Microbiological

Pathologist, 1984 Jul, 38(7), 415 - 23
A microcomputer-based clinical microbiology and epidemiology system in a community hospital; Greenberg AP; The author describes the structure of a comprehensive microcomputer-based microbiology and epidemiology system as implemented in a 150-bed community hospital . The article illustrates how the program provides more efficient, cost-effective, clinically relevant microbiology laboratory reports to clinicians . The author hopes the following discussion will lessen the reluctance of small laboratories to introduce microcomputers into the laboratory.

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol, 1984 Jun, 17(4), 293 - 9
Fimbrial ciliated cells percentage and epithelial height during and after salpingitis; Donnez J et al.; Microbiopsies of 191 fimbriae were obtained from 146 patients undergoing laparotomy for acute salpingitis, or tubal surgery after salpingitis . The biopsies were classified in four groups according to the diagnosis at laparotomy: salpingitis, distal occlusion, peritubal adhesions or tuberculosis . The biopsies belonging to the group of distal occlusion were further classified in four sub-groups according to the extent of the lesions observed during the hysterosalpingography and laparoscopy . Since the crucial role of the ciliated epithelium in the ovum transport has been established, the percentage of ciliated cells and the epithelial height were determined in the groups and compared to those observed in fimbriae obtained from fertile women during an ovulatory cycle . Significant differences were noted in all groups when compared to fertile women . Acute salpingitis provoked a rapid and severe deciliation which recovered 3 months after triantibiotherapy . In the groups of distal occlusion, there was a significant correlation between the rate of deciliation and the extent of lesions . This suggests that deciliation of tubal epithelium is a sequela of salpingitis and that the extent of disease allows a prognosis of the percentage of ciliated cells.

Cardiovasc Res, 1984 Jun, 18(6), 384 - 90
Microbiopsy metabolite and paired flow analysis: a new rapid procedure for homogenisation, extraction and analysis of high energy phosphates and other intermediates without any errors from tissue loss; Hearse DJ; A new procedure is described which allows for the rapid homogenisation, extraction and analysis of the metabolite content of microbiopsy samples (milligram quantities) while completely overcoming the major errors arising as the consequence of the substantial and variable tissue loss associated with conventional procedures . In addition to allowing more accurate and faster analysis of much smaller quantities of tissue the procedure also allows for the coincident paired measurement of flow (radioactive microspheres) in each biopsy . An example of the application of the method to the measurement of flow and high energy phosphate content in multiple microbiopsy samples from normal and ischaemic canine myocardium is provided.

Br J Exp Pathol, 1984 Jun, 65(3), 389 - 96
A study of the susceptibility of three species of primate to vaginal colonization with Gardnerella vaginalis; Johnson AP et al.; In an attempt to develop an animal model of Gardnerella-associated vaginitis, several strains of Gardnerella vaginalis were inoculated into the lower genital tract of female pig-tailed macaques, tamarins and chimpanzees . G . vaginalis was not recovered from either tamarins or chimpanzees, but was recovered from each of 1O pig-tailed macaques inoculated with either of two freshly isolated Gardnerella strains, colonization persisting for 11-39 days . Examination of Gram-stained vaginal smears obtained from infected pig-tailed macaques failed to demonstrate clue cells, a feature which is pathognomonic of Gardnerella-associated vaginitis in humans . Other features characteristic of non-specific vaginitis, namely an increase in vaginal pH, and an increase in the ratio of succinate to lactate (S/L ratio) in vaginal fluid were not found . However, the physiology of the macaque vagina was found to be different from that of the human, the vaginal pH and S/L ratio of uninfected macaques both being higher than that seen in humans . The physiological differences between the macaque and human vagina may be due, in part, to a difference in their anaerobic vaginal flora . While these inter-species differences in vaginal physiology and microbiology limit the relevance of the pig-tailed macaque as a model of Gardnerella-associated vaginitis, the ease with which macaques are colonized with G . vaginalis may prove useful in studying bacterial adhesion and local immunity.

