Staphylococcus

Med Pediatr Oncol, 1979, 7(3), 237 - 9
Pyomyositis in acute lymphocytic leukemia heralded by cutaneous vasculitis: brief communication; Blatt J et al.; We have observed two cases of staphylococcal myositis in patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia which are distinguished from previously reported cases by a history of cutaneous vasculitis overlying the area of subsequent infection.

J Immunol Methods, 1979, 29(4), 369 - 86
Immobilization of viral antigens on filter paper for a {125I}staphylococcal protein A immunoassay: a rapid and sensitive technique for detection of herpes simplex virus antigens and antiviral antibodies; Cleveland PH et al.; A new technique is described for the rapid detection and quantitation of herpes simplex virus (HSV) antigens and antiviral antibodies . It involves immobilization of HSV antigens on filter paper discs and subsequent analysis by 125I-labeled staphylococcal protein A (SPA) radioimmunoassay . A specially designed 96-well filtration device is employed which serves both as an incubation chamber and as a filtration manifold . It is rapid, simple, sensitive and specific, and requires only small volumes of antiserum and few target cells . The results may be readily and objectively quantitated . This technique permits the simultaneous assay of a large number of specimens in less than 1 h . Its sensitivity is considerably greater than that of other currently used immunologic techniques, and it is amenable to automation . These characteristics suggest that this {125I}SPA immunofiltration technique may be applicable to the rapid diagnosis of viral infections.

Arkh Patol, 1979, 41(10), 49 - 54
{Intrauterine infections in the perinatal period}; Tsinzerling AV et al.; The results of examinations of autopsy materials in Leningrad and the data from the literature indicate that infectious diseases occupy a significant place in perinatal mortality . It is emphasized that if the autopsy materials are not sufficiently examined using not only light but also immunofluorescent microscopy, a considerable portion of these infections is not diagnosed and the pathological proprocess in such cases in considered to be aspiration pneumonia, hyaline membrane disease, etc . The paper briefly characterizes intrauterine bacterial infections (listeriasis, syphilis, staphylococcal infections, etc.) with special reference to virus diseases (cytomegaly, herpes infection, lesions caused by respiratory viruses, etc) and mycoplasmosis . It is shown that a relatively high incidence of lesions is caused by respiratory viruses and particularly mycoplasma . The possibility of protozoan and mycotic lesions is also indicated . The frequent occurrence of combined intrauterine infections is emphasized.

Cell, 1979 Jan, 16(1), 33 - 42
Characterization of cross-reacting antigens on the Epstein-Barr virus envelope and plasma membranes of producer cells; Thorley-Lawson DA; A rabbit antiserum has been prepared against the B95-8 transforming strain of EBV . The antiserum has a high virus neutralizing titer (approximately 1:1000) against both the marmoset B95-8 EBV and the human P3HR-1 EBV . The neutralizing antibodies may be absorbed completely with EBV producer cell lines, but not with nonproducer cell lines or producer cell lines treated with phosphonoacetic acid (PAA) so as to be nonproducer . After repeated absorption with PAA-treated B95-8, the serum remains reactive with the membranes of producer cell lines as judged by immunofluorescence or the 125I--Staphylococcal protein A radioimmunoassay . Thus the neutralizing antigens are expressed on the membranes of producer cell lines and may be purified from this source using the serum and 125I--Staph A binding as an assay . The ability of the serum to differentiate between producer and nonproducer cells by means of cell surface determinants has been exploited to achieve a separation of these two populations from the same culture . Immunoprecipitation by the protein A technique shows that the serum recognizes two polypeptides from producer cells of approximate molecular weights 150,000 and 75,000.

Lab Anim, 1979 Jan, 13(1), 21 - 7
Bacteriological examination of a modern animal house containing small laboratory animals; Wierup M; Floors and other areas totalling 1800 m2, comprising conventional and specified-pathogen-free (SPF) units, were screened bacteriologically 6 times in a year . The contamination indices observed were lower within than outside the units, and lower in the SPF than in the conventional unit . Bacterial counts in rooms containing animals in the conventional and SPF units were very similar . In all of the areas investigated within the units, most of the samples revealed less than 2 colony forming units per cm2 . In contrast, high degrees of bacteriological contamination were detected in the changing rooms after showering or washing before entry . Staphylococcus epidermidis was the dominant bacterial species isolated . The bacteriological spectrum did not vary between the areas surveyed.

J Immunol Methods, 1979, 28(3-4), 219 - 32
Purification of antibodies to bacterial antigens by an immunoadsorbent and a method to quantify their reaction with insoluble bacterial targets; Mathews HL et al.; A combination of procedures was employed to develop a radioimmunoassay which quantified the binding of antibodies to antigens of either intact Propionibacterium acnes or to antigens of insoluble extracts derived from the bacteria . Reactive antibody populations were purified by use of bacterial immunoadsorbents which were prepared by coupling P . acnes to diethylaminoethyl cellulose . Binding of antibodies was detected with {125I}staphylococcal protein A ({125I}SpA) and optimal conditions for the assay defined by varying the amounts of antibodies, bacterial antigenic targets and {125I}SpA . In antibody excess, 100% of available {125I}SpA was bound by the target-antibody complexes . However, when antibody concentration was limiting, a linear relationship was demonstrated between per cent specific binding of {125I}SpA and antibodies bound to bacterial targets . These results were achieved only with immunoadsorbent-purified antibody populations and not with hyperimmune sera or IgG . The radioimmunoassay detected subtle antigenic differences and similarities between P . acnes, P . acnes extracts and a variety of unrelated microorganisms.

J Immunol Methods, 1979, 26(4), 369 - 80
Sensitive and convenient quantitation of antibody binding to cellular antigens using glutaraldehyde preserved cells; Rockoff SD et al.; As a preliminary step in the identification and isolation of antibodies to human cancers, we have developed a sensitive and convenient assay for antibody binding to cellular antigens . The basis for the method is antibody binding to glutaraldehyde-fixed cells (AbGfC) and quantitation with radioiodinated staphylococcal protein A (SpA) . Glutaraldehyde fixation of intact cells, which does not appear to effect the ability to form antigen-antibody complexes, provides a convenient and standard supply of target cells which may be stored at 4 degrees C and used in the assay over a period of several months . The amount of antibody specifically bound to the cells is quantitated by the addition of 125I-labeled SpA . The sensitivity of the method was compared with two complement-dependent cytotoxicity methods (trypan blue exclusion and 51Cr release assays) and tested with two antisera to human lung cancer and one antiserum to a membrane antigen of a murine lymphoma . These comparisons indicated much greater sensitivity when compared with the trypan blue exclusion assay and equivalent sensitivity with greater dose response characteristics when compared with the 51Cr release assay.

Scand J Immunol, 1979, 9(4), 359 - 64
Interactions between mouse immunoglobulins and staphylococcal protein A; Chalon MP et al.; When mouse serum or ascites is applied on protein A-Sepharose columns and washed with enough phosphate-buffered saline, a second protein peak is often eluted with the same buffer after the first major peak of unbound proteins . This second peak is almost pure Ig G1 . More IgG1 plus IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG3 are thereafter eluted with acid saline . 90% of the IgG1 whichhad been eluted with neutral buffer could be re-eluted at the same retarded position with the same buffer . When a gradient from 0 to 3 M sodium thiocyanate was started after the major peak of unbound proteins, all IgG1 was eluted before IgG2 and IgG3 . These results suggest that IgG1 has a much lower affinity for protein A than IgG2 or IgG3 and that normal mouse serum IgG1 can be purified by such a simple procedure.

Eur J Immunol, 1979 Jan, 9(1), 52 - 60
Interaction of anti-staphylococcal protein A antisera with Fc receptor-bearing human normal lymphocytes; Biguzzi S; Staphylococcal protein A (SpA) is known to bind the Fc region of IgG of most mammalians and to possess biologic activity both in vivo and in vitro, where it acts as a lymphocyte polyclonal mitogen . Its binding to the Fc gamma portion bears many features of the antibody-antigen interaction, such as the dissociation constant, lattice formation, and complement activation . Moreover, SpA seems to compete with membrane Fc receptors for IgG so that the possibility of an interaction with the same CH domain(s) of IgG can be considered . In the present study, evidence is given that anti-SpA antisera obtained from chickens and rabbits are able to inhibit EA rosette formation by normal human lymphocytes and that they are able to recognize, with immunofluorescent staining, a subpopulation of normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) that closely resembles that of EA rosette-forming cells (RFC) . Moreover, the depletion of EA RFC by means of a single gradient centrifugation is accomplished by the parallel depletion of PBL stainable by anti-SpA antisera . The relevance of these results in the hypothesis of a similarity between the combining sites of SpA and membrane Fc receptor(s) for IgG is discussed.

Immunology, 1979 Jan, 36(1), 47 - 54
beta2-Microglobulin production by highly purified human T and B lymphocytes in cell culture stimulated with various mitogens; Kin K et al.; This study attempts to evaluate beta2-microglobulin production by highly purified (greater than 98%) peripheral and tonsil T and B lymphocytes cultured with various mitogens . beta2-Microglobulin was measured by the radioimmunoassay method . It was found that PHA and Con A markedly stimulated beta2-microglobulin production in cultures of T but not B lymphocytes . B lymphocytes were greatly activated, on the other hand, by Staphylococcus aureau Cowan I organisms cSpA), though the level of beta2-microglobulin production was less than that observed in PHA- and Con A-stimulated T lymphocytes . PWM only slightly increased beta2-microglobulin production of T lymphocytes, although the incorporation of {3H}-thymidine was highly enhanced . The highest level of beta2-microglobulin obtained with PHA or Con A was observed when the T/B lymphocyte ratio was between 90/10 and 80/20 . These results lead to the conclusion that: (1) SpA is a specific mitogen for B lymphocytes, and its mitogenicity is independent of the presence of T lymphocytes, while PHA, Con A, and PWM are ineffective as stimulants of B lymphocytes; (2) the beta2-microglobulin producing ability of B lymphocytes is less than that of T lymphocytes, even when the lymphocytes are markedly activated; (3) the beta2-microglobulin production and DNA synthesis by T lymphocytes is markedly enhanced by the helper effect of B lymphocytes; (4) the level of beta2-microglobulin production reflects lymphocyte activation, especially in T lymphocytes stimulated with PHA or Con A.

Mol Cell Biochem, 1978 Dec 22, 22(2-3), 67 - 77
Staphylococcal nuclease reviewed: a prototypic study in contemporary enzymology . I . Isolation; physical and enzymatic properties; Tucker PW et al.; This is the first of a series of four articles in which the chemical, enzymological, and crystallographic work on Ribonucleate (deoxyribonucleate)-3'-nucleotidohydrolase, EC 3.1.4.7, (Staphylococcal nuclease, Micrococcal nuclease) will be reviewed and correlated . This article discusses the purification of the enzyme and its general physical and enzymological properties . Subsequent articles will deal with specific studies of the nucleotide binding site, crystallographic studies of a nuclease-inhibitor complex, use of the nuclease as a model for protein folding and possible mechanisms for the action of the enzyme.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1978 Dec 20, 537(2), 310 - 9
The complete amino acid sequence of the alpha-subunit of pea lectin, Pisum sativum; Richardson C et al.; The complete primary structure of the alpha-subunit of the lectin from the pea (Pisum sativum) has been determined using a combination of tryptic and staphylococcal protease digestion, purification using Sephadex gel filtration and high-voltage electrophoresis followed by either manual or automated Edman degradation . The molecular weight of the alpha-subunit from sequence data and gel filtration in guanidine-HCl is close to 5800, which is lower than that determined by sedimentation equilibrium techniques . The sequence reveals considerable homology to concanavalin A and near identity to the alpha-subunit of the lentil lectin (Lens culenaris) . As in the case of the lentil alpha-subunit, the alpha-methyl glucose binding site(s) are not present in this region, nor are the S1 and S2 metal ion binding sites as judged by homology consideration, though the residues for the S3 lanthanide binding (Glu 87 and Asp 136) are conserved from the available data on the alpha- and beta-subunits . Preliminary metal exchange experimens on the intact pea lectin indicate some differnces in the metal exchange properties of this lectin compared to concanavalin A, and therefore possible ligand variations in this region of the beta-subunit.

Br J Exp Pathol, 1978 Dec, 59(6), 577 - 83
The detection of rubella-specific IgM antibodies by radioimmunoassay; Kangro HO et al.; An indirect solid-phase radioimmunoassay (RIA) has been developed for the detection of immunoglobulin (Ig) class-specific rubella antibodies . A commercial rubella haemagglutinin is dried and fixed on to the wells of flexible microtitre plates and allowed to react with serial dilutions of whole or fractionated human sera . Class-specific rubella antibodies are then detected by determining the specific binding of 125I-labelled anti-human IgG or IgM . The RIA was first evaluated by comparison with the haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test for the detection of rubella-specific IgM in gel-filtration fractions . RIA was found to be as specific as HI but 10-150 times more sensitive . Rubella-specific IgG antibodies did not interfere in specific IgM determinations by RIA and therefore the latter technique was applied to unfractionated sera . The results obtained indicate that RIA on unfractionated sera is a practical, sensitive and specific technique which could provide a reliable method for the diagnosis of rubella . The rubella-specific IgM titres obtained by RIA were not increased by the removal of IgG by pretreatment of sera with Staphylococcal Protein A.

Hoppe Seylers Z Physiol Chem, 1978 Dec, 359(12), 1757 - 70
Disulfide bridges in the middle part of human fibrinogen; Henschen A; Human fibrinogen contains 29 disulfide bridges per molecule . The amino acid sequences around all half-cystine residues are known . When fibrinogen is cleaved by cyanogen bromide five disulfide-containing fragments are formed . The second-largest of them is derived from the middle part of all three peptide chains, it is monomeric and contains 345 amino acid residues, 12 of which are half-cystines . The arrangement of the six disulfide bonds was determined by analysing sequences and amino acid compositions of subfragments isolated after cleavage with trypsin, thermolysin and staphylococcal protease and after clearage of the disulfide bonds . All half-cystine residues were found to be linked in unique pairs . Six half-cystine residues, two in each of the three peptide chains and forming the -Cys-X-X-X-Cys- sequences, were shown to connect the chains in a ring-like structure, similar to the one in the N-terminal part of the molecule . The remaining six half-cystine residues were found to connect two sections of the gamma-chain in a loop-like structure and four sections of the beta-chain in a loop-inside-a-loop-like structure, the inner beta-chain loop being homologous to the gamma-chain loop.

Chest, 1978 Dec, 74(6), 679 - 80
"Contarini's condition:" bilateral pleural effusions with markedly different characteristics; Kutty CP et al.; A leukemic patient presented with bilateral pleural effusions . The effusions were markedly different in their characteristics; left-sided staphylococcal empyema and right-sided lymphocytic effusion . To our knowledge, there are no cases of this type reported in the modern literature . The importance of bilateral diagnostic thoracocentesis in patients on immunosuppressant therapy is emphasized.

Tijdschr Diergeneeskd, 1978 Dec 1, 103(23), 1270 - 6
{Difference in susceptibility to mastitis between the Dutch-Friesian and Meuse-Rhine-Yssel breeds of cattle (author's transl)}; Grootenhuis G; A randomized study in the Netherlands showed that symptoms of mastitis were more common in animals of the Meuse-Rhine-Yssel breed than they were in those of the Dutch-Friesian breed . The samples were taken at random from large groups of animals (approximately 10,000) of the dairy cattle population in the Netherlands, quarter samples being examined for the presence of the causative organisms of mastitis and cell counts being made . Differences between the two breeds were also observed in herds on the experimental farm "'t Gen" on which the animals were reared and kept in the same environment . Therefore, there is some justification in defining these differences as genetic . The results of the studies suggest that a group of animals showing lower cell counts during the first lactation will be less susceptible to mastitis . Studies in a cow-house of the Central Veterinary Institute revealed a significant difference in increase of the cell count between animals of the Dutch-Friesian breed and those of the Meuse-Rhine-Yssel breed following intramammary injection of a staphylococcal beta toxin . Further analysis of the results of the randomized study showed that differences in susceptibility to mastitis do not become plainly apparent until later in life . In view of the results of these studies, it would seem advisable to pay more attention to differences in susceptibility to mastitis in stock-breeding.

Laryngol Rhinol Otol (Stuttg), 1978 Dec, 57(12), 1083 - 6
{Fibrin and fibrinogen degradation products in head- and neck-tumors (author's transl)}; Wilmes EH et al.; Fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) in sera of patients with malignant tumors in the head-and neck-region are determined with Staphylococcal-Clumping-Test (Behring-Werke, Marburg/Lahn) . Concentration of FDP in sera of tumor patients are compared to sera of normal patients . 40 cases out of 70 with malignant tumors showed higher concentration of FDP . The results are discussed.

J Immunol, 1978 Dec, 121(6), 2278 - 81
Induction of lymphocyte colony formation in vitro by protein A; Shibasaki M et al.; Human lymphocyte colonies were grown in semi-solid culture in the presence of staphylococcal protein A . The best results were obtained when 1 X 10(6) lymphocytes were cultured for 5 to 7 days with 25 to 50 microgram of protein A per dish . A lineal relationship was observed between the number of cells seeded and the number of colonies developed . An increased number of colonies was seen in cord blood culture compared with that in child and adult peripheral blood . The addition of 5 X 10(-5) M of 2-ME to the culture approximately doubled the colony counts . The cells harvested from the colonies contained about 70% of E-RFC and 20% of EAC-RFC.

Am J Dis Child, 1978 Dec, 132(12), 1187 - 8
Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome . A complication of circumcision; Annunziato D et al.; Numerous complications have been reported as a result of neonatal circumcision . We describe here three cases of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome that were thought to be due to infected circumcisions . A review of the literature failed to disclose descriptions of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome as such a complication . In spite of recent American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations against routine circumcision, it will continue to be a common procedure . Careful preoperative and postoperative screening and guidance are urged to prevent staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome and other complications.

Acta Orthop Scand, 1978 Dec, 49(6), 595 - 6
Reconstruction of a tuberculous thumb by free bone grafting . A case report; Papavasiliou VA; Tuberculosis with secondary staphylococcal infection destroyed the right thumb and index phalanges of a 24-year-old farmer . Four months after starting antibiotic therapy the index finger was amputated, and the thumb reconstructed by excising the disorganized phalanges and transferring the index metacarpal as a free graft to replace them . No previous report of this technique has been traced . A concurrent infection of the patient's left tarsus was treated by triple arthrodesis.

J Histochem Cytochem, 1978 Dec, 26(12), 1074 - 81
Ultrastructural localization of intracellular antigens by the use of protein A-gold complex; Roth J et al.; An immunocytochemical technique for the demonstration of intracellular antigens (secretory proteins) on thin sections is reported . Staphylococcal protein A which reacts with the Fc fragment of IgG molecules was labeled with colloidal gold as a marker . The antigenic sites were visualized on aldehyde-fixed and Epon-embedded tissue in a two step procedure . The specific antisera were applied to thin sections for binding to the antigens and then visualized by the protein A-gold complex . By using this technique different secretory proteins of the exocrine and endocrine pancreas were localized . The protein A-gold technique is proposed as a general method for visualization of antigenic sites on thin sections.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1978 Dec, 75(12), 5903 - 7
Altered nucleosome spacing in newly replicated chromatin from Friend leukemia cells; Murphy RF et al.; Chromatin from Friend leukemia cells labeled with {14C}thymidine for 24 hr followed by {3H}thymidine for 10 min is converted into nucleosomes by staphylococcal nuclease at only half the rate that total chromatin is converted . Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of nucleosomal DNA from cells labeled for 24 hr with {14C}thymidine followed by 10 min with {3H}thymidine demonstrates that the internucleosomal spacer of newly replicated chromatin is approximately 20 base pairs shorter than that of total chromatin . The implications of this difference for models of chromatin structure are discussed.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1978 Dec, 242(4), 456 - 61
{Qualitative and quantitative determinations of staphylokinase-activity (author's transl)}; Papke G et al.; Staphylokinase (SAK)-activated plasminogen reacted specifically with nitroanilide (N-benzoyl-DL-lysine-4-nitroanilide) to form intensively yellow 4-nitroaniline . This reaction did not occur with staphylococcal proteases . For qualitative SAK-determinations nitroanilide was incorporated in an agar medium . SAK diffused into the medium and caused a distinct change in color from white to yellow . For quantitative SAK-determination the conversion of colorless nitroanilide to yellow 4-nitroaniline was recorded photometrically at 405 nm . The optical density correlated well with SAK-activity of preparations with different degrees of purity (fig . 1, 2) . Another quantitative procedure for SAK-activity could be conducted with fibrin in microtiter-plates (Fib-MTT) . In this method, after 2-fold dilutions of SAK-preparations fibrinogen (stained blue with astrazonblue) and subsequently thrombin were added . SAK-activity was indicated by lysis of the blue-colored fibrin clots in the microtiter-plates (fig . 3) . The Fib-MTT was particularly suitable for measuring wide ranges of SAK-activities.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1978 Nov, 84(5), 1031 - 9
Amino acid sequence of an active fragment (T2A) of colicin E3; Suzuki K et al.; The amino acid sequence of an active fragment (T2A) of colicin E3 composed of 97 amino acid residues was determined . The structures of 6 tryptic peptides obtained from citraconylated T2A were analyzed, mainly by Edman degradation . These tryptic peptides were aligned by examining overlapping peptides obtained from T2A with a Staphylococcal protease . These results, together with sequence analyses of whole T2A from both termini, established the complete amino acid sequence of T2A . The structure and function of colicin E3 are discussed based on the determined primary structure.

J Med Microbiol, 1978 Nov, 11(4), 371 - 7
Immunological response to a strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis in the rabbit: production of protective antibody; Yoshida K et al.; A rabbit was immunised with a heat-killed vaccine prepared from strain 1142 of Staphylococcus epidermidis . The HA titres of the antisera against a surface-polysaccharide antigen extracted from the homologous strain were highest in the 2nd-4th weeks after immunisation and subsequently declined . Only a minor amount of 2-ME-resistant antibody was formed, and this at a late state of the reaction . After a booster injection of the vaccine at the 10th week, there was a significantly greater HA-antibody response and a greater amount of 2-ME-resistant antibody was formed . The relative passive-protective activity of the sera in mice corresponded to their content of 2-ME-sensitive HA antibody . The protective activity of the sera was 2-ME sensitive and was not removed by absorption with anti-rabbit IgG goat serum . Further, 280 microgram of IgM-rich serum fraction obtained by sucrose-density-gradient ultracentrifugation passively protected against homologous challenge infection in mice, but even 910 microgram of IgG-rich fraction did not . These results indicated that the protective antibody was of the IgM class.

Antibiotiki, 1978 Nov, 23(11), 1002 - 5
{Aspects of the therapeutic action of proteolytic enzymes and antibiotics in experimental staphylococcal infection . The effect of lincomycin, chymotrypsin and their combinations on leukocyte phagocytic activity}; Berenshtein TF et al.; The effect of leucomycin, chimotrypsin and their combination on the leucocyte phagocytic activity was studied on mice with experimental staphylococcal infection . Lincomycin and chimotrypsin were administered in doses of 150 and 2 mg/kg respectively . In the study of the leucocyte phagocytic activity it was found on the 3rd, 7th, 14th and 21st days after the beginning of the animal infection and treatment that the experimental staphylococcal infection stimulated the non-specific phagocytosis . Lincomycin inhibited the leucocyte phagocytic activity . The use of chimotrypsin in the process of the staphylococcal infection treatment resulted in increased phagocytosis activity . The combined use of chimotrypsin and leucomycin decreased the inhibitory effect of the latter on phagocytosis.

Ann Intern Med, 1978 Nov, 89(5 Pt 1), 690 - 3
Intravenous antibiotic therapy at home; Stiver HG et al.; During a 12-month period, 23 patients aged 12 to 78 years were treated for 8 to 40 days (mean, 23 days) at home with intravenous (i.v.) antibiotics . Diseases treated included bone and joint infection (14 patients), blastomycosis (two), actinomycosis (two), staphylococcal bacteremia (two), endocarditis (two), and candidal pyelonephritis (one) . After initial in-hospital training, patients self-administered their drugs through a heparin-lock i.v . cannula, which was changed regularly by a visiting home care nurse . Antibiotics administered included cloxacillin, penicillin G, cephalosporins, gentamicin, carbenicillin, and amphotericin B . Patient and family acceptance of the program was good, the program was therapeutically effective, and, apart from a decreased prevalence of phlebitis with the heparin lock at home, side effects were no different from those of in-hospital-treated patients . The cost of home therapy was $ 40 per patient-day compared with an estimated $ 137 had the patients remained in hospital . Most patients were able to resume normal activities while receiving home i.v . therapy.

Am J Dis Child, 1978 Nov, 132(11), 1091 - 3
Pneumococcal pneumonia with pneumatocele formation; Asmar BI et al.; Two infants had pneumococcal pneumonia and bacteremia, complicated by pneumatocele formation . The pneumatoceles appeared during the recovery phase and were indistinguishable from those associated with staphylococcal pneumonia . Complete resolution occurred in both patients . Pneumatoceles occur in pneumonias caused by varied agents; therefore, determination of the cause is imperative for appropriate therapy.

Acta Paediatr Scand, 1978 Nov, 67(6), 731 - 4
Empyema in children in tropics; Khan AA et al.; Thirty-six cases of empyema were diagnosed in children over a two year period, giving an overall incidence of 0.11% of the total hospital admissions . Many of them had measles bronchopneumonia and most were malnourished . 16 children had penicillin resistant staphylococcal infection . 29 of them were treated with closed tube drainage . Thirteen died during the course of treatment, the majority within three days of admission . The rest were followed up over a period of up to six months and showed good recovery . Six of these patients developed pneumothorax during the course of treatment . Various combinations of Ampicillin, Cloxacillin, Gentamycin and Cotrimoxazole parenterally were used . Supportive treatment with blood transfusion was found to be beneficial.

Chem Biol Interact, 1978 Nov, 23(2), 201 - 13
Benzo(a)pyrene 7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-oxide modification of DNA: relation to chromatin structure and reconstitution; Yamasaki H et al.; Purified duck reticulocyte DNA was incubated in vitro with a 7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-oxide derivative of benzo(a)pyrene (BPDE) . The carcinogen-modified DNA was somewhat more susceptible to partial digestion by the single strand specific endonuclease S1 than unmodified DNA, suggesting slight denaturation of the helix at sites of modification . Chromatin was reconstituted in vitro utilizing this carcinogen-modified DNA and unmodified-chromatin associated proteins . This reconstituted chromatin showed the same kinetics and extent of digestion by Staphylococcal nuclease, and similar nucleosome profiles on sucrose density gradient centrifugation, as those obtained with native chromatin or chromatin reconstituted with unmodified DNA . Moreover, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of DNA fragments obtained from nuclease digests gel electrophoresis of DNA fragments obtained from nuclease digests of the reconstituted chromatins suggested that the chromatin containing carcinogen-modified DNA had the same subnucleosome structure as that reconstituted with unmodified DNA . In a separate set of studies intact duck reticulocyte chromatin was reacted directly with BPDE . Nuclease digestion studies indicated that 65% of the carcinogen was bound to the 'open' regions of chromatin, and 35% to 'closed' regions . These results indicate that although convalent binding of a benzo(a)pyrene (BP) derivative to DNA produces local distortions in conformation of the helix, this modification does not appear to interfere with the ability of the DNA to associate with histones to form nucleosome structures . In addition, although DNA in the open regions of chromatin is more susceptible to reaction with the BP derivative, there is appreciable reaction with the DNA associated with histones.

