin was a potent nonspecific lymphocyte mitogen and suppressed immunoglobulin M synthesis against sheep erythrocytes.

J Biol Chem, 1980 Dec 10, 255(23), 11512 - 20
Structural characterization of the phosphorylation sites of human erythrocyte spectrin; Harris HW Jr et al.; The phosphorylation sites of spectrin dimer were characterized before and after incubation of intact human red cells with {32P}orthophosphate . Phosphate measurements of unlabeled spectrin dimer show it contains 4.0 +/- 0.3 covalent protein phosphates, all located on band 2 . Quantitation of the number of exchangeable phosphorylation sites in erythrocytes labeled with {32P}orthophosphate yields 3.9 +/- 0.3 phosphates/spectrin dimer, indicating that all four spectrin phosphorylation sites are metabolically active . Tryptic and chymotryptic peptide mapping reveals that the dimer contains three unique 32P-labeled tryptic peptides of approximately 4,600 (A1), 3,500 (A2), and 2,400 (B) daltons . Peptide A1 contains both phosphoserine and phosphothreonine while peptides A2 and B possess only phosphoserine . Peptides A1 and A2 remain associated after trypsinization of spectrin dimer and are only separable in detergents . All three 32P-labeled tryptic peptides are contained within a 20,000 dalton cyanogen bromide fragment which is within a 60,000 dalton staphylococcal protease phosphopeptide . All these fragments are found within a 90,000 dalton nitrothiocyanobenzoic acid phosphopeptide . The purified 20,000 dalton fragment contains no homoserine or homoserine lactone and is the COOH-terminal cyanogen bromide peptide of band 2 . The isolated tryptic peptide B possesses no lysine or arginine and is presumably the COOH-terminal tryptic peptide of band 2 and the most distal phosphopeptide . Thus, the four phosphorylation sites of spectrin dimer are clustered at the extreme COOH-terminal end of band 2.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1980 Dec, 40(6), 1100 - 5
New medium for isolating propionibacteria and its application to assay of normal flora of human facial skin; Kishishita M et al.; The conditions for isolation and cultivation of Propionibacterium acnes and related propionibacteria were studied in detail . Triton X-100 added to the diluent inhibited the growth of propionibacteria in concentrations of 0.05 to 0.1% . However, such was not the case with Tween 80; rather, growth of the bacteria was further enhanced by this agent . Consequently, Tween 80 was considered to be a suitable surfactant for addition to the diluent for isolation of propionibacteria . A new medium for isolating propionibacteria from human skin was developed . Comparative studies with colonies of P . acnes, Propionibacterium granulosum, and Staphylococcus epidermidis showed morphological differences among the colonies; thus, the medium was very useful for differentiating and identifying species of the microbes . The new medium was used for studies on the distribution of propionibacteria on the foreheads of 30 Japanese volunteers . Among 447 strains of P . acnes and 86 strains of P . granulosum isolated from the volunteers, all strains of the former were positive for indole, nitrate, milk, and gelatin hydrolysis, whereas all strains of the latter were negative for all of the tests.

Biochem Genet, 1980 Dec, 18(11-12), 1097 - 107
Specificity of allozyme-absorbed antisera to human placental alkaline phosphatase for individual phenotypes; Wei SC et al.; Antisera raised against the rare FD phenotype enzyme were exhaustively absorbed with SS and FF phenotype enzyme immobilized on agarose gels . When it was absorbed with the FF phenotype enzyme, the antiserum no longer reacted with the F-variant enzyme, but did with the S-, D-, and I-variants, as determined by electrophoretic retardation experiments and precipitation of antigen-antibody complexes using staphylococcal protein A . When the antiserum was absorbed with SS phenotype enzyme, it no longer reacted with S-, D-, or I-variant enzyme, but did have some reactivity with the F-variant, as seen in the protein A assay . Based upon the IgG concentration, which bound 40% of the appropriate enzyme, 1/20 of the antiserum preparation was specific for the S-, D-, and I-variant shared specificity, and 1/400 was specific for the F-variant alone.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {C}, 1980 Dec, 88(6), 287 - 91
Encephalitis induced in rabbits by staphylococcal lipoteichoic acid; Aasjord P et al.; Rabbits were immunized with staphylococcal lipoteichoic acid (LTA) in Freund's adjuvant . After four injections (six weeks) the rabbits showed decreased activity and unsteadiness of the head . Two weeks after the sixth injection (ten weeks), two of five rabbits developed clinical signs of encephalitis with nystagmus, ataxia, general weakness, decreased activity, and dragging of the hind legs . The other three animals showed only mild symptoms . Neuropathological examination showed inflammatory infiltrates containing small lymphocytes and some plasma cells in the leptomeninges and within the perivascular spaces of the brain.

Vestn Khir Im I I Grek, 1980 Dec, 125(12), 101 - 5
{Immunotherapy potentials in the overall treatment of chronic hematogenic osteomyelitis in children}; Kotliarov AN et al.; The indices of non-specific resistance and immunity were studied in 171 children with chronic hematogenic osteomyelitis . It was established that the postoperative period was more favourable in children who had received the whole course of immune therapy with staphylococcal anatoxin and prodigiozan before the operation . The operation was performed after the indices of anti-infection defense had become normal.

Am J Dis Child, 1980 Dec, 134(12), 1134 - 8
Acute pulmonary exacerbations in cystic fibrosis . A double-blind trial of tobramycin and placebo therapy; Wientzen R et al.; To determine the effect of antimicrobial therapy on acute pulmonary exacerbations in cystic fibrosis, a randomized, double-blind trial of tobramycin and placebo was carried out . Clinical responses were satisfactory in all 11 children given tobramycin and in seven of 11 given placebo . Two patients in the placebo group died . No patient given placebo had improved results on pulmonary function studies, whereas improvement of 15% or more occurred in four of the six patients given tobramycin who could cooperate with the testing . Quantitative cultures of sputum showed a decrease of 1 logarithm or greater in Pseudomonas sp concentrations in six of seven patients in the tobramycin group and in two of eight in the placebo group . No difference in staphylococcal colonization was found . Several features indicate that children with severer disease were randomly assigned to the placebo group; nevertheless, the trend toward improved response in patients given tobramycin suggests that empirical therapy with antibiotics is beneficial for patients with acute pulmonary exacerbations in cystic fibrosis.

J Immunol, 1980 Dec, 125(6), 2478 - 83
Polyclonal activation of immunoglobulin secretion in B lymphocytes induced by staphylococcal peptidoglycan; Dziarski R; Staphylococcal peptidoglycan (PG) is a B cell mitogen and immunomodulator in mice . The ability of PG to induce the secretion of polyclonal antibodies in murine lymphocyte cultures was studied using the protein A hemolytic plaque assay . PG was as effective as or more effective than lipopolysaccharide as an inducer of polyclonal antibodies in spleen, lymph node, and bone marrow lymphocytes . The highest numbers of immunoglobulin (Ig) secreting cells were induced in the spleen, and the lowest in the bone marrow cell cultures . All major classes of Ig (IgM, IgG, and IgA) were induced, and the maximal numbers of Ig-secreting cells were detected between days 4 and 5 of culture . The induction of Ig secretion by Pg was T cell, 2-mercaptoethanol, and to a large extent macrophage independent.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1980 Dec, 40(6), 1080 - 5
Single radial immunodiffusion method for screening Staphylococcal isolates for enterotoxin; Meyer RF et al.; A direct system for screening large numbers of staphylococcal isolates for enterotoxin production has been developed . The system employs polyvalent (serotypes A, B, C, D, and E) immunodiffusion assay slides in conjunction with a multiple-culturing system for toxin production . With the combined system, as many as 50 cultures can be screened simultaneously on a single assay slide having a sensitivity of about 0.3 microgram/ml . The system should be useful for detecting potential enterotoxin in foods containing a predominance of non-enterotoxigenic strains.

Chirurg, 1980 Dec, 51(12), 768 - 73
{In vivo studies on the tensile strength loss of absorbable synthetic threads}; Thiede A et al.; In a total of eight experimental groups, PGS, PGS-S, PGS-C, and polyglactin 910 sutures were implanted subcutaneously in rats . The sutures were either sterile or contaminated with staphylococcus . They were removed after 7, 14, 21, and in two groups after 28 days . The linear loss of tensile strength was tested by means of an electronic tensile strength measuring machine . In four additional groups, the same studies were carried out with paraffinized PGS sutures and in localizations in stomach, duodenum and colon . The diameter of the filament has an effect on the loss of tensile strength: initially more rapid in fine filaments and later, retarded in comparison to thicker filaments . Coating of the suture has almost no influence on tensile strength, although contaminated sutures show a comparative decrease . In intraenteral localizations, loss of tensile strength can be expected to occur much more rapidly than in subcutaneous ones . Paraffinization does not delay decrease in tensile strength . Polyglactin 910 sutures of the second generation employed subcutaneously, show a much higher loss of tensile strength on the day 7 than PGS sutures; by day 28 the relationship is reversed.

Cancer Res, 1980 Dec, 40(12), 4640 - 7
Reaction patterns of herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 proteins with sera of patients with uterine cervical carcinoma and matched controls; Gilman SC et al.; Serum from 105 individuals with diagnosed uterine cervical cancer and 231 matched controls were examined for their ability to react with a large number of herpes simplex virus type 1 or type 2 (HSV-1, HSV-2) proteins . Radiolabeled HSV-1 or HSV-2 proteins were mixed with test serum and immune complexes were isolated with staphylococcal protein A . Viral proteins in the immune complexes were resolved by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and visualized by fluorography . When the frequency of precipitation for cancer and control serum was calculated for each HSV-1 and HSV-2 protein, the results demonstrated that four HSV-1 and 11 HSV-2 proteins were precipitated more frequently by cases than by controls (p less than or equal to 0.05) . However, since these results could be influenced by the presence or absence of HSV-2 specific antibodies as well as social, economic, and sexual history, the data were grouped and analyzed according to these parameters . This enabled all significant differences between case and control sera in the precipitation of HSV-1 or HSV-2 proteins to be abolished except for two HSV-2 proteins with molecular weights of 38,000 and 118,000 . These two proteins appear to be tumor associated and not merely covariables of past infection or risk factors alone.

N Engl J Med, 1980 Nov 27, 303(22), 1253 - 8
An immunoglobulin (IgG) inhibitor of polymorphonuclear leukocyte motility in a patient with recurrent infection; Kramer N et al.; We isolated from the serum of a patient with recurrent skin infections an IgG immunoglobulin that irreversibly inhibits the random motility and chemotactic responsiveness of polymorphonuclear leukocytes . Although the patient's leukocytes behaved like normal cells with respect to adherence, phagocytosis, degranulation, and generation of the superoxide anion, they did not migrate normally toward standard chemotactic stimuli . Normal human polymorphonuclear leukocytes behaved similarly after incubation with the patient's serum . Inhibition of motility was not associated with cyutotoxicity . Inhibitory activity could be removed completely from the patient's serum by treatment with either agarose-bound anti-human IgG or Sepharose-bound staphylococcal protein A . Exposure of normal polymorphonuclear leukocytes to as little as 1.25 microgram per milliliter (0.00125 g per liter) of the patient's purified IgG caused significant inhibition of random motility and chemotactic responsiveness (P < 0.01) . Thus, IgG immunoglobulins can inhibit leukocyte motility specifically and irreversibly, and thereby adversely affect host defenses against invading microorganisms.

Int J Cancer, 1980 Nov 15, 26(5), 535 - 42
Lymphocyte transformation in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphomas; Carney DN et al.; The proliferative responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from ten patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma were tested after stimulation with a variety of mitogens, including phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A), pokeweed mitogen (PWM), staphylococcal protein A (SPA), and lymphocyte-conditioned medium (LyCM) . Responses were measured by the incorporation of tritiated thymidine and by flow microfluorometry (FMF) . In general, responses were depressed, although a broad range of responses were observed ranging from very poor to near normal responses . SPA and PWM were the most potent mitogens in the CTCL patients, unlike controls in whom PHA and SPA were the optimum mitogens and PWM was weakly mitogenic . FMF studies in two patients clearly demonstrated that aneuploid Sezary cells and not admixed normal lymphocytes were proliferating in response to SPA and PWM stimulation . The unusual pattern of mitogen responses found in these CTCL patients suggests Sezary cells may be derived from T-cell subpopulations with special affinity for SPA and PWM . The ability of FMF to demonstrate that aneuploid cells respond to mitogen stimulation makes it a useful additional technique in the evaluation of lymphocyte blastogenesis in patients with malignant lymphoproliferative disorders.