Am J Infect Control, 1984 Jun, 12(3), 187 - 96
A national task analysis of infection control practitioners, 1982 . Part Two: Tasks, knowledge, and abilities for practice; Shannon R et al.; Respondents (N = 473) from a randomized stratified sample (N = 600) of U.S . hospital ICPs in a national survey sponsored by the Certification Board of Infection Control were asked to rate specific task, knowledge, and ability statements related to infection control for frequency and importance . The questions included 175 items, of which 99 were for specific tasks and 76 were for knowledge and abilities for practice . Areas covered included patient care practices, infectious diseases, epidemiology and statistics, microbiologic practices, sterilization and disinfection, education, employee health services, and management and communications . A "profile respondent" group (N = 317) was defined as persons most likely to be practicing the full scope of infection control practice and was used to identify key tasks, knowledge, and abilities for practice . Results showed that patient care practices (i.e., suctioning, dressing changes, and catheterization) were rarely performed . The development of infection control policies and procedures were key tasks . Knowledge of microbiology and infectious diseases in order to interpret laboratory reports and other patient data was rated as essential; however, few respondents actually performed laboratory procedures . Epidemiologic principles were frequently used for surveillance and problem investigation . Although presentation of epidemiologic data was rated as important, analytic statistics were rarely used . Assessment of educational needs and teaching were large components of ICPs' activities.

J Med Syst, 1984 Jun, 8(3), 173 - 9
Bugs, drugs, and computers; Kilroy JE et al.; The paper describes the development, implementation, and review of a daily reporting system using data from two modules of a hospital information system: drug sensitivity reports from Microbiology, and patient drug profiles from Pharmacy . The system reviews each patient receiving antibiotics and compares that information with the patient's microbiology findings, looking for and flagging "no cultures," "negative cultures," and "mismatches," i.e., the patient is receiving an antibiotic to which the organism is resistant . Reports are produced daily and reviewed by the hospital's Infection Control nurse, who, in turn, notifies the attending physician when appropriate.

Z Urol Nephrol, 1984 Jun, 77(6), 363 - 72
{Sterilization with formaldehyde vapors in a hypobaric procedure: microbiologic and toxicologic aspects}; Fleck H et al.; The use of formaldehyde gas is an alternative for the sterilization of thermolabile instruments . A report is given on the effectivity of a sterilization medium the production of which is not dependent on any imports, and on the suitability of sterile packaging materials produced in the GDR for this process . In further studies the formaldehyde residue on catheters and tubing used in urology following sterilization is measured . The question of whether formaldehyde residue on catheters is of toxicological significance is examined.

Eur J Biochem, 1984 Jun 1, 141(2), 393 - 400
Isolation of active and inactive forms of isocitrate dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli ML 308; Borthwick AC et al.; In Escherichia coli ML308 isocitrate dehydrogenase is partially inactivated during growth on acetate {Bennett, P.M . and Holms, W.H . (1975) J . Gen . Microbiol . 87, 37-51} . The active form of isocitrate dehydrogenase was purified to homogeneity from cells grown on glycerol . The key step in the procedure was chromatography on procion-red-Sepharose, from which the enzyme was specifically eluted with NADP+ . Two forms of isocitrate dehydrogenase were purified to homogeneity from cells grown on acetate . One form did not bind to procion-red-Sepharose and was essentially inactive; this form could be resolved from the active form by non-denaturing gel electrophoresis . The other form was specifically eluted from procion-red-Sepharose and was partially active; analysis of this form by non-denaturing gel electrophoresis suggested that it was a mixture of the active and inactive forms . The three forms comigrated on denaturing gel electrophoresis and were identical by the criterion of one-dimensional peptide mapping . Analysis of the active and inactive forms by sedimentation equilibrium centrifugation and non-denaturing gel electrophoresis showed that they differed in charge but not in size . Amino acid analysis and two-dimensional peptide mapping showed that both forms were dimers of identical subunits . The active form of the enzyme contained no detectable alkali-labile phosphate, the inactive form contained 0.8 molecule/subunit and the partially active form contained an intermediate amount . The data suggest that the active and inactive forms of isocitrate dehydrogenase differ only in the presence of one phosphate group per subunit in the latter form; this is consistent with our results from phosphorylation of isocitrate dehydrogenase in vitro (Following paper in this journal) . The nature of the partially active form of isocitrate dehydrogenase and the significance of the results are discussed.