Blood, 1978 Nov, 52(5), 911 - 21
Expression and specificity of FcIgG receptor sites on neoplastic lymphocytes; Huber C et al.; We investigated the ability of an FcIgG receptor marker to discriminate between subtypes of malignant lymphoproliferative diseases that differed in their clinical presentations . A quantitative radioimmuno assay was established that enabled us to evaluate average receptor densities on a population basis . Surface receptors were first saturated with IgG complexes . The number of membrane associated IgG molecules was subsequently determined with 125I-staphylococcal protein A . Results obtained with this assay on a battery of malignant lymphocytes suggested that the range of receptor densities of malignant B and T cells might overlap each other but would correlate with the degree of tumor cell differentiation and the clinical stage of the underlying disease . This behavior limits the use of this marker in the characterization of the derivation of malignant lymphocytes; these findings, however, may be useful in the prognostic classification of lymphomas of known origin.

J Biomed Mater Res, 1978 Nov, 12(6), 775 - 90
Effect of Simplex liquid methyl methacrylate monomer on cells; Welch AB; The effect of methyl methacrylate monomer used for polymerization of surgical bone cement on phagocytosis, blood cells, tissue cells in culture, and bacteria was investigated . A concentration of 0.5% monomer reduced the ability of macrophages in vitro to phagocytize cultures of Staphylococcus epidermidis effectively . In vivo, 0.03 ml injected into mice also reduced the capacity of peritoneal macrophages to phagocytize bacteria . Extent of cellular damage to blood cells varied with concentration of monomer used and time of contact but, in general 0.5% was sufficient to alter morphology and viability of blood cells and tissue cells in culture . Polymorphonuclear neutrophils sustained more damage than other types of blood cells . Only minor alterations were detected from cooled, polymerized cement . These studies support the concept that the monomer, as well as mechanical and thermal factors, may be responsible for some of the tissue changes seen at the site of implant of bone cement following total joint arthroplastic surgery.

J Clin Microbiol, 1978 Nov, 8(5), 473 - 9
Simple assay for staphylococcal enterotoxins A, B, and C: modification of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Stiffler-Rosenberg G et al.; The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) introduced for the detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins by Saunders et al., Simon and Terplan, and ourselves has proved to be a simple, reliable, and sensitive test . A new modification is described that uses polystyrene balls (diameter, 6 mm) coated individually with antibody against one of the toxins A, B, or C . In a single tube, 20 ml of the food extract was incubated with the three balls differently stained, which were then each tested for the uptake of enterotoxin by a competitive ELISA . A concentration of 0.1 ng or less of enterotoxin per ml can be measured, making tedious concentration procedures of the extracts superfluous . Culture supernatants and extracts from foods artificially or naturally contaminated with toxin were successfully examined . Cross-reactions did not occur, and nonspecific interfering substances did not create serious problems.

Hoppe Seylers Z Physiol Chem, 1978 Nov, 359(11), 1509 - 25
The amino acid sequence of the ribosomal protein S8 of Escherichia coli; Allen G et al.; The primary structure of protein S8 from the 30S subunit of Escherichia coli ribosomes has been determined by sequencing the peptides derived from tryptic, chymotryptic, thermolytic and staphylococcal protease digestion of the protein . Protein S8 has 129 amino acid residues which result in a molecular weight of 13996 . The N-terminal part of the sequence up to position 68 is in complete agreement with the reported sequence data{1,2} . However, differences exist in the C-terminal half, where an additional hydrophobic tryptic peptide has been found.

Immunology, 1978 Nov, 35(5), 785 - 91
The influence of enzymatic cleavage and chemical modification of human and rabbit IgG on their reactivity with staphylococcal protein A; Stewart A et al.; Proteolytic cleavage fragments from rabbit IgG have been isolated and characterized in an attempt to locate the sites involved in the reactivity with Staphylococcal protein A . The plasmin cleavage product Facb together with the pepsin cleavage products F(ab')2 and pFc' failed to react in contrast to the papain Fc fragment . These data, together with data from unfractionated plasmin digests, in which the Facb fragment remains associated with the plasmin pFc' fragment, indicate that inter-domain interactions are important in the maintenance of this activity . beta2-microglobulin was also shown to be unreactive with protein A . Chemical modification studies employing flurescamine, tetranitromethane and potassium cyanate indicate that lysine and tyrosine residues are not involved in the reactivity of human and rabbit IgG with protein A.

Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd, 1978 Nov, 38(11), 904 - 14
{The problem of contamination of copper bearing intrauterine devices (author's transl)}; Feichter GE et al.; PIP: Bacterial contamination of copper IUDs was studied in 52 IUDs removed under sterile conditions, from 4 groups of patients: IUD change after 2-3 years of use (18 patients); 1st trimester intrauterine pregnancy with IUD in situ (13 patients); pelvic inflammation (16 patients); and cervical displacement of the IUD (5 patients) . IUDs involved were the copper-T (29 cases), ML Cu 250 (21 cases), and the copper-7 (2 cases) . Enterococci and E . coli were the most common organisms in all groups; Staphylococcus epidermidis was particularly frequent in patients with pelvic inflammation . Contamination was observed in all 5 displaced IUDs, in half the devices from pregnant uteri, and in about one-third of the remaining cases . The authors suggest that microbiological testing of IUDs removed during pregnancy may be useful in deciding the fate of the affected pregnancy .

Acta Cytol, 1978 Nov-Dec, 22(6), 456 - 9
The cytology of the retained IUD with relation to the mechanism of action; Bercovici B et al.; Cellular reactions to 82 IUDs retained for different periods of time have been examined using the "loopal smear" method . The smears were divided according to periods of retention and degree of inflammatory reaction . In 47 cases the inflammatory reaction was graded as moderate to severe, while in 35 cases the reaction was graded as mild . Since contraception was effective also in those cases presenting with mild reactions, it must be concluded that factors other than inflammation play a role in the contraceptive mechanism . Cells obtained from 15 IUD washings were incubated with Staphylococcus albus in order to identify macrophages . In none of these cases were macrophages identified, thus rendering questionable the hypothesis that the contraceptive effect of the IUD is based on phagocytosis of spermatozoa.

South Med J, 1978 Nov, 71(11), 1353 - 5
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis; Siebert WT et al.; Staphylococcus epidermidis is frequently associated with infection of prosthetic heart valves, prosthetic orthopedic devices, and neurosurgical shunts . Penicillinase-resistant semisynthetic penicillins, such as methicillin, have been the therapeutic and prophylactic agents of choice for S epidermidis infection . However, more S epidermidis isolates are now resistant to methicillin and other penicillins . In our laboratory 41% of S epidermidis isolates were resistant to methici-lin . All of the methicillin-susceptible isolates and 82% of the methicillin-resistant isoates were susceptible to cephalothin . Cephalothin should replace methicillin as the prophylactic and therapeutic agent of choice in institutions with a high percentage of methicillin-resistant S epidermidis.

Am J Hosp Pharm, 1978 Nov, 35(11), 1387 - 9
Monitoring bacterial resistance to restricted antibiotics; Grunt J et al.; Data on patterns of resistance of eight strains of bacteria toward various restricted antibiotics were collected from 18 public health laboratories in Czechoslovakia . Development of bacterial resistance to gentamicin and colistin did not appear to follow the resistance patterns of bacteria toward more commonly used antibiotics, but there did appear to be a tendency of mutual coresistance to those two drugs in E . coli and Pseudomonas strains . Similarly, oxacillin coresistance was found in lincomycin-resistant staphylococcal strains . Computer-assisted analysis of resistant bacterial strains revealed otherwise-hidden tendencies and mutual relationships among drugs newly marketed in Czechoslovakia.

J Gen Microbiol, 1978 Nov, 109(1), 119 - 26
Anaerobic transport of serine and 2-aminoisobutyric acid by Staphylococcus epidermidis; Horan NJ et al.; A membrane-bound ATPase detected in extracts of anaerobically grown Staphylococcus epidermidis was inhibited by a variety of compounds which inhibit ATPases in other organisms . Serine and 2-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) were shown to enter the organism via the same transport system . The transport of AIB, the membrane potential and the transmembrane pH gradient were partially or completely abolished by the same inhibitors and also by uncoupling agents and lipid-soluble ions . It is proposed therefore that this ATPase generates and maintains an electrochemical gradient of protons across the cytoplasmic membrane of S . epidermidis capable of driving AIB uptake . Studies of AIB-induced proton movements suggested that AIB enters via a proton symport mechanism.

Mol Biol Rep, 1978 Oct 16, 4(3), 185 - 9
Separation of nucleosomes containing histones H1 and H5; Bakayeva TG et al.; Hen erythrocyte chromatin was digested with staphylococcal nuclease and fractionated by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels . Instead of the three bands described for mouse carcinoma chromatin, four main discrete components (MN1, MN2, MN2E and MN3) were resolved in the mononucleosome fraction of erythrocyte chromatin . MN2 contained all five histones and a DNA fragment of 165--180 base pairs . MN2E comprised four nucleosomal histones plus histone H5 (but not H1) and a DNA fragment of 170--190 base pairs . The relatively nuclease resistant MN3 fraction of erythrocyte nucleosomes contained H1 but no H5 histone . A more accurate analysis of the MN2 fraction in mouse carcinoma nucleosomes revealed some additional microheterogeneity depending on the presence of two different subfractions of H1.

Antibiotiki, 1978 Oct, 23(10), 911 - 6
{Antibiotic therapy of experimental intrauterine staphylococcal infection}; Silin VA et al.; The experiments on gravid rats showed that generalized staphylococcal infection in the female rats resulted in intrauterine infecting of the fetus and had a negative effect on its antenatal development: increased embryonal death rate, decreased weight gain, etc . In case of staphylococcal septicemia the amniotic waters were a peculiar reservoir of the causative agent where it accumulated in larger amounts than in the fetus tissues . Efficiency of oxacillin in daily doses of 144 and 72 mg was shown in treatment of the rat intrauterine infection . High sensitivity of the infected embryons to higher doses of the drug was found.

Antibiotiki, 1978 Oct, 23(10), 886 - 8
{Drop method of determining micrococcal and staphylococcal sensitivity to egg lysozyme}; Safonova TB et al.; Two methods for determination of staphylococcal and micrococcal sensitivity to lysozyme, i.e . the method of serial dilutions in agar and the drop method developed by the authors were compared . The drop method is a modification of the procedure described by Kloos et al . Close correlation between these two methods (r = 0.97 +/- 0.018) was found . The regression curve providing determination of the lysozyme MIC with the drop method was plotted . The drop method is more simple and economical as compared to the method of serial dilutions in agar . It has an advantage in testing sensitivity of single strains.

Circulation, 1978 Oct, 58(4), 589 - 97
Treatment of infective endocarditis: a 10-year comparative analysis; Richardson JV et al.; The results of surgical and non-surgical treatment of active infective endocarditis in 182 patients over a 10-year period were analyzed . Heart failure, annular and myocardial abscesses, heart block, and coronary embolism, seen most frequently with staphylococcal and fungal endocarditis, were the primary causes of death in both native valve endocarditis (NVE) and prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) . In NVE, surgery significantly improved the survival in patients with moderate or severe heart failure (P less than 0.05) and in all patients with staphylococcal endocarditis (P less than 0.03) . In PVE, surgery significantly influenced survival in patients with moderate or severe heart failure (P less than 0.05) and in the entire group with late PVE (P less than 0.01) . Early surgery is recommended for patients with native valve endocarditis and moderate or severe heart failure; those patients with staphylococcal NVE, regardless of hemodynamic state, should undergo early valve replacement . Early surgery is recommended for PVE patients with moderate or severe heart failure . We also recommend early valve replacement for early and late staphylococcal PVE.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {C}, 1978 Oct, 86C(5), 227 - 36
The reactivity of human platelets in the 125I-labelled staphylococcal protein A test; Kekomaki R; Stored platelets have been employed in the testing of various antiplatelet antibodies and platelet unrelated immune complexes . The antisera included sera containing ABO-,HLA- or platelet specific (ZWa) antibodies and serum from an adult patient with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) . Use was made of 125I-labelled staphylococcal protein A (IPA) for the detection of platelet bound IgG . The reactivity of cells with the ITP serum and sera from healthy blood donors increased after storage for a few days, and declined after a highly reactive period extending over some weeks . In some cases predilution of the serum increased the probability of discovering weak antibodies . The normal components of the serum modified the platelet-antibody reaction, but all the various kinds of platelet reactive activities could be detected by this single test.

Rev Ig Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol Pneumoftiziol Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol, 1978 Oct-Dec, 23(4), 231 - 6
{Value of different diagnostic tests for Micrococcaceae and their implication in pathology}; Popovici M et al.; A number of 1431 products were examined and 200 coagulase-negative micrococcaceae strains were isolated and identified . On the basis of morphological aspects, enzymatic reactions and behavioural testing to antibiotics 18 strains (9%) were listed as Micrococcus and 182 (91%) as Staphylococcus strains . Efficient among the tests used for differentiating between the two genera were : microscopic aspects, pigmentogenesis, resistance to ClNa, anaerobic glucose fermentation, glycerol fermentation in the presence of erythromycin, reduction of nitrates to nitrites, and testing to novobiocin . Other tests, due to their variability, could only be used conjointly, and, finally, a further category had no diagnostic value, such as oxidase and catalase tests or the rhamnose fermentation reaction . Both the Micrococcus and the Staphylococcus strains were isolated from pathological cases and from healthy carriers, and can therefore be listed in the group of potential pathogens.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 Oct, (10), 32 - 6
{Efficacy of the per os immunization and reimmunization of man with staphylococcal anatoxin}; Maiorova GF et al.; By double immunization of 72 persons and single reimmunization of 38 persons per os with tablets containing 100 BU of purified concentrated staphylococcus toxoid (PCST) it was revealed that this immunization was harmless and the immunological response was adequate . The tablets were intended for application through the oral mucosa (oral) or the intestinal tract (enteral); the immunological response depended on the dose of the preparation and the scheme of administration . A high sensitization of healthy persons examined to staphylococcus was found . There was a tendency to reduction of hypersensitivity after the immunization with staphylococcus toxoid (examination in 6 months) and activation of reactions after the antigen administration (examination in 14 days).

Antibiotiki, 1978 Oct, 23(10), 902 - 5
{Genetic structure of Staphylococcus epidermidis strain No . 17 possessing penicillinase and bacteriocinogenic activity}; Ivanov NA; The studies on the genetic structure of Staphylococcus epidermidis, strain 17 showed that this strain possessed a factor of bactericinogenicity of the one type, which was an extrachromosomal element not bound with penicillinase activity . The loss of the bacteriocinogenicity factor spontaneously or under the effect of acridine orange at a temperature of 37 degrees C was not observed . Passages of the strain at a temperature of 44 degrees C for 5 days and acridine orange proved to be the most effective eliminating factors . The loss of the bacteriocinogenicity plasmid did not result in changing any biochemical properties of the strain but was accompanied by a loss of the immunity to bacteriocin of the initial strain . The study of the growth regularities of the initial strain and its variant deprived of the bacteriocinogenicity plasmid showed that multiplication of the cells in the presence of the plasmid practically started without the latent period.

J Pediatr, 1978 Oct, 93(4), 572 - 7
Teichoic acid serology in staphylococcal infections of infants and children; Le CT et al.; Counterimmunoelectrophoresis and gel diffusion were utilized for the detection and titration of antibodies to staphylococcal teichoic acids in various disease states caused by coagulase-positive staphylococcus in infants and children . Serum samples were obtained on admission and serially for 2 to 12 weeks during illness . Teichoic acid antibodies were found by CIE in 12 of 21 patients (57%) with invasive CPS disease with bacteremia (Group A), in two of 17 patients (12%) with CPS infection without bacteremia (Group B), in none of 27 patients with bacteremia and/or invasive infections caused by organisms other than CPS (Group C), and in none of 24 noninfected, hospitalized patients or healthy children (Group D) . Gel diffusion was useful for titrating antibodies in seropositive sera . Teichoic acid serology is a useful adjunct in the diagnosis of invasive CPS infections . The presence of these antibodies by CIE and gel diffusion may help to identify patients with endothelial or metastatic infections associated with staphylococcal bacteremia.

Ann Intern Med, 1978 Oct, 89(4), 494 - 6
Teichoic acid antibodies in chronic staphylococcal osteomyelitis; Mackowiak PA et al.; Gel-diffusion and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to quantify and to identify the immunoglobulin class of teichoic acid antibodies in patients with chronic staphylococcal osteomyelitis and a wide variety of other infections . Teichoic acid antibodies were identified by gel-diffusion in 14 of 23 patients with staphylococcal endocarditis, six of 30 with staphylococcal bacteremia without endocarditis, four of 35 with staphylococcal skeletal infections, and one of 45 with nonstaphylococcal infections . None of the 20 patients with chronic staphylococcal osteomyelitis had positive gel-diffusion assays, even though many had had their infections for several years . The ELISA method was more sensitive than gel-diffusion in measuring teichoic acid antibodies, but was also much less specific . Teichoic acid antibodies were detected predominantly in the IgG fraction of serum . Our findings suggest that the presence and degree of antigenemia are more important than the duration of the staphylococcal infection in stimulating production of teichoic acid antibodies.

J Virol, 1978 Oct, 28(1), 344 - 51
Papain solubilization of the Epstein-Barr virus-induced membrane antigen; Pearson GR et al.; The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-induced membrane antigen (MA) was successfully solubilized from the membranes of viable EBV-infected Raji cells by treatment with papain (5 to 6 U per 1 X 10(7) to 2 X 10(7) cells) . The loss of MA from viable cells was monitored by membrane immunofluorescence and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity . Soluble MA was demonstrated in papain digests through inhibition of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and by inhibition of the binding of anti-MA antibodies to cells as detected by use of 125I-labeled staphylococcal protein A . Approximately 75% of the MA activity in the extracts was not sedimentable at 100,000 X g,, indicating that the majority of EBV MA activity that was released by this procedure was associated with small-molecular-weight material . Antiserum prepared from an owl monkey immunized with these papain extracts contained antibody to MA and neutralizing antibodies, but lacked detectable antibodies against viral capsid antigens and EBV-induced early antigens.

J Trauma, 1978 Sep, 18(9), 664 - 6
Endocarditis with the indwelling balloon-tipped pulmonary artery catheter in burn patients; Ehrie M et al.; The postmortem finding of acute right-sided bacterial endocarditis in a burn patient monitored with an indwelling pulmonary artery (Swan-Ganz) catheter for 14 days prompted a review of burn autopsies in which the catheter had been used . Autopsies of six consecutive burn patients monitored with a pulmonary artery catheter and who then died showed septic or aseptic endocarditis . In two of the six patients, right-sided staphylococcal endocarditis was the anatomic cause of death . In the remaining four, the lesions were aseptic thrombotic vegetations involving primarily the right atrium, tricuspid valve, right ventricle, and pulmonic valve . Several factors in the severely burned patient would favor endocarditis where a foreign object impacts on the heart valves . These include intermittent bacteremia, hypercoagulability, hyperdynamic cardiovascular function, and the use of antibiotics resulting in resistant strains . While an indwelling pulmonary artery catheter can provide useful monitoring information, it is sometimes responsible for serious complications in burned or septic patients.

Infect Immun, 1978 Sep, 21(3), 1024 - 6
Specific binding of staphylococcal alpha-toxin to isolated rabbit vagus nerves in vitro; Szmigielski S et al.; The binding of staphylococcal {125I}alpha-toxin to rabbit vagus nerves in vitro was a saturable process . The radiolabeled alpha-toxin binding was reduced by the coaddition of added navive alpha-toxin, indicating that the binding is specific . Sucrose gradient analysis of detergent-extracted complexes of {125I}alpha-toxin-rabbit vagus nerves showed both high and low S-value peaks analogous to those observed with similarly treated alpha-toxin-rabbit erythrocyte preparations (P . Cassidy and S . Harshman, Biochemistry, in press).

Br J Dermatol, 1978 Sep, 99(3), 271 - 7
Toxic epidermal necrolysis . Five case reports of unusual presentation in Zambians; Ratnam AV; A new clinical presentation of epidermal necrolytic reaction affectting a limited area is reported in 5 Zambian patients . No definite causative factor could be identified in any of these cases . A staphylococcal aetiology is suspected because of the compatible histological features . However, none of the patients had pyogenic skin lesions and staphylococcus was not isolated from the skin lesion.

Ann Clin Lab Sci, 1978 Sep-Oct, 8(5), 376 - 84
Staphylococcus epidermidis biotype 4: epidemiological conclusions from five different typing methods; Tierno PM Jr et al.; There is presently no accepted method for marking individual strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis . Consequently, five parameters for distinguishing such strains were examined and compared for their epidemiological efficacy: biotyping, serotyping, proteinase grouping, aminopeptidase profiles and antibiograms . Both biotyping and proteinase grouping were of limited use in identifying a particular strain, although they were helpful in initially categorizing such strains . Antibiograms were least useful because of similarities in susceptibility patterns among isolates . Serotyping and amino-peptidase profiles provided the best means of identifying an individual strain for epidemiological use . The applicability of these typing methods was demonstrated during a one year epidemiological study at a chronic disease hospital.

Nucleic Acids Res, 1978 Sep, 5(9), 3261 - 73
The distribution of DNA repair synthesis in chromatin and its rearrangement following damage with N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene; Tlsty TD et al.; The distribution of DNA repair synthesis in the chromatin of confluent human diploid fibroblasts damaged with N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene has been studied . Kinetic analysis of staphylococcal nuclease digestion data revealed that initially most of the repair synthesis occurred in nuclease sensitive regions of chromatin . Continuous labeling experiments and pulse chase experiments indicated that with time much of the 3H dThd initially incorporated into nuclease sensitive regions during repair appeared in nuclease resistant regions . Agarose gel electrophoresis was used to demonstrate that these resistant regions were core DNA . In agreement with previous findings {Smerdon, M.J . and Lieberman, M.W., (1978), Proc . Nat . Acad . Sci . USA, in press}, studies of the time course of this rearrangement and of repair synthesis revealed similar time dependences and suggested a relationship between rates of repair synthesis and chromatin rearrangement.

Arch Dermatol, 1978 Sep, 114(9), 1372 - 8
Defective leukocytotaxia and recurrent staphylococcal infecion: deficiency of leukocytotaxia and abnormal granulocytes associated with increase serum IgE levels in an adult with recurrent staphylococcal infection; Jeune R et al.; A man who was suffering from recurrent staphylococcal infection had antecedent symptoms of severe pruritus . Laboratory investigations showed leukocytosis with eosinophilia, hyperimmunoglobulinemia of all fractions, but particularly of IgE, and a deficiency of cell-mediated immunity on in vivo testing . Phagocytosis and bactericidal activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes were normal, but a cellular and serum-associated defect in leukocytotaxia was present . Ultrastructural changes were observed in polymorphonuclear leukocytes . Association of impaired leukocytotaxia and elevated levels of IgE is not uncommon . Recurrent bacterial infections in the patient described are probably related to defective chemotaxis.

Zhonghua Min Guo Wei Sheng Wu Xue Za Zhi, 1978 Sep, 11(3), 82 - 92
{Study on the rapid, secondary-growth mutants of Staphylococcus epidermidis (author's transl)}; Tseng CC; According to colony type, growth rate and development of secondary growth on the proteose-peptone No . 3 mannitol salt agar (PMS) and the nutrient agar (NA) media, Staphylococcus epidermidis may be classified into three groups . Group I includes strains which develop smooth colonies on both media . Group II consists of those which show rapid propagation of entire clones and develop secondary growth on the PMS medium, but grow only smooth colonies on the NA medium, and which may be called reversible mutants . Group III includes thoes which show secondary growth on both PMS and NA as well as other media, which may be called irreversible mutants . One percent proteose-peptone No . 3 and 5--7% NaCl are the essential ingredients for the induction of mutation, and mannitol can enhance it . Except the high sensitivity of the reversible mutants of human origin, the three groups of chicken origin showed similar drug susceptibility to biosynthesis inhibitors of protein and cell wall . On the HI medium, chloramphenicol inhibited secondary growth of irreversible mutants at 25.0 microgram/ml minimal antimutagenesis concentration (MAC), whereas streptomycin, penicillin, erythromycin and oxytetracycline did not at all . The irreversible mutants had higher resistance to biosynthesis inhibitors of DNA or RNA, e.g . mitomycin C (MMC), novobiocin (NOV) and rifampicin (RIF), than the other two groups . On the HI medium, MMC at the MAC of 0.16 microgram/ml, NA at 25.0 microgram/ml and NOV at 2.5 microgram/ml inhibited the secondary growth of irreversible mutants, but RIF did not . To the irreversible mutants, the MIC and MAC of NA on the PMS medium were both higher than those on the HI medium . The MACs of MMC and NOV on the PMS medium were also higher than those on the HI medium, but their geometric mean MIC remained almost unchanged on both media . Because the MACs of MMC (0.31 microgram/ml) and NA (100.0 microgram/ml) to the reversible mutants on the PMS medium were much similar to those of the irreversible mutants, it suggests that both groups had the similar mutation mechanism.

Am Heart J, 1978 Sep, 96(3), 385 - 8
Infective aneurysm of the left ventricle: angiographic and echocardiographic features; Saksena FB et al.; A 17-year-old man with staphylococcal endocarditis of the mitral valve developed an infective aneurysm of the posterior left ventricular wall . Echocardiography revealed an echo-free space posterior to the posterior left ventricular wall . This echo-free space undoubtedly represented the aneurysmal sac, because it could be temporarily obliterated by injecting saline into it and was no longer detectable following surgical closure of the sac . Thus echocardiography may be helpful in the detection of an infective aneurysm of the left ventricle.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 Sep, (9), 110 - 3
{Activity of the T- and B-lymphocyte systems in microbial eczema}; Romanov VA et al.; The author demonstrated a marked reduction in number of T-spontaneously rosette-forming lymphocyte and B-cells tested by direct immunofluorescence in the peripheral blood of patients suffering from microbial eczema . Reduction in number of B-lymphocytes was accompanied by a decrease in serum immunoglobulins (of M and G classes) content, of the titre of normal antibodies of E . coli, in parallel with increase in concentration of immunoglobulins, class A, and of agglutinating titre to staphylococcus P-209.