Biochemistry, 1980 Nov 11, 19(23), 5229 - 34
Deoxyribonucleic acid gyrase-deoxyribonucleic acid complex containing 140 base pairs of deoxyribonucleic acid and an alpha 2 beta 2 protein core; Klevan L et al.; Staphylococcal nuclease digestion of the complex between DNA and DNA gyrase yields a gyrase-DNA core particle composed of a 140 base pair DNA segment and an active gyrase enzyme . The partial specific volume and S20,w of this purified core complex are measured to be 0.70 cm3/g and 14.5 S, respectively, by sedimentation measurements in H2O and D2O media . The molecular weight of the core complex estimated from equilibrium centrifugation is 470 000; the ratio of the translational frictional coefficient to that of the unsolvated equivalent sphere is calculated to be 1.9 . Treatment of free gyrase in solution with dimethyl suberimidate gives three cross-linked species of roughly equal amounts that can be identified as alpha 2, alpha 2 beta, and alpha 2 beta 2 . When the gyrase core complex is treated with the same cross-linking agent, 70-80% of the protein is converted to the alpha 2 beta 2 species . These results establish that the gyrase-DNA core complex contains a 140 base pair DNA segment and a tetrameric alpha 2 beta 2 protein.

J Infect Dis, 1980 Nov, 142(5), 725 - 31
Antibiotic prophylaxis of experimental endocarditis due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis; Archer GL et al.; Antibiotic prophylaxis for the prevention of endocarditis due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) was evaluated in a modified rabbit endocarditis model and compared with results obtained with methicillin-sensitive S . epidermidis (MSSE) . One dose of nafcillin, cefamandole, cephalothin, or vancomycin neither prevented endocarditis nor sterilized the blood of rabbits challenged with each of two MRSE or two MSSE isolates . One dose of gentamicin protected greater than or equal to 80% of animals challenged with three of the four isolates, and one dose of rifampin protected greater than or equal to 90% challenged with any of the four isolates . Multiple doses of any of the antibiotics prevented endocarditis in greater than or equal to 80% of rabbits challenged with MSSE, and four doses of vancomycin protected rabbits challenged with MRSE . However, MRSE endocarditis was prevented in less than or equal to 25% of animals given six doses of nafcillin or cephalosporins . Thus, nafcillin and cephalosporins were ineffective prophylaxis for MRSE endocarditis, whereas vancomycin, gentamicin, and rifampin were effective.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1980 Nov, (11), 97 - 9
{Experimental study of the therapeutic action of the surface antigenic complex of Staphylococcus}; Efremova VN; The comparative experimental study of the therapeutic action of staphylococcal antigenic complex obtained by the method of aqueous extraction, corpuscular formalinized vaccine and commercial staphylococcal preparations (native toxoid and antiphagin) revealed the statistically significant difference in the process of the healing of local dermatonecrotic inflammation in the rabbits treated with staphylococcal antigenic complex in comparison with the untreated rabbits.

Neurosurgery, 1980 Nov, 7(5), 488 - 90
Subarachnoid hemorrhage--the initial manifestation of bacterial endocarditis . Report of a case with negative arteriography and computed tomography; Vincent FM et al.; The case of a patient who suffered a nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) associated with normal angiography is reported . Three weeks later he developed an embolic stroke secondary to a nonhemolytic Staphylococcus epidermidis endocarditis of the mitral valve; thus, the SAH was the initial manifestation of bacterial endocarditis . Bacterial endocarditis should be considered a possible cause of SAH, especially in the 7% of patients with angiographically negative SAH.

Infect Immun, 1980 Nov, 30(2), 431 - 8
Modulation of mitogenic responsiveness by staphylococcal peptidoglycan; Dziarski R; Staphylococcal peptidoglycan can modulate in vivo and in vitro antibody responses and is a B-cell mitogen . The effect of in vivo peptidoglycan treatment on the subsequent in vitro mitogenic responsiveness of mouse splenocytes to phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, pokeweed mitogen, and lipopolysaccharide was studied by measuring changes in deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis . Injection of peptidoglycan caused a 100% increase in responsiveness to phytohemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen and a 45% increase in responsiveness to concanavalin A . Responsiveness to lipopolysaccharide was decreased by 40% . Increased phytohemagglutinin and decreased lipopolysaccharide responses were not due to changes in the kinetics of the response or optimal concentrations of these mitogens . Increased responsiveness to phytohemagglutinin lasted for 2 weeks after peptidoglycan injection . Neither increased background deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis nor changes in the proportion of T cells after peptidoglycan treatment fully accounted for the changes in responsiveness to the mitogens . In vitro costimulation with peptidoglycan and phytohemagglutinin, lipopolysaccharide, concanavalin A, or pokeweed mitogen resulted in interference of the response . Cell separation experiments indicated that peptidoglycan-induced modulation of mitogenic responsiveness was mediated by B lymphocytes.

Arch Dermatol, 1980 Nov, 116(11), 1283 - 90
Nodular scleroderma and pleomorphic acid-fast bacteria; Cantwell AR Jr et al.; This report describes a rare form of scleroderma associated with multiple, elevated, dermal nodules . In addition, rare acid-fast bacteria, and less rare non-acid-fast coccoid forms were seen in histologic sections from the nodules . Skin culture isolates in thioglycolate broth were positive for both intermittently acid-fast coccobacilli, as well as non-acid-fast cocci compatible with Staphylococcus epidermidis . These findings reconfirm the existence of pleomorphic, acid-fast bacteria in scleroderma . The possibility is discussed that these tissue and culture forms may be related to certain similar morphologic forms currently designated as "cell-wall-deficient L forms" or may be related to previously described unusual growth forms of mycobacteria . Further investigations for microbes both in skin culture and in histologic sections from patients with scleroderma may prove helpful in elucidating any possible role that bacteria might have in the pathogenesis of this disease.

Clin Nephrol, 1980 Nov, 14(5), 256 - 61
Glomerulonephritis and Staphylococcal aureus infections; Spector DA et al.; Three patients with visceral Staphylococcal aureus infections, but no evidence of endocarditis, developed signs of acute glomerulonephritis . Renal biopsy in two patients showed a mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis and mesangial deposits containing IgA, IgG, and C3; autopsy material in a third patient showed acute diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis . The clinical setting and pathologic findings of our patients with visceral Staphylococcal infection and glomerulonephritis are different than those found in the better-understood syndromes of glomerulonephritis associated with endocarditis or infected ventriculojugular shunts . Our patients provide support for the contention that some cases of primary or idiopathic glomerulonephritis may by caused by Staphylococcal infections.

Int J Pept Protein Res, 1980 Nov, 16(5), 433 - 9
Enzyme-catalyzed formation of semisynthetic staphylococcal nuclease using a new synthetic fragment, {48-glycine}synthetic-(6-49); Komoriya A et al.; While trypsin can catalyze resynthesis of the peptide bond between fragments in the noncovalent complex of nuclease-T-(6-48) and nuclease-T-(49-149), this reaction leads to excision of Lys 49 and formation of inactive {des Lys 49}-nuclease-(6-149) . To provide a method for making active active covalent semisynthetic nuclease, we chemically synthesized the fragment of residues 6 to 49 in which lysine 48 was replaced by glycine . This peptide was made using the recently described solid phase support, 4-(oxymethyl)phenylacetamidomethyl-polystyrene . The resultant crude polypeptide exhibited 30-50% of native nuclease-T enzymatic activity when added to native nuclease-T-(50-149) . When the non-covalent complex formed by native nuclease-T-(50-149) and a 10-fold molar excess of {Gly 48}synthetic-(6-49) was equilibrated with trypsin in 90% glycerol, an increase in enzymatic activity from 8 to 32% (versus nuclease) was observed . Simultaneously, approximately 20% conversion of nuclease-T-(50-149) to nuclease-molecular weight material was observed by gel electrophoretic analysis . These data indicate that a covalent semisynthetic species is formed with activity about equal to that of native nuclease . The results confirm the importance of loop integrity on catalytic site organization . The Gly-48-containing fragment system defined above can allow preparation of semisynthetic nuclease sequence analogs.

Med J Aust, 1980 Nov 1, 2(9), 512 - 3
Pyomyositis tropicans: a diagnostic dilemma; Chaitow J et al.; Pyomyositis tropicans is a rare disease in non-tropical climates and thus presents diagnostic difficulties . Two children with single staphylococcal psoas muscle abscesses were recently successfully treated . Computerized axial tomography was found to be a useful diagnostic aid, allowing exact localization of the lesion . The diagnosis and therapy of these abscesses are discussed.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1980 Nov, (11), 49 - 52
{Protease as an immune response enhancer in immunization with an adsorbed staphylococcal anatoxin}; Beloklitskaia GF et al.; The injection of trypsin into rabbits immunized with adsorbed staphylococcal toxoid was found to have a potentiating effect on the immune response of the body, which was manifested by a considerable increase in the specific antibody titer and by the activation of nonspecific systemic protective factors . The intensity of antistaphylococcal immunity achieved by the moment of challenge (on day 23 of the experiment) in the animals ensured the resistance of the rabbits to staphylococcal test infection . The injection of trielin, a proteolysis inhibiting agent, simultaneously with the immunization of rabbits with adsorbed staphylococcal toxoid produced no such effect.

J Histochem Cytochem, 1980 Nov, 28(11), 1233 - 41
Intracellular localization of fibronectin using immunoperoxidase cytochemistry in light and electron microscopy; Hedman K; An immunocytochemical staining method for light and electron microscopy was developed to permit adequate penetration of staining conjugates with high specificity, while preserving acceptable ultrastructure . For this purpose an indirect immunoperoxidase method with Staphylococcal protein A-peroxidase conjugates was used in the presence of saponin on aldehyde-saponin-fixed cells . As the first application, fibronectin was localized intracellularly in human embryonic skin fibroblasts . Fibronectin was detected in large amounts in the cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum and in 200 nm (secretory?) vesicles . Little fibronectin was present in the Golgi complex; the stacked Golgi cisternae were conspicuously devoid of this protein . The 200 nm vesicles were mostly distributed on the mature side of the Golgi apparatus . These results indicate that fibronectin is exclusively localized to intracellular structures involved in secretory function and suggest that fibronectin may not be processed in significant amounts within the cisternal stacks of the Golgi complex.

Acta Paediatr Scand, 1980 Nov, 69(6), 731 - 4
Successful management of bacterial endocarditis of the mitral valve due to Staphylococcus epidermidis in an immunosuppressed host; Belik J et al.; We report the successful management of bacterial endocarditis of the mitral valve, caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis, in a 34-month-old boy with acute lymphocytic leukemia who had been receiving immunosuppressive therapy . M-mode echocardiography provided early detection of valvular vegetations and documented the evolution of valvular involvement during the course of the illness.

Cell, 1980 Nov, 22(1 Pt 1), 299 - 307
Heat shock, deciliation and release from anoxia induce the synthesis of the same set of polypeptides in starved T . pyriformis; Guttman SD et al.; Heat shock, deciliation and release from anoxia result in similar alterations in the pattern of protein synthesis in starved Tetrahymena pyriformis . In each case, synthesis of the same set of (at least) 16 polypeptides is induced, and many of these polypeptides accumulate in stainable amounts within 50 min . The molecular weights of these proteins, which we refer to as stress proteins (sp), are very similar to those of the heat shock polypeptides of Drosophila . Heat shock and deciliation also lead to similar changes in proteins associated with isolated nuclei . One stress-induced polypeptide, designated sp29c, is highly enriched in the nucleus . This protein is undetectable in control cells but is synthesized in response to stress and accumulates in the nucleus in stainable amounts within 50 min . It is not released by staphylococcal nuclease digestion, suggesting that it is not chromatin-associated . Three other stress-induced proteins, sp73 and sp75a and b, are also present in nuclei isolated from stressed cells but, unlike sp29c, are not enriched in this compartment . Another protein, which is present in stainable quantities in the cytoplasm of control cells, appears to be translocated to the nucleus after stress.