J Clin Microbiol, 1984 Jun, 19(6), 794 - 7
Use of absorbed antisera for demonstration of antigenic variation among strains of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1; Thomason BM et al.; Antigenic typing of strains of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 (Lp1) has been shown to be useful in epidemiological studies of outbreaks of legionellosis . Selective absorption of rabbit antibodies produced against five strains of Lp1 resulted in the recognition of 17 somatic types among the 176 strains tested . A comparison was made of our results and those obtained by McKinney et al . (Zentralbl . Bakteriol . Parasitenkd . Infektionskr . Hyg . Abt . 1 Orig . Reihe A 255:91-95, 1983) and Joly et al . (J . Clin . Microbiol . 18:1040-1046, 1983), who used monoclonal antibodies to subgroup Lp1 strains . The results indicate that antigens are present in Lp1 strains that were undetected by either system . The data presented in this study may be helpful in selecting for the production of additional monoclonal or absorbed antibodies for diagnostic purposes or epidemiological studies.

J Physiol, 1984 May, 350, 109 - 19
Effects of chronic stimulation on the metabolic heterogeneity of the fibre population in rabbit tibialis anterior muscle; Buchegger A et al.; Chronic indirect stimulation (10 Hz) was performed on rabbit tibialis anterior muscle . Long-term stimulation (52-140 days) produced a transformation of the fast tibialis anterior into a slow red muscle as judged from the histochemistry of myofibrillar actomyosin ATPase, the pattern of myosin light chains and the thorough rearrangement of the enzyme activity pattern of energy metabolism . Activity levels of citrate synthetase (CS), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), 3-hydroxy-acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (HAD), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined quantitatively by either microbiochemical assays (CS, MDH, HAD and LDH) on microdissected, single fibres or by kinetic microphotometry on cross-sectioned fibres (SDH) . The activity profiles of these enzymes displayed pronounced scattering in the fibre population of the unstimulated muscle . Despite a several fold increase in the activities of CS, MDH, SDH and HAD and a pronounced decrease in LDH, chronic stimulation failed to abolish the metabolic heterogeneity of the fibre population . It is possible that chronic indirect stimulation cannot produce uniformity of fibres because of continuing diverse natural activity of the motor units.

Am J Kidney Dis, 1984 May, 3(6), 466 - 8
National Kidney Foundation revised standards for reuse of hemodialyzers; Phaeohyphomycosis of the maxilloethmoid sinus caused by Drechslera spicifera: a new fungal pathogen; "Phaeohyphomycosis" refers to soft tissue and systemic infections caused by dematiacious septate fungi . Drechslera spicifera, a dematiacious fungus, rarely pathogenic in humans was found to cause maxilloethmoid sinus disease in two immunocompetent children . The clinical presentation was similar to noninvasive aspergillosis . Intracavitary surgical excision without adjuvant chemotherapy resulted in apparent cure . The microbiologic and clinicopathologic aspects of this mycotic sinus disease are reviewed and discussed in relation to the entire spectrum of human disease reported which has been attributed to this organism.

Int J Dermatol, 1984 May, 23(4), 221 - 36
Mycetoma; Magana M; We have reviewed the outstanding facts about mycetoma, including the history, first reports in India, the different causal agents according to their geographic distribution, mycologic characteristics, pathology, microbiology, behavior, evolution, immunology, experimental inoculations, associated bacterial complications, and osseous lesions . Various drugs available for treatment are mentioned and recommended . Therapeutic results depend on the age of the disease, and, above all, the bony involvement . N . brasiliensis mycetoma is one of the most frequent species and causes the greatest number of mycetoma cases in America, especially in Mexico.

Am J Hosp Pharm, 1984 Apr, 41(4), 690 - 3
Comparison of enzyme immunoassay, radioimmunoassay, and microbiologic assay for amikacin in plasma; Fukuchi H et al.; An enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT), radioimmunoassay (RIA), and microbiologic assay (MBA) were compared as methods of measuring amikacin in human plasma . Accuracy of the three methods was assessed in plasma with amikacin added in concentrations of 2.5-50 micrograms/ml . Correlations between the assay methods were compared over a range of 0.5-50 micrograms/ml . Amikacin was also assayed in plasma to which had been added other drugs, including 16 antibiotics and 3 antineoplastic agents; also tested were samples that had been stored at 5 degrees C or -20 degrees C . Within the amikacin concentration range of 2.5-50 micrograms/ml, the coefficients of variation of all methods were within 10% . Correlation was good between EMIT and RIA as well as between EMIT and MBA . Of the other drugs tested, only tobramycin, dibekacin, and kanamycin affected amikacin EMIT determinations, while only kanamycin affected amikacin RIA determinations . No effect of cold and freezing was observed on amikacin determinations . EMIT assay is an acceptable method for routine analysis of amikacin plasma samples . The amikacin assay results for the three methods were highly correlated.