Immunology, 1978 Sep, 35(3), 471 - 8
Different mitogenic activity of soluble and insoluble staphylococcal protein A (SPA); Romagnani S et al.; The response to SPA and Staphylococcus strain Cowan I (StaCw) of highly purified populations of peripheral blood and tonsil human lymphocytes was investigated . Purified T lymphocytes isolated from perpheral blood by E-rosetting were unable to respond in vitro to StaCw . Highly purified B-cell populations from tonsils did not show any proliferative response in the presence of soluble SPA . The addition to highly purified B-cell suspensions from human tonsils of increasing concentrations of autologous T lymphocytes did not induce any increase of thymidine uptake in the presence of StaCw . However, it was able to restore a marked proliferative response of the B-cell cultures to soluble SPA, even though mitomycin-treated T lymphocytes were added . The low response of highly purified peripheral blood T lymphocytes to soluble SPA could be potentiated by the addition of autologous mitomycin-treated B cells, whereas the unresponsiveness of purified T lymphocytes to StaCw was not affected . Mitogenic activity of SPA coupled to Sepharose beads was different from that of soluble SPA and paralleled that of StaCw . These data strongly suggest that insoluble SPA is a T-cell-independent B-cell mitogen in man, whereas soluble SPA, like PWM, exerts its activity on B cells only in the presence of T cells.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1978 Sep, 75(9), 4238 - 41
Nucleosome rearrangement in human chromatin during UV-induced DNA- reapir synthesis; Smerdon MJ et al.; The distribution of UV-induced DNA repair synthesis within chromatin was measured in confluent human fibroblasts that were pulse-labeled with {3H}dThd (10 or 90 min) immediately after irradiation and chased in nonradioactive medium for different time periods . Initially (i.e., at the end of the pulse period), most of the repair synthesis occurs in staphylococcal nuclease-sensitive regions . With increasing chase times the nucleotides inserted during repair synthesis become progressively more nuclease resistant . Gel electrophoresis data indicate that nuclease resistance is conferred on these nucleotides by their appearance in core DNA . The kinetics of this rearrangement process are biphasic: greater than 85% of the repair synthesis sites undergo rapid rearrangement (4--5 hr); the remaining sites ( less than 15%) rearrange much more slowly, if at all . The time courses of nucleosome rearrangement and repair synthesis are similar, suggesting that nucleosome rearrangement may be induced by the repair process or that the rate of repair synthesis may be regulated by nucleosome rearrangement.

J Virol, 1978 Sep, 27(3), 604 - 11
Purification of the Epstein-Barr virus-determined nuclear antigen from Epstein-Barr virus-transformed human lymphoid cell lines; Luka J et al.; The Epstein-Barr virus-determined nuclear antigen (EBNA) was purified from extracts of the human lymphoid cell lines Raji, Namalwa, and B95-8/MLD by two different methods . In the first approach, the apparently native antigen was purified 1,200-fold by a four-step procedure involving DNA-cellulose chromatography, blue dexptran-agarose chromatography, hydroxyapatite chromatography, and gel filtration, employing complement fixation as the assay procedure . Such EBNA preparations specifically inhibited the anticomplement immunofluorescence test for EBNA and bound to methanol/acetic acid-fixed metaphase chromosomes . The purified antigen, which has a molecular weight of 170,000 to 200,000, yielded a single protein band of molecular weight about 48,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . These data indicate that native EBNA has a tetrameric structure . In the second purification method, EBNA-containing cell extracts containing radioactively labeled proteins were incubated with anti-EBNA-positive sera, and antigen-antibody complexes were adsorbed to matrix-bound staphylococcal protein A . The bound proteins were then released with an SDS-containing buffer, and denatured EBNA was separated from antibody chains by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and visualized by fluorography . The denatured EBNA obtained in radiochemically pure form by this procedure has a molecular weight of about 48,000, so both methods yield an EBNA monomer of the same size.

Am J Pathol, 1978 Sep, 92(3), 619 - 35
Antiserums for immunofluorescent enumeration of human T lymphocytes utilizing fluoresceinated staphylococcal protein A; Ades EW et al.; Five lots (100 ml or more) of heterologous antiserums specific for human T lymphocytes were prepared using human or Rhesus monkey thymocytes as immunogens . After appropriate adsorptions, these antiserums reacted by immunofluorescence with 68% of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and 98% of human thymocytes, with E-rosette--positive cells but not with EAC-rosette--positive cells or five human B-lymphoblastoid-cell lines . Blocking experiments showed that Rhesus monkey thymocytes share thymic antigenic determinant(s) with humans . E-rosette receptors modulated independently from T-cell heteroantigens . Non-E--rosetting neoplastic T cells were identified in several patients with lymphoproliferative malignancies . Applying both the E-rosette assay and the anti-T-cell serum provides a better method of defining the biologic properties of normal and neoplastic T lymphocytes . Standardization of immunofluorescent conjugates for human T- or B-cell enumeration is simplified if large lots of well-characterized antiserums are available.

JAMA, 1978 Aug 25, 240(8), 751 - 3
Rifampin therapy of Staphylococcus epidermidis . Use in infections from indwelling artificial devices; Archer GL et al.; Rifampin was added to existing antibiotic regimens in two patients with Staphylococcus epidermidis infections; one patient had prosthetic valve endocarditis and the other had an infection of a CSF shunt . The addition of rifampin increased serum or CSF bactericidal titers 16-fold or greater and was correlated with a favorable clinical response . The results of tests for tube-dilution antibiotic susceptibility showed rifampin to be the most active of all antibiotics tested against the patients' organisms . The combinations of gentamicin sulfate, nafcillin sodium, or vancomycin hydrochloride with rifampin prevented the emergence of rifampin resistance in vitro and promoted enhanced killing when compared with either antibiotic alone.

J Biol Chem, 1978 Aug 25, 253(16), 5726 - 31
Amino acid sequence of hemerythrin from Themiste dyscritum; Loehr JS et al.; The amino acid sequence of hemerythrin from the sipunculid worm, Themiste dyscritum, was determined by sequenator analyses of the S-pyridylethylated protein and fragments derived by further chemical and enzymatic cleavages . The fragments were obtained by cleavage of the intact protein with hydroxylamine, trypsin digestion of citraconylated intact protein, and subdigestion with Staphylococcal protease V8 . The COOH-terminal sequence was determined using carboxypeptidases A and B and amino acid analyses . The polypeptide chain was found to contain 113 amino acids . Since heterogeneity was observed at no more than two positions in the amino acid sequence, the native octameric protein appears to be composed of identical subunits . By combining information derived from sequence analyses and x-ray crystallographic studies, it has been possible to identify amino acids responsible for the tertiary and quaternary structure of the protein as well as amino acids serving as iron ligands at the oxygen-binding site.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1978 Aug 21, 535(2), 388 - 400
Purification and some properties of a lethal toxic fragment of staphylococcal alpha-toxin by tryptic digestion; Watanabe M et al.; Purified staphylococcal alpha-toxin (molecular weight approximately 36,000) was mildly digested with trypsin, yielding two components by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . A fast-moving component (molecular weight 17,000 +/- 5%) which is relatively resistant to tryptic digestion and a slow-moving component (molecular weight 20,000 +/- 5%) which tends to aggregate . The fast-moving component was highly purified by means of combined procedures of column chromatography on Sephadex G-200 with zone electrophoresis on starch . The purified fast-moving component retained a high degree of lethal toxicity for mouse but lacked hemolytic and dermonecrotic activities, whereas the slow-moving component proved to be a nontoxic polypeptide . The lethal toxic fragment was antigenically active showing partial immunological identity with the parent alpha-toxin and stimulated the formation of antibodies capable of neutralizing the lethal action of alpha-toxin in vivo . Some physical properties and the amino acid composition of the purified lethal toxic fragment have been compared with those of native alpha-toxin.

Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1978 Aug 15, 131(8), 853 - 6
Anaerobic microflora of the vagina in children; Hammerschlag MR et al.; Vaginal cultures from 25 healthy girls from two months to 15 years of age were examined for aerobic, facultatively anaerobic, and obligately anaerobic bacteria . An average of 8.7 species (3.7 aerobic and facultatively anaerobic species; 5.3 obligately anaerobic species) were isolated from these cultures . Staphylococcus epidermidis (21), diphtheroids (20), bacteroides (19), peptococci (19), peptostreptococci (14), and Bacteroides melaninogenicus (14) were most prevalent organisms.

Am J Gastroenterol, 1978 Aug, 70(2), 171 - 4
Hepatic injury due to oxacillin administration; Goldstein LI et al.; Hepatotoxicity, in association with intravenous oxacillin therapy, is described and documented for the first time by liver biopsy in an illicit drug user suffering from acute staphylococcal endocarditis . Mild gastrointestinal symptomatology, fever, eosinophilia and abnormal liver enzyme abnormalities were noted . Liver biopsy showed features consistent with a drug-induced hepatic injury . Cessation of therpy led to rapid reversal of clinical and biochemical changes and on further observation no evidence of chronic hepatic dysfunction was noted . A brief review of oxacillin hepatic injury is presented.

Am J Med Technol, 1978 Aug, 44(8), 762 - 4
Evaluation of disc diffusion susceptibility testing performed from a four-hour subculture of positive blood culture bottles; Weber ML et al.; Disc diffusion susceptibility tests were performed on standardized broth suspensions inoculated from a four-hour subculture of a positive blood culture bottle as well as from an agar plate subculture of the same positive blood culture bottle . The zone sizes and interpretative results of both methods were compared . Of 101 isolates tested, only one organism exhibited a very major difference between the two methods (one Staphylococcus epidermidis was interpreted as susceptible to methicillin by the four-hour subculture method and resistant by the agar plate subculture method) . Thirteen other isolates showed minor changes from susceptible or resistant to intermediate or from intermediate to either susceptible or resistant with only one antibiotic each . The data indicates that disc diffusion susceptibilities may be performed easily and accurately from a four-hour subculture of positive blood culture bottles.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1978 Aug, 36(2), 368 - 74
Rapid procedure for the detection of plasmids in Staphylococcus epidermidis; Wilson CR et al.; A rapid, reproducible, mini-volume assay capable of detecting staphylococcal plasmid DNA in the range of 0.8 to 32 megadaltons has been developed . The assay employs lysostaphin-mediated lysis of cells followed by a short, low-speed centrifugation and does not require treatment with ribonuclease or protease or deproteinization with phenol . A period of only 24 h may be required to detect the presence and size of a plasmid once an organism has been isolated . This method has been used to study the plasmid ecology of Staphylococcus epidermidis and to correlate the presence or absence of plasmids with tetracycline, chloramphenicol, neomycin, penicillin, and cadmium resistances.

Vestn Khir Im I I Grek, 1978 Aug, 121(8), 93 - 7
{Staphylococcal wound infection and the problems of antibacterial therapy}; Kolker II et al.; An analysis of a qualitative composition of wound microflora grounded on the findings of the clinico-bacteriological examination of 315 cases with various pyo-inflammatory processes is presented here, and specific features of the species composition of wound microflora depending upon the character of a pyo-inflammatory process are shown . The sensitivity of staphylococcuses isolated from the wounds, to 19 antibacterial preparations is analyzed and recommendations on the most rational and differentiated use of antibacterial drugs in various forms of a purulent process of staphylococcal eti-logy are suggested.

Thorax, 1978 Aug, 33(4), 518 - 9
Excision of tricuspid valve with later replacement in endocarditis of drug addiction; Wright JS et al.; Staphylococcal endocarditis in a drug addict was controlled only after excision of the tricuspid valve . Total absence of the tricuspid valve was tolerated well for 18 months, at which time deteriorating liver function prompted the insertion of a bioprosthetic valve into the tricuspid ring . The haemodynamic and clinical results after two years of follow-up have been excellent.

J Hyg (Lond), 1978 Aug, 81(1), 99 - 105
Shedding of bacteria and skin squames after handwashing; Meers PD et al.; Particles released into the air by wringing the hands together were collected in a slit sampler before and after washing with bar soap, with three surgical scrubs, and after rubbing them with a spirit-based lotion . The particles were identified, their number estimated, those that bore bacteria counted, and the bacteria themselves classified . It was found that there was a significant increase, averaging 17-fold, in the number of particles carrying viable bacteria released after washing with soap . The increase in bacterial dissemination was suppressed if a surgical scrub was used in place of soap, or when the lotion was used without washing . The number of skin squames released increased by 18-fold or more after washing with soap or a surgical scrub, but not after using the lotion . This suggests that a surgical scrub should be used more widely in clinical practice, and that a spirit-based hand lotion might with advantage become a partial substitute for handwashing, particularly in areas where handwashing is frequent and iatrogenic coagulase-negative staphylococcal infection common.

Infect Immun, 1978 Aug, 21(2), 387 - 91
Isolation of specific and common antibodies to staphylococcal enterotoxins A and E by affinity chromatography; Lee AC et al.; Specific and common antibodies to staphylococcal enterotoxins A and E (SEA and SEE) were isolated from anti-SEA and anti-SEE antisera by affinity chromatography . Anti-SEA and anti-SEE antisera were passed through a column with the cross-reacting enterotoxin coupled to a CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B matrix . Specifically bound common antibodies were eluted with NaSCN . The isolated specific antibodies reacted only with the homologous enterotoxin, whereas the common antibodies gave a reaction of identify with both enterotoxins in double gel diffusion plates . The common antibodies had a higher titer against SEE than against SEA . The significance of the isolation of antibodies common to two separate protein molecules is discussed.

Transplantation, 1978 Aug, 26(2), 126 - 30
Detection of mouse alloantibodies by rosetting with protein A-coated sheep red blood cells; Sandrin MS et al.; Staphylococcal protein A has an affinity for the Fc portion of the IgG molecule of different species and can therefore be used to detect cell-bound immunoglobulin . Using this property, protein A coupled to sheep red blood cells via chromic chloride can detect alloantibodies to mouse H-2, Thy-1, Ly-1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7, and Ia antigenic specificities bound to the surface of lymphocytes by the formation of rosettes . In comparison with other rosetting and cytotoxicity assays, the protein A assay shows a greater sensitivity than does cytotoxicity using spleen cells as the target, as does the sheep anti-mouse Ig rosetting assay, whereas cytotoxicity shows greater sensitivity with some antisera on thymocytes . The major advantages of the protein A assay are that constant low reproducible backgrounds are obtained, there is no need to remove surface Ig by capping prior to antiserum treatment, and that viable cells can be recovered.

J Lab Clin Med, 1978 Aug, 92(2), 270 - 82
The effect of experimental tobacco smoke inhalation on in vitro alveolar macrophage bactericidal function; Shea JW et al.; The in vitro antibacterial activity of rat alveolar macrophages against a challenge of radiolabeled Staphylococcus epidermidis was studied following 30 and 60 consecutive days of in vivo tobacco smoke inhalation in a dose equivalent to approximately 1 1/2 packs of unfiltered cigarettes per day in man . Macrophages harvested by bronchopulmonary lavage, were cultured, infected, and assayed hourly for 3 hr to determine the relative percentage of surviving radiolabeled intracellular bacteria . Macrophages harvested from smoke-treated rats for 30 days had an impaired capacity to kill bacteria when compared to macrophages from control and sham-smoked animals (63.5% +/- 3.3, 80.8% +/- 3.8, and 86.2% %/- 1.2 killed in 3 hr, respectively) . Alveolar macrophages harvested from rats exposed to cigarette smoke for 60 days, however, did not have an impairment in their bactericidal activity relative to matched controls (73.3% +/- 3.9 vs 69.8% +/- 6.9 killed in 3 hr) . These data imply that doses of cigarette smoke commonly consumed by man impair the in vitro bactericidal function of the rat alveolar macrophages following 30 consecutive days of experimental smoke treatment . The disappearance of this effect after 60 days of exposure to tobacco smoke suggests that an adaptation to the initial impairment has developed.

J Invest Dermatol, 1978 Aug, 71(2), 122 - 5
Induction of delayed-type hypersensitivity to staphylococcal antigens in guinea pigs; Meyer JC et al.; Delayed-type hypersensitivity against staphylococcal antigens was induced in guinea pigs using Freund's incomplete as well as Freund's complete adjuvant . In animals sensitized with Freund's complete adjuvant the induction time and the duration of delayed-type hypersensitivity were longer and the skin reactions were stronger compared to animals sensitized with Freund's incomplete adjuvant . The difference between animals sensitized with Freund's incomplete or complete adjuvant may reflect the difference between tuberculin- and Jones-Mote type hypersensitivity.

Arch Ophthalmol, 1978 Aug, 96(8), 1448 - 50
Anaerobic flora of the normal human conjunctival sac; McNatt J et al.; Specimens from the conjunctival sacs of 92 healthy eyes were cultured on two separate occasions to determine the presence or absence of a persistent anaerobic flora . Aerobic bacteria and fungi were also studied for comparison . Of the 184 eye cultures, 112 (60.9%) contained at least one microorganism . Obligate anaerobes were recovered from 51.6% (95/184) of the cultures . Propionibacterium acnes, the predominant anaerobe encountered, was present in 49.5% (91/184) of the eyes . Aerobic and facultatively anaerobic bacteria, present in 32.6% of the total eye cultures, were less common than obligate anaerobes . Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common of these . Fungi were rarely found . Our findings suggest that the conjunctival sac is either sterile or normally contains small numbers of anaerobic, aerobic, or facultatively anaerobic bacteria . As other workers have suggested, the origin of the bacteria in the eyes may be the skin of the eyelids.

Blood, 1978 Aug, 52(2), 379 - 87
Expression of the major sialoglycoprotein (glycophorin) on erythroid cells in human bone marrow; Gahmberg CG et al.; The major sialoglycoprotein of human erythrocyte membranes (glycophorin) is one of the most-studied membrane proteins . Although the structure is relatively well known, almost nothing is known about its expression in erythroid cells . To study this we raised an antiserum that reacted specifically with this protein . This was accomplished by immunization of rabbits with a preparation of glycophorin followed by absorption with En(a-) erythrocyte membranes, which lack glycophorin . By use of this antiserum and a staphylococcus protein A technique we could establish that only bone marrow cells of erythrocyte lineage express glycophorin at the cell surface . This occurs in basophilic normoblasts and later stages of erythrocyte differentiation, whereas pronormoblasts do not seem to contain glycophorin.

Ophthalmology, 1978 Aug, 85(8), 801 - 17
Autoimmune phenomena of the external eye; Mondino BJ et al.; The immunologic status of patients with ocular pemphigoid, Mooren's ulcer, chronic herpetic keratitis, and staphylococcal peripheral corneal ulcers was studied . Although tissue-fixed and circulating antibodies to the conjunctival epithelium were found in all groups, patients with Mooren's ulcer demonstrated these findings most consistently . Immunoglobulins bound to the conjunctival basement membrane were found not only in ocular pemphigoid but also in patients with Mooren's and staphylococcal ulcers . Approximately one half of the patients with ocular pemphigoid and Mooren's ulcer demonstrated elevations in serum IgA levels . An increased prevalence of HLA-B12 was found in ocular pemphigoid.

Pediatrics, 1978 Aug, 62(2), 198 - 201
Otitis media in the neonatal intensive care unit; Berman SA et al.; Thirty-eight of 125 premature infants who were hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) had abnormal tympanic membrane mobility compatible with otitis media . Twenty-five of these 38 had received antibiotics within one week of otoscopic examination and were considered to have either serous otitis or partially treated bacterial otitis media; tympanocentesis was not performed in them . Tympanocentesis was performed in the remaining 13 infants who had not received antibiotics . Bacterial otitis media was confirmed in ten of the 13 . Either staphylococcal (six cases) or Gram-negative enteric organisms (four cases) were isolated in cultures obtained by tympanocentesis in these cases . The four cases of Gram-negative infections occurred in infants within six weeks of birth . Nasotracheal intubation for more than seven days was significantly correlated with impaired tympanic membrane mobility compatible with otitis media . Otitis media occurs frequently among premature infants who are hospitalized in an NICU, and it should be looked for in any infant in whom sepsis is clinically suspected.

J Med Microbiol, 1978 Aug, 11(3), 303 - 13
Assay of staphylococcal delta-haemolysin with fish erythrocytes; Chao LP et al.; Suspensions of erythroctes from certain marine fish (cod, saithe, haddock and mackerel) were 4--16 times more sensitive than human or horse erythrocytes to staphylococcal delta-haemolysin . Cod erythrocytes were lysed rapidly by delta-haemolysin and the titres of haemolysin were independent of the temperatures at which the tests were incubated, over the range 0--37 degrees C . Fish erythrocytes were not lysed by purified alpha- and beta-haemolysins and no synergistic action was found between beta- and delta-haemolysins . In blood agar-overlay plates, the zones of lysis that developed in cod blood agar were larger and clearer than those that developed in human or horse blood agar.

Am J Ophthalmol, 1978 Aug, 86(2), 162 - 6
Bacterial cultures of lenses removed during cataract surgery; Kohn AN; Lenses removed in 408 cataract operations were cultured for bacteria . Most (78%) lenses were sterile . Of the positive cultures, 48% were positive for Staphylococcus epidermidis and 15.4% for S . aureus . These findings reflect the flora of the normal preoperative conjunctiva, and the organisms most commonly implicated in postoperative endophthalmitis . One case of endophthalmitis occurred in this series, and S . aureus was cultured from the lens and later from the postoperative wound and a wound suture, but no intraocular paracentesis was performed to confirm the causative organism.

Cancer, 1978 Aug, 42(2), 447 - 52
Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy: a T-cell deficiency; Kosmidis PA et al.; The case of a 49-year-old man with the diagnosis of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy is reported . The patient survived a stormy clinical course . The corticosteroids improved dramatically the clinical picture although the patient developed a staphylococcal septicemia . Before treatment immunological studies were done including quantitation of B and T-cells, antigen stimulation of lymphocytes in vitro, skin tests and skin window . Impairment of cell mediated immunity, decreased T-lymphocytes and increased B-lymphocytes were found . A decreased migration of lymphocytes in the skin window was also found compatible with immunosuppression . A possible presumptive pathogenetic mechanism is described although the cause of this recently described entity remains unknown.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {C}, 1978 Aug, 86C(4), 193 - 8
Isolation of enzymatically derived fragments of guinea pig IgG and an examination of their reactivity against Staphylococcal protein A; Endresen C et al.; Papain digest of guinea pig IgG2 was separated by ion-exchange chromatography into five fractions, one containing mainly Fab and four Fc fractions . Covalently linked Fc (cFc) and non-covalently linked Fc fragments (nFc) were present, both with a molecular weight (Mw) of about 56,000 . nFc was split into half fragments by gel filtration under dissociating condition (Mw 25,000 to 27,000) . An incomplete Fc fragment (iFc) was also isolated (Mw 36,000), which consisted of a Fc chain (Mw 26,000) non-covalently linked to a piece of another chain . These preparations all reacted with protein A . In addition, the Fc' fragment (Mw 22,000), which is the C-terminus of the Fc fragment, was isolated . This fragment did not react with protein A . The cFc was treated with acid and then digested with trypsin at pH 7.8 for 45 s . The digest were separated into four fractions (I-IV) by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 . Fraction I was indistinguishable from intact Fc, fraction II contained an incomplete covalent Fc fragment (Mw 34,000 to 38,000) . Both these fragments reacted with protein A . Fraction IV consisted of fragments belonging to the C-terminus, and was protein A non-reactive . Fraction III was shown to contain a mixture of fragments belonging to fractions II and IV.

J Immunol, 1978 Aug, 121(2), 573 - 8
Human monocyte cytotoxicity to tumor cells . I . Antibody-dependent cytotoxicity; Shaw GM et al.; Recent investigations examining mononuclear cell antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity against tumor cell lines suggest that K lymphocytes and not monocytes are active in this cytotoxic reaction . We have found, however, that in an allogeneic assay system, human monocyte monolayers as well as lymphocytes mediate substantial lysis of 51Cr-labeled antibody-coated CEM lymphoblast tumor cells . This cytotoxicity is temperature-dependent and rapid, with most 51Cr release occurring in the first 4 hr of co-incubation . Interaction between target cell-bound antibody and the monocyte Fc receptor is necessary as demonstrated by the marked fall in antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) produced by staphylococcal protein A, high concentrations of nonspecific immunoglobulin, and dilution of the target cell antiserum . Morphologic and functional characteristics of the monocyte-monolayer preparations establish their relative purity (greater than 95%) and indicate that monocytes and not contaminating lymphocytes are responsible for tumor cell lysis . Furthermore, preincubation of monocyte and lymphocyte preparations with latex particles or low concentrations of immunoglobulin distinguished monocyte from lymphocyte ADCC . Thus, normal human monocytes have the capacity to carry out antibody-dependent cytotoxicity against nucleated malignant target cells.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1978 Jul, 241(1), 95 - 100
Atrio-ventricular shuntinfections and endocarditis due to Staphylococcus epidermidis; Verhoef J et al.; Two groups of patients (with endocarditis and with atrioventricular shunt infections due to Staphylococcus epidermidis) are presented together with analysis of the causative agents by bio- and phage-typing . Additionally phagocytic function of polymorphonuclear leukocytes of selected patients was investigated but no decreased phagocytic function was found . A possible way of treatment is discussed.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1978 Jul, 241(1), 108 - 18
Epidemiologic Surveillance for Staphylococcus epidermidis infections related to cardiopulmonary bypass; Lathrop GD et al.; Epidemiologic investigation of 20 Staphylococcus infections among valvular and aortocoronary bypass graft patients indicated a broad spectrum of clinical illness in these two groups . The highest infection rate (9.3%) and case specific mortality rate (54.5%) were noted among those patients undergoing cardiovalvular replacement surgery with protheses . The median onset of infection was 6 days suggesting infection during the intraoperative period . Using the epidemiologic data from this investigation, a transmission pattern was formulated and a series of control measures designed to interdict the routes of transmission were instituted wigh marked success . These measures significantly reduced the incidence of S . epidermidis infections among these high risk patients.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1978 Jul, 241(1), 101 - 7
A comparative study of Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates from clinical material and healthy carriers; Tselenis-Kotsowilis A et al.; A total of 190 Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates from healthy carriers and clinical material were biotyped according to the Baird-Parker scheme, phage typed by a provisional set of 18 typing phages and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility . The majority of the strains from both groups were found to belong to biotype 1 . A considerable number of strains were lysed at 100 x RTD by at least one phage . The strains from healthy carriers were distributed in 24 phage types and about half of them were clustered among three major phage types . Nine of the 30 clinical isolates were of the phage type 130/456 and another nine strains were of eight different phage types . The strain 130/456 represented only three per cent of the phage types from healthy carriers . The clinical strains exhibitbd a multiple resistance pattern to 13 antibiotics . Statistically significant was the difference in the resistance to Penicillin, Streptomycin, Carbenicillin, Erythromycin, Lincomycin, Ampicillin and Kanamycin between the groups of strains from clinical material and healthy carriers . No correlation was observed between biotypes, phage types and antimicrobial susceptibility in both groups of the isolates.