J Virol, 1980 Nov, 36(2), 617 - 21
Phosphorylation of the nonstructural proteins encoded by three avian acute leukemia viruses and by avian fujinami sarcoma virus; Bister K et al.; The gag gene-related, nonstructural proteins of three avian acute leukemia viruses (namely, myelocytomatosis viruses MC29 and CMII and avian erythroblastosis virus) and of avian Fujinami sarcoma virus (FSV) isolated by immunoprecipitation from cellular lysates with anti-gag serum were shown to be phosphoproteins in vivo . The specific 32P radioactivity of the nonstructural proteins of MC29, CMII, and FSV was significantly higher than that of helper viral, intracellular gag proteins . Two of these proteins, i.e., the 140,000-dalton FSV and the 110,000-dalton MC29 proteins, were also phosphorylated in vitro by a kinase activity associated with immunocomplexes . This kinase activity is either separated from these proteins or inactivated by incubation of cellular lysates with normal serum followed by adsorption to staphylococcal protein A or sedimentation at 100,000 x g or both . It remains to be resolved whether the 110,000-dalton MC29 and 140,000-dalton FV proteins, in addition to being substrates for phosphorylation, also have intrinsic kinase activity.

Eur J Immunol, 1980 Nov, 10(11), 877 - 83
Interferon induced in human leukocytes by mitogens: production, partial purification and characterization; de Ley M et al.; Interferon was induced in leukocyte suspensions from human buffy coats by exposure to phytohemagglutinin P, concanavalin A (Con A) and staphylococcal enterotoxin A, under a variety of cell culture conditions . Con A was found to rapidly (within 12 h) induce high yields of antiviral activity (1.5 units/1000 cells) . Lesser yields were obtained with the other two mitogens studied . The interferon was partially purified to a spec . act . around 10(5.3) units/mg protein, by batch adsorption on controlled-pore glass (CPG) beads and desorption by ethylene glycol . This material was characterized as containing mainly gamma-type interferon . Specifically on gel filtration, a fraction of 45000 daltons was obtained which could account for virtually all antiviral activity present in the starting material . Furthermore, the ethylene glycol-eluted antiviral activity was acid-labile, serologically distinct from alpha and beta-type interferon and strictly species-specific (no activity detectable on any of the available cell species sensitive to alpha and beta-type interferon) . The crude culture supernatant also contained some antiviral activity which resembled beta-type interferon in that it adsorbed to CPG, could be desorbed by pH 2 buffer, was acid-resistant and could be neutralized by a specific anti-fibroblast interferon antiserum . The CPG/ethylene glycol-purified gamma-type interefron preparation was found to inhibit the growth of certain lymphoblastoid cells (Daudi and Molt-4) . It also potentiated natural killer activity of fresh donor lymphocytes . In both respects, the gamma-type interferon preparation was not significantly more active than preparations of alpha and beta-interferon of similar antiviral potency.

Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper, 1980 Oct 30, 56(20), 2083 - 9
{Serologic diagnosis of acute hepatitis A . Refinement and evaluation of 3 methods of determining specific anti-HAV IgM}; Angarano G et al.; A solid phase radioimmunoassay (RIA) procedure was developed and three methods for detection of IgM specific antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV IgM) were compared: triple antibody method, 2-MercaptoEthanol (2-ME) for IgM cleavage and Staphylococcal A Protein (StAP) for IgG absorption . Specificity and sensitivity of the tests were checked for evaluating acute and convalescent sera from 40 patients with serologically (seroconversion) diagnosed hepatitis A and 64 sera from patients with various acute viral diseases or with high titre of rheumatoid factor (RF) . Specimens to be assayed for anti-HAV IgM were pretreated with 2-ME or StAP and tested by RIa using 125I labelled anti-HAV IgG . Triple antibody method showed to be more sensitive than other two methods giving false positive result in only one serum containing high levels of monoclonal RF . No significant difference in sensitivity and specificity was found between 2-ME and StAP procedure, but these methods were able to detect anti-HAV IgM for only two weeks after the onset of the disease, whereas triple antibody method gave positive results for at last seven weeks.

Lab Anim, 1980 Oct, 14(4), 325 - 8
An infected eczematous condition in mice: methods of treatment; Taylor DM et al.; Eczematous lesions in VM mice were invariably infected with Staphylococcus pyogenes aureus . A variety of preparations was used in treatment and although most were ineffective, one combining steroid and antibiotic therapy achieved remarkable results.

South Med J, 1980 Oct, 73(10), 1333 - 4, 1338
Vancomycin penetration into CSF during treatment of patients receiving hemodialysis; Nolan CM et al.; Penetration of vancomycin into CSF was determined during therapy with the regimens recently used to treat staphylococcal infections in patients receiving hemodialysis: 1 gm weekly or 750 mg twice weekly . During three episodes in two patients with proved or suspected central nervous system infection, CSF levels of vancomycin ranged from < 0.5 to 1.54 microgram/ml; in only two of six CSF specimens did the antibiotic level exceed its in vitro inhibitory concentration for the infecting organism . Thus, the vancomycin hemodialysis regimens may provide marginal to subtherapeutic CSF drug levels.

Antibiotiki, 1980 Oct, 25(10), 769 - 72
{Change in the antibiotic sensitivity of the intestinal microbial autoflora of acute leukemia patients in the process of decontamination}; Nasonova TA; The results of the studies on sensitivity of the intestine microflora to the antibiotics little adsorbed in the intestine are presented with respect to 8 patients with acute leukemia during and after decontamination . In addition to the cytostatic therapy, the patients were treated with gentamicin, ristomycin and nystatin administered orally in doses of 1200, 1500 mg and 6000000 units respectively every day for 2--4 weeks . The antibiotic sensitivity of the intestine microautoflora was determined before, during and after the antibiotic use, by the methods of gradient dishes and paper disks . It was found that during the use of nonadsorbing antibiotics the resistance of E . coli to gentamicin increased and only 3--4 weeks after discontinuation of the antibiotic use it regained the initial level . The shifts in sensitivity of staphylococcus to ristomycin and yeasts to nystatin were of the same character but less pronounced . Sensitivity of the intestine microautoflora to neomycin, monomycin, oxytetracycline and polymyxin decreased during decontamination and remained unchanged for 3--4 weeks after discontinuation of the antibiotic use . Some other characteristic features of the shifts in sensitivity of the intestine microflora to ristomycin, novobiocin and oxacillin were noted . Possible causes of such changes are discussed.

Am J Vet Res, 1980 Oct, 41(10), 1682 - 5
Determination of incidence rates for chronic mastitis using heifer prevalence data; Thurmond MC; Two methods for calculating the incidence rate for staphylococcal mastitis were investigated, using prevalence data among heifers . A method utilizing bacteriologic culture results from prevalence surveys, clinical cases, and fresh heifers was more sensitive in determining incidence rates than was a method utilizing results from serial prevalence surveys only.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1980 Oct, (10), 93 - 6
{Immunoleukolysis test results in women immunized with staphylococcal toxoid}; Varenko IuS et al.; The results of the immunoleukolysis test in 699 women on the 32nd week of pregnancy are presented . Of these, 48 women were examined 1 month and 6 months after the third injection . In this test staphylococcal allergen and E . coli allergen were used . Staphylococcal toxoid was found to have desensitizing action in persons with enhanced initial allergic state . The authors conclude that the immunoleukolysis test may ensure differential approach to the immunization of pregnant women with staphylococcal toxoid.

Ann Intern Med, 1980 Oct, 93(4), 597 - 613
Host defenses and immunologic alterations associated with chronic hemodialysis; Goldblum SE et al.; Many of the complications experienced by patients undergoing hemodialysis can be attributed to their altered host defenses . Increased cutaneous staphylococcal carriage along with repeated intravascular cannulation and defective mucocutaneous barriers lead to frequent invasion by infectious agents . Pathogens encounter granulocytes with subnormal locomotion, phagocytosis, and intracellular killing . Depressed cell-mediated immunity may be explained by shortened lymphocyte survival, lymphopenia, inhibition of lymphocyte transformation, and suppressor T-cell activity . This is manifested by cutaneous anergy, prolonged graft survival, altered tumor surveillance, and abnormal responses to hepatitis B and tuberculosis . Host interaction with the hemodialysis membrane leads to cellular disruption, which may induce autoantibodies . Activation of the alternate complement pathway during hemodialysis leads to granulocyte sequestration in small vessels, specifically within the lungs . These hemodialysis-induced alterations along with the manifestations of underlying chronic renal insufficiency may obscure clinical evaluation of these patients.

J Immunol, 1980 Oct, 125(4), 1618 - 24
Monoclonal antibodies to murine cell surface antigens . I . Lyt-1.1; Hogarth PM et al.; The production and properties of a monoclonal anti-Lyt-1.1 antibody are described . The monoclonal antibody is of the IgG2a subclass, is cytotoxic, and reacts with Staphylococcal protein A . The tissue culture supernatant has the same activity (titer on thymus > 1/1000) as an anti-Lyt-1.1 produced by a standard immunization procedure, and after in vivo passage of the hybridoma cell line, the serum titer was > 1:10(6) . The monoclonal antibody has the same strain and tissue distribution as the conventional antibody, including reactions on Lyt-1 congenic strains, and it precipitates a cell surface molecule of m.w . approximately 67,000 . In nonprimed mice, there were similar numbers of Thy-1+ and Lyt-1+ cells in spleen, lymph node, and thymus . By using the monoclonal reagent, T-helper and T-killer cells in an allogenic system were shown to be Lyt-1.1.

Pathology, 1980 Oct, 12(4), 519 - 24
Measurement of IgM antibodies in the diagnosis of mycoplasma pneumonia; Roach EB et al.; The sera of 30 patients with complement-fixing antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae (titres larger than or equal to 32) were treated with staphylococcal protein A . This procedure effectively removed 90 to 95% of the IgG antibodies . The Mycoplasma-specific antibodies in the treated sera could then be measured by a complement fixation test . This provides a useful test for distinguishing serological responses to recent Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections from anamnestic responses due to past exposure to Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss, 1980 Oct, 73(10), 1217 - 22
{Obstructive mitral vegetations in bacterial endocarditis . Disappearance after migration as an embolism}; Neimann JL et al.; An unusual form of mitral valve endocarditis was observed on echocardiography . A 49 year old female with well tolerated mitral stenosis and mild aortic incompetence contracted staphylococcal endocarditis . Pulmonary venous hypertension developed and the diastolic murmur increased . The echocardiogramme showed voluminous vegetations obstructing the stenosed mitral orifice in diastole, simulating a left atrial myxoma . An acute ischaemic episode of the lower limb occurred under antibiotic therapy . A voluminous fibrino-cruoric infected embolus was extracted from the iliac artery and a second echocardiogramme showed the intra mitral mass to have disappeared . Concurrently, the diastolic murmur decreased and the signs of intolerance disappeared . When the infective process seemed to have been controlled, the patient died suddenly . Post-mortem examination showed fresh mitral endocardial lesions and renal and splenic infarcts . Five cases of mitral obstruction by vegetations have been previously reported, three of which had echocardiographic studies . The echocardiographic image is stereotyped and resembles a myxoma wedged in the mitral orifice but without the intra atrial mass . This type of mitral obstruction complicated moderate mitral stenosis in all cases . Regression of the echographic appearances of valvular vegetations has been reported in rare cases, but we were unable to find another case of embolism of vegetations reducing the valvular obstruction.

Surg Gynecol Obstet, 1980 Oct, 151(4), 481 - 3
Catheter sepsis due to Staphylococcus epidermidis during parenteral nutrition; Sitges-Serra A et al.; Staphylococcus epidermidis is a pathogenic organism with increasing importance in total parenteral nutrition therapy . Strict asepsis during catheter insertion prolongs the interval free from Staphylococcus epidermidis infection . Staphylococcus epidermidis colonizes the catheter after migrating from the skin . For protection, we advise a long subcutaneous tunnel for all catheters that are to be indwelling for longer than three weeks . Prompt recatheterization of a patient with Staphylococcus epidermidis sepsis can result in hematogenous seeding of the new catheter and persistence of the infection . Catheter related Staphylococcus epidermidis sepsis has subsided after catheter withdrawal, and there is no need for antibiotic therapy provided that other prosthetic materials are not placed in the vascular tree . Immunologic status of the patients is not related to the frequency or severity of Staphylococcus epidermidis infections, or both.