Wien Med Wochenschr, 1984 Mar 31, 134(6), 137 - 40
{Multidisciplinary aspects of kidney transplantation in Austria . Internal preoperative examinations of continuously dialysed patients during the pre-transplantation phase}; Kopsa H; Successful renal transplantation requires a comprehensive preoperative program . Patient's investigation, EKG and laboratory data should be done at regular intervals . Microbiologic analyses comprise fungal, bacterial and viral diagnostic procedures . Roentgenograms should be achieved from thorax, skeleton and upper intestinal tract . Sonography is helpful in diagnosis of kidney, liver, spleen, pancreas, parathyreoidea and heart . Early manifestations of hyperparathyreoidism are detected by bone scanning . Possible foci have to be eliminated . Regular ophthalmologic and neurologic controls are required for proper therapy of patients on RDT.

J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1984 Mar 15, 184(6), 706 - 15
Complications during treatment of traumatic disruption of the suspensory apparatus in Thoroughbred horses; Bowman KF et al.; A total of 19 Thoroughbred horses were treated for traumatic disruption of the suspensory apparatus, using either external support of the injured limb, removal of fractured proximal sesamoid bone fragments, metacarpophalangeal arthrodesis, compression screw fixation of the fractured proximal sesamoid bones, application of a cast-brace attached to a transfixation pin inserted through the third metacarpal bone, or combinations thereof . Major complications during the treatment of traumatic disruption of the suspensory apparatus were infection (9 of 19 horses, 47%), large cast sores (10 of 14 treated horses, 71%), laminitis (7 of 19 horses, 37%), and orthopedic implant failure or loosening (4 of 6 treated horses, 67%), which led to euthanasia in 16 of 18 cases with complete follow-up information . Increased pain and lameness signaled the development of such complications . In 7 of 9 cases with infection confirmed by microbiologic culture, the horse had received surgical treatment; in 6 of those 7 cases, the infection involved the surgical site . Postoperative wound infection developed in 4 of 7 cases when the surgery was performed within 18 days of injury . In 3 cases, septic metacarpophalangeal arthritis developed, but it was unrelated to surgical procedures . Implant failure or loosening and infection led to euthanasia in 5 of 6 horses treated by internal fixation to stabilize the metacarpophalangeal joint . Three of 6 attempts to perform metacarpophalangeal arthrodesis by application of a bone plate to the dorsal aspect of the joint resulted in implant failure after 45 to 101 days . Major complications did not develop in 2 horses that were treated successfully.

Obstet Gynecol, 1984 Mar, 63(3 Suppl), 47S - 53S
Osteomyelitis pubis after radical gynecologic operations; Hoyme UB et al.; The clinical and microbiologic features of five cases of osteomyelitis of the pubis after radical gynecologic and exenterative pelvic surgery are reported . Pain and tenderness over the pubic symphysis and difficulty with ambulation were common features . The interval between surgery and diagnosis ranged from eight to 17 weeks (average, 13.6 weeks) . Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and alkaline phosphatase level were often abnormal, and x-rays, bone scan, and gallium scan were useful diagnostic tests . Osteomyelitis of the pubis contributed to an increased hospital stay of 5.6 weeks (mean) for patients undergoing radical vulvectomy and ten to 24 weeks for patients undergoing total pelvic exenteration . Intravenous antibiotic therapy followed by long-term oral administration may provide effective therapy, but the presence of necrotic bone requires surgical excision of necrotic and infected tissue.