Cell, 1978 Jul, 14(3), 611 - 27
DNAase I, DNAase II and staphylococcal nuclease cut at different, yet symmetrically located, sites in the nucleosome core; Sollner-Webb B et al.; We have determined the relative location of pancreatic DNAase (DNAase I), spleen acid DNAase (DNAase II) and staphylococcal nuclease cleavage sites in the nucleosome core . Each of these three enzymes cleaves the DNA of chromatin at 10.n nucleotide intervals (n integer); this specificity presumably reflects the internal structure of the nucleosome . We have already reported that DNAase I cleaves nucleosomal DNA so that nearest adjacent cuts on opposite strands are staggered by 2 nucleotides, 3' end extending (Sollner-Webb and Felsenfeld, 1977) . Here we show that the nearest cuts made by DNAase II in nucleosomal DNA are staggered by 4 nucleotides, 3' end extending, while cuts made by staphylococcal nuclease have a stagger of 2 nucleotides, 5' end extending . The cutting sites of the three enzymes thus do not coincide . Each pair of staggered cuts, however, is symmetrically located about a common axis-that is, the "dyad axes" that bisect nearest pairs of cutting sites coincide for all three enzymes . This result is consistent with the presence of a true dyad axis in the nucleosome core . Our results support the conclusion that a structural feature of the nucleosome, having a 10 nucleotide periodicity, is the common recognition site for all three nucleases . The position of the cut is determined, however, by the individual characteristics of each enzyme . Sites potentially available to nuclease cleavage span a region of 4 nucleotides out of this 10 nucleotide repeat, and a large fraction of these sites are actually cut . Thus much of the nucleosomal DNA must in some sense be accessible to the environment.

Angiology, 1978 Jul, 29(7), 559 - 61
Echocardiographic demonstration of tricuspid valvulitis and right atrial thrombus complicating an infected artificial pacemaker:a case report; Chan W et al.; A right ventricular artificial demand pacemaker was implanted into a 59-year-old man with supra-Hisian complete heart block . His postoperative course was complicated by Staphylococcal aureus septicemia, which was controlled with antibiotics . A year later, S . aureus was again isolated from the blood . Echocardiography showed thickening of the tricuspid valve leaflet and multiple echoes in the right atrium . Autopsy findings included tricuspid leaflet thickening and an overlying right atrial thrombus . The echocardiogram is thus useful in localizing an infected valve in bacterial endocarditis and in demonstrating the presence of the thrombus.

J Immunol, 1978 Jul, 121(1), 19 - 23
A quantitative fluorometric assay for detection and characterization of Fc receptors; Schreiber AB et al.; A new quantitative fluorometric binding assay that uses fluoresceinated aggregated IgG is proposed for the study of Fc receptors . The method was compared with a radiolabeling binding assay on three well characterized murine cell lines (38C-13, EL4, and BW) . The apparent association constant of the binding and the amount of aggregated IgG bound per cell at saturation were calculated . The fluorometric assay enables the detection of 5 X 10(-10) M bound aggregated IgG . Inhibition studies with monomeric IgG, reduced and alkylated aggregated IgG, and aggregated F(ab')2 fragments of IgG confirmed the specificity of the assay . Staphylococcal protein A inhibited the binding of the aggregated IgG to Fc receptors.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 Jul, (7), 104 - 7
{Opsonizing activity of sera from animals immunized with pertussis vaccine}; Levina LA et al.; Opsonizing activity of guinea pig blood serum containing mercaptoethanol-resistant pertussis antibodies was studied in vitro on a model of microorganism ingestion by the mononuclears of the guinea pig peritoneal exudate . There were revealed distinct differences in the serum activity depending on the phagocytosis object . The blood serum of hyperimmunized rabbits stimulated the ingestion of Bordetella pertussis by mononuclears of guinea pigs--normal and immunized with pertussis vaccine . The blood sera of hyperimmunized guinea pigs and of mice immunized with pertussis vaccine twice displayed opsonins to B . pertussis . The blood sera of animals immunized with pertussis vaccine inhibited the staphylococcus ingestion by the peritoneal exudate mononuclears of guinea pigs, both normal and those immunized with pertussis vaccine.

Res Vet Sci, 1978 Jul, 25(1), 89 - 93
The elimination of serum-resistant Escherichia coli from experimentally infected single mammary glands of healthy cows; Hill AW et al.; Neutrophils isolated from mammary glands stimulated with a staphylococcal culture filtrate efficiently killed serum-resistant strains of Escherichia coli . This study was extended and it was shown that an infusion of wide ranging numbers (5 X 10(1) to 5 X 10(6)) of the same strains of E coli into a single mammary gland resulted in bacterial growth, which was eliminated following neutrophil infiltration . This elimination occurred before the appearance of any clinical signs . Once bacterial kill had started in the gland, it continued in the milk after withdrawal from the gland . These results offer an explanation of why causative microbial agents cannot be isolated from some cases of clinical mastitis.

J Immunol, 1978 Jul, 121(1), 327 - 32
Studies on the interaction between protein A and immunoglobulin G . I . Effect of protein A on the functional activity of IgG; Langone JJ et al.; Staphylococcal protein (A (PA) and IgG anti-Forssman immunoglobulin formed complexes that behaved functionally like IgM in their ability to lyse sheep erythrocytes (E) in the presence of whole guinea pig complement (GPC) and to fix purified guinea pig C1 . Concanavalin A, a plant lectin that inhibited IgM but not IgG hemolytic activity, inhibited the hemolytic activity of IgG-protein A complexes that behaved like IgM but had no effect on complexes that behaved functionally like IgG . Since Con A is known to bind specifically to glucose and mannose residues, our results suggested that the interaction of protein A with the Fc region of IgG led to exposure of sugar moieties that may participate in complement (C) binding . The production of IgM-like complexes depended on the ratio of protein A to IgG and the empirical formula of these IgM-like complexes was found to be {(IgG)2PA}n . As the ratio of PA to IgG was increased, the resulting complexes tended to behave functionally like IgG but with reduced hemolytic activity and C1 fixing ability . Furthermore, the binding of C1 to EIgG was inhibited by PA and the binding of PA to EIgG was inhibited by C1 indicating that the binding sites for C1 and PA were located near each other or were identical . Our results offer a reasonable explanation for the reported effects of PA or mixtures of PA and IgG in vitro and in vivo.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1978 Jul, 241(1), 119 - 35
Epidemiologic features and phage types associated with nosocomial infections caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis; Blouse LE et al.; An apparent problem with increased numbers of nosocomial infections caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis at a large hospital was studied in a clinical-epidemiological investigation . Thirty-six cases of S . epidermidis infection were confirmed on the thoracic surgery, general surgery, nursery and pediatric services during a 3-year period . Nine cases were fatal and six of these occurred in patients following cardiovascular surgery with implanted prothesis . The majority of cases (25/36) occurred following cardiovascular surgery . The median onset of infection was six days from the date of surgery, suggesting infection during the intraoperative period . Although the number of cases studied remains small, two phage types, 71/108/275a/459 and 407-2, did predominate among these clinical infections . Interestingly, during this same time interval these same types predominated among surgical staff members closely associated with these patients . Resistance to antimicrobials was high among isolates tested, with more than 50% of the strains resistant to six or more antimicrobial agents.

Thromb Haemost, 1978 Jun 30, 39(3), 574 - 81
Determination of soluble fibrin monomer complexes by adsorption on immobilized fibrinogen; Stemberger AW et al.; Determination of fibrin in plasma, also containing fibrinogen, is possible by selective absorption on affinity columns prepared from highly purified fibrinogen . Desorption is complete using 1.0 M potassium bromide, pH 5.3 . In addition, the cold-insoluble globulin is desorbed . Therefore, the eluate is checked on microtiter plates by the staphylococcal clumping test which selectively detects fibrin or fibrinogen . The procedure works well with simple laboratory equipment . The diagnosis of fibrinogen-fibrin complexes is demonstrated in some pathological plasmas.

Postgrad Med J . 1978 Jun;54(632):413.
Staphylococcal aortic valve endocarditis with aortic root to right atrial fistula; De Cock KM et al.; Infective endocarditis can be complicated by the development of intra-cardiac shunts . A case of endocarditis secondary to staphylococcal septicaemia is reported where various conduction defects preceded the development of a fistula from the aortic root to the right atrium . Before emergency surgery there was marked worsening of heart failure with the appearance of a new loud murmur throughout diastole.

Arkh Anat Gistol Embriol, 1978 Jun, 74(6), 36 - 41
{Changes in the lymph nodes of adrenalectomized rats with staphylococcal poisoning}; Gusikhina VI et al.; Histological changes in lymph nodes and dynamics of 11-oxycorticosteroid levels in blood were studied in intact and adrenalectomized rats under staphylococcal intoxication . At early stages (up to 24 h) after staphylotoxin or staphylococcal injection, stress reaction of the organism, which produces a rise of corticosteroid level in blood, was demonstrated to play the major role in aplasy of the lymphoid tissue . At later stages, when the level of corticosteroids decreases, the lymphoid tissue begins to restore . In adrenalectomized rats, aplasy of the lymphoid tissue begins at later stages (in 3--4 days) because of a decreased amount of corticosteroids in blood . From the data obtained a suggestion is made that under intoxication, devastation of the lymphoid tissue occurs via mediated and direct action of the toxin.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 Jun, (6), 92 - 5
{Characteristics of the biological activity of staphylococcal allergens obtained from various strains laboratory animals}; Runova VF et al.; The authors suggest an optimal scheme of guinea pig sensitization for the assessment of specific activity of staphylococcal allergens . On milliard cells of killed staphylococcal culture are injected to the animals into the paws of the limbs; two and a half weeks later an intradermal test with an allergen in a dose of 10 microgram by protein was made . Differences in the specific activity of staphylococcal allergens prepared of various strains were revealed . Biochemical properties of the strains proved to be of significance for the sensitization.

Can J Microbiol, 1978 Jun, 24(6), 765 - 6
The use of polyethylene glycol in radioimmunoassay of staphylococcal enterotoxins; Robern H et al.; The double-antibody radioimmunoassay of enterotoxins A, B, and C was modified by the addition of aqueous polyethylene glycol which precipitated double-antibody bound staphylococcal enterotoxins with little or no precipitation of free enterotoxin . The precipitate formed appeared as a thin coating at the bottom of the test tube and was not removed by aspiration . The procedure obviates the need for normal rabbit serum and for an additional wash of the precipitate.

Arch Intern Med, 1978 Jun, 138(6), 915 - 7
Hepatitis associated with high-dose oxacillin therapy; Pollock AA et al.; A prospective survey of liver function during oxacillin sodium therapy revealed five cases of drug-related abnormalities among 41 patients . In each instance, the serum transaminase level was increased from normal to greater than 100 units . The serum alkaline phosphatase level was mildly elevated and bilirubin levels remained normal . All of the patients were asymptomatic . Hepatic dysfunction was reversible on withdrawal of oxacillin therapy and substitution of a cephalosporin or clindamycin . The observed abnormalities in liver function were associated with a daily oxacillin sodium dose of greater than or equal to 12 gm as well as with heroin addiction and staphylococcal endocarditis.

Sem Hop, 1978 Jun, 54(17-20), 663 - 4
{A case of staphylococcal spondylodiscitis after spinal injury . Post-traumatic spondylodiscitis?}; Bouvenot G et al.; The authors report the case of a patient who had a D9-D10 staphylococcic spondylodiscitis three month after a fracture of the first lumbar vertebra, which they consider to be posttraumatic despite the fact that it is localised in a different area . They insist on the insufficiency of the literature existing on such cases and on the various pathogenic hypotheses to be applied by the practitionner.

Zhonghua Min Guo Wei Sheng Wu Xue Za Zhi, 1978 Jun, 11(2), 39 - 44
{Studies on staphylococcal enterotoxin B . 1 . Quantitative assay by capillary tube single diffusion test (author's transl)}; Wang NL et al.; A method for rapidly identifying and quantitating small amount of staphylococcal enterotoxin B was developed on capillary tube single diffusion test . The high sensitivity of method has the advantages to save antiserum and incubation period . Some factors such as concentration of antigen and antiserum, incubation temperature, buffer systems, and position of capillary tube all might affect the test accuracy . If all those affecting factors were concerned, the toxin would probably be standardized . The most accessible quantitative estimation was accomplished by means of (1) plotting a precipitation curve from the different concentrations of standardized staphylococcal enterotoxin B; (2) the sample to be test was diluted by serial two-fold method with the same buffer system; (3) select suitable 3--5 dilutions to perform capillary tube diffusion test, taking the values of precipitation bands as abcissa and sample dilutions as longitudinal axis, rendered the precipitation curve of sample exquisitely paralled to that of the standard; (4) calibrate the figure values of sample exactly on the precipitation curve, and reading the toxin content of specimen to be tested from standard curve.

Can J Biochem, 1978 Jun, 56(6), 534 - 44
The primary structure of staphylococcal protease; Drapeau GR; The amino acid sequence of staphylococcal protease has been determined by analysis of tryptic peptides obtained from cyanogen bromide fragments . Selected peptides obtained from digests with staphylococcal protease, thermolysin, and chymotrypsin provided the information necessary to align the tryptic peptides and the cyanogen bromide fragments . The protease is a single polypeptide chain of some 250 amino acids and is devoid of sulfhydryl groups . The COOH-terminal tryptic peptide of of the protease molecule contains some 43 residues, most of which are aspartic acids, asparagines, and prolines . The amino acid sequence of this peptide was not determined . The primary structure near the active serine residue indicates that staphylococcal protease is related to the pancreatic serine proteases . However, it has little or no additional sequence homologies with these enzymes except for the regions near histidine-50 and aspartic acid - 91 . These regions have striking similarities with the corresponding regions of protease B and the trypsin-like enzyme of Streptomyces griseus.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 Jun, (6), 96 - 9
{Experience in studying protein A in staphylococcal cultures}; Maianskii AN et al.; Methods of quantitative and qualitative determination of protein A in staphylococcus cultures were studied comparatively . The maximal number of strains positive by protein A were revealed by means of indirect hemagglutination test with cell extracts . Quantitative and qualitative characteristics by protein A can be used in studying the problems of strain and clone heterogeneity of S . aureus . A common antigen was revealed in the reactions with human gamma-globulin in 21 of 38 S . aureus strains, and in 1 of 11 S . epidermidis strains; the presence of this antigen failed to correlate with the quantitative protein A content in the same strains.

Rev Rhum Mal Osteoartic, 1978 May, 45(5), 325 - 33
{Our experience with the determination of serum anti-alphastaphylolysins and antigammastaphylolysins during infectious osteoarthritis . A personal series of 53 staphylococcal osteoarthritis cases, 14 cases of osteoarthritis from various germs, 47 extra-articular staphylococcal infections and 500 control subjects}; Queneau P et al.; The difficulty of directly isolating the casual agent (by obtaining specimens in situ or if necessary by hemoculture), during infectious osteo-arthritis and mainly during those deeply located such as spondylodiscitis and sacro-iliac infections, has led authors to investigate the field of serologic examinations . In staphylococcosis, which is quite frequent, they report results of serum anti-alphastaphylolysin dosage (AASTL) in 500 controls, 100 patients in whom a staphylococcus was recovered and 14 patients with other germs . In the first group, 10 subjects out of 500 ad a level greater than 2 IU whereas in the second group an elevation of the level of AASTL was observed in 66% of cases of staphylococcal osteo-arthritis (35 out of 53) and in 54% of cases of staphylococcosis without esteoarticular localization (25 out of 47), a total of 60% of staphylococcosis with various localizations (60 cases out of 100) . Despite the elevation AASTL serum in 4 of the 14 cases of the third group, this study confirms the great diagnositc value of this dosage mainly when the levels are higher than 4 IU or are still rising . The recent study of the serum antigammastaphylolysins represent an additional factor of interest because of its reliability and its frequent positive result during staphylococcosis (in 19 cases of osteo-arthritis out of 27, and in 10 cases of staphylococcosis without osteo-articular localization out of 16: a total of 29 cases in a series of 43 staphylococcosis) . The dosage of both AASTL and AGSTL, however, seems more valuable since out of 40 cases of staphylococcosis, we have observed a simultaneous elevation of AASTL and AGSTL in 22 cases (55%), a sole elevation of AASTL in 8 cases and AGSTL in 5 cases (12.5%) . Therefore, in this series, at least one of the enzymes was elevated in 15 cases out of 40 (87.5%) which represents an increase of 12.5% when compared with the study of the sole AASTL and an increase of 20% when compared to the study of AGSTL.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 May, (5), 93 - 7
{Production of staphylococcal alpha-hemolysin in a nutrient medium free of ballast substances}; Reisbrodt R et al.; A highly-active staphylococcus alpha-hemolysin was obtained in a synthetic nutrient medium containing inorganic salts, vitamins, glucose and casamine acids, with fractional addition of glucose, histidine, and NaHCO3 solutions into the medium during cultivation . The intensity of alpha-toxin production was directly proportional to the initial concentration in the medium of casamine acids (within the range of 0.2--2.0%) . The presence of lecithin in the medium (0.04%) accelerated the appearance of alpha-hemolysin, and then suppressed its production.

J Infect Dis, 1978 May, 137(5), 514 - 23
Serologic typing of Staphylococcus epidermidis biotype 4; Tierno PM Jr et al.; Three hundred sixty-five isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis (coagulase-negative) obtained over a 12-month period from 10 selected wards at New York University Medical Center-Goldwater Memorial Hospital, Roosevelt Island, N.Y., were typed serologically by slide agglutination . The isolates were first biotyped by the Baird-Parker scheme and then subtyped as proteinase-positive or proteinase-negative so that the selection of strains for immunologic study was based on biochemical and enzymatic factors rather than on random choice . The biotyping scheme of Baird-Parker and the differentiation between proteolytic and nonproteolytic strains were of limited in initial categorization of isolates of S . epidermidis . Antisera to proteinase-positive and proteinase-negative S . epidermidis biotypes 1 and 4 were absorbed with different permutations of homologous and heterologous thermostable (TS) and thermolabile (TL) antigens, and four distinct TL and two distinct TS antigenic groups, representing five different serotype patterns (i.e., A1-2, B1-2, C-D1, C-D1-2, and E1), were detected . The TL antigens also appeared to be more widespread and were shared more frequently by strains of S . epidermidis than were TS antigens, but the use of both TS and TL antigens provided a better serologic system than use of either TS or TL antigens alone.

J Immunol, 1978 May, 120(5), 1493 - 6
The binding of murine immunoglobulins to staphylococcal protein A; Mackenzie MR et al.; The binding of murine IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, IgG3 protein molecules to Staphylococcal A protein is presented . Differential elution by sodium thiocyanate gradients is described . Proteins of the IgG2 class (either a or b subclass) require between 1.5 and 2.0 M for complete elution, whereas, IgG1 proteins are fully eluted with only 0.5 M NaSCN . These differential elution patterns can be utilized to distinguish between, or prepare proteins of different Ig classes . It is proposed that this quantitative rather than qualitative distinction between Ig subclass binding to Staph A, indicates the existence of multiple binding sites per molecule, with different markers of such sites being present on the heavy chain of the different Ig classes.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1978 May, 83(5), 1305 - 19
Amino acid sequences of two ferredoxins from pokeweed, Phytolacca americana; Wakabayashi S et al.; The amino acid sequences of two ferredoxins isolated from pokeweed, Phytolacca americana, were determined . Tryptic peptides of maleyl-carboxymethyl-ferredoxin I and carboxymethyl-ferredoxin II were prepared and analyzed . The large peptides were further digested with staphylococcal protease and chymotrypsin . Ferredoxins I and II were composed of 96 and 98 amino acid residues, respectively . Though ferredoxin I lacks tryptophan and methionine, ferredoxin II contains both of them . In a comparison of the amino acid sequences with those of other higher plant ferredoxins, ferredoxin I is one residue shorter than others at the carboxyl-terminus and ferredoxin II one longer than others at the amino-terminus . Ferredoxins I and II differ in 23 sites from each other and in 27 to 37 sites from other higher plant ferredoxins . This suggests that duplication of the ferredoxin gene occurred after the divergence of pokeweed from other higher plants . A phylogenetic tree including all other ferredoxins was constructed.

Eur J Biochem, 1978 May, 86(1), 115 - 20
Porcine follitropin . The amino-acid sequence of the beta subunit; Closset J et al.; The amino acid sequence of the porcine beta subunit has been established by studies of peptides isolated after tryptic, thermolytic and staphylococcal protease treatments of the reduced and carboxymethylated chain . The primary structure of the amino-terminal region of the molecule has been solved by automatic sequencing of the reduced and tritium-labeled carboxymethylated subunit . The amino acid sequence of porcine follitropin beta subunit differs from that of its human counterpart by several amino acid replacements, deletion or addition of one or several residues . The porcine chain appears shorter at both its amino and carboxy-terminal ends . The chemical evolution of follitropin is briefly considered and compared to these of thyrotropin and lutropin.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1978 May, 69(5), 559 - 60
Agranulocytosis during therapy with orally administered cloxacillin; Westerman EL et al.; Agranulocytosis developed in a patient with staphylococcal osteomyelitis after 35 days of treatment with orally administered cloxacillin . The patient had fever, prostration, pharyngitis, and profound leukopenia, which subsequently abated upon withdrawal of the drug . Cloxacillin should be included in the growing list of drugs capable of producing leukopenia and agranulocytosis.

Arch Dermatol, 1978 May, 114(5), 765 - 7
Hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome; Stanley J et al.; A 24-year old woman had the major features of the hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome: recurrent staphylococcal skin infections (from the age of 6 months), an extremely elevated serum immunoglobulin E level (25,000 units/ml), and defective neutrophil chemotaxis . This patient also had peripheral blood eosinophilia and cutaneous candidiasis . There was a family history of asthma, but the patient herself did not have a history of asthma or hay fever, and, on examination, had no evidence of atopic dermatitis . The patient has not had any systemic infections . Results of the skin biopsy showed dermal edema and a perivascular infiltrate with eosinophils and an increased number of mast cells . The clinical spectrum of the hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome may include atopic dermatitis, mucocutaneous candidiasis, systemic infections, and/or the features of Job's syndrome.

Arch Intern Med, 1978 May, 138(5), 706 - 8
Endophthalmitis following staphylococcal sepsis in renal failure patients; Bloomfield SE et al.; Endophthalmitis occurred three months following completion of therapy for documented staphylococcal septicemia in two patients on long-term hemodialysis . The indolent course of the endophthalmitis, and its excellent response to systemic and subconjunctival antibiotics and subconjunctival and topical corticosteroid therapy, suggest the possibility that the acute fulminating clinical course of metastatic bacterial endophthalmitis may be modified in this population of patients . The reason for this modified clinical picture is probably the immune incompetence associated with uremia, which favors both the development of metastatic endophthalmitis as well as altering its clinical presentation . While funduscopic examination is suggested in all dialysis patients with eye complaints, this procedure becomes mandatory following episodes of sepsis.

Acta Cytol, 1978 May-Jun, 22(3), 194 - 7
The cytology of the human peritoneal fluid; Bercovici B et al.; A series of 19 human peritoneal fluids obtained by aspiration at laparoscopy and cul-de-sac punctures were analysed for their cellular content . Four types of cells were differentiated: macrophages, mesothelial cells, lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes . The macrophages and mesothelial cells represented the two major types of cells, each group constituiting about 36 per cent of the population, while the lymphocytes and polymorphonuclears represented 18 and 7 per cent of the population, respectively . Macrophages were identified by their capacity to engulf alcohol-killed Staphylococcus albus . It appears that by this method of macrophage identification, a more accurate representation of the cellular content of peritoneal fluid can be obtained.

J Exp Med, 1978 May 1, 147(5), 1517 - 25
Genetic control of the immune response to staphylococcal nuclease . VIII . Mapping of genes for antibodies to different antigenic regions of nuclease; Pisetsky DS et al.; Antibodies to staphylococcal nuclease have been fractionated into two populations on the basis of their ability to bind to the cyanogen bromide cleavage product of nuclease comprising the C-terminal portion of the molecule from the 99th to the 149th amino acid . The two populations of antibodies, anti-nuclease (1-99)n and anti-nuclease (99-149)N, have been prepared from a variety of strains, and analyzed using anti-idiotypic antisera raised against whole anti-nuclease antibodies from strains A/J, SJL, BALB/c, and B10.A(2R) . Anti-nuclease (1-99)n, antibodies had the same pattern of reactivity with the anti-idiotypic antisera as did unfractionated antibodies, whereas a different pattern was found for anti-nuclease (99-149)n preparations . On the basis of these studies, five anti-nuclease idiotypes, designated NASE markers, have been identified and defined on the basis of their antigenic specificity and strain distribution . With these additional markers, it has been possible to provide more detailed maps of variable (V) region genes in the strains BALB/c, CB.20, and the recombinant BAB.14 . A recombinational event between V region genes during the development of the BAB.14 strain is suggested by the positioning of these NASE markers.

Eur J Biochem, 1978 Apr 17, 85(2), 571 - 9
Purification and characterization of DNA polymerases from the plasmacytoma MOPC 104E and Abelson murine leukemia viruses; Weimann BJ et al.; RNA-dependent DNA polymerases of intracisternal A particles from the mouse plasma cell tumor MOPC 104E and of Abelson murine leukemia virus (A-MuLV) were isolated from particle preparations by Nonidet P40 and ultrasonic treatment and purified by column chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and phosphocellulose, followed by centrifugation in linear sucrose gradients . Both DNA polymerases were very similar in their elution patterns from phospho and DEAE-cellulose, template specificities, requirements for optimum activity and inactivation by anti-(reverse transcriptase) antiserum . They are associated with ribonuclease H activity . For molecular weight determinations, antibody-precipitated enzymes were bound to staphylococcal-protein-A-Sepharose, solubilized and run on dodecylsulfate/polyacrylamide gels . Their apparent molecular weight was estimated to be 80000.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 Apr, (4), 88 - 92
{Changes in the peripheral blood lymphocytes after immunization and its effect on the course of experimental inflammatory process in the lungs}; Iashchenko LV et al.; It was shown that in the immunization of rabbits with sorbed staphylococcus toxoid and human albumin, at the height of the immune response there occurred an intensification of biosynthesis and destabilization of lysosomal membranes of blood leukocytes, with a simultaneous development of microcirculation disturbances in the lungs . Development of pneumonia against the background of immunization led to a greater destabilization of the lysosomic membranes of leukocytes and to the intensification in the lungs of infiltrative and destructive processes, in comparison with the course of inflammation in the nonimmunized animals . Peculiarities of the antigens used caused some specificity in the course of pneumonia . A relationship between the changes of blood leukocytes and disturbances in the lungs in immunization is supposed.

Ann Ophthalmol, 1978 Apr, 10(4), 422 - 6
Systemic antibiotics for use in ocular infections--penicillin-resistant Staphylococcus; Schechter RJ; An analysis is made of the usefulness of various antibiotics in the systemic treatment of bacterial endophthalmitis . The staphylococcus is a common causative organism, particularly in cases following ocular trauma . Methicillin is the drug with which ophthalmic investigators have had the most experience, and is an acceptable therapeutic choice in the treatment of gram-positive endophthalmitis . Oxacillin has not been shown to penetrate the blood-aqueous barrier, and should not be used systemically . Dicloxacillin, currently not available for parenteral administration, is the penicillinase-resistant penicillin of choice . Cephalothin penetrates the eye well, but satisfactory levels are not maintained for a sufficient length of time . Cephaloridine, with excellent intraocular penetration and gram-negative coverage, may well be the optimal drug in patients with normal renal function.