Infect Immun, 1980 Oct, 30(1), 198 - 203
Partial characterization of a bactericidal system in staphylococcal abscesses; Dye ES et al.; Since leukocytes comprise a major portion of staphylococcal abscesses, the properties of the bactericidal material in abscess homogenates were compared with those of bactericidal systems associated with leukocyte lysosomes . The bactericidal material in abscess homogenates was distinguished from the myeloperoxidase system by its resistance to heat (100 degrees C, 30 min), lack of solubility in dilute acid (0.005 N HCl), resistance to strong acid (pH 1), and insensitivity to catalase . It was differentiated from the cationic proteins by its lack of solubility in dilute acid, insensitivity to iron (0.1 mM) or trypsin (5 mg/ml), and greater activity in solutions of increased ionic strength . These characteristics, together with its sensitivity to Ca2+ or albumin, suggested that the material might be lipid . Subsequent studies revealed that all the bactericidal activity resided in the lipid fraction recovered after extraction of abscess homogenates by the Dole procedure.

Biochemistry, 1980 Sep 30, 19(20), 4653 - 9
Amino acid sequence of a collagenolytic protease from the hepatopancreas of the fiddler crab, Uca pugilator; Grant GA et al.; The amino acid sequence of a collagenolytic protease from the hepatopancreas of the fiddler crab, Uca pugilator, was determined from the structures of overlapping tryptic, chymotryptic, thermolytic, staphylococcal protease, and cyanogen bromide peptides together with automated sequencer analysis of the intact protein . Crab collagenase is a serine protease composed of 226 residues which is capable of degrading the native triple helix of collagen under physiological conditions . When aligned for optimal homology, crab collagenase displays 35% identity with bovine trypsin, 38% with bovine chymotrypsin B, and 32% with porcine elastase . The six half-cystinyl residues in crab collagenase correspond to those forming three of the five disulfide bonds in chymotrypsin . The residues forming the charge relay system of the active site of chymotrypsin (His-57, Asp-102, and Ser-195) are found in corresponding regions in crab collagenase, and the sequences around these residues are well conserved . The primary structure of crab collagenase is the first reported for a serine protease from crustacean hepatopancreas and the first reported for a serine protease possessing the unusual property of being able to degrade native helical collagen.

J Biol Chem, 1980 Sep 10, 255(17), 8266 - 72
Structure and action of heteronemertine polypeptide toxins . Primary structure of Cerebratulus lacteus toxin A-III; Blumenthal KM et al.; The primary structure of Cerebratulus lacteus cytotoxin A-III has been determined by automated Edman degradation of the reduced, carboxymethylated protein and of peptides derived therefrom by hydrolysis with trypsin and staphylococcal protease . As a result of these studies, the positions of all 95 amino acid residues have been determined unambiguously . The COOH-terminal half of the protein is more hydrophobic than is the NH2-terminal half . The predicted secondary structure of toxin A-III contains 38% alpha helix and 14% beta sheet, in excellent agreement with the values obtained experimentally by circular dichroism spectropolarimetry . Virtually all of the predicted helix lies in a single long stretch starting at position 63, just beyond the last residue of half-cystine in the sequence . This region of helix is also the most hydrophobic portion of the protein and may be involved in the mechanism of its cytotoxic action.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1980 Sep, (9), 52 - 7
{Pathogenetic characteristics of experimental traumatic osteomyelitis (immunological and bacteriological aspects)}; Veselov AIa et al.; The model of osteomyelitis was created in dogs by the method of Ilizarov, Stetsula and Kramer; as a result, a typical picture of the disease was obtained . The maximum survival time of the animals was 1 year . The inoculation of the infective agent into the osteotomy zone at an early period (1 hour after the operation) resulted in the complete suppression of the phagocytic activity of leukocytes and in the rapid rise of the lysozyme level . The staphylococcal strain causing the disease could be detected in the blood during 19 weeks, and in discharges from wounds and fistulas during 14 weeks of observation . The failure of the phagocytic activity of leukocytes at the initial stage resulted seemingly in the appearance and further development of the infectious process . The humoral nonspecific immunity factors under the study (complement and lysozyme) seemed to play no essential role at the initial stage . In the course of traumatic osteomyelitis at a later stage the specific factor, staphylococcal antitoxin, acquired the primary importance.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1980 Sep, (9), 49 - 52
{Method of preparing erythrocytic Fc immunoglobulin diagnostic agents}; Shamardin VA et al.; A new method for the nonspecific sensitization of erythrocytes with IgG by means of aqueous rivanol solution has been developed . Erythrocytic diagnostic reagents are intended for detecting reagents active against the Fc fragment of IgG (staphylococcal protein A, rheumatoid factor, Clq, etc.) . This method is more sensitive than Boyden's sensitization methods with the use of chronic chloride, alizarin blue indicator . The active areas of the Fab fragment of IgG are blocked on the erythrocytic surface, which constitutes an important feature of sensitization by means of rivanol.

Immunology, 1980 Sep, 41(1), 75 - 82
Uptake and degradation of staphylococcal protein A-IgG and HSA-IgG complexes by peritoneal macrophages from rabbits, guinea-pigs and mice; Rhodes JM et al.; Normal rabbit serum formed soluble complexes with protein A(pA) which were not taken up or broken down by rabbit peritoneal exudate (PE) cells . On the other hand, normal guinea-pig and mouse sera formed precipitating complexes with pA which were rapidly degraded by the appropriate PE cells . Rabbit, guinea-pig and mouse antisera towards staphylococcal pA formed precipitating complexes with pA, all of which were rapidly ingested and degraded by the homologous PE cells . Soluble and precipitated IgG complexes were identified by zone electrophoresis in agar with subsequent autoradiography . Precipitating complexes were formed when 125I-HSA was added to homologous rabbit, guinea-pig and mouse antisera, and these complexes were rapidly ingested and degraded by the corresponding PE cells . Thus, staphylococcal pA-IgG complexes (Fc-bound material) are ingested and degraded to the same extent as similar antigen-antibody complexes (Fab-bound material).

Br J Ophthalmol, 1980 Sep, 64(9), 684 - 6
Staphylococcus epidermidis endophthalmitis following intraocular lens implantation; Schanzlin DJ et al.; A 90-year-old man developed a hypopyon following cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation . The hypopyon cleared with topical corticosteroid therapy but recurred whenever the corticosteroid therapy was reduced . At surgery for the removal of the intraocular lens an opaque anterior vitreous membrane was excised . Cultures of the anterior vitreous grew Staphylococcus epidermidis . The diagnosis was further confirmed by the histology of the anterior vitreous membrane, which showed Gram-positive cocci in the macrophages and polymorphonuclear leucocytes . This case shows that corticosteroids may completely mask an endophthalmitis from an organism of low virulence such as Staphylococcus epidermidis . Endophthalmitis from an organism of low virulence should be considered in any case of persistent postoperative inflammation.

Postgrad Med J, 1980 Sep, 56(659), 642 - 8
Staphylococcal septicaemia, endocarditis, and osteomyelitis in dialysis and renal transplant patients; Nicholls A et al.; Septicaemia is a common and potentially lethal hazard of haemodialysis and renal transplantation; it is usually caused by Staphylococcus pyogenes . In 6 patients with S . pyogenes septicaemia, fatal endocarditis and spinal osteomyelitis have each occurred once, and 3 patients have had recurrent episodes of septicaemia . The management of septicaemia in these patients must include a search for metastatic infection, and prolonged therapy with 2 antistaphylococcal agents is necessary to ensure eradication of infection . Access site infection in dialysis patients must be treated vigorously, and recognized as potentially hazardous by patients . The risk of sepsis in dialysis and transplant patients cannot be excluded, but devastating consequences may be avoided by simple measures.

Antibiotiki, 1980 Sep, 25(9), 675 - 9
{Stimulation of nonspecific body resistance in transplantation}; Shcherbakova EG et al.; The experiments on mice showed in principle a possibility of using prodigiozan, a stimulant of the host immunobiological reactivity together with immunodepressants in transplantation . Imuran in doses of 25 or 60 mg/kg and prednisolone in doses of 30 or 50 mg/kg were used on alternate days at a rate of 5 injections of every drug per course . Prodigiozan was administered intramuscularly in a dose of 0.5 mg/kg on the 4th and 8th-9th days of the immunodepressant administration . Addition of prodigiozan to the scheme of the combined use of the immunodepressants provided an increase in the survival rate of mice with staphylococcal and coli infections and prolongation of the skin allotransplant rejection time . No effect of prodigiozan on immune depression due to imuran was observed . The results suggest that screening of drugs for the use in transplanthology for prevention of infectious complications in the presence of immunostimulants is advisable among stimulants of the host nonspecific resistance.

Eur J Immunol, 1980 Sep, 10(9), 726 - 9
Stimulation of murine B cells with anti-Ig antibodies: dominance of a negative signal mediated by the Fc receptor; Tony HP et al.; While soluble intact rabbit anti-mouse kappa chain antibodies (RaMK) fail to stimulate {3H} thymidine incorporation in B cells of young mice, the F(ab')2 fragments thereof are stimulatory . This stimulation can be abrogated by the addition of soluble intact RaMK, pointing at the dominance of a negative signal mediated by intact antibodies, probably via their Fc portion . Blocking the interaction between intact antibody, and the Fc receptor of B cells by staphylococcal protein A renders the intact antibodies also stimulatory . Protein A itself is not mitogenic in this system nor does its addition influence B cell activation induced by rabbit F (ab')2 anti-mouse kappa chain antibodies . The data indicate that the Ig receptor of murine B cells can serve as a triggering receptor provided the negative signal mediated by cross-linkage involving the B cells' Fc receptor is avoided.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1980 Sep, 77(9), 5079 - 83
Nucleosomal packaging of the thymidine kinase gene of herpes simplex virus transferred into mouse cells: an actively expressed single-copy gene; Camerini-Otero RD et al.; We have studied the nucleoprotein structure of the herpes thymidine kinase gene introduced into mouse Ltk-aprt- cells by means of DNA-mediated gene transfer . Using the technique of Southern blotting, we examined staphylococcal digests of the nuclei from the relatively stable transformants that contain one or less integrated copies of the thymidine kinase gene per haploid genome . Out experiments show that, under selection for the active expression of this gene, it is packaged in nucleosomes with a repeat length identical to the average for the host mouse sequences.

J Virol, 1980 Sep, 35(3), 876 - 87
Detection and characterization of mouse mammary tumor virus cell surface antigens: estimation of antigen abundance by protein A assay; Callis AH et al.; Antisera against the following mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) structural proteins were used to detect MMTV cell surface antigens: (i) the 27,000-dalton nucleoid protein, p27; (ii) the 36,000-dalton envelope glycoprotein, gp36; and (iii) the 52,000-dalton exterior envelope glycoprotein, gp52 . We report here the development of an adherent-cell isotopic staphylococcal protein A (SPA) test (ISPAT) for MMTV structural proteins which allows for the detection of an MMTV membrane-associated antigen as well as an estimate of its relative abundance on the cell surface . This test demonstrated that the gp52 was the predominant MMTV cell surface antigen detected on both C3H and GR mouse mammary tumor cells . In a comparative study with anti-gp52 and anti-gp36 sera, SPA-specific binding with anti-gp36 serum was found to be only 5 to 6% of that obtained for the external virion glycoprotein, gp52 . Both direct and indirect ISPAT indicated the presence of a low but detectable number of gp36 determinants on GR-MMTV cells; however, these gp36 determinants, unlike gp52 determinants, appeared to be exposed by the fixation procedure used . Only 0.9 to 1.1% of the gp52-specific binding was detected when anti-gp36 serum was allowed to react with viable cells . The binding of {125I}SPA achieved with anti-p27 serum was even less than that detected with gp36-directed reagents, indicating that p27 is not a cell surface antigen . The use of fluoresceinated SPA further demonstrated that p27 and gp36 reactivity was only associated with a small number of cells in each of the mammary cultures tested . When N-{4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazoly}-formamide-induced C3H bladder tumor cells were subjected to a gp52-directed ISPAT, the failure to detect gp52-specific binding demonstrated the specificity of this assay for MMTV gp52-expressing cells . In addition to detecting and characterizing MMTV cell surface antigens, the newly developed adherent cell assay could measure changes in the abundance of cell surface gp52 . When dexamethasone-treated and untreated GR cells were compared, measurements of gp52-specific SPA binding indicated that dexamethasone stimulation leads to a 12.2-fold increase in the amount of cell surface gp52 detected.