J Clin Periodontol, 1984 Mar, 11(3), 193 - 207
Recolonization of a subgingival microbiota following scaling in deep pockets; Magnusson I et al.; The present investigation was carried out to study some aspects of the recolonization of a subgingival microbiota following subgingival instrumentation in sites with deep pockets . 16 patients were recruited for the study . From each patient 4 inflamed gingival sites with deep pockets were selected . These sites were examined for plaque, overt gingivitis, bleeding on probing and probing depth . Samples of the subgingival microbiota were obtained and examined in the darkfield microscope and in a Neubauer chamber . Following the Baseline examination the teeth of all 4 jaw quadrants were carefully scaled and planed . Subgingival instrumentation was carried out under local anesthesia and required between 2-4 appointments . The patients were subsequently divided into 2 groups (Groups A and B) consisting of 9 and 7 subjects, respectively . During the first 16 weeks of maintenance the patients of Group A were not supervised regarding their self-performed plaque control measures and they accumulated supragingival plaque . The patients of Group B, however, were during these 16 weeks recalled once every 2 weeks for professional tooth cleaning . In addition they rinsed twice daily with a 0.2% solution of chlorhexidine digluconate . Reexaminations including assessments of the same parameters as those studied at Baseline were performed after 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks . After the 16-week examination the patients of Group A received a new sequence of subgingival scaling and root planing . During the subsequent 16 weeks the patients of Group A were also recalled for professional tooth cleaning . They were reexamined 18, 20, 24, 28 and 32 weeks after the Baseline examination . Subgingival scaling followed by carefully supervised oral hygiene measures resulted in a marked improvement of periodontal conditions . This improvement was accompanied by a pronounced and sustained reduction in the motile segments of the subgingival microbiota . In the presence of supragingival plaque (Group A), however, a subgingival microbiota containing large numbers of spirochetes and motile rods was soon (4-8 weeks) reestablished . A small number of sites with deep pockets (greater than or equal to 8 mm) was not substantially reduced in depth following subgingival instrumentation . In these sites which were kept free from supragingival deposits a subgingival microbiota with a large proportion of motile bacteria soon recurred.

Am J Pathol, 1984 Mar, 114(3), 496 - 514
Neuropathology of spiroplasma infection in the rat brain; Bastian FO et al.; This study was designed to demonstrate the neuropathology of persistent spiroplasma infection in the rat brain . GT-48 spiroplasmas were inoculated intracranially into a series of suckling Sprague-Dawley rats . Their brains were evaluated at specific time intervals by microbiologic assay and by morphologic studies including histology, electron microscopy, and immunocytochemistry . The spiroplasmas were observed in the tissues by electron microscopy at peak infection 14 days after intracranial inoculation . At that time they were seen in vacuoles and neuronal processes within the neuropil as filamentous or bleb-like forms . A single tight spiral was identified that closely resembled the spiroplasma-like inclusions previously reported in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease . The spiroplasmas were shown to spread rapidly throughout the brain tissues presumably by intraneuronal transport . In specimens examined at 25 days after intracranial inoculation and beyond, organisms were localized to gray matter without inflammatory response . The spiroplasmas could not be identified by electron microscopy in the rat brain tissue at late stages of infection . This study has shown an unusual adaptation of spiroplasma infection to the mammalian host brain tissues.

Infect Immun, 1984 Mar, 43(3), 959 - 65
Characterization of new hydrophobic pili of human enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli: a possible new colonization factor; Honda T et al.; Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains were divided into five groups on the basis of their bacterial surface hydrophobicity (Honda et al., FEMS Microbiol . Lett . 17:273-276, 1983) . Strains in group III showed heat-stable high hydrophobicity, although they did not show mannose-resistant hemagglutination with either human or bovine erythrocytes . E . coli strain 260-1 in group III was characterized . Electron microscopic examination revealed the presence of pili on the surface of this strain, but not on that of strain 260-1a, which is a mutant of 260-1 showing low hydrophobicity . When strain 260-1 was grown at 18 degrees C, it did not produce pili or show high hydrophobicity . On homogenization of strain 260-1 grown at 37 degrees C the high hydrophobicity and the pili on its surface were lost . These results indicate that the pili of strain 260-1 are associated with the hydrophobicity . Strain 260-1 pili were purified to homogeneity by successive column chromatographies on Sepharose 4B and phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B . Their molecular weight was estimated to be about 18,000 . An antigenic difference between purified pili of strain 260-1 and colonization factor antigens I and II was demonstrated . The colonization ability of E . coli 260-1 was shown by animal experiments on suckling mice and infant rabbits . From these results it is concluded that the pili of strains in group III of human enterotoxigenic E . coli, which may play a role in colonization, are of a new type.

Infect Control, 1984 Feb, 5(2), 85 - 7
Recommendations for the care of automated peritoneal dialysis machines: can the risk of peritonitis be reduced?
Berkelman RL, Band JD, Petersen NJ.
Automated peritoneal dialysis systems have helped make intermittent peritoneal dialysis an alternative to hemodialysis for long-term management of patients with end-stage renal disease . However, if not cleaned and maintained properly, these machines provide a reservoir for pathogens . The microbiologic barriers in these machines are not impenetrable, but sterile dialysate fluid can be produced if the machines are adequately cleaned and disinfected . Potential shortcomings of the microbiologic barriers are discussed, and guidelines to prevent contamination of the internal parts of a machine are suggested.