Rev Rhum Mal Osteoartic, 1978 Apr, 45(4), 259 - 68
{Osteo-articular infections: choice and monitoring of antibiotic therapy . Apropos of 26 observations with an identified organism}; Bussiere JL et al.; Study of 26 cases of osteo-articular infections with an identified organism collected in a rheumatology department, has confirmed in the first place the increasing importance of gram negative organisms, compared with the staphylococcus which has always mainly predominated in this type of infection . In each case, the authors have made as complete a bacteriological study as possible, including antibiotic sensitivities, the measurement of the minimum inhibitory concentration of the antibiotics on the isolated strains, study of the bactericidal power in vitro of various combinations, and study of the inhibitory power of the serum on the organism . This study of the inhibitory power of the serum approximates most closely to testing the antibiotic activities in vivo, since one cannot make this assessment, in most cases, within the infective focus itself . Rifampicin, with the imperative condition that it is not used alone, is a major antibiotic in the osteo-articular infections, by reason of its very great activity against the staphylococcus, its excelent penetration into bone, and its ease of use . Other recognized anti-staphylococcal antibiotics behave in a more disappointing fashion . When the effectiveness of treatment is checked regularly by the inhibitory power of the serum, together with the other classical criteria of surveillance, cure of the infection as been achieved in every case.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1978 Apr, 240(3), 297 - 301
Enhancement of hemolytic and cytotoxic activity of staphylococcal alpha-toxin in vitro by incubation with cultured fibroblasts . Brief communication; Szmigielski S et al.; Staphylococcal alpha-toxin (alpha-toxin) was incubated with 3T3 or SV40-virus transformed mouse 3T3 fibroblasts during 2 hrs at room temperature . This resulted in about a two-fold increase in the hemolytic activity of alpha-toxin toward rabbit RBC . The concentration of alpha-toxin causing 50% hemolysis of rabbit RBC was lowered from about 120 ng/ml to about 65 ng/ml . Release of 86Rb from labeled RBC and isolated rabbit vagus nerves also occured at lower concentrations of alpha-toxin after preincubation with fibroblasts . The enhancement of hemolytic activity of alpha-toxin was still exerted by cultured fibroblasts preheated to 56 degrees C, but fibroblasts exposed to 100 degrees C were ineffective . The hemolytic activity of alpha-toxin toward rabbit RBC was also slightly enhanced by leucine aminopeptidase (5--20 microgram/ml) and aminopeptidase M (30--300 IU/ml).

J Radiol Electrol Med Nucl, 1978 Apr, 59(4), 283 - 5
{Early diagnosis of staphylococcic infection in epidural space : radiologic contribution (author's transl)}; Vacher H et al.; Infection of the epidural space was demonstrated on clinic (cauda equina compression) and radiology . Three investigations are considered and compared : Dimer X radiculography, lumbar phlebography, duroliopaque myelography . The transfemoral arcending lumbar catheterization of the epidural veins precise the compression by staphylococcic external pachymeningitis . No liquid is introduced in cerebro spinal fluid : there is not risk of infectious arachnoiditis . Myelography with positive contrast (duroliopaque: ethyl monoiodostearate) is much attractive but it is a procedure not easy to perform, even badly tolerated by the patient . For these reasons the lumbar phlebography, easily performed, can be realised in first intention.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1978 Apr, 31(4), 343 - 51
Purification and characterization of an aminoglycoside inactivating enzyme from Staphylococcus epidermidis FK109 that nucleotidylates the 4'- and 4''-hydroxyl groups of the aminoglycoside antibiotics; Santanam P et al.; The resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics in Staphylococcus epidermidis FK109, is mediated by an enzyme that catalyzes transfer of the nucleotide monophosphate moiety from the nucleotide triphosphates, either to the 4'-hydroxyl group, that is in the equatorial plane of the aminoglycoside molecule . The enzyme, modifying the two sites, appears as a single and homogeneous entity in affinity chromatography, in chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B, in isoelectric focusing and in gel-filtration . It requires divalent cations, notably Mg++, and dithiothreitol for optimal adenylylation . It has a molecular weight of 46,770 and an isoelectric point of 5.0 . The ability of the enzyme ANT (4', 4'') to modify the two hydroxyl groups of aminoglycoside molecules, enables it to have a spectrum of substrates that surpasses, in range, the substrate spectrum of all the aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes which have been characterized hitherto.

Cell, 1978 Apr, 13(4), 691 - 9
Structure of chromatin containing extensively acetylated H3 and H4; Simpson RT; I have grown HeLa cells in 5 mM sodium n-butyrate leading to extensive in vivo histone acetylation, and have characterized the structure of chromatin containing the modified histones . Nuclear DNA in butyrate-treated cells is digested 5-10 fold more rapidly by DNAase I than the DNA of control cells . Staphylococcal nuclease degrades the two nuclear samples to acid-soluble material with identical rates; this nuclease, however, does excise nucleosomes with extensively acetylated histones from the nucleoprotein chain preferentially . The physical properties of unsheared chromatin and isolated core particles from control and butyrate-treated cells are closely similar, as are the rates of digestion of core particles from the two cell preparations by DNAase I . Determination of the relative susceptibilities of cleavage sites for DNAase I demonstrates that the site 60 bases from the ends of the DNA resistant in control cells, becomes susceptible to the nuclease in core particles containing acetylated histones . Similarly, the 5' terminal phosphate at the end of DNA in core prticles is removed by staphylococcal nuclease 2-3 fold faster in particles containing acetylated histones than in particles from control cells.

Am J Med, 1978 Apr, 64(4), 629 - 33
Correlation of antistaphylococcal antibody titers with severity of staphylococcal disease; Jackson LJ et al.; Counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) was utilized to determine antistaphylococcal precipitin antibody titers in patients with various staphylococcal diseases and in control subjects . Patients with staphylococcal disease comprised five cases of endocarditis, 22 of deep tissue infection (including seven cases of osteomyelitis), six of bacteremia and six of skin infection . Control subjects consisted of 31 patients with nonstaphylococcal bacteremias, 29 hospitalized patients without infection and 30 healthy subjects . Antistaphylococcal antibodies were present in all patients with staphylococcal endocarditis and deep tissue staphylococcal infection, and all but three had titers greater than or equal to 1:4 . No significant difference in titers was found between these two groups of patients . Antibodies, although present in some patients in the other categories, were detected less frequently; only two patients had titers greater than or equal to 1:4 . Thus, an antistaphylococcal antibody titer by CIE of 1:4 or greater may be an additional diagnostic parameter helpful in distinguishing patients with staphylococcal endocarditis or deep tissue infection from those with other forms of staphylococcal infection and from noninfected subjects.

Can J Microbiol, 1978 Apr, 24(4), 436 - 9
Double-antibody radioimmunoassay for staphylococcal enterotoxins A and B; Robern H et al.; A sensitive double-antibody radioimmunoassay for staphylococcal enterotoxins A and B is described . The separation of the primary antigen-antibody complex of enterotoxin A and B was achieved with an anti-rabbit gamma globulin from goats . Radioiodinated aggregate fractions of staphylococcal enterotoxins exhibited reduced immunological activity and showed little competition with non-radioactive exterotoxin . The radioimmunoassay was successfully applied for the quantitation of enterotoxins in food.

Immunology, 1978 Apr, 32(4), 383 - 94
The persistent PHA-responsive population in the mouse thymus . I . Characterization of the population; Elliott EV; Using an in vitro culture technique, mouse thymus graft cells were co-cultured with peripheral blood lymphocytes in the presence of phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) . The persistent PHA-responsive thymus graft population (Elliott, 1973) was shown to be able to respond to other T-cell mitogens (Con A, pokeweed mitogen, staphylococcal enterotoxin B), but not to E . coli lipopolysaccharide a known B-cell mitogen . The percentage of persistent PHA-responsive cells did not alter during 5 days in culture and was relatively unaffected by either hydrocortisone or anti-lymphocyte serum treatment in vivo . In allogeneic thymus grafts (AKR leads to CBA), persistent PHA-responsive cells could be demonstrated, which were destroyed when incubated with CBA anti thetaAKR serum and complement . When thymus graft cells were allowed to sediment on a 0.2--2 per cent BSA gradient, it was seen that the PHA-responsive population sedimented faster than the bulk of thymus graft cells . Some separation could be obtained on this gradient between the persistent and non-persistent PHA-responsive cell populations.

Can Med Assoc J, 1978 Mar 4, 118(5), 524 - 30
Combination antibiotic therapy in an outbreak of prosthetic endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis; Hammond GW et al.; The efficacy of combination antibiotics in vivo and in vitro was studied during an outbreak of prosthetic endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis in 10 patients . The epidemic curve suggested that patients were infected at the time of their operation, with an interval from that time until diagnosis of 11 days to 20 months . The overall mortality was 50% . Four of six patients treated with gentamicin in combination with a penicillin analogue, a cephalosporin or clindamycin survived without reoperation . One of four patients survived when treated with regimens that did not include gentamicin . In vitro studies showed a median minimum inhibitory concentration for methicillin of 8.0 microgram/mL, compared with 0.1 microgram/mL for cephalothin, clindamycin and gentamicin, and a synergistic bactericidal effect between gentamicin and methicillin, cephalothin or clindamycin . These data suggest that gentamicin is a valuable component of combination antibiotic therapy in prosthetic endocarditis caused by S . epidermidis.

An Esp Pediatr, 1978 Mar, 11(3), 227 - 32
{Primary osteomyelitis of sternum (author's transl)}; Fidalgo Alvarez I et al.; A case of a one month-old girl with primary osteomyelitis of sternum is described . The presence of a positive blood culture to staphylococcus and the antecedent of respiratory physiotherapy are considered to be important etiologic factors . The proccess had a favorable evolution treated with antibiotics and drainage of subperiostal abscess.

Ann Ophthalmol, 1978 Mar, 10(3), 293 - 8
Intravitreal cephalothin in experimental staphylococcal endophthalmitis; Rutgard JJ et al.; Intravitreal cephalothin was used to treat experimentally induced bacterial endophthalmitis in rabbit eyes . A dose of 2 mg and less was apparently nontoxic to all intraocular structures . Thirty-two hours after injection of a 2 mg dose, the level remaining in the vitreous was above the minimal inhibitory concentration for most susceptible organisms . Treatment of experimentally induced staphylococcal infections of the vitreous was successful with early intravitreal injection . When therapy was delayed, vitreous bands and posterior lens cataracts developed . Eyes of control animals receiving intramuscular and subconjunctival injections of cephalothin all progressed to phthisis bulbi.

Clin Nephrol, 1978 Mar, 9(3), 122 - 5
Shunt nephritis; Peeters W et al.; A case of nephritis occurring in a 40-year old patient with a ventriculojugular shung infected with staphylococcus albus is described . Circulating antistaphylococcal antibodies could be demonstrated . Renal manifestations disappeared after treatment with systemic antibiotics and surgical removal of the shunt.

Ann Clin Lab Sci, 1978 Mar-Apr, 8(2), 111 - 6
Differentiation of strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis biotypes 1 and 4 by aminopeptidase profiles; Tierno PM Jr et al.; Seven different strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis and one strain of S . aureus were catagorized by their aminopeptidase activity . Eight different profiles were obtained: five profiles for S . epidermidis biotype 4 (each representing a different known serotype), two profiles for S . epidermidis biotype 1 (one for each strain used) and one for the strain of S . aureus used . Despite some similarities, distinct patterns of the hydrolysis of 22 different amino acid-beta-naphthylamides were evident for each individual strain . The evaluation of aminopeptidase profiles provides another means for distinguishing between strains of the same species and can, therefore, be used advantageously and in combination with serotyping as an epidemiological tool.

Am J Med, 1978 Mar, 64(3), 519 - 22
Oxacillin hepatitis . Two patients with liver biopsy, and review of the literature; Bruckstein AH et al.; Hepatotoxicity associated with intravenous sodium oxacillin therapy is reported in two drug abusers cured of staphylococcal endocarditis . Coincident with the administration of oxacillin, marked increases in hepatic transaminase were observed and liver biopsy showed nonspecific hepatitis . Upon cessation of oxacillin therapy, liver enzyme values returned to(ward) normal . Reports of oxacillin-associated changes in hepatic enzyme levels are reviewed; further observation of oxacillin-associated hepatotoxicity is warranted.

Antibiotiki, 1978 Mar, 23(3), 264 - 8
{Stimulating effect of prodigiozan on nonspecific reactivity in typhoid fever, dysentery and staphylococcal infection}; Kuz'min VG et al.; A number of factors of nonspecific reactivity, i.e . complement, lysozyme, properdin, blood serum bactericidal activity, leucocyte phagocytal activity, phagocytal index and completed phagocytosis were studied on 160 guinea pigs with experimental typhoid fever, dysentery and staphylococcal infections . The data of the study showed that with the use of prodigiozan the non-specific reactivity of the host increased even within a short period of time . At the same time the pathological changes in the internal organs in their histochemical investigation decreased.

Cancer Res, 1978 Mar, 38(3), 650 - 5
Inhibition of human granulocyte function by methotrexate; Hyams JS et al.; Patients receiving cytotoxic drugs are at an increased risk of bacterial infection . Drug-induced leukopenia may be responsible for depression of host defenses; however, there is little information concerning the qualitative effects, if any, of cytotoxic agents on granulocyte antibacterial activity . Since methotrexate is now being used in massive doses in vivo, we investigated the effects of this drug on antibacterial and metabolic functions of normal polymorphonuclear leukocytes in vitro . Phagocytosis, quantitative protein iodination, and staphylococcal killing of normal polymorphonuclear leukocytes were found to decrease with exposure to increasing concentrations of methotrexate . The effects of methotrexate on these cell functions were rapid in onset and readily reversed by washing the cells, suggesting a locus of action on the cell membrane rather than at the level of nucleic acid synthesis . Exposure of cells to similar concentrations of folic acid or folinic acid produced no impairment of bacterial phagocytosis, suggesting that the observed effects are specific for methotrexate . The concentrations of methotrexate that produced these impairments are readily achieved in vivo and may alter antibacterial defenses in patients receiving this therapy.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1978 Mar, 75(3), 1116 - 20
Altered nucleosome structure containing DNA sequences complementary to 19S and 26S ribosomal RNA in Physarum polycephalum; Johnson EM et al.; The localization of DNA sequences coding for ribosomal RNA was studied by hybridization of purified ribosomal RNA to DNA from chromatin fragments prepared by limited digestion of Physarum nuclei with staphylococcal nuclease . The 32P-labeled 19S and 26S RNA hybridized to DNA from nucleosome monomers, dimers, trimers, and higher oligomers, separated by sucrose gradient centrifugation, although the level of hybridization to DNA from nucleosome fractions was less than the level of hybridization to undigested nuclear DNA . The distribution of 19S and 26S rDNA sequences in the nucleosome fractions differed from the distribution of bulk DNA in that the rDNA sequences were recovered primarily in two fractions containing monomer-sized DNA lengths (140-160 base pairs) . The percentage of DNA hybridizing to 19S plus 26S RNA was greater in peak A, the more slowly sedimenting monomer peak, than in any other chromatin fraction at all stages of digestion . Peak A and monomer particles differed in protein content and distribution . The presence of ribosomal cistrons in an altered nucleosome configuration may be related to changes in functional states of rDNA chromatin.

J Virol, 1978 Mar, 25(3), 852 - 9
Solubilization and characterization of Herpesvirus saimiri-induced membrane antigens; Qaultiere LF et al.; Treatment of Herpesvirus saimiri (HVS)-infected owl monkey cells by limited papain digestion removed the HVS-induced membrane antigen (MA) as determined by membrane immunofluorescence and antibody-dependent lymphocyte cytotoxicity (ADLC) . Soluble antigenically active HVSMA was detected by inhibition of ADLC and by the decreased binding of 125I-labeled staphylococcus protein A to HVS-infected cells after absorption of an anti-MA-positive serum with papain extracts . Approximately 38% of the inhibitory activity of the papain extracts was sedimentable at 100,000 X g, indicating that the released MA was heterogeneous in size . Preliminary investigations by gel filtration chromatography identified a major peak of MA with a molecular weight between 20,000 and 50,000.

Arch Surg . 1978 Mar;113(3):288.
Treatment of necrotizing fasciitis caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis; Mancusi-Ungaro HR Jr; Postoperative necrotizing fasciitis with septicemia caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis was documented by cultures of the blood and wound biopsy specimen . Therapy consisted of surgical debridement, topical application of mafenide acetate dressings, and parenteral administration of cefazolin sodium . The combination effectively reversed the progression of infection and necrosis.

J Neuropathol Exp Neurol, 1978 Mar-Apr, 37(2), 212 - 23
Ultrastructural localization of immune complexes (IgG and C3) at the end-plate in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis; Sahashi K et al.; Rats immunized with purified torpedo acetylcholine receptor (AChR) plus adjuvants developed chronic experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) after day 28 . Forelimb muscles from EAMG rats 29 to 103 days after immunization and from control animals were used for the ultrastructural localization of IgG and C3 . IgG was demonstrated with rabbit anti-rat IgG followed by treatment with peroxidase-labeled staphylococcal protein A; and C3 with peroxidase-labeled rabbit anti-rat C3, or with unlabeled rabbit anti-rat C3 followed by peroxidase-labeled protein A . In EAMG rats both IgG and C3 were localized on the terminal expansions of the junctional folds, where AChR is known to be located, and on detached, degenerated parts of the folds in the synaptic space . Background staining was negligible . The findings provide unambiguous evidence for a destructive autoimmune reaction involving the postsynaptic membrane in EAMG, implicate the complement system in this reaction and show that detachment of the tips of the junctional folds is one way by which immune complexes, and AChR, are eliminated from the postsynaptic membrane . The immuno-electron microscopic findings in chronic EAMG closely resemble those described in human myasthenia gravis.

Cutis, 1978 Mar, 21(3), 358 - 62
Atopic dermatitis and Ritter's disease: differential diagnosis by means of total and specific serum IgE; Zussman BM; Atopic dermatitis and Ritter's disease in infants and children frequently present diagnostic as well as therapeutic problems . Both conditions are characterized by generalized exfoliative dermatitis, and are prone to recurrent infections with Staphylococcus . However, in Ritter's disease, it has been shown that these are specifically coagulase-positive Staphylococcus phage Group 2 organisms . This combination of exfoliative dermatitis, with lysis and separation of the skin, associated with infection has been aptly named the staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome . An unusual case is reported herein of a nine year old boy who had a condition clinically resembling Ritter's disease since birth, but with enormously elevated total and specific serum IgE levels characteristic of atopic dermatitis and not seen in Ritter's disease.

Biokhimiia, 1978 Feb, 43(2), 340 - 9
{Analysis of brain chromatin subunit organization}; Miul'berg AA et al.; Autodigestion of chromosomal DNA does not take place during the brain nuclei incubation in the presence of Ca2+ and Mg2+ . The kinetic of chromatin digestion in brain and liver nuclei by staphylococcal nuclease and the formation of DNP-fragments suggest that subnucleosomes are generated in both cases by digesting of monomer specific sites . This monomer contains 185--200 DNA base pairs and the most starting DNA going throughout it . However the quantity of nuclease-resistant DNA in brain chromatin is more and the rate of subnucleosome formation is less than in liver chromatin . Redigestion of isolated monomers of brain chromatin results in the appearance of subnucleosomes similar to those which are formed under limited digestion of nuclear chromatin . The incubation of brain nuclei in the presence of Ca, Mg-dependent endonuclease prepared from liver nuclei results in the appearance of fragment . DNA-spectra of these fragments are similar to those prepared under digestion of liver chromatin in situ . These data suggest definite resemblance of subunit organization in brain and liver chromatin.

Vestn Khir Im I I Grek, 1978 Feb, 120(2), 19 - 23
{Reduction of the incidence of suppurative complications after mitral commissurotomy through the use of pentoxyl and methyluracil}; Iarygin AS et al.; Clinico-experimental study of the pentoxyl and methyluracil effect upon the natural resistance in mitral stenosis cases is presented together with the findings obtained in the experiments dealing with the healing of the wounds infected with pathogenic staphylococcus . All the control animals developed subcutaneous abscesses leading to the separation of the wound margins . The inflammation of the wound was less pronounced in the animals treated with pentoxyl and methyluracil . The use of pyrimidin derivatives before and during operation and postoperatively resulted in the decrease of the incidence of postoperative suppurative complications.

J Med Microbiol, 1978 Feb, 11(1), 67 - 73
Detoxification of staphylococcal alpha toxin by hydrocortisone and methylprednisolone; Raff MJ et al.; The effects of hydrocortisone (HC) and methylprednisolone (MP) on the biological activities of staphylococcol alpha toxin were studied . Incubation of either HC or MP at concentrations of 4-8 mg per ml with purified alpha toxin (690 HU per ml) reduced or eliminated haemolytic activity for rabbit red cells, intraperitoneal lethality for mice, and dermonecrotic activity for rabbits . Detoxification was related to the dose of steroid, and MP was slightly more active than HC . The mechanism of detoxification apparently involves a direct molecular interaction between alpha toxin and steroid, and pretreatment of animals with HC or MP did not enhance their resistance to the subsequent effect of toxin.

Am J Vet Res, 1978 Feb, 39(2), 279 - 86
Effect of staphylococcal enterotoxin B on cardiorenal functions in rhesus macaques; Liu CT et al.; Selected cardiovascular and renal functions were measured for 5 hours in conscious, chair-restrained, female rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) after IV (0.05 and 1.0 mg/kg) or oral (1.0 mg/kg) administration of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) . Cardiovascular functions, renal hemodynamics, and renal metabolism were also studied between 6 and 11 hours after IV SEB inoculation . Oral SEB produced few changes in cardiorenal functions . In contrast, IV SEB produced hypotension, tachycardia, increased total peripheral and renal vascular resistance, and decreased cardiac and renal functions . The early significant (P less than 0.05) renal depression was not associated with hypotension (mean arterial blood pressure greater than 100 mm of Hg) . However, all measured renal functions except extraction ratio of PAH were positively correlated with decreased blood pressure (r = 0.52 - 0.71) in the later phase of SEB toxemia . It is concluded that the kidney is one of the organs affected by IV SEB . Renal impairment may partially contribute to death during SEB enterotoxemia in macaques.

J Neurosurg, 1978 Feb, 48(2), 264 - 73
Role of vascular proliferation on angiographic appearance and encapsulation of experimental traumatic and metastatic brain abscesses; Wood JH et al.; Experimental traumatic abscesses were produced in rhesus monkeys by intracerebral injection of nutrient agar contaminated with Staphylococcus epidermidis, and metastatic abscesses were induced by intracarotid embolization of silicone cylinders contaminated with Staphylococcus epidermidis . All monkeys underwent preoperative and serial postoperative carotid angiography . Traumatic abscesses produced early capsular blushes and progressive anterior cerebral artery displacements . Metastatic abscesses induced transient midline shifts but no capsular stains . Postmortem studies on the monkeys showed that mean capsular thickness and segmental wall vascularity of the traumatic and metastatic abscesses were significantly different (p less than 0.001), despite equal abscess ages and similar abscess volumes . In comparison to traumatic abscesses, metastatic abscesses demonstrated reduced inflammatroy cell infiltration and retarded collagen formation around proliferating capsular vessels . Brain surrounding the metastatic abscesses demonstrated ischemic changes . The results suggest that 1) capsular blushes during cerebral angiography are secondary to vascular proliferation within the capsule and not to compression of surrounding brain, 2) vascular staining reflects capsular thickness, 3) capsular vascularity contributes to collagen formation, 4) encapsulation is dependent upon the integrity of surrounding brain, and 5) adjacent cerebral ischemia may impede inflammatory responses involved in capsule formation.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 Feb, (2), 80 - 2
{Study of anaphylectic hypersensitivity manifestations to blood protein in guinea pigs with using the neutrophil damage test in vitro}; Tetdoeva MT; The paper is devoted to the study of hypersensitivity of anaphylactic type to horse serum in guinea pigs by means of neutrophil injury index in vitro . Simultaneously, for control, the same method was applied to the study of delayed hypersensitivity manifestations; for this purpose allergy to hemolytic staphylococcus was reproduced in these animals . The state of hypersensitivity of "anaphylactic type" against the foreign serum in guinea pigs was not accompanied by any enhanced blood neutrophil reactions, whereas high values of the test under study were characteristic of the process of guinea pigs sensitization with staphylococcus culture.

Arch Dis Child, 1978 Feb, 53(2), 144 - 9
Defective neutrophil chemotaxis and raised serum ige levels in a child with recurrent bacterial infections and eczema . Influence of levamisole; De Cree J et al.; A 5 1/2-year-old girl, with a life-long history of recurrent staphylococcal infections and eczematous dermatitis had a defect in polymorphonuclear leucocyte chemotaxis and phagocytosis in autologous serum, a high serum IgE level, and a disturbed T cell function . Levamisole improved all the immunological abnormalities and there was a dramatic clinical improvement . Discontinuation of therapy with levamisole resulted in gradual deterioration.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1978 Feb, 75(2), 705 - 9
Chromatin structure in the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum; Bakke AC et al.; The structure of Dictyostelium discoideum chromatin has been studied by the following techniques: electron microscopy, staphylococcal nuclease digestion, acrylamide gel electrophoresis, sucrose gradient centrifugation, and melting . The basic unit of chromatin is the nucleosome, which is a particle 98.6 A in diameter . Approximately 50% of the chromatin is protected from nuclease digestion, but this decreases when protease activity is not inhibited . The nucleosome contains 187 base pairs of DNA, including a 137-base-pair core and a 50-base-pair linker . The monomer nucleosome has an s20,w value of 11.5 S on isokinetic sucrose gradients . When the chromatin is melted, four transitions are observed, at 54.5 degrees, 66.7 degress, 74.9 degrees, and 79.7 degrees . The structure of Dictyostelium chromatin is very similar to that seen in higher eukaryotes.

Eur J Biochem, 1978 Jan 2, 82(1), 261 - 9
The primary structure of bovine pancreatic phospholipase A2; Fleer EA et al.; The complete amino acid sequence of bovine phospholipase A2 (EC 3.1.1.4) was determined . This enzyme has a molecular weight of 13 782 and consists of a single polypeptide chain of 123 amino acids cross-linked by seven disulfide bridges . The main fragmentation of the polypeptide chain was accomplished by digesting the reduced and thialaminated derivative of the protein with trypsin, staphylococcal protease and cyanogen bromide . A number of chymotryptic peptides were used for alignment and to obtain overlaps of at least two residues . The sequence of the peptides was determined by Edman degradation by means of direct phenylthiohydantoin identification in combination with identification as dansyl amino acids . Although 71% of all residues of phospholipase A2 from bovine, porcine and equine sources are conserved, bovine phospholipase A2 differs from the others by the total number of residues and by substitutions at 20 (porcine) and 33 (equine) positions.

Acta Biochim Pol, 1978, 25(3), 273 - 80
Comparison of susceptibility to staphylococcal nuclease and behaviour in metrizamide gradients of normal and 5-bromodeoxyuridine-substituted chromatin from Physarum polycephalum; Tyniec B et al.; Replacement of 20--30% of thymine by 5-bromodeoxyuridine in chromatin DNA of Physarum polycephalum does not cause any visible change in a typical, regular pattern of DNA products obtained upon digestion of chromatin with staphylococcal nuclease . The time course of digestion is similar for normal and substituted chromatin even under conditions when the nuclease cleaves preferentially the dAT regions in DNA . 5-Bromodeoxyuridine label does not significantly affect the DNA/protein ratio in chromatin; this is reflected by similar behaviour of normal and substituted chromatin in metrizamide-density gradients.

Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1978, 26(1-6), 589 - 93
Evaluation of certain immunological parameters in the course of autovaccine treatment in patients with chronic ostitis and carbunculosis; Halasa J et al.; Certain parameters of humoral and cellular immunity were observed in patients with staphylococcal chronic ostitis and carbunculosis treated with autovaccines . It was found out, that due to the application of autovaccine, the immunological indices displayed elevation or normalization as compared with the controls.

Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1978, 26(1-6), 455 - 8
The in vivo phagocytosis and intracellular killing of staphylococcal mutants by guinea pig peritoneal exudate cells; Herman T et al.; The rate of phagocytosis and intracellular killing of staphylococcal mutants of different cell wall structure or those deprived of alpha-toxin production was studied in vivo in guinea pig peritoneal cavity . All mutants were ingested and killed at minor rates than standard S . aureus strains but only in the first hour of the observations.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978, (12), 59 - 63
{Toxicity and the protective activity of a complex staphylococcal antigen obtained by water extraction}; Efremova VN et al.; The toxicity and the protective activity of a complex staphyloccus antigen was studied . Its insignificant toxicity for mice when injected intraperitoneally and protective activity under conditons of experimental infection on mice, rabbits, and guinea pigs were demonstrated . In particular it was shown that the antigen obtained in doses under study protected rabbits from septic staphylococcus infection more than antitoxin and corpuscular vaccine . Under conditons of local experimental infection on mice the complex antigen promoted a more rapid than corpuscular vaccine elimination of the local focus of infection.

Arkh Patol, 1978, 40(12), 29 - 33
{Cardiomyopathy in influenza and staphylococcal infection}; Muzykantova VS; The myocardium in influenza-staphylococcal infection was studied experimentally in 43 newborn white mice . Lesions and focal necrosis of muscle fibers with perifocal cellular reaction terminating in the development of cardiosclerosis were found . Outside of the zone of necrosis, diffuse involvement of the myocardium with signs of destructive changes was detected ultrastructurally . Myocytes recovered by means of intracellular regeneration.

Med Trop (Mars), 1978 Jan-Feb, 38(1), 13 - 8
{Staphylococcal septicemias in Algiers (report of 14 cases) (author's transl)}; Charles D et al.; Staphyococcal septicemia is rare (0.19 p . 100 of admittances) . The origin of this kind of infection could be located in all cases out of the sanitary units, and in 12 out of the 14 cases, patients under 30 years old were concerned . The main disorders were in pulmonary tract, kidneys and heart . A fatal issue occured 6 times due in most cases to a delayed admittance . A good study of sensitivity to antibiotics and a treatment associating several antibiotics are necessary.

J Immunol Methods, 1978, 24(1-2), 183 - 91
A micro immunoassay method for measuring IgG antibodies using staphylococcal protein-A; Moran DM et al.; A micro radioimmunoassay procedure has been developed for assaying IgG antibodies to ragweed and grass allergen components . The method offers a rapid and reproducible procedure for estimating antibodies in human sera and is well adapted for monitoring immunological responses following hyposensitisation therapy.

Recent Results Cancer Res, 1978, 63, 85 - 98
Microbial process translation--laboratory to pilot plant at the Frederick Cancer Research Center; Langlykke AF; In summary, operations in the FCRC pilot plant have included training an operating staff, operability trials, equipment modification and repair, and supplementation of the original equipment to gain greater versatility . In addition to effort spent on proving and improving the capacity of the pilot plant, development studies and production operations involving translation of laboratory operations to pilot level or volume have included: 1 . Development of a production process for interferon as described above . As a by-product of the interferon program, samples of cell culture have been studied in the Basic Research Division of FCRC for the production of lymphokines . 2 . Production of starting materials (cell paste) for carboxypeptidase G1, using three different organisms, and production of refined material from the FCRC 252 organism as described herein . 3 . Production of large quantities of crude phenylalanine ammonia lyase in the form of cell paste for Prof . Creed Abell at the University of Texas, Medical Branch, at Galveston, . 4 . Production of a crude staphylococcal nuclease for the program of Dr . David Sachs, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland . 5 . Developmental studies and limited production of a crude cysteine desulfhydrase according to the protocols of Dr . J . Uren, Sidney Farber Cancer Center, Boston, Massachusetts . 6 . Preliminary production studies on the agent produced by Culture FCRC 14, discovered in the CFL search program . 7 . Developmental fermentation studies on the antitumor antibiotic, piperazinedione 593A {6}, in preparation for production of quantities of this antibiotic to support clinical studies under the auspices of the National Cancer Institute.

Vopr Onkol, 1978, 24(8), 74 - 9
{Immunologic reactivity of breast cancer patients}; Semiglazov VF et al.; An attempt was made to further characterize some conditions determining the decrease of immunological responsiveness in patients with mammary gland cancer . To reveal the delayed-type cell hypersensitivity, the antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, staphylococcus, fungi Candida were employed as well as a contact allergen--dinitrochlorobenzene . Tests were made prior to the treatment and in different terms after it . To determine T-lymphocytes the rosette-formation test with sheep erythrocytes was used . Also, the degree of lymphoplasmocytic infiltration of the tumor and the amount of peripheral blood lymphocytes were estimated . Under examination were 126-patients with mammary gland cancer, 56--with benign tumors and 73--practically healthy subjects . The frequency of positive skin tests for any of the antigens under study was lower in breast cancer patients than in the group with benign tumors and healthy subjects . There was no manifest inhibition of the immune response in the initial stages of mammary gland cancer.

Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1978, 86(7), 104 - 7
{Histocytochemical features of immunopathologic changes in inflammation of the lungs}; Birkun AA Jr et al.; The authors present the results of a comparative cytochemical study of the phagocytes' and lymphocytes' lysosomal membranes state in the rabbit blood, trachea and lungs in immunization with sorbed staphylococcus toxoid and human serum albumin in experimental pneumonia and in this disease against the background of immunization . It was shown that the changes resulting from immunization (the phagocytes' and lymphocytes' lysosomal membranes systemic destabilization, microcirculatory disorders, and cell infiltration in the lungs) were premorbid to pneumonia and intensified the inflammation . The authors considered these changes to be structural and functional signs of the immunopathological reactions accompanying pneumonia.

Arkh Patol, 1978, 40(3), 65 - 6
{Rare complication of subclavian vein catheterization in an infant}; Rubinshtein SIa et al.; The authors observed a rare case of complication of catheterization of the subclavian vein in an infant of 1 1/2 months old with staphylococcal pleuropneumonia . After catheterization the baby developed crude blowing systolic murmur in the heart . Forty-one hours after catheterization the baby died with signs of acute cardia insufficiency . The autopsy revealed that the catheter had entered the cavity of the right ventricle where it bent arch-like and its end went into the right atrium . The catheter was a kind of spreader causing insufficiency of the tricuspid valve.

Can J Ophthalmol, 1978 Jan, 13(1), 39 - 44
Staphylococcal infection superimposed on guinea pig inclusion conjunctivitis; Howcroft MJ et al.; We have studied the effect of superimposed staphylococcal infection on guinea pigs who had inclusion conjunctivitis . Although the acute phase of the inclusion disease was slightly more intense in the superinfected group, the course and duration were unaltered . We did not find any reactivation of the inclusion disease from the subconjunctival injection of glucocorticoid.

Am J Ophthalmol, 1978 Jan, 85(1), 121 - 3
Tobramycin levels in human eyes; Furgiuele FP et al.; Tobramycin, a new aminoglycoside antibiotic, penetrated the aqueous humor of human eyes after parenteral administration, either intramuscularly or intravenously, in 36 cataract patients with a presumably normal blood aqueous barrier . Tobramycin administered subconjunctivally to eyes with a normal blood aqueous barrier is capable of achieving therapeutic aqueous humor levels that exceed the minimal inhibitory concentration of most isolates of Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus . No adverse effects were noted in the subjects studied . This drug may be used in the treatment of acute ocular infections.

J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1978, 22(4), 494 - 8
Incidence of antibodies to antibiotics in subjects with chronic staphylococcal diseases; Lochmann O et al.; Antibody response to antibiotics in patients with chronic staphylococcal diseases was studied and the results were compared with the production of specific antibodies . Increased titres of antibodies to antibiotics were found in cases with inadequate antibody response . The possibility of an immunosuppressive effect of antibiotics on the formation of specific antistaphylococcal antibodies is discussed.

Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol, 1978, 56(2), 123 - 7
Separation of IgE from IgG subclasses using staphylococcal protein A; Zola H et al.; When human serum was passed through a column of insolubilised protein A, IgE was not removed, but IgG sublasses 1,2 and 4 were retained . Protein A did not show a similar selectivity in its interaction with rat immunoglobulins . The separation of human IgE from the bulk of the IgG was used to examine the effect of IgG on IgE-mediated sensitization of lung tissue for histamine reslease . Removal of IgG led to a significant increase in histamine release, suggesting that homocytotropic IgG competes with IgE, for binding sites on mast cells.

Acta Haematol, 1978, 59(3), 144 - 62
Capping of ricin-binding sites does not influence phagocytosis in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes; Feigenson ME et al.; Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN'S) were incubated at 0 degrees C with ferritin-conjugated ricin and warmed to 37 degrees C to induce capping of the ricin-binding sites . The PMNs were then allowed to phagocytose yeast or Staphylococcus epidermidis for 15 min, and processed for electron microscopy . Phagocytic uptake, granule fusion, and the fate of lectin-bound membrane were quantified by morphometry . Ricin-capped PMNs phagocytosed as extensively as untreated PMNs . Particles were ingested almost exclusively with a lectin-free portion of the plasmalemma . Fusion of granules with phagocytic vacuoles was not affected by ricin-induced capping . This indicates that ricin-binding sites are not involved in particle recognition and uptake.

Ann Clin Lab Sci, 1978 Jan-Feb, 8(1), 42 - 9
Differentiation by electrophoresis and enzymoserology of proteinases, produced by strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis biotypes 1 and 4; Tierno PM Jr et al.; Electrophoretic and serologic characterization of extracellular proteinases from 111 isolates (80 biotype 1 and 31 biotype 4) of Staphylococcus epidermidis (coagulase negative) of human origin were conducted . Seventy-seven (60 of biotype 1, 17 of biotype 4) of the 111 proteinase-positive isolated of S . epidermidis were classified by serological differentiation of their proteolytic enzymes with known specific antisera . Thirty-two (18 of biotype 1, 14 of biotype 4 (isolates of S . epidermidis produced proteolytic enzymes that did not react with any of the known group antisera and were classified as NR (non-reacting) . No classification of the enzymes of two other isolates was possible . The NR proteinase enzymes from the 32 cultures that could not be classified by serological differentiation with the known specific antisera fitted into one of three electrophoretic mobility patterns: NR1, NR2 or NR3 . Seventy-eight isolates of S . epidermidis biotype 1 were placed into four proteinase sero-groups; 49 in F, 11 in B, 11 in NR2, and 7 in NR3 . Thirty-one isolates of S . epidermidis biotype 4 were placed into one of two groups: 17 in C and 14 in NR . All enzymes tested migrated towards the anode at pH 8.6, and the order of electrophoretic mobility was NR3 greater than F greater than NR2 greater than NR1 greater than B greater than C.

Scand J Immunol, 1978, 7(5), 367 - 70
The binding of murine IgM to Staphylococcal A protein; MacKenzie MR et al.; The binding of Staph A protein to murine immunoglobulins has previously been thought to be restricted to the IgG2 and IgG3 classes . In this study five IgM proteins were assessed for binding, and of these one showed marked Staph A binding . Pepsin digestion of this IgM molecule produced several different sized fragments, and the binding studies with these fragments indicated that the binding site is in the CH2 domain.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1978 Jan, 31(1), 38 - 44
Herpes gestationis: studies on the binding characteristics, activity and pathogenetic significance of the complement-fixing factor; Carruthers JA et al.; The sera of seven out of eight patients with Herpes gestationis contained a factor which fixed C3 but not detectable amounts of immunoglobulin (Ig) on the basement membrane zone (BMZ) of normal human skin . Using C2-deficient human serum and C4-deficient guinea-pig serum, fixation was shown to be dependent upon activation of the classical pathway, and chromatography and immunoabsorption studies indicated the H . gestationis factor to be an IgG immunoglobulin . In all seven sera the H . gestationis factor bound to, and could be eluted from, the eluate of staphylococcal protein A . Although the H . gestationis factor failed to block staining of human sera by a FITC-conjugated antibody prepared from bullous pemphigoid (BP) serum, complement fixation by five out of seven sera of patients with H . gestationis was blocked using F(ab')2 of IgG prepared from pooled BP serum . In a single patient rapid resolution of lesions followed plasma exchange on two separate occasions, indicating the pathogenetic importance of humoral factors in this disease.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 Jan, (1), 37 - 41
{Submicroscopic study of bacteria and spores under the effect of peracetic acid and various aspects of the mechanism of its action}; Pavlova IB et al.; Microbial cells (E . coli and staphylococcus) and B . cereus spores were used in this work . Peracetic acid in a concentration of 0.005% caused the death of 99% of the microbes in 20 minutes, and 0.1% peracetic acid caused the death of 99% of the spores in 45 minutes . Changes in the surface and internal structures of the cells were revealed on the ultrathin sections of microbial cells and spores after the action of the preparation . The noted changes were explained by disturbance of permeability barrier and a high reactogenic capacity of the activated oxygen of peracetic acid.

Scand J Immunol, 1978, 8(1), 29 - 37
Immunological tolerance to the thymus-independent antigen dextran can be abrogated by thymus-dependent dextran conjugates: evidence against clonal deletion as the mechanism of tolerance induction; Moller G et al.; Tolerance to the alpha1--6 epitope of native dextran B512 was found to be very stable and could not be broken by the injection of dextran conjugated to several substances, such as protein A, keyhole limpet haemocyanin, edistin, concanvalin A or Staphylococcus bacteria, strain Cowan . However, when tolerant mice were injected with dextranase, all the above conjugates induced a strong anti-alpha1--6 immune response . In contrast, native dextran itself never induced a response in tolerant, dextranase-treated mice . It was concluded that tolerance only affects the specific B-cell subpopulation that can respond to the polyclonal B-cell-activating (PBA) property of dextran, whereas other specific B cells having PBA receptors for, e.g., signals delivered by collaborating T cells remain in a resting state . These B cells can respond in a specific immune response against the tolerogen after removal of the antigen, which blocks the Ig receptors and therefore prevents them from passively focusing the antigen . Thus, immunological tolerance is not caused by clonal elimination of the antigen-specific clone, but only affects a small subfraction of cells with Ig receptors against the tolerogen.

Can J Biochem, 1978 Jan, 56(1), 7 - 12
Structural studies of staphylococcal protease . III . Binding of anions to the spin-labeled enzyme; Dugas H et al.; The staphylococcal protease was coupled at the active-site serine residue with a spin-labeled analog of diisopropyl fluorophosphonate and the interaction of competitive inhibitors such as chloride and acetate anions, as well as N-carbobenzoxy-L-glutamic acid (Z-L-Glu), was investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy . It was observed that the addition of chloride ions to the spin-labeled enzyme increased the freedom of motion of the spin label while the presence of acetate ions and Z-L-Glu resulted in an increase in the immobilization of the spin label . These results suggest that these ions bind to the active site region in different ways.

Dermatologica, 1978, 157(4), 245 - 53
A clinical and bacteriological evaluation of the effect of sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim in acne vulgaris, resistant to prior therapy with tetracyclines; Nordin K et al.; 42 patients with acne vulgaris, clinically resistant to prior therapy with tetracyclines, were evaluated after therapy with sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim (400 + 80 mg) twice daily . Initially and after 6, 12 and 18 weeks of treatment in each patient the different acne lesions were counted and pus specimens from unhealed pustules were taken for bacteriological analysis . Complete remission or excellent results were obtained in 33 patients (79%) at the end of treatment despite a relative increase of Staphylococcus hominis and Propionibacterium granulosum . These species were more resistant in agar dilution test to the combination sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim (20:1) than other isolated species.

C R Seances Soc Biol Fil, 1978, 172(1), 212 - 5
{Protein A research in 1200 strains of Staphylococcus (using a rapid detection technic by passive hemagglutination with glutaraldehyde treated erythrocytes}; Bind JL et al.; The technique used was that of passive hemaglutination of red cells of sheep prepared with glutaraldehyde and sensitized by anti-erythrocyte antibodies . A protein-A was not found in S . epidermidis strains, but was present in 96.3 per cent of 689 strains of S . aureus from human, animal and food origins.

Adv Exp Med Biol, 1978, 98, 241 - 57
Genetic control of the immune response to staphylococcal nuclease in mice; Berzofsky JA et al.; Genetic control of the immune response to staphylococcal nuclease in mice is detectable at several levels . At least one H-2-linked Ir gene controls 1) the relative proportions of antibodies to different determinants on nuclease when whole nuclease is the immunogen; 2) the immunogenicity of isolated fragments of nuclease, corresponding to the same regions or determinants; and 3) the T-lymphocyte proliferative response to nuclease and to its fragments . It is concluded that a model in which Ir-gene control is determined by the recognition by T lymphocytes of a single "carrier" determinant for the whole molecule does not adequately explain this system . Evidence is presented for the existence of more than one such H-2-linked Ir gene in the T-cell proliferative response . In addition, a non-H-2-linked gene(s) is described which controls the overall level of antibodies to nuclease, i.e., the aggregate of all the antibodies of different subspecificities which have in common that they bind to some part of the nuclease molecule . Evidence is also presented that T lymphocytes, as well as the receptors involved in Ir-gene function (whether or not these are T-lymphocyte receptors), are less sensitive to conformational differences between native nuclease and its isolated fragments than are the antibodies ultimately made . This insensitivity to conformation may reflect the recognition of determinants which are shorter or more flexible in the native state than those recognized by antibodies.

J Immunol Methods, 1978, 21(1-2), 89 - 100
Identifying immunoglobulin isotypes, allotypes and idiotypes by a hemolytic assay in gel; Molinaro CA et al.; We developed a hemolytic radial immunodiffusion assay for identifying immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes, allotypes and idiotypes by using gels containing erythrocytes coated with anti-Ig antibody or erythrocytes coated with Staphylococcal protein A . These indicator cells lysed specifically when treated sequentially with Ig antigen, the appropriate anti-Ig antiserum (developer) and complement . To identify these Ig subpopulations, we used monospecific indicator cells, e.g . erythrocytes coated with antibody specific for an Ig isotype, and developers with broader specificities ('multispecific'), e.g . antiserum to Fab . Alternatively, we used 'multispecific' indicator cells, e.g . erythrocytes coated with antibody to Fab and monospecific developers, e.g . antiserum to Ig idiotype . To identify Ig subpopulations specifically, either the indicator cells or the developer need to be monospecific . When both the indicator cells and the developer were monospecific, e.g . to allotype and to isotype, the specificity was determined by both reagents and ultimately restricted by the reagent with the narrower specificity, that is, reacting with the smallest Ig subpopulation . This sensitive hemolytic assay may be used to quantitate subpopulations of Ig molecules and may be modified into a reverse plaque forming cell assay to count lymphocytes secreting a given Ig class, type, allotype and idiotype.

Ann Rech Vet, 1978, 9(3), 471 - 87
Study of factors influencing the effectiveness of two treatments, penicillin-streptomycin and rifamycin, against experimentally induced staphylococcal mastitis in lactating cows; Poutrel B; The effectiveness of two antibiotic preparations, a combination of Penicillin-Streptomycin and Rifamycin SV, was measured on persistent subclinical infections produced experimentally by two strains of Staphylococus aureus in the bovine mammary gland . Effects of different parameters upon the efficiency of these treatments were analysed . The combination Penicillin-Streptomycin cured 23 quarters of 46 treated (50 %) against 14 out of 55 for the Rifamycin SV (25 %) . This difference was significant (P less than 0.02) . Whatever the antibiotic preparation used the highest cure rate was observed for the cows in first lactation (60 % against 24 %) and beyond the second month of lactation (43 % against 10 %) . The factors dependent on the cow were related to these two parameters . Front quarters were cured in higher percentage (43 %) than rear quarters (29 %), although the difference was not statistically significant . The influence of other parameters on the cure rate, such as previous cleared infections and number of CFU and somatic cells in the quarters at the time of treatment, depended on the treatment used . The bacteriological results showed that cures could be correctly evaluated only after a minimum interval of three weeks post treatment . From the data a standardised model is proposed for the evaluation of the effectiveness of treatments.

J Immunol, 1978 Jan, 120(1), 86 - 9
On the cross-reactivity of staphylococcal enterotoxins A, B, and C; Spero L et al.; Strong cross-reactions were demonstrated for staphylococcal enterotoxins B (SEB) and C1 (SEC1) by antigen-binding capacity and by competitive binding ability . Both SEB and SEC1 combined completely with the heterologous antibody although requiring four times as much antiserum as the homologous enterotoxin and both displaced about one-third of the other enterotoxin from a heterologous antigen-antibody system . It is proposed that one of the three major antigenic determinants of these enterotoxins possesses a significant similarity but probably not an identity of structure . SEB and SEC1 did not combine with antiserum to enterotoxin A nor inhibit the reaction of SEA with anti-SEA . SEA had no intrinsic binding capacity for anti-SEB or anti SEC1 nor did it inhibit the binding of either enterotoxin to its own antibody . Affinity chromatography was employed to demonstrate that a small apparent binding of SEA to anti-SEB was due to antibody to SEA in the anti-SEB serum and that an almost complete displacement of SEC1 binding to anti-SEC1 was caused by contaminating SEC (about 0.01%) in preparations of enterotoxin A.

Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl), 1978, 164(4), 285 - 90
A comparison of staphylococcal nasal carrier rates in Germany and Poland; Hoffler U et al.; Frequencies of different staphylococcal nasal carrier classes were studied in groups of students of nursing and of laboratory personnel in Cologne, West Germany, and in Krakow, Poland, by six consecutive samplings of their nasal vestibules . The general number of persistent carriers of S . aureus appeared to be lower than in previous studies, paralleling the diminished numbers of staphylococcal infections in populations . Differences in numbers of persistent carriers between the Cologne and Krakow groups were probably related to the incidence and types of S . aureus in the environment.

Sem Hop, 1977 Dec 16, 53(43), 2481 - 3
{Diaphyseal bone tuberculosis}; Cywiner-Golenzer C et al.; The authors report a case of diaphyseal bony tuberculosis, in which the diagnosis was not made for a long time as bony tuberculosis is considered exceptional and owing to the presence of a staphylococcus which oriented the diagnosis towards osteomyelitis . Bony tuberculosis certainly affects more easily immigrant patients, in whom one may see multifocal forms, but also affects those who, by their environment, might imagine they are protected, and it is not exceptional to see unifocal forms.

J Bacteriol, 1977 Dec, 132(3), 1024 - 6
Microtubular structures in a stable staphylococcal L-form; Eda T et al.; Microtubular structures, which were demonstrated as straight, dense-walled cylinders attached to cell membranes, were found in a stable staphylococcal L-form grown in the absence of antibiotic.

Quad Sclavo Diagn, 1977 Dec, 13(4), 478 - 81
{Bencyclan's effects "in vitro" on fibrinolysis (author's transl)}; Bucci M et al.; The eventual fibrinolytic activity of Bencyclan (N-3-(1-benzil-cicloeptil-ossi)-propil-N-N-dimetil-amino-fumarato-acid) has been studied in vitro . The presence of eventuals FDP has been calculated through the Staphylococcal clumping test (SCT), by previous incubation of blood-samples with scalar concentrations of Bencyclan . No increase in the fibrinolytic activity with regard to the incubation of samples with the above-mentioned substance has been noticed.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {C}, 1977 Dec, 85C(6), 435 - 40
Elimination of protein A-IgG complexes from the blood circulation in rabbits: role of spleen and liver; Hallgren R et al.; We studied the elimination from rabbit circulation of soluble immune complexes made with staphylococcal protein A and rabbit IgG . In in vivo experiments the complexes were cleared from the circulation by the liver and spleen . In the saline perfused isolated liver there was rapid uptake of protein A-IgG complexes which indicated that the elimination of these complexes by fixed tissue macrophages may occur independent of complement components.

Z Immunitatsforsch Immunobiol, 1977 Dec, 153(5), 466 - 9
Differential binding of IgA proteins of different subclasses and allotypes to Staphylococcal protein A; Patrick CC et al.; The binding of myeloma proteins of known subclass and allotype to staphylococcal protein A has been studied using affinity chromatography with Protein A-Sepharose CL-4B . Three IgA1 proteins did not show any binding, whereas two IgA2 A2m(1) and one IgA2 A2m(2) proteins were found to bind to the column.

J Exp Med, 1977 Dec 1, 146(6), 1603 - 12
The genetic control of the immune response to staphylococcal nuclease VI . Recombination between genes determining the A/J anti-nuclease idiotypes and the heavy chain allotype locus; Pisetsky DS et al.; Rat antisera detecting binding site-specific idiotypic determinants on anti-nuclease antibodies from A/J mice have been used to define the A/J anti-nuclease idiotype and to investigate its genetic linkage as a variable region marker . Analysis of the segregation of the A/J idiotype in progeny of the backcross (B10.A X A/J) X B10.A showed linkage of the idiotype to the Ig-1e heavy chain allotype locus . There was, however, a very high apparent frequency of recombination, with 7 of 101 backcross animals having a recombinant phenotype . All of these putative recombinants were accounted for by Ig-1b/Ig-1b homozygotes which bore the A/J idiotype, and none by Ig-1b/Ig-1e heterozygotes lacking the idiotype . On progeny testing of these animals in another backcross to B10.A the recombinant trait bred true . If this idiotype is indeed a marker for variable region structural genes, then the germ line gene pool must be very large or there must be special genetic mechanism to account for the increased recombinational frequency observed.

Br J Cancer, 1977 Dec, 36(6), 730 - 42
Analysis of heteroantisera to cells from human malignant effusions by immunofluorescence and protein A binding; Birchall JP et al.; Using cultured cells derived from human malignant effusions, hetero-antisera were raised in rabbits . The antisera were sequentially absorbed on various human non-tumour cells, reactivity being monitored by immunofluorescence and 125I-labelled staphylococcal protein A assays . The absorbed antisera possessed common reactivity to all tumour cells assayed . This reactivity was not histogenically determined, and our data suggest that it was not directed to oncofoetal antigens.

J Gen Microbiol, 1977 Dec, 103(2), 235 - 42
Transduction of penicillinase production and other antibiotic-resistance markers in Staphylococcus epidermidis; Poston SM et al.; Transduction of resistance from a multiply antibiotic-resistant strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis sub-group II was studied using the typing phage 108 . The effect of increasing doses of ultraviolet radiation on the transducing phage was used to indicate the chromosomal or plasmid nature of the genes . Tetracycline and chloramphenicol resistance behaved as plasmid genes and streptomycin resistance as a chromosomal marker . It was also possible to transduce penicillin resistance (Pc) due to penicillinase production (bla+) using a low level of benzylpenicillin (0.03 microgram ml-1) for recovery . Approximately 10(-5) transductant colonies per phage input were obtained and ultraviolet kinetics indicated that Pc was plasmid carried . Pc transductants fell into two categories . In one group PC was stable as in the donor strain and transductants had the same phage sensitivity as the recipient . In the other, Pc was unstable at 37 degrees C and the instability was enhanced by growth at approximately 43.5 degrees C; these transductants also gained genes for restriction and modification of certain phages . Transductants that subsequently lost bla+ also lost the restriction and modification characters.