J Clin Invest, 1980 Sep, 66(3), 493 - 503
Use of lipophilic probes of membrane potential to assess human neutrophil activation . Abnormality in chronic granulomatous disease; Seligmann BE et al.; Previous studies using membrane potential sensitive probes have provided evidence that chemotactic factors elicit membrane potential changes in normal human neutrophils (PMN) . In addition to stimulation of PMN motility, chemotactic factors also stimulate degranulation and superoxide ion (O-2) generation and it has been suggested that alteration of membrane potential activates these events (Korchak, H . M., and G . Weissmann . 1978 . Proc, Natl, Acad, Sci . U . S . A . 75: 3818--3822) . To further define the inter-relationship of these functions, studies were done with two indirect probes of membrane potential, 3-3'-dipentyloxacarbocyanine and triphenylmethylphosphonium ion (TPMP+) using PMN from normal subjects, from patients with abnormal O-2 production (chronic granulomatous disease {CGD}), and from patients with defective degranulation and/or chemotaxis (Cheddiak-Higashi syndrome and patients with elevated immunoglobulin (Ig)E and recurrent staphylococcal infections) . The stimuli used were the chemoattractant N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (f-Met-Leu-Phe) and the secretagogues ionophore A23187 and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) . The results obtained with 3-3'-dipentyloxacarbocyanine and TPMP+ were comparable . The apparent membrane potential changes elicited by f-Met-Leu-Phe and PMA in normal PMN were reduced or entirely absent in PMN obtained from patients with CGD but normal in PMN from other patients . PMN from patients with CGD had normal calculated resting membrane potentials and normal responses elicited by the potassium ionophore valinomycin . The responses to calcium ionophore A23187 were only slightly impaired . The abnormality of the elicited response of CGD cells of f-Met-Leu-Phe and PMA could not be attributed to the absence of O-2, hydroxyl radical, singlet oxygen, or hydrogen peroxide acting on the probes . Instead this abnormality appears to be associated with a dysfunction in the normal molecular mechanism(s) stimulated upon neutrophil activation . The data suggest chemoattractant alteration of membrane potential in normal PMN is related to activation of oxidative metabolism but the relationship to chemotaxis and degranulation remains to be established.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1980 Aug, 18(2), 349 - 52
Phlebitis induced by parenteral treatment with flucloxacillin and cloxacillin: a double-blind study; Svedhem A et al.; Two studies were performed on a total of 54 patients with staphylococcal infections . Study I compares with phlebitogenic properties of flucloxacillin after intravenous infusions when either saline or sterile water was used as a solvent . No difference was observed between the two solvents, and the frequency of phlebitis for the total material without respect to solvents was 5% after 1 day of treatment and 13% after 2 days . Study II was a double-blind comparison of phlebitis caused by intravenous infusions of either flucloxacillin or cloxacillin . The frequencies of phlebitis were found to be 18 and 13%, respectively . After 2 days of treatment the frequency of phlebitis increased dramatically for both drugs . All infusions were given through a plastic cannula of 5-cm length and 1.2-mm diameter.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1980 Aug, 33(8), 891 - 4
Characterization of the tobramycin-kanamycin-neomycin resistance plasmid in Staphylococcus epidermidis; Hecht DW et al.; A strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis was transduced to tobramycin resistance and all transductants were also resistant to kanamycin and neomycin . Results of curing studies also indicated that these resistances were controlled by a single determinant on a plasmid . Agarose gel electrophoresis of the plasmid DNA from parent, cured, and transduced strains showed a single plasmid was responsible and its molecular weight was calculated to be 2.85 x 10(6) . Attempts to determine other properties of the organism controlled by this plasmid were unsuccessful.

Gut, 1980 Aug, 21(8), 683 - 8
Effects of salicylate on intestinal absorption: in vitro and in vivo studies with enterotoxigenic micro-organisms; Burke V et al.; This study was done to determine whether salicylate could affect alterations in intestinal absorption induced by preparations of enterotoxigenic micro-organisms . It was found in rats that salicylate increased intestinal monosaccharide uptake in vitro and reversed the inhibitory effects induced by cell-free preparations of Staphylococcus sp., Candida sp . and Klebsiella sp . In vivo, salicylates increased net water absorption in rat jejunum exposed to cell-free preparations of various micro-organisms . Increase in net fluid flux occurred after subcutaneous injection only with bacteria which stimulate adenylate cyclase activity . These observations suggest that the absorptive and anti-secretory effects of aspirin are cyclic nucleotide dependent . The potential clinical role of salicylates as anti-secretory agents in diarrhoeal diseases, particularly in children, requires further investigation.

Antibiotiki, 1980 Aug, 25(8), 619 - 22
{Antibacterial therapy and hospital infection}; Voropaeva SD et al.; Relationship between the etiological structure of hospital infections and antibacterial therapy was analysed . It was found that the wide use of antibiotics in medical practice changed the etiology of hospital infections in direction of predominance of gramnegative conditionally pathogenic bacteria, which are characterised by high resistance to antibiotics . Data on changing of staphylococcal sensitivity to antibiotics during the recent years are presented . The causes of this process are analysed.

Antibiotiki, 1980 Aug, 25(8), 606 - 9
{Effect of lincomycin, chymotrypsin and their combinations on the splenic plasmacytic reaction and the antibody titer in experimental staphylococcal infection}; Kardovich GA et al.; The effect of lincomycin, chymotrypsin and their combinations on the plasmocytic reaction of the spleen and agglutinin titer in mice with experimental staphylococcal infection was studied . The infected mice were divided into 4 groups: the 1st group included untreated infected animals, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th groups consisted of the mice treated with lincomycin, chymotrypsin and their combinations respectively . Lincomycin and chymotrypsin were used in doses of 150 and 2 mg/kg respectively . By the 3rd, 7th, 14th and 21st day of the infection and treatment the animals were decapitated, th blood was collected for determination of the staphylococcal agglutinin titers in the serum, the spleens were removed for investigation of the plasmocytic reaction . It was shown that the treatment of the experimental staphylococcal infection with lincomycin resulted in decreased proliferation of the plasmatic cells and antibody formation . The use of chymotrypsin resulted in increased proliferation of the plasmatic cells and specific antibody titer . The use of chymotrypsin in conjunction with lincomycin lowered the suppressing effect of the latter on the above indices.

Laryngoscope, 1980 Aug, 90(8 Pt 1), 1367 - 70
Job's syndrome; Ballard RW et al.; Job's syndrome is characterized by the clinical features of fair skin, red hair, recurrent cold staphylococcal skin abscesses with concurrent other bacterial infections and skin lesions . This case report chronicles a classic presentation of Job's syndrome . A brief review of the otolaryngological presentations of immune deficiencies is presented . Other than its relationship to the manifestations of other immunological defects, Job's syndrome is of interest to the otolaryngologist because of the head and neck infections represented in its clinical expression . Familiarity with phenotypic and laboratory manifestations of such diseases will enable earlier recognition and treatment of this syndrome.

Eur J Respir Dis, 1980 Aug, 61(4), 227 - 32
Cystic fibrosis in adult patients; Boye NP et al.; Seven adult patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are described . In five the diagnosis was established at adult age, the oldest being 37 years . All of them had chronic respiratory infections, but the general condition was relatively good in five of the cases . Milder cases of CF are probably underdiagnosed in young adults . Certain features seem rather characteristic for the disease and should alert the physician . The diagnosis may be suspected when a routine chest roentgenogram shows the presence of predominantly upper lobe infiltrations, atelectasis and bronchiectasis . Chronic and recurrent lung infections, especially when they are staphylococcal, can also be a guide . The sweat test is most valuable for the diagnosis, but decreased pancreatic function can support it in doubtful cases.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1980 Aug, (8), 53 - 8
{Evaluation of the diagnostic value of a modified hemolysis inhibition test in staphylococcal diseases}; Silich VA et al.; Blood serum samples from 602 healthy adults and 430 patients with suppurative lactation mastitis were studied with the use of the hemolysis inhibition test in the authors' modification, suitable for work with small amounts of blood serum . In most of the healthy adults (80.4%), the content of staphylococcal antitoxin in the blood serum did not exceed 1 antitoxic unit (AU), while in 3/4 of the suppurative mastitis patients a pronounced increase in antibody titers (up to 4--32 AU) was observed . The hemolysis inhibition test may serve as an additional criterion in the diagnosis of staphylococcal infections in adults.

Am J Vet Res, 1980 Aug, 41(8), 1161 - 6
Immunologic aspects of combined immunodeficiency disease in Arabian foals; Lew AM et al.; Tests for T- and B-cell quantitation and immune function were developed, and their application in the diagnosis of primary severe combined immunodeficiency disease (CID) in Arabian foals was investigated . Foals with CID had severe lymphopenia and had small or zero numbers of B cells, as shown by immunofluorescence of surface immunoglobulin (Ig), erythrocyte-antibody-complement rosetting, and staphylococcal protein A rosetting . Serum IgM was undetectable in four CID foals 25 to 71 days old . Demonstrable antibody responses were not elicited in CID foals by phage phi X-174, a potent antigen in normal foals . Nonspecific esterase (NSE) staining in the pattern of a single vesicle was investigated as a possible marker for equine T cells . For normal foals, 64.0% of peripheral blood lymphocytes stained NSE positive . The CID foal 1 had only 4.0% NSE-positive lymphocytes, whereas CID foals 2, 3, and 4 had 75%, 68%, and 77.5%, respectively . In an in vitro T-cell function test, lymphocytes from 12 normal foals did not show a response . In normal foals, intradermal injection of 50 micrograms of phytohemagglutinin induced visible reactions, and skin grafting induced a pronounced mononuclear cell response at the base of the graft . In contrast, there was little or no response in the foals with CID.

J Immunol, 1980 Aug, 125(2), 820 - 6
Polyclonal activation of human lymphocytes in vitro . I . Characterization of the lymphocyte response to a T cell-independent B cell mitogen; Schuurman RK et al.; The staphylococcal cell wall component protein A (SpA) and formalinized, Cowan I strain Staphylococcal organisms (STA) were compared with the lectins phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, and pokeweed mitogen for their ability to trigger proliferation of normal human lymphocytes, lymphocyte subpopulations, and cells from patients with primary immune deficiency diseases . SpA was found to be a potent T cell mitogen, very similar to the other lectins tested . It failed to stimulate purified non-T cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with different forms of severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID) . STA, treated to prevent the leakage of soluble SpA during culture, exclusively stimulated non-T cells: the responding cell population was characterized to be E-rosette negative but positive for C3 receptors, surface Ia, a receptor for STA itself, and likely carried surface immunoglobulin . Normal responses to STA were found in patients with the adenosine deaminase-positive form of SCID . In 18 patients with humoral immune deficiency syndromes, the presence of STA responses was correlated with the presence of circulating, surface immunoglobulin-bearing cells . A commercial STA preparation was rendered B cell specific after reformalinization, a procedure that eliminated the shedding of soluble SpA under culture conditions.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1980 Aug, 77(8), 4614 - 7
Amino acid sequence of the T4 DNA helix-destabilizing protein; Williams KR et al.; The primary structure of the T4 single-stranded DNA-binding protein coded by gene 32 has been determined by manual and autoated sequencing of peptides derived from partial proteolysis, cyanogen bromide cleavage, and digestion with trypsin, chymotrypsin, and staphylococcal protease . Tryptic digestion of citraconylated or succinylated gene 32 protein yields five peptides containing 4, 27, 42, 65, and 163 residues, which can be separated by Sephadex chromatography . Each of the tryptic peptides was subjected to automated sequencing and, if necessary, more extensive cleavage . The intact protein contains 301 amino acids, has a molecular weight of 33,487, and can be specifically cleaved at lysines 21 and 253 by limited trypsin digestion . Previous studies have shown that the "B" region (residues 1-21), which has a charge of +4, is important for the protein-protein interactions involved in gene 32 protein self-association and cooperaive binding to single-stranded DNA . The "A" region (residues 254-301) has been implicated in controlling the helix-destabilizing "activity" of gene 32 protein and in interacting with other T4 DNA replication proteins . The A region has a charge of -10 and, in addition, contains two unusual stretches of four serine residues separated by glycine 284 . The region between positions 73 and 115 contains 75% of the tyrosine residues and may be important for DNA binding.