Arch Pathol Lab Med, 1984 Feb, 108(2), 106 - 7
Penicillin-resistant pneumococci; Oxley DK; Because of reports documenting the occurrence of pneumococci resistant to penicillin, the Microbiology Resource Committee of the College of American Pathologists studied the accuracy of various Kirby-Bauer disks in identifying a pneumococcal organism known to be clinically resistant to penicillin . The only disk that showed acceptable performance was the 1-microgram oxacillin disk, using the inhibition diameter of 19 mm or less as the criterion for predicting clinical penicillin resistance . It is particularly important to understand that, at present, penicillin disks do not provide acceptable predictive accuracy.

Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1984 Feb, 3(1), 4 - 9
Lectins in diagnostic microbiology; Doyle R et al.; Current literature suggests that lectins are becoming valuable reagents for the laboratory identification of infectious agents . The identification of bacteria, fungi, or protozoa may be confirmed if they bind to or agglutinate with certain lectins . Assay kits utilizing specific lectin agglutination reactions, coupled with conventional enzyme determinations, have been proposed for several bacteria . Factors such as specificity, stability, assay rapidity, and costs combine to make lectins attractive diagnostic reagents . It is likely that the use of lectins in diagnostic microbiology will continue to grow.

Urol Clin North Am, 1984 Feb, 11(1), 15 - 25
Biology of sexually transmitted diseases; Krieger JN; The clinical concept of sexually transmitted diseases describes a common mode of transmission of pathogens spanning the full spectrum of medical microbiology . These organisms have few common biologic characteristics aside from their ability to colonize or invade particular anatomic sites . New information on the biology of sexually transmitted pathogens has led to improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies . Understanding that patients with sexually transmitted pathogens may be asymptomatic or may be simultaneously infected with multiple organisms has important implications for epidemiologic control of these diseases.

J Clin Microbiol, 1984 Feb, 19(2), 267 - 72
Enzyme immunoassay for rabies antibody in hybridoma culture fluids and its application to differentiation of street and laboratory strains of rabies virus; Smith JS et al.; A rapid and sensitive enzyme immunoassay is described for detecting rabies antibody in hybridoma culture fluids . Glass fiber filter disks were used to immobilize gamma-irradiated mouse neuroblastoma cells infected with street or laboratory strains of rabies virus . Bound rabies-specific antibody was detected by reaction with horseradish peroxidase-labeled goat anti-mouse immunoglobulin G . The assay was performed in a 96-well filtration device developed by Cleveland et al . (J . Clin . Microbiol . 15:402-407, 1982) for the typing of herpes simplex viruses . When partially disrupted cells were used, both internal and external viral antigens were available for reaction . The procedure is rapid (less than 4 h for completion) and requires only small amounts of fluid, and the gamma-irradiated antigen is noninfectious . When the procedure was used to screen 145 fluids from rabies-immune spleen-myeloma cell fusions, 132 were positive for rabies antibody . Other commonly used assays for the detection of rabies-specific antibody were less sensitive . Simultaneous analyses of many hybridoma fluids against a battery of street and laboratory strains of rabies virus are possible and allow rapid selection of useful monoclones.

Avian Dis, 1984 Jan-Mar, 28(1), 25 - 43
Epizootiology, pathology, and microbiology of an outbreak of urolithiasis in chickens; Mallinson ET et al.; An outbreak of urolithiasis that doubled the annual mortality rate of chickens in a large flock of table-egg-layers is described . Despite the presence of a large unilateral urolith and/or severe renal atrophy, the layers often maintained active egg production and apparent homeostasis until a small urolith blocked the ureteral flow from the contralateral kidney . This terminal episode appeared to produce acute obstructive renal failure, rapidly developing visceral gout (visceral urate deposition), uremia, and death . The atrophy observed appeared to be acquired and progressive . Histologic features in the kidneys were acute to chronic glomerulonephritis, interstitial nephritis, and pyelonephritis . Epizootiologic and microbiologic studies indicated that a combination of infectious and noninfectious mechanisms may have been involved . Causative roles for calcium-phosphate imbalance, infectious bronchitis (IB), Newcastle disease (ND), and adenovirus or reovirus infections could be neither excluded nor confirmed . Contributory factors may have been spray ND-IB and other vaccinations of 15-week-old ND-IB-susceptible pullets, water deprivation, shipping stress, Mycoplasma synoviae infection, immune complex disease, and mycotoxins.