Am J Ophthalmol, 1977 Dec, 84(6), 788 - 93
Meibomian keratoconjunctivitis; McCulley JP et al.; We evaluated, dermatologically and ophthalmologically, 26 patients who had chronic blepharitis (meibomitis); we also investigated 26 age- and sex-matched controls . All of the blepharitic patients had an abnormality of sebaceous gland function ranging from seborrhea sicca to seborrheic dermatitis or acne rosacea, suggesting a generalized sebaceous gland dysfunction that included the meibomian glands . Sebaceous gland abnormalities most frequently involved the cool areas of the face or scalp . Stagnation of the meibomian glands presumably caused a defect in the tear lipid layer; this resulted in an unstable tear film that produced superficial punctate keratopathy . The break-up time was much lower in these patients than in controls . The break-up time returned to normal or super-normal levels when fresh meibomian secretions were expressed into the tear film . The superficial punctate keratopathy had the characteristics of those seen in conditions with a known unstable tear film and not of those experimentally produced by staphylococcus toxin.

Afr J Med Med Sci, 1977 Dec, 6(4), 177 - 83
Staphylococcal endocarditis: clinical observations on 113 patients; Andy JJ et al.; A 10-year analysis of 113 cases of staphylococcal endocarditis seen in two Washington, D.C., hospitals is presented . 96% of the cases occurred in parenteral drug addicts, but 4% complicated septicemia from known foci of infection . Coagulase positive staphylococcus was responsible for 97% of the infection, and the rest were caused by coagulase negative staphyloccus . Except in four patients with previously known cardiac murmurs, infection occurred on normal valves in these patients . Infection was isolated to the tricuspid valve in 71%, to the mitral valve in 6% and to the aortic valve in 3.5% of our cases; and more than one cardiac valve was affected in the remaining patients . All patients were treated with antibiotics based on bacterial sensitivity testing . The mortality from isolated tricuspid endocarditis was 5%, from isolated mitral endocarditis 33%, and from isolated aortic valve endocarditis 100% . The overall mortality was 18% . The better prognosis documented for acute tricuspid endocarditis is related to the much less severe haemodynamic consequences of acute tricuspid regurgitation, and the probably milder consequences of septic pulmonary embolism compared with coronary or cerebral embolism.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1977 Dec, 34(6), 710 - 4
Statistical analysis and quality control in radioimmunoassays for staphylococcal enterotoxins A, B, and C; Orth DS; The objective of these studies was to set up a reliable radioimmunoassay (RIA) for staphylococcal enterotoxins A, B, and C (SEA, SEB, and SEC) in a food system . Significant differences (95% confidence limits) were obtained between the 0- and 1-ng/ml enterotoxin standards, so the sensitivity of the RIAs was 1 ng/ml . Polystyrene tubes coated with anti-SEB and stored at 4 degrees C were unstable . The percentage of iodinated SEB bound to these tubes decreased at a rate of 0.33%/day, in contrast to the rate of 0.07%/day obtained with tubes prepared the day before the analyses . Satisfactory precision and maximum sensitivity were obtained by using six replicates for each sample and freshly coated tubes . The antisera used for coating the tubes were reused four times and were frozen between coatings . The process of drum drying mashed potatoes containing 1 mug of SEB per g of mashed potatoes inactivated 83% (wt/wt) of the SEB . Statistical quality control parameters were used to insure that RIAs were performing reliably with a sensitivity of 1 ng/ml . Over 450 samples of potato flakes and granules, which represented different production lots from 12 different manufacturers, were examined for SEA, SEB, and SEC . No enterotoxins were detected.

J Biol Chem, 1977 Nov 25, 252(22), 8320 - 7
In vitro translation of avian vitellogenin messenger RNA; Gordon JI et al.; Administration of 17beta-estradiol to roosters induced the synthesis of vitellogenin in the liver . The mRNA that specifies this protein has been purified from the livers of estrogen-treated roosters and has been shown to have a molecular weight of 2.3 X 10(6) (Deeley, R.G., Gordon, J.I., Burns, A.T.H., Mullinix, K.P., Bina-Stein, M., and Goldberger R.F . (1977) J . Biol . Chem . 252, 8310-8319) . In order to rigorously establish the identity of the polypeptide specified by this mRNA, we used a staphylococcal nuclease-treated, mRNA-dependent wheat germ cell-free translation system capable of synthesizing polypeptides as large as vitellogenin (monomer Mr = 240,000) . Vitellogenin mRNA directs the in vitro synthesis of a polypeptide with the following features: (a) it co-migrates with authentic vitellogenin in SDS-polyacrylamide gels; (b) it is highly enriched for serine but is not phosphorylated; (c) it is immunoprecipitated by purified, monospecific, anti-vitellogenin antibody; and (d) it has an unusual cyanogen bromide cleavage pattern characteristic of vitellogenin . The most striking characteristic of the cyanogen bromide cleavage products is an extremely large polypeptide (Mr = 90,000) that contains two phosvitins . The kinetics of incorporation of serine and methionine into vitellogenin synthesized in the wheat germ cell-free translation system indicates that the phosvitins are located near the COOH-terminal portion of the molecule.

Minerva Med, 1977 Nov 24, 68(57), 3851 - 8
{Case of bullous pneumopathy in an adult}; Procaccio P; A case of bullous pneumopathy in an elderly subject is reported . The particular localization of the pneumonic process at the base of the left lung led to an initial suspicion of diaphragmatic relaxation . Subsequent development and the onset of pneumatoceles within the non-infiltrated pulmonary parenchyma led to a definite diagnosis of bullous pneumopathy which, from its clinico-radiological course, was attributed to a staphylococcic aetiology . Toxic-infective state with leucocytosis and polynucleosis; variability of radiological pictures; early pleural picture; sensitivity to Cephaloridine (which in the present case probably confined the condition to the left lung only); the benign course of the disease; all these elements pointed to staphylococcic bullous pneumopathy in the absence of any cultural demonstration . The different disease conditions in which pneumatoceles occur are reviewed along with the possible mechanisms for their formation.

N Engl J Med, 1977 Nov 24, 297(21), 1129 - 34
Bacterial stimulation and granulocyte inhibition of granulopoietic factor production; Robinson WA et al.; We attempted to determine the effect of live bacteria (Staphylococcus epidermidis) on granulocyte colony-stimulating-factor production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (monocytes and lymphocytes) in vitro . Addition of bacteria to mononuclear-cell cultures enhanced colony-stimulating-factor production by these cells, as assayed on both human and mouse bone marrow . Addition of peripheral blood granulocytes to parallel cultures eliminated this enhancement effect, presumably by bacterial removal or inactivation . These data suggest that micro-organisms may have a pivotal role in granulocyte production and maturation by serving as a stimulus to increase colony-stimulating-factor production and also as negative control through their removal by the newly formed granulocytes.

Biochemistry, 1977 Nov 15, 16(23), 4978 - 81
Complete primary structure of the major component myoglobin of Pacific common dolphin (Delphinus delphis); Wang CC et al.; The complete amino acid sequence of the major component myoglobin from Pacific common dolphin, Delphinus delphis, was determined by the automatic Edman degradation of several large peptides obtained by specific cleavages of the protein . More than 80% of the covalent structure was established by the degradation of the apomyoglobin and five peptides from: (1) cyanogen bromide cleavage at the two methionine residues, (2) trypsin cleavage of the acetimidated apomyoglobin at the three arginine residues, and (3) 2-p-nitrophenylsulfenyl-3-methyl-3'-bromoindolenine cleavage at the two tryptophan residues . The rest of the sequence was determined by use of the peptides prepared from further digestion of the central cyanogen bromide peptide with staphylococcal protease and trypsin . The primary structure of this myoglobin proved identical with that from the Atlantic bottlenosed dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, but showed four substitutions with respect to the sequence reported for the Black Sea dolphin which has also been given the designation Delphinus delphis.

J Biol Chem, 1977 Nov 10, 252(21), 7635 - 9
Staphylococcal nuclease and pancreatic DNase cleave the DNA within the chromatin core particle at different sites; Whitlock JP Jr; Staphylococcal nuclease (micrococcal nuclease) and pancreatic DNase (DNase I) were used to digest HeLa chromatin core particles which had been labeled with 32P at their 5'-DNA termini . In contrast to DNase I, which cleaves core particle DNA at 10-nucleotide intervals from the 5' termini, staphylococcal nuclease cleaves core particle DNA at different sites, both fewer in number and less regularly spaced . Thus, it is unlikely that simple physical protection of DNA is the sole mechanism whereby chromosomal proteins restrict the nucleolytic cleavage of chromatin; furthermore, it seems likely that these nucleases may recognize different geometric configurations along the chromatin core particle.

Am J Dis Child, 1977 Nov, 131(11), 1241 - 2
Monocyte-macrophage function in the newborn; Weston WL et al.; Analysis of 20 human cord blood samples for monocyte-macrophage function demonstrates a selective defect in monocyte cellular chemotaxis . Monocyte bacterial phagocytosis, phagocytosis of paraffin oil particles, and bacterial killing of staphylococcus 502A were normal when compared with 30 healthy young adult controls . Impaired response of neonatal monocytes to chemotactants is an additional host defense defect that may help explain the undue susceptibility of neonates to certain infectious agents.

Br Heart J, 1977 Nov, 39(11), 1276 - 8
Two-stage replacement of tricuspid valve in active endocarditis; Arneborn P et al.; One month after a 21-year-old female drug addict with tricuspid staphylococcal endocarditis seemed to have been cured by antibiotic therapy she relapsed . Further antibiotic treatment for one month failed to control the infection . Tricuspidectomy was when performed and the infection was eliminated . A valve prosthesis was inserted 3 months later . She recovered and is now fully restored to health . We recommend this two-stage surgical technique in similar cases.

Am J Vet Res, 1977 Nov, 38(11), 1849 - 54
Cardiovascular and hepatic responses of rhesus macaques to staphylococcal enterotoxin B; Liu CT et al.; Certain cardiovascular and hepatic functions were measured for a period of 6 to 14 hours in conscious, chaired, male rhesus macaques given (intravenously (IV) or orally) staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) . In macaques orally given SEB (1 mg/kg), there was little change in the cardiovascular variables . The half-life of injected indocyanine green was apparently prolonged in macaques given SEB as compared with that in the controls . However, in macaques given SEB (0.05 or 1.0 mg/kg) by IV injection, there were tachycardia, increase in arterial resistance, and decreases in blood pressure, cardiac output, stroke volume, cardiac work, mean cardiac power, and central blood volume . In addition, mean transit time from caudal vena cava to ascending aorta was prolonged and a simultaneous reduction of hepatic removal of indocyanine green occurred.

Arch Intern Med, 1977 Nov, 137(11), 1522 - 5
Teichoic acid antibody test: its use in patients with coagulase-positive staphylococcal bacteremia; Larinkari UM et al.; We have studied the occurrence and specificity of teichoic acid antibodies (TAAs), measured by double diffusion in agar, in 114 patients with bacteremia of whom 47 had coagulase-positive staphylococcal bacteremia . A total of 30% of the 47 patients with coagulase-positive staphylococcal bacteremia had a TAA titer of 1:8 or more, and an additional 30% had a titer of 1:2 or 1:4 . High TAA titers were most often connected with coagulase-positive staphylococcal endocarditis, osteomyelitis, and deep wound infections . None of the six coagulase-negative patients with staphylococcal bacteremia nor any of the 92 controls had titers exceeding 1:1 . A total of 10% of the other patients with bacteremia showed positive results on the TAA test at low titer levels . Compared to the antistaphylolysin value, the TAA test was about equally specific but more sensitive.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1977 Nov, 34(5), 518 - 22
Double-antibody solid-phase enzyme immunoassay for the detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin A; Saunders GC et al.; A simple double-antibody enzyme immunoassay that uses a microtechnique was developed for detecting staphylococcal enterotoxin A in food products . Sample preparation can be completed in less than 15 min . Assay sensitivity ranges from 0.4 ng (20-h test time) to 3.2 ng (1- to 3-h test time) of toxin per ml of prepared sample . Separation and detection of enterotoxin from spiked food products ranged between 72 and 98% of the amount added.

J Virol, 1977 Nov, 24(2), 451 - 60
Interaction of Simian Virus 40 chromatin with Simian Virus 40 T-antigen; Persico-DiLauro M et al.; We have studied the binding of the tumor antigen (T-antigen) of simian virus 40 to simian virus 40 chromatin (minichromosomes) . The minichromosomes isolated from infected cells by a modification of standard techniques were relatively free of contaminating RNA and cellular DNA and had a ratio (by weight) of protein to DNA of approximately 1; their DNA was 50 to 60% digestible to an acid-soluble form by staphylococcal nuclease . Cleavage of this chromatin with restriction endonucleases indicated that the nuclease-resistant regions were randomly distributed in the population of minichromosomes, but were not randomly distributed within minichromosomes . Only 20 to 35% of these minichromosomes adsorbed nonspecifically to nitrocellulose filters, permitting binding studies between simian virus 40 T-antigen and chromatin to be performed . Approximately two to three times as much T-antigen was required to bind chromatin as to bind an equivalent amount of free DNA . When T-antigen was present in excess, both chromatin and free DNA were quantitatively retained on the filters . On the other hand, when DNA or chromatin was present in excess, only one-third as much chromatin as DNA was retained . We suggest that T-antigen-chromatin complexes may be formed by the cooperative binding of T-antigen to chromatin, whereas T-antigen-DNA complexes may be formed by simple bimolecular interactions.

Microbiol Immunol, 1977 Nov, 21(11), 649 - 52
Failure of the reaction of beta2-microglobulin with staphylococcal protein A; Ochi Y et al.; Because beta2-microglobulin is structurally similar to IgG, the reaction of beta2-microglobulin with Staphylococcal Protein A, which is known to react with the Fc region of IgG, was examined . 125I-beta2-microglobulin did not bind to Protein A . This may due to the difference in the amino acid sequence between beta2-microglobulin and the Fc region of IgG.

Int J Cancer, 1977 Oct 15, 20(4), 543 - 50
Bovine leukemia virus specific antibodies among French cattle . II . Radioimmunoassay with the major structural protein (BLV p24); Levy D et al.; A radioimmunoassay (RIA) for the major internal protein of the bovine leukemia virus (BLV p24) was established using anti-BLV p24 natural antibodies and purified 125I-labelled BLV p24 . The final precipitation of the immune complexes was realized by a preparation of inactivated Staphylococcus aureau Cowan I . Sera from 363 cows belonging to (1) leukemic herds, (2) non-leukemic but BLV-exposed herds, and (3) apparently unexposed herds were studied comparatively in BLV p24 RIA, complement fixation and immunodiffusion . The BLV p24 RIA appeared much more senstive than the two other methods in the detection of positive sera . With this method 100% of the leukemic animals, excluding those with juvenile lymphosarcoma, presented very high antibody titers (greater than or equal to 10,000) . Practically all cows with persistent lymphocytosis were also positive with slightly lower levels of antibodies, confirming the relationship between BLV infection and the persistent lymphycytosis . Moreover, about two-thirds of the hematologically suspect animals and one-third of the normal animals from BLV-exposed herds were found positive, whereas 100% of the sera from unexposed cows remained negative for anti-BLV p24 antibodies.

Vestn Khir Im I I Grek, 1977 Oct, 119(10), 117 - 20
{Blood neutrophil lesion reaction in burn patients}; Kosheleva NI et al.; The allergy level to staphylococcus was studied through the V.A . Fradkin reaction of neutrophile injury (RNI) in vitro in 160 thermal burn cases depending on the severity and dynamics of burn disease . The results of the study have proved that at the RNI in vitro the specific sensibilization to staphylococcus in the burned gets evident by the 15-30th day after trauma; the degree of RNI manifestation rises with the time (by the 90--180th day and later after trauma), especially in patients with deep and vast burns . It reaches very high level during the convalescense period . The direct interrelation between the allergy level, severity of the burn trauma and general immunological reactivity of the body has been shown.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1977 Oct, (10), 46 - 51
{Staphylococcal plasmacoagulase . III . Use of thrombelastography to study the properties of extracellular staphylocoagulase}; Grishina NB et al.; A method of thromboelastography was applied to the study of the influence of supernatents of the S . aureus and S . epidermidis culture fluid on the process of blood coagulation . S . aureus No . 209 P, No . 8325-1 strains and mutants of the No . 209 P strain, resistant to proflavin induced a distinct shortening of the reaction time . In using S . epidermidis (strains D5/240 and D-5/48) and also in control experiments (plasma and medium) no shortening of the reaction period was observed . The data obtained permitted to recommend the use of thromboelastographic method for the purpose of detection of coagulase-positive staphylococcus strains and for the assessment of relative staphylocoagulase activity.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1977 Oct, (10), 43 - 5
{Genetic nature of the bacteriocinogenicity factor of Staphylococcus epidermidis strain No . 259}; Ivanov NA; Genetic nature of the bacteriogenicity factor of the Staphylococcus epidermidis No . 259 strain was studied by acting upon the strain with ultraviolet irradiation, acridine orange at a temperature of 37 and 44 degrees C, and cultivation of the strain at a temperature of 44 degrees C for 24 and 96 hours . The most effective elimination of the bacteriocinogenicity factor was reached with the action of acridine orange at 44 degrees C and the strain passage at 44 degrees C for 96 hours . A study of 212 subcultures which lost the bacteriocinogenicity factor under the effect of various factors demonstrated that they failed to differ by properties from the initial strain and retained the bacteriocin resistance of the initial strain . A conclusion was drawn that the bacteriocinogenicity factor was an extrachomosomic agent, and was not associated with any other strain properties.

Arch Dermatol, 1977 Oct, 113(10), 1383 - 6
Staphylococcal infections in patients with atopic dermatitis; Hanifin JM et al.; Cutaneous staphylococcal infections appear to be relatively infrequent in atopic dermatitis even though patients have broken skin heavily colonized with staphylococcal organsism . We found superficial staphylococcal pustules on the skin of 22 patients with atopic dermatitis . Such lesions were more commonly found with severe exacerbations of atopic dermatitis . They appeared on unbroken skin independent of hair follicles and were associated with considerable pruritis . Such lesions were rapidly removed by excoriation and frequently were overlooked by patients and physicians . Most lesions appeared when polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis was depressed . Ineffective chemotaxis combined with high-colonization density and inadequate stratum corneum barrier during exacerbations of atopic dermatitis may lead to mild staphylococcal infections . These infections appear to have no systemic effects but possibly the considerable associated pruritis could worsen the atopic dermatitis . Occasional patients may require intermittent or continuous antibiotic therapy.

J S Afr Vet Assoc, 1977 Oct, 48(3), 155 - 61
The effect of single intracisternal dry cow administration of staphylococcal antigens and antibiotics on the incidence of staphylococcal bovine mastitis; Janovics A et al.; The incidence of staphylococcal mastitis was investigated in 3 large commercial Friesland herds before and after the single intracisternal administration, during the dry-period, of 1 of 4 formulations containing staphylococcal antigens, antibiotics and base alone or in combination . Results suggest that the instillation of vaccine alone and vaccine plus antibiotics into fully involuted quarters very significantly reduced the incidence of staphylococcal mastitis in the subsequent lactation . Compared with antibiotics and base, each administered alone, the vaccine reduced the number of infected quarters in the subsequent lactation by 70,52% and 79,52% respectively, whereas the corresponding values for vaccine plus antibiotics were 62,22% and 71,22% respectively . The difference in results between vaccine alone and vaccine plus antibiotics is statistically insignificant, as is the difference between the results achieved by antiobiotics and base alone . The vaccine plus antibiotics is thought to possess combined therapeutic-preventive activity . The investigation showed, however, that vaccine plus antibiotics consistently protected mastitis negative quarters against new attacks of staphylococcal mastitis during the subsequent lactation period about 1,43, 4,00 and 5,32 times more effectively than did vaccine, antibiotics and base used individually.

Clin Orthop, 1977 Oct, (128), 56 - 64
Kyphosis secondary to infectious disease; O'Brien JP; Infections of the spine usually involve the vertebral body and therefore by definition produce a kyphosis . Non-tuberculous infection usually staphylococcal and in the lumbar spine, is often diagnosed late and can involve the cord . Open exploration and stabilization with graft should therefore be considered . The destruction is usually less extensive and therefore the kyphosis less severe than in late neglected tuberculous infections . Tuberculous spinal infection accounts for 59% of all orthopedic tuberculosis . It invariably involves vertebral bodies and is progressive . Destruction of the bodies is by infection and avascular necrosis, kyphosis is inevitable and cord compression a common threat . While L-1 is the most commonly affected body T-10 is statistically the most commonly associated with cord compression . The treatment of spinal tuberculosis should be aimed at correcting 5 basic defects associated with the disease and the deformity: mechanical instability; chronic smoldering infection; spinal cord and nerve root compression; disturbance of spinal growth; depressed lung function . The cornerstone to effective treatment for spinal tuberculosis is drug therapy and the anterior fusion operation . For the established tuberculous kyphosis, which is always a fixed deformity, multiple staged operations and gradual correction used the Halo-pelvic apparatus is the best treatment available at present.

Nucleic Acids Res, 1977 Oct, 4(10), 3303 - 25
Compact form of SV40 viral minichromosome is resistant to nuclease: possible implications for chromatin structure; Varshavsky AJ et al.; We report two new findings bearing on the "supranucleo-somal" level of the structure of the Simian Virus 40 minichromosome . I) Isolated SV40 minichromosome which contains all five histones including HI/I/ exists in solution under approximately physiological ionic conditions as a compact roughly spherical particle approximately 300 A in diameter which is capable of fitting within the virus capsid . In spite of such a compact conformation of the minichromosome individual nucleosomes can be readily visualized within the particle . Compact state of SV40 minichromosome depends on both the presence of histone HI and maintenance of approximately physiological ionic strength of solution (micron approximately 0.15) . Removal of HI results in a conversion of the compact minichromosomes into an extended (circular beaded) structure . 2) The compact form of the SV40 minichromosome in contract to its circular beaded form is virtually completely resistant to staphylococcal nuclease, strongly suggesting that in particular nuclease-sensitive parts of the internucleosomal DNA regions are not exposed on the outside of the compact SV40 minichromosome . On the other hand, DNase I which is known to attack both inter-and intranucleosomal DNA in the chronatin /2,3/ readily digests the compact form of the SV40 minichromosome . Possible models of the compact minichromosome and implications for higher order structures of the cellular chromatin are discussed.

Int J Cancer, 1977 Sep 15, 20(3), 359 - 70
The relative proliferation index as a more sensitive parameter for evaluating lymphoproliferative responses of cancer patients to mitogens and alloantigens; Dean JH et al.; Lymphocyte proliferation (LP) assays were performed in microculture using the T-cell mitogens phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con A); the T + B cell mitogens, pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and staphylococcal phage lysate (SPL); and a pool of allogeneic stimulating leukocytes in one-way mixed leukocyte cultures (MLC) in lung and breast cancer patients and normal individuals . The resultant data were expressed in three different ways: (1) as mean counts per minute (CPM) of tritiated thymidine incorporation; (2) as a stimulation index (SI) and (3) as a relative proliferation index (RPI) . The RPI is defined as the ratio of net CPM (nCPM) in experimental cultures with stimulant (E) minus medium control cultures (C) of a test individual to the mean nCPM of three or more normal individuals examined in the same assay on the same day . These expressions were then compared for their ability to discriminate between LP responses in cancer patients and normal individuals . The RPI value and selected cut-off values gave the most sensitive measure for the determination of depressed proliferative responses . These analyses demonstrated that lung carcinoma patients were depressed to PHA (50%), MLC (47%), PWM (43%) and Con A (40%) . To a lesser degree, breast carcinoma patients were also depressed to MLC (36%), PHA (31%), PWM (27%) and Con A (19%) . Our data indicate that the use of the RPI in the analysis of LP response represents an improved method for detecting impaired response of lymphocytes to general mitogens and alloantigens which can consistently reveal immunosuppression in many cancer patients and may be useful for serial monitoring of individual patients.

Vopr Virusol, 1977 Sep-Oct, (5), 588 - 91
{Modelling of influenza infection in mice inoculated by the aerosol method}; Evdokimov VL et al.; Modelling of experimental influenza infection was performed in an aerosol apparatus the main element of which was a glove box made of organic glass . Mice were infected by inhalation of a highly dispersed aerosol of influenza A2/Victoria/72 virus adapted to the mouse lungs . The aerosol was produced by means of a pneumatic atomizer . The fraction-dispersion composition of the aerosol, for the determination of which Andersen's cascade impactor was used, was characterized by virus-containing particles of 0.6 to 1.8 micrometer capable of penetrating to alveolar passages . A curve reflecting the dose--effect function was drawn on the basis of the relationship between the dilution of aerosolized virus suspension and mouse death rates . Virological, bacteriological, and histopathological examinations of the lungs of the infected mice revealed a correlation between the time of the animals' death, maximum influenza virus reproduction, multiplication of staphylococcal autoflora and the intensity of pathomorphological lesions.

Arq Neuropsiquiatr, 1977 Sep, 35(3), 282 - 4
{Subdural abscess at the level of the cauda equina; report of a case}; Borges AC et al.; A case of staphylococcal subdural abscess at cauda equina level region in a 42 year old male patient is reported . The neurological signs presented in this condition are discussed briefly and it is pointed out the importance of laminectomy associated to antibiotic treatment to achieve good outcome.

South Med J, 1977 Sep, 70(9), 1132 - 4
Focal glomerulonephritis and interstitial nephritis in methicillin-treated, heroin-related infective endocarditis; Shah SV et al.; A drug addict with staphylococcal endocarditis treated with methicillin, who developed massive proteinuria and acute nephritic syndrome is described . Discontinuation of methicillin therapy and appropriate antibiotic treatment of endocarditis led to clinical improvement, emphasizing the need to promptly discontinue potential nephrotoxic agents when abnormalities in renal function appear . The clinical course and results of renal biopsy studies suggest multiple causes of the renal lesions in this patient.

J Pediatr, 1977 Sep, 91(3), 481 - 6
Clinical pharmacology of hexachlorophene in newborn infants; Tyrala EE et al.; Bathing with soap containing hexachlorophene was instituted during two major staphylococcal epidemics in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit . Infants who weighed less than 1,200 gm, those with a postconceptional age of less than 35 weeks, and those with large areas of abraded skin were at highest risk to achieve elevated blood HCP concentrations . T 1/2 of HCP ranged from 6.1 to 44.2 hours and appeared to follow first order kinetics . Time of peak blood concentrations of HCP following a bath ranged from 6 to 10 hours . One infant with liver disease achieved a concentration of HCP of 4,350 ng/ml after seven baths and developed clinical symptoms consistent with HCP toxicity.