J Pediatr, 1980 Aug, 97(2), 238 - 43
Staphylococcal protein A adsorption of neonatal serum to facilitate early diagnosis of congenital infection; Tuomanen EI et al.; The early diagnosis of congenital infection frequently depends on the ability to distinguish between infant IgM and maternal IgG antibodies . Staphylococcal protein A, which specifically binds IgG, removed maternal IgG from the serum of newborn infants . Residual IgM antibodies to CMV, rubella, toxoplasmosis, and syphilis were then identified by routine serologic techniques . Persistence of greater than or equal to 25% of the original antibody titer following SPA adsorption distinguished the sera of infants with congenital infection from those of healthy infants . No false negative results were encountered . Specificity of the serologic results of SPA-treated infant sera correlated with IgM-specific identification of the causative agent . Potentially false positive titers were identified by concurrent elevation of IgA or rheumatoid factor . Adsorption of cord or neonatal serum with SPA facilitates accurate serologic diagnosis of congenital infection.

J Biol Chem, 1980 Jul 25, 255(14), 7034 - 9
Associations of erythrocyte membrane proteins . Binding of purified bands 2.1 and 4.1 to spectrin; Tyler JM et al.; Specific associations of spectrin with Bands 2.1 and 4.1 have been examined by measuring the binding of purified 125I-Band 2.1 and 125I-Band 4.1 to {32P}spectrin in solution . Binding of Bands 2.1 and 4.1 to spectrin was measured as 125I radioactivity precipitated by an anti-spectrin.Staphylococcus aureus complex . The association between spectrin and Band 2.1 is characterized by relatively high affinity (Kd congruent to 10(-7) M at pH 7.6) and saturation of available binding sites at a molar ratio of 1:1 (Band 2.1/spectrin heterodimer) . Band 4.1 binding to spectrin is characterized by a similar affinity (Kd congruent to 10(-7) M at pH 7.6) with saturation of available sites occurring at a stoichiometric ration of 2:1 (Band 4.1/spectrin heterodimer) . Scatchard plots of Band 4.1 binding to spectrin are curvilinear and consistent with a positively cooperative interation . Bands 2.1 and 4.1 bind to different sites on the spectrin molecule: unlabeled Band 4.1 does not competitively displace 125 I-Band 2.1 from spectrin in solution, and low angle rotary-shadowed platinum-carbon replicas of these polypeptides reveal two discrete binding sites.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1980 Jul 24, 624(1), 121 - 9
Complete amino acid sequence of the major component myoglobin from Hubb's beaked whale, Mesoplodon carlhubbsi; Dwulet JA et al.; The complete primary structure of the major component myoglobin from Hubb's beaked whale, Mesoplodon carlhubbsi, was determined by specific cleavage of the protein to obtain large peptides which are readily degraded by the automatic sequencer . In all experiments a Beckman 890C automatic sequencer was used to degrade the peptides . A cyanogen bromide digest was used to fragment the protein at its two methionine residues into three fragments which were separated by gel filtration . In a similar pattern the protein was citraconylated to protect the lysine residues and the modified protein fragmented at its arginine residues with trypsin . The three peptides obtained here were also purified by gel filtration . Sequencer analysis of the whole apoprotein, cyanogen bromide fragments and the peptides cleaved at the arginine residues with trypsin provided 80% of the completed sequence . The remainder of the sequence was obtained by digesting the middle cyanogen bromide fragment with staphylococcal protease and by total tryptic digestion of the whole apoprotein and isolating the resulting peptides by ion-exchange chromatography . The primary structure of the Mesoplodon carlhubbsi myoglobin represents a sequence which may be closey related to the ancestral sequence of all cetacean myoglobins.

J Biol Chem, 1980 Jul 10, 255(13), 6412 - 20
Complete amino acid sequence of human phosphoglycerate kinase . Cyanogen bromide peptides and complete amino acid sequence; Huang IY et al.; Cyanogen bromide treatment of reduced, S-carboxymethylated phosphoglycerate kinase yielded 14 major peptides, CNBr-1 (20 residues), CNBr-2 (8 residues), CNBr-3 (33 residues), CNBr-4 (11 residues), CNBr-5 (104 residues), CNBr-6 (14 residues), CNBr-7 (37 residues), CNBr-8 (7 residues), CNBr-9 (6 residues), CNBr-10 (11 residues), CNBr-11 (19 residues), CNBr-12 (42 residues), CNBr-13 (44 residues), and CNBr-14 (61 residues) . The amino acid sequences of all the cyanogen bromide peptides were determined by a combination of automated and manual sequence analysis, and the characterization of tryptic and chymotryptic peptides and peptides obtained by digestion with staphylococcal protease . Two tryptic peptides which were not obtained by direct digestion of whole phosphoglycerate kinase were recovered from cyanogen bromide Peptides CNBr-13 and CNBr-14 and these peptides were purified and sequenced . Based on the information from all the tryptic and cyanogen bromide peptides derived from the enzyme, the proper alignment of these peptides was made . Thus, complete amino acid sequence of human phosphoglycerate kinase consisting of 417 amino acid residues was determined.

J Biol Chem, 1980 Jul 10, 255(13), 6387 - 91
Growth phase dependence of invertase mRNA levels in yeast; Chu FK et al.; Poly(A)-containing RNA from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was translated in the wheat germ protein-synthesizing system and yielded as one of its products a polypeptide which was identified as invertase . This characterization was based on the presence of a protein band at 60,000 daltons following immunoprecipitation with a specific invertase antibody, and the formation from this protein of staphylococcal V8 protease and cyanogen bromide peptides, which were similar in size to those from carbohydrate-depleted invertase . The observed increase in invertase activity from the early to mid logarithmic stage of cell growth was synchronous with the appearance of translatable invertase mRN in these cells . No translatable invertase mRNA, however, was detected in late logarithmic cells, although a constant level of invertase activity was present in the culture medium.

Am Surg, 1980 Jul, 46(7), 391 - 7
Pulsatile lavage in the management of postoperative wound infections; Saxe A et al.; High-pressure pulsatile lavage is more effective than conventional irrigation in cleansing recently contaminated wounds . This method of irrigation was applied to postoperative infections in an attempt to lower wound bacterial counts to 10(5) or fewer organisms per gram of tissue, a level predictive of safe primary reclosure . Sequential wound biopsies for quantitative bacterial analysis demonstrated that high-pressure lavage is more effective than conventional irrigation in lowering bacterial counts in postoperative staphylococcal wound infections in guinea pigs . However, reductions were transient and did not lower counts sufficiently to permit safe reclosure . In contrast to results in newly contaminated wounds, pulsatile lavage of postoperative infections did not have therapeutic benefit . Reclosure of wounds with greater than 10(5) organisms per gram of tissue is unsafe even after five days of therapy.

Cutis, 1980 Jul, 26(1), 88 - 9
Thyroid function abnormalities from the use of topical betadine solution on intact skin of children; Block SH; A case report of a family with severe recurrent staphylococcal furunculosis, requiring multiple courses of antibiotics is presented herein . Treatment with Betadine solution proved to reduce the recurrence rate, however, TSH levels were elevated in four of the seven family members.

Klin Padiatr, 1980 Jul, 192(4), 384 - 8
{Constrictive pericarditis in early infancy (author's transl)}; Vogt J et al.; The unusual course of illness involving an 8-week old infant is described, which, after a staphylococcic sepsis with subsequent purulent pericarditis, developed the typical clinical symptoms of a constrictive pericarditis within a 12-day-period . There is only one similar case reported on in medical literature, involving an 8-month old infant.--Despite an immediate operation (anterior pericardectomy) the infant died 3 days later.

Sex Transm Dis, 1980 Jul-Sep, 7(3), 125 - 9
The humoral immune response in rabbits infected with Treponema pallidum: Comparison of antibody levels measured by the staphylococcal protein A-IgG (SPA-TP) microassay with VDRL, FTA-Abs, and TPI antibody responses during the development of acquired resistance to challenge; Pepose JS et al.; The ontogeny of the immunoglobulin G (IgG) immune response in experimental syphilis was determined by use of an antitreponemal microassay (SPA-TP) in which radioiodinated staphylococcal protein A (SPA) was used . Results were compared with those obtained in the same rabbits by use of the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL), fluorescent treponemal antibody-absorption (FTA-Abs), and Treponema pallidium immobilization (TPI) tests . Of the four serologic tests, only the SPA-TP and TPI assays gave results that correlated significantly over the entire 17-month period of infection . Preliminary evidence indicated that the antibody detected by the SPA-TP microassay may correlate quantitatively with the state of host immunity as determined by in vivo challenge; if this finding is confirmed, the SPA-TP microassay could be applied for assessment of the immune status in syphilis.

J Immunol, 1980 Jul, 125(1), 448 - 53
Fc receptors of a human promyelocytic leukemic cell line: evidence for two types of receptors defined by binding of the staphylococcal protein A-IgG1 complex; Crabtree GR; The specificity and kinetics of binding of purified monomeric human and murine myeloma immunoglobulins to Fc receptors were studied in a human promyelocytic cell line (HL-60) . HL-60 cells contain approximately 20,000 Fc receptors per cell and bind human IgG1, IgG3 and mouse IgG2a with high affinity (dissociation constant of 5 to 10 nM) . Kinetic studies of the binding of IgG1 to HL-60 cells demonstrate rapid exchange with ambient immunoglobulin with approximately one-half of the surface-bound IgG1 exchanging every 25 to 30 min at 37 degrees C . Estimation of the equilibrium binding constant from the rates of association and dissociation of IgG1 agrees well with the values obtained from Scatchard analysis of equilibrium binding of radioiodinated IgG1 . Approximately one-half of the Fc receptors of HL-60 cells are capable of binding IgG1 complexed to Protein A . This result was independent of the concentration of Protein A (0.5 to 200 microM) or the time of incubation of IgG1 with Protein A . Studies in which Protein A was incubated with HL-60 cells at 37 degrees C then rapidly washed at 0 degrees C indicated that Protein A did not degrade Fc receptors or interact with the Fc receptor sites on HL-60 cells . The complexes formed between Protein A and IgG1 sedimented at 7 to 9S by ultracentrifugation . These results suggest that there are two types of Fc receptors on HL-60 cells, which can be distinguished by their ability to bind the IgG1-Protein A complex.

Vopr Pitan, 1980 Jul-Aug, (4), 45 - 7
{Use of Robolact and Linolac dry milk mixtures in the overall therapy of infants with acute intestinal infections}; Orlova ZN et al.; The clinical efficacy of the dry milk mixtures "Robolact" and "Linolac" manufactured in Hungary was studied comprehensively in young children with acute intestinal infections . It was shown that "Robolact" has a good palatability and produces a satiation sensation . The children suffering from coli-infection, staphylococcal enterocolitis and mixed intestinal infection received different types of feeding . In children on "Robolact" feeding, the stool returned to normal over a shorter period of time which was equal to 10 (+/-2) days versus 16 (+/-3) days in children on natural feeding, and 12 (+/-5) days on feeding with kefir and its mixtures . The mixture "Linolac" given during the amelioration of acute clinical symptoms of the intestinal infection was tolerated more poorly that was manifested in regurgitations in part of children and in food refusals in 15% of the cases . Examination of the microflora revealed dysbacteriosis in all the patients with intestinal infections regardless the type of feeding . Substantial differences in the microflora composition concerned the anaerobic flora in both experimental and control groups . The children on natural feeding showed the decreased bifidoflora half as frequently as those on formula feeding.

Blood, 1980 Jul, 56(1), 84 - 7
Heavy-chain subclass of round antiplatelet IgG in autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura; Hymes K et al.; The gamma heavy-chain subclass of bound antiplatelet antibody was examined in six patients with autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (ATP) by a solid-phase radioimmunoassay . Monospecific antisera for gamma G1, gamma G2, gamma G3, and gamma G4 subclasses were employed in a "sandwich" technique, utilizing the binding of 126I-staphylococcal protein A . We have previously reported that serum antiplatelet antibody was restricted to be gamma G3 subclass in ATP . In contrast, all 4 IgG subclasses were found bound to platelets of ATP patients in the same distribution as that present in normal serum . It is suggested that the differences noted between serum antiplatelet IgG and platelet-bound IgG may represent different mechanisms of platelet injury.