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1984, 29(1), 51 - 89
Compounds isolated at the Department of Biogenesis of Natural Substances, Institute of Microbiology, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, in 1954-1983; Podojil M et al.; Substances studied at this department in 1954-1983 are reviewed; a total of 226 compounds are characterized in a tabular form . They include natural compounds as well as those prepared by biotransformation, by semisynthetic and synthetic methods.

Ann N Y Acad Sci, 1984, 428, 243 - 50
The computer in microbiology: future applications in test performance and reporting; Ryan KJ; The use of minicomputers dedicated to laboratory use offers the greatest hope for continued progress in computerization of clinical microbiology . Such systems can be interfaced with microcomputers performing discrete tasks within the laboratory and with larger computers to form a total hospital or interhospital information system . As such systems are designed they should include features that allow ready access to the microbiologic data without reentry of primary results or delays of days to weeks . Many of these features have been accomplished in existing laboratory systems.

Infect Control, 1984 Jan, 5(1), 38 - 40
Training of personnel for infection control; Crow S; The overall objectives for implementing an infection control program are to make hospital personnel aware of nosocomial infections and to educate these persons in their role in decreasing the risk of these infections . The infection control practitioner (ICP) implements these objectives by performing surveillance to determine problem areas and by developing policies and procedures that prevent and control nosocomial infections . Appropriate qualities for an ICP include initiative, leadership, communication skills, commitment, and charisma . Expertise in patient care practices, aseptic principles, sterilization practices, education, research, epidemiology, microbiology, infectious diseases, and psychology are acquired skills . Local, state, and national organizations, as well as universities, are responsible for ICP training, In the US the Centers for Disease Control have established a training program for the beginning ICP and the Association of Practitioners in Infection Control (APIC) has developed a study guide for developing infection control skills . The ultimate responsibility for education is an individual obligation, however . Certification of the ICP would insure a minimum level of knowledge, thereby standardizing and upgrading the practice of infection control.

Histochemistry, 1984, 81(5), 477 - 83
Microbiochemical investigation on diurnal rhythmic changes of the activities of the lactate dehydrogenase in the periportal and perivenous zones of the acinus of the rat liver; Hildebrand R et al.; Activities of the lactate dehydrogenase within the periportal zone and within the perivenous zone in the first layer of hepatocytes adjacent to terminal hepatic venules and the remainder of the perivenous parenchyma of the liver acinus were measured using a Lowry technique during a full 24-h cycle (08.00-08.00) in untreated adult male Wistar rats kept under 12 h of light and 12 h of darkness, scotophase 18.25-06.25 . In all three regions studied a broad first maximum was recorded between 10.00 and 22.00 with the peak value at 16.00 and a high and narrow peak at 24.00 . Zonal and intrazonal heterogeneity of the lactate dehydrogenase were retained during the full day and night cycle . The regions displayed individual dynamic changes in enzyme activity.

Vet Med Nauki, 1984, 21(7-8), 79 - 86
{Quality of meat from lambs fattened on feed mixtures with added bacterial protein}; Ionova I et al.; Physico-chemical, microbiologic, and histologic investigations were carried out with meat and parenchymal organs of lambs offered feed mixtures with a supplement of bacterial protein on methanol basis in fattening the animals up to 35 kilograms . The addition of 5 per cent bacterial protein which replaced in terms of protein equivalent 60 per cent of the sunflower oil meal and totally the amount of urea in the mixtures had no negative effect on the physical and chemical composition of the meat and its biologic value . Histologically, no degenerative changes in the skeletal muscles and parenchymal organs were found . There was hypofunction of the thyroid gland in the test lambs . No pathogenic and occasionally pathogenic organisms were found in the sampled meat and organs.