Antibiotiki, 1977 Sep, 22(9), 809 - 13
{Side effects of antibiotics in patients with thermal burns}; Murazian RI et al.; The possibilities of antibacterial therapy in the clinics of burn diseases has at present decreased because of increasing microflora resistance to antibiotics . This phenomenon is one of the most often causes of antibacterial drug side effects in burn patients . For control of infections complications in burn patients which are most often lethal it is necessary to use biologically active subtance, such as prodigiozan and lysozime in addition to the directed antibiotic therapy . The use of specific antitoxic antistaphylococcal drugs, such as antistaphylococcal plasma and antistaphylococcal gamma-globulin in combination with the antibiotics of the direct action provided effective control of infectious complications and sepsis of staphylococcal genesis in burn patients . Decamine proved to be effective along with the usual use of nystatin in cases with dysbacteriosis as a result of the antibiotic side effects . In the patients treated with decamine the sings of candidosis disappeared by the 5th--7th day . Therefore, for decreasing the side effects of antibiotics in the clinics of burn patients it is expedient to use antibiotics in combination with the biologically active and immune preparations which increases the efficacy of antibiotic therapy, impfoves the treatment results and decreases the antibiotic side effects.

JAMA, 1977 Aug 15, 238(7), 618 - 20
Sudden catatonic stupor with disastrous outcome; Regestein QR et al.; Catatonic stupor occurred in two psychiatric inpatients, predisposing them to staphylococcal pneumonia, venous thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism . Disastrous outcomes ensued . Catatonic stupor can lead to fatal complications, and aggressive medical and psychiatric therapy is indicated.

Science, 1977 Aug 12, 197(4304), 661 - 3
Hydrodynamic evidence in support of spacer regions in chromatin; Schmitz KS et al.; Quasi-elastic light scattering and sedimentation velocity methods were used to study the hydrodynamic properties of purified dimer subunits obtained from partial digestion of chicken erythrocyte chromatin with staphylococcal nuclease . The experimental value of 1.87 +/- 0.08 X 10(-7) gram per second for the friction factor of these dimer subunits in low ionic strength buffer cannot be reasonably interpreted in terms of a contiguous sphere model . Analysis by means of an equivalent dimer method suggests that the spacer region accounts for a maximum of 19 percent of the friction properties of the dimer.

Z Gesamte Inn Med, 1977 Aug 1, 32(15), Suppl 236 - 7
{Therapy of staphylococcal endocarditis}; Nehring K et al.; It is reported on the therapy with antibiotics of 5 patients with staphylococcal endocarditis with linkomycin--streptomycin . 2 patients were cured, 2 patients died after disappearing of fever and clinically unequivocally controlled septicaemia of typical complications of ulcerous endocarditis . One patient continued fevering to the exitus letalis when negative blood cultures were present, whereby at post-mortem examination an encephalomalacia with fresh haemorrhage was found to be the cause.

Chest, 1977 Aug, 72(2), 243 - 5
Staphylococcal aortic pseudoaneurysm . Treatment employing ascending aorta-abdominal aorta bypass graft; Liotta D et al.; An adult patient developed infection of the anastomosis after resection of an isthmic coarctation, with subsequent formation of a pseudoaneurysm . He was treated successfully by an ascending aorta-abdominal aorta bypass graft . The graft was placed retrosternally and passed through the diaphragm into the retroperitoneal space . After surgery the patient developed systolic hypertension . A faint murmur was heard over the chest and abdomen, caused by the turbulent flow through the graft.

Arch Dis Child, 1977 Aug, 52(8), 597 - 605
Protracted diarrhoea in infancy . Analysis of 82 cases with particular reference to diagnosis and management; Larcher VF et al.; Eighty-two cases of protracted diarrhoea in infancy presenting over a 6-year period have been analysed, with particular reference to diagnosis and management . The patients fell into 1 of 2 categories according to whether a specific diagnosis was established or not . A diagnosis (category 1) was established in 59 (72%), the commonest diagnoses being coeliac disease (33-2%), secondary disaccharide intolerance (12-2%), and cows' milk protein intolerance (12-3%) . Other diagnoses included primary sucrase-isomaltase deficiency, Shwachman's syndrome, ulcerative colitis, ganglioneuroma, defective opsonization, staphylococcal pneumonia, and Hirschsprung's disease . Despite intensive investigation in diagnosis could not be established in 23 (28%) infants (category 2) . Age of onset of symptoms in this group tended to be earlier than in category 1 patients, and 6 (7%) presented with diarrhoea dating from birth . Of particular interest in these 6 patients was the high incidence of associated extraintestinal anomalies, and of sibs who had died after protracted diarrhoea dating from birth . 4 of these 6 infants died, accounting for a mortality of 5% for the whole series . The remaining 17 (21%) patients in category 2 presented at a mean age of 4-9 weeks with a range of 1-18 weeks . All these 17 patients made an excellent response after institution of a chicken-based dietary formula, the details of which are presented . The pathophysiological mechanisms which may be operating in infants with protracted diarrhoea are discussed.

Acta Endocrinol (Copenh), 1977 Aug, 85(4), 791 - 8
Distribution of LATS activity in immunoglobulin G subclass; Ochi Y et al.; The immunological character of LATS was examined by affinity chromatography on Anti-IgG, Anti-Fab, Anti-Fc and Staphylococcal Protein A bound Sepharose . By affinity chromatography on Anti-IgG, Anti-Fab and Anti-Fc bound Sepharose, it is possible to separate LATS-immunoglobulin from LATS positive serum without loss of activity . Affinity chromatography on Protein A bound Sepharose is useful for obtaining further purified LATS-immunoglobulin . By this method, it is possible to separate IgG molecules of the subclasses IgG(1), IgG(2) and IgG(4) with high LATS activity . LATS activity was not found in the IgG(3) fraction . When IgG(1) fraction was purified from the fraction containing the 3 subclasses of IgG(1), IgG(2) and IgG(4), about 85% of total protein was found in IgG(1) . However, specific activity per protein of LATS in IgG(1) fraction did not change remarkably . After papain hydrolysis the thyroid stimulating activity of LATS-immunoglobulin was located in Fab fraction of these 3 subclasses of IgG(1), IgG(2) and IgG(4), and especially in IgG(1) . The Fab fraction presents a short acting type of thyroid stimulating activity . These data indicate that LATS activity is mainly distributed in the Fab fragment of IgG(1).

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1977 Aug, (8), 82 - 4
{Effect of chemical action on the biological activity of staphylococcal allergen}; Runova VF et al.; The authors present the results of study of chemical action on the specific properties of staphylococcus allergen showing that deamination, iodation, and formalinization was accompanied by reduction of the allergenic capacity of the preparation; as to acetylation -- it produced an insignificant reduction of the allergen activity.

Hoppe Seylers Z Physiol Chem, 1977 Aug, 358(8), 989 - 1002
The complete amino acid sequence of protein S16 from Escherichia coli; Vandekerckhove J et al.; This paper presents the experimental details which led to the elucidation of the complete primary structure of S16, a protein which belongs to the small subunit of E . coli ribosomes . Protein S16 was digested with trypsin, alpha-chymotrypsin, and the staphylococcal protease . The resulting peptides were purified on paper and their amino acid composition and sequence were determined . Automatic Edman degradation with a modified sequenator on the complete protein yielded information from the 56N-terminal residues . The combination of all these results led to the following complete amino acid sequence: Met-Val-Thr-Ile-Arg-Leu-Ala-Arg-His-Gly-Ala-Lys-Lys-Arg-Pro-Phe-Tyr-Gln-Val-Val-Val-Ala-Asp-Ser-Arg--Asn-Ala-Arg-Asn-Gly-Arg-Phe-Ile-Glu-Arg-Val-Gly-Phe-Phe-Asn-Pro-Ile-Ala-Ser-Glu-Lys-Glu-Glu-Gly-Thr-Arg-Leu-Asp-Leu-Asp-Arg-Ile-Ala-His-Trp-Val-Gly-Gln-Gly-Ala-Thr-Ile-Ser-Asp-Arg-Val-Ala-Ala-Leu-Ile-Lys-Glu-Val-Asn-Lys-Ala-Ala . The molecular weight derived from the sequence amounts to 9 162.

Infect Immun, 1977 Aug, 17(2), 371 - 7
Regulation of endotoxin-induced inhibition of macrophage migration by fresh serum; Heilman DH; Purified endotoxin (LPS) caused macrophage migration inhibition (MMI) in capillary tube cultures of guinea pig peritoneal macrophages in medium prepared with 15% fresh-frozen guinea pig serum . The inactivation of serum by heating at 56 degrees C for 30 min or by zymosan absorption prevented LPS-induced MMI . LPS was fully inhibitory in fresh C4-deficient guinea pig serum . Heat treatment of normal serum at 50 to 52 degrees C for 30 min to inactivate the alternate complement (C) pathway prevented or significantly decreased LPS-induced MMI, but heating C4-deficient serum at 50 to 52 degrees C for 30 min prevented LPS-MMI in all instances . These results suggest that the reaction was effected via the alternate C pathway but that some inhibition of migration was permitted via the classical C pathway, presumably due to antibodies for LPS in some normal sera . Pretreatment of normal serum with cobra venom factor decreased or prevented LPS-MMI in most instances, but similar results were obtained with C4-deficient serum . Experiments with chelated sera were unsuccessful because of the immobilization of macrophages by 10 mM ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid and by 10 mM Mg-ethyleneglycol-bis (beta-aminoethyl)-N,N-tetraacetic acid . Low doses of concanavalin A and staphylococcal enterotoxin B and large doses of pokeweed mitogen caused MMI in "inactivated serum" medium, but MMI was enhanced in fresh serum.

Z Hautkr, 1977 Jul 1, 52(13), 688 - 90
{Levamisole in the treatment of therapy-resistant folliculitides}; Haneke E et al.; Report on two cases with chronic folliculitis of the face, resistant to antibiotic therapy . In both cases Staphylococcus epidermidis was the only organism that could be isolated . After a comparatively short treatment with levamisole (150 mg on two successive days weekly) the lesions cleared completely.

Am J Dis Child, 1977 Jul, 131(7), 746 - 9
Echocardiographic diagnosis of bacterial endocarditis of the mitral valve in a neonate; Bender RL et al.; A full-term normal neonate had acute staphylococcal endocarditis . Serial echocardiograms demonstrated abnormal echos in the region of the posterior mitral valve leaflet and aortic outflow tract that were subsequently proved to be a bacterial vegetation . This represents, we believe, the first case reported of the echocardiographic diagnosis of bacterial endocarditis in a neonate . There was progressive functional impairment of the mitral valve despite appropriate antibiotic therapy . At necropsy, a 1-cm vegetation was found attached to, and eroding through, the posterior mitral valve leaflet . The remainder of the heart, including the mitral valve apparatus, was normal . Endocarditis is a rare, but devastating, disease in a neonate, and the echocardiogram is a safe noninvasive method of making an accurate diagnosis and following the course of the disease.

Am J Cardiol, 1977 Jul, 40(1), 130 - 2
Mitral valve aneurysm after infective endocarditis in the billowing mitral leaflet syndrome; Pocock WA et al.; Mitral valve aneurysm is an uncommon complication of infective endocarditis . This report describes a patient with severe regurgitation due to perforations in a mitral aneurysm who required mitral valve replacement 9 years after a staphylococcal infection was superimposed on a billowing mitral leaflet . The unusual auscultatory signs and angiographic appearance could have led to diagnosis of the aneurysm.

Cornell Vet, 1977 Jul, 67(3), 404 - 12
Teat apex microflora: influence of washing and dipping procedures; Zarkower A et al.; Effects of teat washing and dipping were determined on the bacterial populations occurring naturally at the teat apex . Teat washing, using an iodine solution, was ineffective unless that procedure was done carefully and vigorously . Teat dipping using an iodophor solution was able to significantly decrease the staphylococcal population and sustain this lower population for a period up to six weeks.

Metabolism, 1977 Jul, 26(7), 773 - 9
Methods for separation of long-acting thyroid stimulator (LATS) from sera containing LATS and TSH; Ochi Y et al.; Methods were devised for separation of long-acting thyroid-stimulator (LATS) from TSH in serum containing both thyroid stimulators by using Rivanol, concanavalin A (con A), or staphylococcal protein A . When 3-5 volumes of 0.5% Rivanol solution were mixed to serum containing TSH or LATS activity, LATS activity remained mainly with IgG in the supernatant fraction . On the contrary, TSH activity was precipitated . When 10 mg con A was added to 1 ml test serum, almost all TSH activity was precipitated, but LATS activity remained in the supernatant fraction, which consisted mainly of IgG and albumin . Almost all LATS activity and part of the TSH activity were precipitated by addition of more than 7.5% polyethylene glycol (PEG), which was therefore not useful for separation of the stimulators in serum . Affinity chromatography on staphylococcal protein A-Sepharose was also found to separate the two thyroid stimulators in serum . By this method LATS-immunoglobulin bound to the protein A column, but no binding of the biologic and immunologic activity of TSH was observed . The protein A method seems the most useful of these four methods for complete separation of both stimulators.

Antibiotiki, 1977 Jul, 22(7), 644 - 7
{Morphological changes in experimental infection in guinea pigs under the influence of prodigiozan and S-methylmethionine}; Kuz'min VG et al.; The effect of prodigiozan and S-methylmethionine on the level of histomorphological changes in the organs and tissues of guinea pigs with experimental typhoid fever, dysentery and staphylococcal infections, as well as the effect of prednizolone with respect to dysentery and staphylococcal infections were studied . In the control animals the highest histomorphological changes were observed on the 4th day after the infection in the liver, kidneys and spleen . In the animals with staphylococcal infection such changes were also observed in the lung tissue . In the animals treated with prodigiozan or S-methylmethionine in a dose of 20 mg or 0.3 ml of a 5 per cent solution respectively simultaneously with or 2 days after the infection the changes in the organs were less pronounced than those in the control . Under the effect of prednizolone used in a dose of 10 mg according to the same schedule the inflammatory-dystrophic changes in the internal organs of the animals with dysentery and staphylococcal infections were much higher as compared to the control.

J Clin Microbiol, 1977 Jul, 6(1), 16 - 8
Development of a bacteriophage-typing set for Staphylococcus epidermidis; Skahan JM et al.; Six phages isolated from lysogenic cultures of Staphylococcus epidermidis were used to type cultures in our collection classified previously as "untypable" with our original typing set of 13 phages, new clinical isolates from Missouri, and clinical isolates from Connecticut, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Virginia . Typability with the new set of 6 phages and with our 13 original phages was compared . For 203 cultures, 81 (39.9%) cultures were typable with the set of 6 phages and 73 (36.0%) cultures were typable with the set of 13 phages . When the two typing sets were combined, the percentage of typability for 425 cultures increased to 49.9% . compared with 35.7% with the original set of 13 phages . For 109 cultures from outstate, the percentage of typability was 56.9%, whereas that for 316 cultures from Missouri was 47.5% . When only cultures in biotype 1 were considered, the percentage of typability for 268 cultures with the combined set increased to 58.2%, compared with 39.5% with the original set of 13 phages . Analysis of individual reactions for all 425 cultures typed in our laboratory indicated that 11 of the 19 phages in the combined set accounted for the majority of the reactions, and a provisional set containing these 11 phages is proposed.

Eur J Biochem, 1977 Jun 15, 76(2), 461 - 8
The primary structure of a non-histone chromosomal protein; Walker JM et al.; The primary structure of the calf thymus non-histone chromosomal protein HMG-17 has been determined . The sequence was determined mainly from data provided by the peptides obtained by cleavage with staphylococcal protease . Additional information was obtained from peptides produced by cleavage with trypsin and alpha-protease (from Crotalus atrox venom) and by partial acid hydrolysis . The protein is 89 amino acid residues in length, and has molecular weight of 9247 . The N-terminal two-thirds of the molecule is highly basic, 22 of the first 58 residues being lysine or arginine, whereas only seven residues are aspartic or glutamic acid residues . In contrast, the C-terminal region of the molecule has an overall negative charge, only four of the last 31 residues being basic, whereas seven aspartic and glutamic acid residues are present . The protein is also characterised by a region of high density of proline residues, there being six proline residues between residues 31 and 40 . A region of 19 residues sequence similarity with the trout-specific histone, H6, is noted together with some smaller regions of sequence similarity with histones H1 and H5.

J Biol Chem, 1977 Jun 10, 252(11), 3934 - 40
Amino acid sequence of Escherichia coli biotin carboxyl carrier protein (9100); Sutton MR et al.; The amino acid sequence of a proteolytic fragment of Escherichia coli biotin carboxyl carrier protein was determined from the structures of overlapping tryptic, thermolytic, and staphylococcal protease peptides together with automated sequenator analyses on the intact protein . The fragment, 82 residues in length, contains the single residue of biocytin of the protein . The relationship of the Mr = 9100 fragment to the native Mr = 22,500 subunit is discussed.

Trop Geogr Med, 1977 Jun, 29(2), 159 - 64
Peripheral gangrene in childhood: further observations on its aetiology and psycho-social sequelae in Nigeria; Jaiyesimi F; Nine children, aged one day to 10 years, presented with gangrene at the Paediatrics Department, University College Hospital, Ibadan . The aetiological factors included septic skin spots (4 cases), snake bite (1 case), femoral vein thrombosis (1 case), and congenital arterial block by embolized placental tissue (1 case) . One patient had polyarteritis of undetermined aetiology, and another probably had vasculitis complicating a staphylococcal septicaemia . Two of the nine patients died . Five of the seven survivors had a significant physical handicap subsequently.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1977 Jun, (6), 111 - 5
{Effect of surface-active agents on staphylococcal coagulase}; Anan'eva EP et al.; The influence of catamine AB, sulfonol NP-3, sodium alkylsulfate homologues (C10-C16) and of syntanol DT-7 on the reaction of fibrin formation under the action of the partially purified coagulase was studied . Catamine and sulfonol inhibited the velocity of the reaction in the the concentrations over 0.002 and 0.01%, respectively . A reduction of the rate of reaction with catamine occurred chiefly as a result of the enzyme inactivation, whereas sulfonal influenced the intermediate products of the reaction . Inhibition of the rate of the reaction with the sodium alkylsulfate homologues was enhanced with the increase of the alkyl radical length and was the greatest for the tetradecyl sulfate sodium . Syntanol failed to influence the enzyme activity, but increased its amount in the staphylococcus culture on the medium with subbacteriostatic concentrations of sulfactants . Catamine, sulfonol and, to a lesser extent, syntanol retarded the coagulation process of human citrate plasma with pathogenic staphylococcus.

Immun Infekt, 1977 Jun, 5(3), 114 - 8
{Antibodies against staphylococcal nuclease--titres of persons with and without staphylococcal infections (author's transl)}; Tiesler E et al.; Rabbits were immunized against staphylococcal nuclease by repeated intramuscular injections . After five weeks the peak of the antibody response was reached, after 17 weeks the titres are on the level of the starting point . Persons without staphylococcal infections showed titres between 1:200 and 1:300 (titre of normal) . In patients with proved staphylococcal infection the peak of the titres is reached three month post infection . The level of the titre is influenced by the site of infection; deep infections gave higher values than superficial processes . The method of the AStaN-reaction was examined with respect of their reproducibility, clearness, specificity and diagnostic relevance . In proved staphylococcal infections the AStaN-reaction is more often positive than the AStaL-reaction.

Am J Vet Res, 1977 Jun, 38(6), 787 - 92
Isolation and identification of Staphylococcus hyicus; Devriese LA; A selective medium for the isolation of Staphylococcus hyicus, with potassium thiocyanate as selective substance and the polysorbate 80 reaction as elective marker, was developed . The organism could be identified during the routine examination of samples derived from pigs, using 2 relatively simple tests: the slide coagulase (clumping factor) and the deoxyribonuclease plate reaction . The S hyicus was isolated from 54% of 684 samples collected from nares, external ears, and skin covering the nose of pigs not affected by exudative epidermatitis . Isolates from these animals did not appear to differ in pathogenic potentials from those obtained from lesions.

Can J Microbiol, 1977 Jun, 23(6), 832 - 4
Rapid solid-phase radioassay for staphylococcal protein A; Dickie N et al.; Solid-phase radioassay was applied to the determination of protein A after release from staphylococcal cells with lysostaphin . Assays can be completed in 60-90 min.

Arch Dermatol, 1977 Jun, 113(6), 801 - 5
Atopic dermatitis and impaired neutrophil chemotaxis in Job's syndrome; Paslin D et al.; A 22-year-old white woman with Job's syndrome was found to have atopic dermatitis and impaired neutrophil chemotaxis in vitro . Major clinical features of Job's syndrome included large, "cold" and recurrent staphylococcal abscesses, and intermittent bacterial and yeast infections . Evidence for atopic disease included infantile eczema progressing to flexural dermatitis, a family history of atopy, positive immediate hypersensitivity skin tests, and hyperimmunoglobulinemia E . Defective erythema responses to histamine, methyl niacinate, and methacholine (Mecholyl) chloride may explain the lack of redness, heat, or pain signalling the development of abscesses (hence the term "cold") . Impaired chemotaxis was probably due to an intrinsic neutrophil defect since patient's serum generated normal amounts of chemotactic factors and did not contain an inhibitor of neutrophil chemotaxis . A delay in neutrophil exudation in vivo may explain the abscess formations and the atopic diathesis may explain the absence of clinical signs of inflammation that have been described in this and other patients with Job's syndrome.

J Pediatr, 1977 Jun, 90(6), 1005 - 8
Clinical pharmacology of methicillin in neonates; Sarff LD et al.; The pharmacokinetic properties of methicillin were investigated in 59 newborn infants . Concentrations of methicillin in serum were approximately 58 and 80 microng/ml at one hour after 25 and 50 mg/kg doses, respectively . The average serum half-life values ranged from one to three hours and were inversely correlated with birth weight and chronologic age . The half-life values, volumes of distribution, and plasma clearances of methicillin are shown in relationship to gestational age and chronologic age . A dosage of 25 mg/kg is recommended for therapy of most neonatal staphylococcal diseases; the frequency of administration is altered on the basis of birth weight and chronologic age.

Arch Ophthalmol, 1977 Jun, 95(6), 1004 - 5
Listeria monocytogenes endophthalmitis; Bagnarello AG et al.; Listeria monocytogenes and a staphylococcus organism caused a catastrophic endophthalmitis in a patient despite appropriate local and systemic antimicrobial chemotherapy . Although L monocytogenes is widespread in nature and has produced a variety of clinical illnesses, it has only one previously been reported to cause endophthalmitis . If appropriate microbiologic techniques are not employed, the organism may go unrecognized as an ocular pathogen.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1977 Jun, (6), 88 - 94
{Effect of thymus histones on the RNAase, ATPase and phosphatase activity of staphylococcal cells}; Zhdan-Pushkina SM et al.; It was shown that the representatives of different strains of Staphylococcus genus were characterized by a differential histone sensitivity . The membrane permeability increased in case of the bacterial contact with histones, and the degrading of the sum total cell RNA occurred in the contact of bacteria with histones . The RNA-ase, phosphatase, and the ATP-ase activity increased in the cells after their treatment with histones . The extent of expression of all these processes in the representatives of different strains correlated with their sensitivity to individual histone fractions . The problem that all the phenomena described indicated both the inhibitory effect of histones and some metabolic changes (permitting the cells to preserve their viability under unfavourable conditions) is discussed.

J Clin Microbiol, 1977 Jun, 5(6), 573 - 7
Evaluation of a new bacteriophage set for typing of Staphylococcus epidermidis strains; Heczko PB et al.; A new set of typing phages was evaluated for typing 821 Staphylococcus epidermidis strains isolated from normal human skin and from acne lesions . This method was compared with two different systems for biochemical differentiation of S . epidermidis . Distinct subgroups of cocci, which differed in phage susceptibility as well as in biochemical properties, were found . A tentative subdivision of S . epidermidis strains by use of 16 phages arranged into four groups is proposed, together with additional biochemical differentiation of non-typable strains.

Fortschr Med, 1977 May 26, 95(20), 1337 - 43
{Puerperal mastitis}; Noack H; The puerperal mastitis is a staphylococcal infection of the lactating mamma cumulating during the third and fourth week after delivery . It is seen three times as often after hospital than after house delivery, and it is also more frequent with primiparae than with multiparae . The infection is caused by bacterial hospitalism . Most commonly mamilla and milkducts are infected via the child's nasopharynx . Mastitis rarely occurs in non-nursing women . Early diagnosis before the appearance of all classical inflammatory symptoms is important, to start the treatment with antibiotics before abscess formation takes place . We mentioned Fucidine, Oleandomycin and Oxacillin as staphylococcal-effective, penicillinase-resistent antibiotics . Additionally low-dose X-ray radiation may be given . In case of abscess formation local antibiotic-instillation combined with oral antibiotic treatment should be tried before incision . It is best to incise an abscess only after is complete breakdown . Complications to be looked for are maternal sepsis and staphylococcal infection of the newborn.

Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl), 1977 May 18, 163(1), 61 - 5
Anti-staphylococcal gamma hemolysin antibodies in rabbits with staphylococcal osteomyelitis; Kurek M et al.; Titers of antibodies against staphylococcal gamma hemolysin were estimated in 23 rabbits with experimental staphylococcal osteomyelitis and in 32 control animals . In all but three infected animals from 2- to 64-fold increases of the antibody titers were detected . Most of the control animals showed no changes in anti-gamma toxin antibody titers, but in two animals some increase was noted . The possible significance of these differences is discussed.

Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl), 1977 May 18, 163(1), 25 - 35
A staphylococcal radioimmunoassay for detection of antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae; Brunner H et al.; A radioimmunoassay (RIA) which depends on the property of protein A of Stapbylococcus aureus to combine with the Fc-fragment of immunoblobulins was developed . This technique was employed to measure antibodies in human and various animal sera . It coulb be demonstrated that the staphylococcal RIA was at least as sensitive as the previously decribed radioimmunoprecipitation technique in detecting antibodies to M.pneumoniae in human sera . In addition, antibodies to M . pneumoniae could be demonstrated in sera of hamsters intranasally inoculated with the organisms . Antibodies could also be demonstrated in rabbit sera after immunization with M.pneumoniae . The test proved to the considerably more sensitive than conventional tests for detection of antibodies to the organisms . The test requires only small amounts of reagents and is relatively inexpensive.

Zh Vopr Neirokhir Im N N Burdenko, 1977 May-Jun, (3), 48 - 51
{Local use of levomycetin in neurosurgery}; Imshenetskaia VF et al.; A method of local application of the unsoluble medicinal form of chloramphenicol during operations has been developed . Administration of the preparation in a dose up to 2g under an osteal or cutaneous graft induces no side complications and forms a depot of the agent therapeutic concentrations for more than 8 days . There exists a direct relationship between the increasing of staphylococcus resistance to chloramphenicol and the quantity of the agent used in patients.

Postgrad Med J, 1977 May, 53(619), 285 - 6
Staphylococcal septicaemia with disseminated intravascular coagulation associated with acupuncture; Izatt E et al.; A case of disseminated intravascular coagulation due to staphylococcal septicaemia is described in which the source of infection was likely to have been acupuncture therapy.

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