Ann Sclavo, 1980 Jul-Aug, 22(4), 575 - 81
{Phage typing of the "Staphylococcus epidermidia" (author's transl)}; del Piano M et al.; Serious infections due to hospital-transmitted Staphylococcus epidermidis strains have become more and more important and frequent . Therefore, a need for typing methods which characterize St . epidermidis strains for epidermiological purpose is increasing . Only a few data are available for the phage typing of those strains and the aim of our paper has been to set them up.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1980 Jul, (7), 67 - 71
{Immunoprevention of staphylococcal infections at an industrial enterprise}; Sokhin AA et al.; The immunogenicity, immunological and epidemiological effectiveness of the subcutaneous, enteral and combined immunizations of the workers at a steel plant with staphylococcal toxoid has been studied . The subcutaneous injection of the adsorbed toxoid in a dose of 0.2 ml by means of the jet injector, model, was accompanied by moderate reactogenicity (the frequency of local reactions was 26.8%, and the frequency of systemic reaction 18%) and produced 4-fold increase in antitoxin titers and 12-fold decrease in the morbidity rate of staphyloccal infection . Enteral immunization in 3 administrations proved to be nonreactogenic and only slightly effective (antitoxin titers increased more than 2-fold, morbidity rate fell 2-fold) . Combined immunization (subcutaneous and enteral) with the toxoid, preceded by the injection of gamma globulin, reduced the frequency of reaction 2- to 3-fold and stimulated antitoxin production (the titer increased 8-fold), thus decreasing the morbidity rate of staphylococcal infection 3.1-fold.

Biochemistry, 1980 Jun 24, 19(13), 2992 - 3000
Distribution within chromatin of deoxyribonucleic acid repair synthesis occurring at different times after ultraviolet radiation; Smerdon MJ et al.; We have compared the initial distribution and subsequent redistribution within chromatin of nucleotides incorporated during the early ("rapid") phase and the late ("slow") phase of UV-induced DNA repair synthesis . As has been observed for the early repair phase, most or all of the nucleotides incorporated during the late repair phase are initially staphylococcal nuclease and DNase I "sensitive" (i.e., rapidly digested) . This initial enhanced sensitivity is accompanied by both an underrepresentation of these nucleotides in the 145--165 base pari (core) DNA produced by staphylococcal nuclease digestion and an absence of these nucleotides in the approximately 20-base repeat pattern produced by DNase I digestion . Furthermore, nucleotides incorporated at late time after damage are involved in nucleosome rearrangements as reported previously for repair synthesis occurring at early times {Smerdon, M . J., & Lieberman, M . W . (1978) Proc . Natl . Acad . Sci . U.S.A . 75, 4238--4241} . The kinetics of redistribution, however, appear to be more rapid than those observed for early times . Following redistribution the average nucleosome repeat length of DNA containing repair-incorporated nucleotides is the same as that of bulk DNA regardless of the time after damage that repair occurs; also, many of these nucleotides coelectrophorese with the approximately 10-base repeat fragments generated by DNase I . The results yield a new interpretation of our previous studies {Smerdeon, M . J., Tlsty, T . D., & Lieberman, M . W . (1978) Biochemistry 17, 2377--2386} on the distribution of nucleotides incorporated at long times after UV irradiation.

Biochemistry, 1980 Jun 24, 19(13), 2977 - 92
Deoxyribonuclease I generates single-stranded gaps in chromatin deoxyribonucleic acid; Riley DE; Production of 10-base multiple DNA ladder fragments during DNase I digestion of chromatin is explained by a model which does not involve site-specific nicking by the DNase I . This model was tested because it explains why 10-base (actually 10.4 base) multiple-related fragments are paradoxically generated by both endonucleolytic (DNase I) and exonucleolytic (exonuclease III) mechanisms . This new model also explains the phenomenon of substantial single-stranded DNA production during DNase I digestion of chromatin . The latter phenomenon has been widely observed but is not explained by previous models . The single-stranded gap model to be presented makes testable predictions . Primarily, these are that DNase I produces single-stranded gaps in chromatin DNA and that the termini of 10-base multiple ladder fragments are separated by single-stranded gaps . Single-stranded gap production by DNase I was confirmed by a number of methods . Sensitivity of ladder band components (from DNase I but not staphylococcal nuclease digests) to S1 nuclease suggested that the ladder fragments themselves may compose a significant portion of these gaps . Separation of ladder fragment termini by single-stranded gaps was verified by demonstrating both resistance to the nick-specific NAD+-dependent ligase and sensitivity to T4 ligase which can ligate across gaps . Many single-stranded gaps, occurring both individually and clusters, were observed by electron microscopy using either cytochrome c labeling (where the gaps) are thinner than duplex) or gene 32 protein labeling (gaps thicker than duplex) . Gap sizes were estimated by protecting them with gene 32 protein and digesting away unprotected duplexes . By this method, gap sizes fall into a ladder distribution (from 10 or 20 bases up to 120 bases), which, at least in the region of the shorter sizes, clearly indicates the sizes of single-stranded gaps formed in chromatin by DNase I.

Br Med J, 1980 Jun 21, 280(6230), 1495 - 8
Staphylococcal bacteraemia, fusidic acid, and jaundice; Humble MW et al.; Fusidic acid was used to treat 131 out of 250 patients with staphylococcal bacteraemia over 10 years . Other antimicrobial agents were given to the 119 remaining patients . Thirty-seven patients were already jaundiced before antibiotic treatment was started . Jaundice developed during treatment in 38 out of 112 patients given fusidic acid (34%) and in two out of 101 patients given other antimicrobials . The incidence of jaundice was higher in patients given fusidic acid intravenously (48%) rather than by mouth (13%) . Jaundice appeared within 48 hours after the administration of fusidic acid in 93% of these cases . When the drug was stopped serum bilirubin concentrations fell to normal values within four days in those patients in whom they had been previously normal and who survived the bacteraemic episode . Fusidic acid was associated with increasing jaundice in 13 of 19 patients (68%) already jaundiced before it was given . In six out of 32 patients who developed jaundice while receiving intravenous fusidic acid serum alkaline phosphatase activity was raised suggestive of cholestatic jaundice . The mechanism in the remaining patients was unknown . Fusidic acid, particularly the intravenous preparation, in invaluable in treating severe staphylococcal infection but should be used with caution in patients with abnormal liver function . Patients receiving intravenous fusidic acid should be given the oral form of the drug as soon as their clinical condition permits.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1980 Jun, 39(6), 1134 - 7
Determination of staphylococcal enterotoxin A in cheddar cheese produced without starter activity; Ibrahim GF et al.; Three variants of the chloramine-T radioiodination method were used to iodinate staphylococcal enterotoxin A with 125I . Only one method consistently produced usable labels for radioimmunoassay . The iodine incorporation was 55 to 76%; the specific activity was 3.5 to 5.5 muCi/microgram of enterotoxin, and the label was extremely stable on storage at -20 degrees C . Determinations of the enterotoxin in extracts of cheddar cheese produced without starter activity were carried out with the radioimmunoassay system and protein A as antibody immunoadsorbent . The assay buffer used in this system significantly influenced the detected levels of enterotoxin in the cheese extracts . Phosphate buffer, but not tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris) buffer, caused gelling of cheese extract proteins, thus resulting in an incomplete separation of free from antibody-bound 125I enterotoxin . When Tris buffer was used, the results indicated a high degree of accuracy and precision for this radioimmunoassay . The lowest detectable enterotoxin concentration in cheese extract was 0.5 ng/ml.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1980 Jun, 88(3), 121 - 3
Immunochemical analysis of the teichoic acid from Staphylococcus simulans; Osland A et al.; The wall teichoic acid of Staphylococcus simulans has been characterized as a glycerol phosphate polymer with glycosidically linked N-acetylglucosamine . Susceptibility to beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase and serological similarity to poly C beta from Staphylococcus saprophyticus, showed that the amino sugar is in the beta-configuration.

J Gen Microbiol, 1980 Jun, 118(2), 529 - 33
The characteristics of extracellular protein secretion by Staphylococcus staphylolyticus; Robinson JM et al.; The differential rate of extracellular protein formation by Staphylococcus staphylolyticus, the lysostaphin-producing organism, was biphasic with a low rate of exoprotein secretion during exponential growth and an increased rate during the post-exponential phase of growth . After 20 h, when no further exoprotein was secreted, exoprotein accounted for 5% of the total protein in the culture . The secretion of three extracellular enzymes was monitored and found to represent a constant proportion of total exoprotein at exoprotein concentrations greater than 0.1 mg ml-1.

J Infect Dis, 1980 Jun, 141(6), 781 - 6
Quantitative culture of intravenous catheters and other intravascular inserts; Cleri DJ et al.; Quantitative cultures were done on 149 intravenous catheters and 40 additional intravascular inserts . Intradermal and intravascular segments of the insert were cultured separately . The inserts were immersed in broth and flushed . The number of colony-forming units (cfu) per insert was estimated by surface culture of serial dilution of the broth . Nonquantitative culture of undiluted broth was also done . Since all inserts associated with bacteremia had at least 10(3) cfu, inserts greater than 10(3) cfu were considered infected . Staphylococcus epidermidis was more likely than more virulent organisms to colonize an insert without causing bacteremia . The inserts in one bacteremic patient were infected from a distant bloodstream focus; however, in the majority of patients, quantitative intradermal cultures suggested that the insertion site was the portal of entry . In bacteremic patients, either a positive quantitative or a nonquantitative culture identified an infected insert . However, only 33% of positive nonquantitative insert cultures from nonbacteremic patients were confirmed by quantitative insert culture.

Am J Med, 1980 Jun, 68(6), 955 - 61
Chorioretinitis with a combined defect in T and B lymphocytes and granulocytes . A new syndrome successfully treated with dialyzable leukocyte extracts (transfer factor); Kyong CU et al.; A patient with immune deficiency, recurrent pyogenic infections and active chorioretinitis is described; in addition to agammaglobulinemia, both quantitative and qualitative T-cell deficiencies were documented . Furthermore, the patient's granulocytes (polymorphonuclear leukocytes), although normal in their bactericidal capacity for Staphylococcus, responded poorly to both leukocyte migration inhibition factor and neutrophil immobilizing factor obtained from normal cells . The immunologic features of this patient appear to comprise a new syndrome . Remarkable diminution of the ocular lesions and increased visual acuity occurred within two months after the initiation of therapy with dialyzable leukocyte extracts (transfer factor) . Concurrent testing of the patient's cell-mediated immunity showed increased numbers of circulating T lymphocytes and improved T-cell function following dialyzable leukocyte extract {DLE} therapy . The dramatic clinical results indicate that similar therapy may prove to be beneficial in other patients with chorioretinitis and T-cell deficiency.

Am J Vet Res, 1980 Jun, 41(6), 978 - 80
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, using staphylococcal protein A for detecting virus antibodies; Potgieter LN et al.; A modification of the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed which used staphylococcal protein A linked to horseradish peroxidase . Virus antibodies in equine, bovine, porcine, feline, canine, lagomorphic (rabbit), and human sera were detected, using the indirect ELISA in which the antiglobulin enzyme conjugate was replaced by protein A linked to horseradish peroxidase . Results of the ELISA were compared with the results of the serum-virus neutralization test . The application of the test in laboratories performing serologic assays with sera from diverse animal species is discussed.

J Chir (Paris), 1980 Jun-Jul, 117(6-7), 397 - 401
{Experimental staphylococcal colonization of a Dacron arterial prosthesis (author's transl)}; Goeau-Brissonniere O et al.; Infection is certainly the most dramatic complication of reconstructive vascular surgery, even after long periods following the operation . A hematogenous mechanism is often implicated in late infections ; colonization of an arterial graft appears to depend on the material used and cicatrization processes . Animal studies have the disadvantage of requiring repeated operations . We have developed an in vitro infusion system in order to reproduce the bacteremic phenomenon, and to study the conditions necessary for colonization by a staphylococcus of a textile prosthesis (Dacron) in velvet, placed in the "Ex vivo" circulation of a dog for 2 hours . The prosthetic material is colonized very much more easily than a fragment of aorta used a control . The bacterial deposit (y) is a linear function of the inoculum (x) and, by approximation, y = 10(4) x (p 0.01) . Colonization is independent of the infusion rate when this varies between 5 and 20 cm/sec . The reproducibility of the results, their quantification, and the ease with which these tests can be employed suggest that such models could be used to assess resistance to bacterial colonization of various materials used for arterial substitution.

J Clin Microbiol, 1980 Jun, 11(6), 546 - 51
Comparison of seven enzyme immunoassay systems for measurement of cytomegalovirus; Yolken RH et al.; The relative sensitivities of seven different enzyme immunoassay (EIA) systems for the measurement of cytomegalovirus (CMV) were compared . Methods which used two separate antisera to CMV provided the greatest degree of sensitivity . Equivalent sensitivity was noted with the use of either enzyme-labeled antiglobulin or unlabeled staphylococcal protein A and rabbit enzyme-antienzyme complex to measure the second anti-CMV antibody bound to the solid phase . Single-antibody methods were less sensitive than the double-antibody methods but were more sensitive than an inhibition EIA . However, the sensitivity of the inhibition EIA was improved when CMV-antibody complexes were separated from unreacted antibody by means of precipitation with polyethylene glycol . Double-antibody EIA systems are preferable when antisera prepared in two different animal species are obtainable . However, a number of single-antibody EIA systems can be formulated for use in situations where only a single antiserum is available.

Biochem J, 1980 Jun 1, 187(3), 577 - 89
Primary structure of the calcium ion-transporting adenosine triphosphatase from rabbit skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum . Some peptic, thermolytic, tryptic and staphylococcal-proteinase peptides; Allen G et al.; The soluble peptides from the peptic digest of the reduced S-carboxymethylated 3-carboxypropionylated adenosine triphosphatase protein have been isolated and most of their structures have been determined . About 397 residues of the protein were represented in these peptides . The reduced S-carboxymethylated protein was digested with thermolysin, and peptides containing arginine or carboxymethylcysteine were isolated and characterized . Some peptides isolated from tryptic and staphylococcal-proteinase digests of the protein are described . The information contained within the structures of these peptides has been used to reconstruct long stretches of the sequence of the ATPase protein that constitute most of the protein structure external to the lipid bilayer (Allen, Trinnaman and Green (1980) Biochem . J . 187, 591-616) . The details of some of the chromatographic steps used in the isolation of the peptides and the properties of the peptides are contained in Supplementary Publication SUP 50104 (45 pages), which has been deposited with the British Library Lending Division, Boston Spa, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS23 7BQ, U.K., from whom copies can be obtained on the terms indicated in Biochem . J . (1978) 169, 5.

Acta Virol, 1980 Jun, 24(4), 265 - 72
Detection of herpesvirus antigens by solid-phase radioimmunoassay with 125I-antiglobulin and 125I-protein A; Bystricka M et al.; The binding of immune (IS) and non-immune (NS) sera to herpes simplex virus type 1- (HSV-1) infected Vero cells was tested by indirect solid-phase radioimmunoassay (RIA) with radioiodinated swine anti-rabbit IgG (125I-SwAR-IgG) or staphylococcal protein A (125I-SPA) . To indicate the binding of non-immune IgG molecules to virus-induced Fc-receptors, the cells were incubated in the presence or absence of the glycosylation inhibitor 2-deoxy-D-glucose (DOG) . With 125I-SwAR-IgG, the binding of both IS and NS to untreated cells was higher at all time intervals than their binding to infected cells kept post infection in the presence of DOG . The titre of IS as detected by 125I-SwAR-IgG remained unchanged regardless whether the cells were incubated in the presence or absence of the drug . 125I-SPA gave much higher net binding than 125I-SwAR-IgG but, the end point titre of IS as measured by 125I-SPA was 1-2 dilution steps lower than with 125I-SwAR-IgG.

Nouv Presse Med, 1980 May 17, 9(22), 1571 - 5
{Relapsing infections associated with high serum IgE levels Buckley's syndrome (author's transl)}; Perraudin ML et al.; An 8-year old girl suffering from chronic relapsing staphylococcal skin infection since the first days of life was found to have extremely high (up to 26,500 units/ml) serum IgE levels and impaired polymorphonuclear chemotaxis . The other immunological tests appeared to be normal . There seemed to be a correlation between impaired chemotaxis and rise in IgE, the latter perhaps being related to a deficiency in some thymus-dependent lymphocyte functions.

Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 1980 May 16, 289(1036), 197 - 205
Structure-activity relations and beta-lactamase resistance; O'Callaghan CH; beta-Lactam antibiotics resistant to beta-lactamase degradation can be produced by many chemical modifications, but often at the expense of antibacterial activity . Substitution onto several positions in the molecule produces different and often selective resistance; for instance, heavily sterically hindered acyl groups give staphylococcal beta-lactamase resistance to penicillins, and resistance to some enzymes from Gram-negative pathogens to both penicillins and cephalosporins . 6-alpha- or 7-alpha-substituents respectively confer a broad spectrum of resistance (e.g . cefoxitin), but changes at positions 2 or 3 have only a minor influence on enzyme susceptibility . Changes in the ring condensed with the beta-lactam, such as changing ceph-3-em to ceph-2-em may greatly enhance stability . Small improvement can occur when the nuclear sulphur atom is oxidized, but a much better effect is obtained when it is replaced by another atom such as oxygen, as in clavulanic acid . This compound appears to have broad spectrum resistance which is actually due to susceptibility and subsequent produce inhibition.

N Z Med J, 1980 May 14, 91(659), 342 - 4
Glomerulonephritis associated with an infected ventriculo-atrial shunt; Dawson KP et al.; We present the case of a seven year old girl with a ventriculo-arterial shunt who developed haematuria and the nephrotic syndrome . Renal biopsy showed a diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis of mesangiocapillary type . Cultures of blood, cerebrospinal fluid and later, the removed shunt, grew Staphylococcus epidermidis . Her renal function subsequently improved following antibiotic therapy and revision of the shunt.

Lancet, 1980 May 10, 1(8176), 993 - 4
Use of modified subcutaneous right-atrial catheter for venous access in leukaemic patients; Blacklock HA et al.; A large-diameter indwelling subcutaneous right-atrial catheter was inserted in 25 patients with haematological malignancies and neutropenia to provide ready access to the venous system for all infusions and blood aspirations . The median duration of catheter placement was 70 days . In 23 patients (92%) the catheter was used successfully until remission or death . Catheter-related exit-site infectons, generally mild, occurred in 14 patients (56%), Staphylococcus epidermidis being the predominant organism cultured . Septicaemia occurred in 11 neutropenic patients (44%) . In 2 patients the same organism was grown from blood and exit site . The use of this catheter greatly facilitates patient care and support, minimises discomfort, and is associated with an acceptable rate of complications.

Aust J Biol Sci, 1980 May, 33(2), 153 - 67
Myoglobins of cartilaginous fishes . II . Isolation and amino acid sequence of myoglobin of the shark Mustelus antarcticus; Fisher WK et al.; Myoglobin isolated from red muscle of the gummy shark M . antarcticus was purified by gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography on carboxymethyl cellulose in 8 M urea-thiol buffer . Amino acid analysis and sequence determination showed 148 amino acid residues . The amino terminal residue is acetylated as shown by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrographic analysis of an N-terminal peptide . There is a deletion of four residues at the amino terminal end as well as one residue in the CD interhelical area relative to other myoglobins . These overall differences were also found previously in myoglobin of Heterodontus portusjacksoni . The complete amino acid sequence has been determined following digestion with trypsin, chymotrypsin, thermolysin, staphylococcal protease and cyanogen bromide . Sequences of purified peptides were determined by the dansyl-Edman procedure . The amino acid sequence showed approximately 88 differences from mammalian, monotreme, bird and tuna myoglobins, slightly more than previously reported for H . portusjacksoni usually considered a more primitive animal . There were 24 residues common to both shark myoglobins that were different from those present in other myoglobins . The sequence has been compared to the myoglobin of yellowfin tuna and other myoglobins.

Mol Biol (Mosk), 1980 May-Jun, 14(3), 549 - 57
{Length of nucleosomal DNA repeat in whole cells, fixed by freezing in the presence of formaldehyde}; Mel'nikova AF et al.; It is shown that whole cells can be effectively fixed in the presence of formaldehyde at -12 degrees C . This reaction is used for the study of the native structure of chromatin . In the nuclei isolated from fixed cells the chromatin has the nucleosomal structure . The size of nucleosomal DNA in these nuclei estimated by hydrolysis with staphylococcal nuclease does not differ significantly from repeat length in the nuclei fixed after isolation or in non-fixed nuclei . However it is shown that mono- and oligonucleosomes in the nuclei from fixed whole cells are significantly more stable to the exonucleolytic degradation than in either nuclei fixed after isolation or non-fixed nuclei . The results suggest that the nuclei isolation does not appreciably affect the chromatin structure . The fixation of whole cells by formaldehyde in frozen suspension can be used also to study the structure of other cellular components and macromolecular complexes directly in the whole cell.

J Med Microbiol, 1980 May, 13(2), 193 - 200
Partitioning of staphylococcal delta haemolysin; Murphy RA et al.; The behaviour of the biologically active components present in crude delta haemolysin was followed during various fractionation procedures utilised in the purification of delta haemolysin . Most chromatographic techniques yielded multiple peaks of delta haemolysin . None of the procedures completely separated delta haemolysin from the other components of crude culture filtrates . Efforts to purify delta haemolysin should be renewed.

J Clin Microbiol, 1980 May, 11(5), 527 - 9
Discrepancies between results obtained by agar and broth techniques in testing of drug combinations; Kurien S et al.; One hundred strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis were tested by the double-disk agar diffusion method for their susceptibility to cephalothin, to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, and to combinations of these drugs . Forty-five strains showed a bridging inhibition zone between the two disks, suggesting a synergistic effect of the combination of cephalothin plus sulfamethoxozole-trimethoprim against these strains . Ten of these strains were retested against the individual drugs and their combination by the twofold broth dilution method . No strain showed higher susceptibility to any combination as compared with cephalothin alone.

J Am Geriatr Soc, 1980 May, 28(5), 220 - 3
Bacterial pneumonia in the elderly; Ebright JR et al.; A retrospective study was made of patients having community-acquired pneumonia and treated at a large municipal hospital in 1973 . Patients from nursing homes or other paramedical facilities were excluded . The incidence of Gram-negative bacillary pneumonia was significantly higher in elderly patients compared to two younger groups, and mortality from this type of pneumonia was higher than from pneumococcal or staphylococcal types or from pneumonia of unknown cause . Recommendations are made for the initial treatment of elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino), 1980 May-Jun, 21(3), 279 - 86
A comparison of two prophylactic antibiotic regimes for open-heart surgery; Cooper DK et al.; Two groups of patients undergoing open-heart surgery were given prophylactic courses of antibiotic lasting five days . One group (61 patients) received a cephalosporin and the second (57 patients) received a combination of penicillin, flucloxacillin and streptomycin . The overall major infection rate was low (3--4%), particularly so in the cephalosporin group (1.6%) . There was no increased nephrotoxic effectt of the cephalosporin, and any nephrotoxic effect that was present was temporary and clinically unimportant . The major infecting organism in both groups was Staphylococcus albus (Staph . epidermidis) . The efficiency, therefore, of any prophylactic regime which omits gentamicin, to which Staph . albus in usually sensitive, remains in doubt.

Arch Surg, 1980 May, 115(5), 645 - 6
Wound infections after transplant nephrectomy; Kohlberg WI et al.; Wound infections after transplant nephrectomy were analyzed retrospectively . When prophylactic antibiotics were not used, 20% of the closed nephrectomy wounds became infected . Eighty-one percent of the infections were due to staphylococcal organisms . Wounds containing a preexisting focus of infection or those reoperated on more than once within a month prior to nephrectomy are at such high risk for infection that these wounds should be left open for secondary healing . With the use of prophylactic cefazolin sodium, in the immediate preoperative and postoperative period, no wound infections have occurred in 18 closed transplant nephrectomy wounds.

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