Int J Clin Monit Comput, 1984, 1(2), 81 - 91
Physician decision-making--evaluation of data used in a computerized ICU; Bradshaw KE et al.; New instrumentation, techniques and computers have made such large amounts of information rapidly available to ICU clinicians that there is now a danger of information overload . To help with this problem at LDS Hospital, a computerized system was implemented in the Shock-Trauma ICU . This ICU is almost totally computerized with each patient's physiologic, laboratory, drug, demographic, fluid input/output and nutritional data integrated into the patient's computer record . In the ICU, physician decision-making takes place in two situations: during rounds and on-site . For this study, data usage in decision-making was evaluated in both of these environments . The items of data used in decision-making were tabulated into six categories: bedside monitor, laboratory, drugs, input/output and IV, blood gas laboratory, observations and other . Comparisons were made between the portion of the computerized database occupied by a category and its use in decision-making . Combined laboratory data (clinical, microbiology and blood gas) made up 38 to 41% of total patient data reviewed and occupied 16.3% of the database . Observations made up 21-22% of the data reviewed and occupied 6.8% of the database . Drugs, input/output and IV data usage ranged from 13% to 23%, but occupied 36% of the database . Bedside monitor data usage was 12.5% to 22% and occupied 32.5% of the database . The 'other' category, used 2.5% to 5% of the time, made up 8.4% of the database . These results indicate that patient data collection and storage must be evaluated and optimized . This evaluation, along with implementation of the computerized ICU Rounds Report developed for optimal data presentation, will help physicians to evaluate patient status and should facilitate effective decisions.

Nahrung, 1984, 28(6-7), 593 - 8
{Victor van der Reis--a pioneer in the gastrointestinal microbiology of man}; Knoke M; From 1919 up to 1928 Viktor van der Reis (1889-1058) elaborated the fundamental knowledge in the field of gastrointestinal microecology of man . During this time he worked at the Medical Clinic of the University of Greifswald . His curriculum and his role in the fields of the pathophysiology of the small intestine and of microbiology are presented from the aspect of recent medical-historical and bibliographical researches.

Gerontology, 1984, 30(5), 308 - 15
Aging and tuberculosis; Nagami P et al.; In the United States, an increasing proportion of all forms of reactivation tuberculosis occurs in patients over the age of 60 years . Atypical presentations and presence of chronic illness obscure the diagnosis of tuberculosis in the elderly . Prompt diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion and aggressive procedures for diagnostic microbiology . Short-course (9 months) chemotherapy with isoniazid and rifampin is the treatment of choice for elderly patients with uncomplicated pulmonary tuberculosis . Isoniazid chemoprophylaxis is recommended for selected elderly patients.

Pathol Annu, 1984, 19 Pt 1, 37 - 79
Hemorrhagic endovasculitis of the placenta: an indepth morphologic appraisal with initial clinical and epidemiologic observations; Sander CH et al.; A vasodestructive process has been identified within the placenta, which focuses on the entire placental vascular tree . Its presence is correlated with significant fetal mortality; liveborn infants are growth retarded and frequently in distress . Characteristic morphologic features have been identified in chorionic vessels of all sizes and these explicit pathologic changes are repetitive from case to case . Associated events suggest that hemorrhagic endovasculitis of the placenta is a clinicopathologic entity having maximal impact on pregnancies of affected patients . A number of accompanying pathologic and clinical features would suggest an infectious association or cause . There are several known categories of disease which manifest similarity to this placental alteration . These include microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, several postinfectious states, several known types of vasculitis, and AIDS . Long-term studies to gain further insight into this pathologic event are currently underway at the Michigan Placental Tissue Registry . These studies include: an epidemiologic field investigation with followup on growth and development of liveborn infants; data collection and analysis with respect to recurrence, geographic distribution, and the clinical course of affected pregnancies . An indepth pathologic analysis is ongoing including ultrastructural and immunopathologic studies on affected and control placentas . Appropriate microbiologic and serologic studies are planned with reference to the infectious aspects of this entity we have described . It is hoped that increasing awareness of this pathologic process within the placenta, particularly by pathologists, will contribute to our understanding of events which are deleterious to intrauterine growth and survival.

Microbiol Immunol, 1984, 28(7), 821 - 30
Requirement of anionic groups for the mitogenicity of a fungal mitogen, vesiculogen; Ohno N et al.; Active site(s) of a B-cell mitogen, vesiculogen, was investigated by means of chemical and enzymic modifications . Vesiculogen is a non-dialyzable fraction of a hot water extract from a fungus, Peziza vesiculosa (Yadomae et al, Microbiol . Immunol . 23, 997 (1979}, and was composed of protein (approximately 60%), carbohydrate (approximately 30%), and a small amount of amino sugar, uronic acid, phosphate, and lipid . The mitogenicity was not affected by periodate oxidation, N-acylation, defatting treatment, destruction of the three dimensional structure, protease digestion, nuclease digestion, N-bromosuccinimide treatment, and beta-mercaptoethanol treatment . However, the mitogenicity was decreased by a modification of carboxyl groups, such as 1-ethyl-3(3-dimethylamino propyl)-carbodiimide or dicyclohexylcarbodiimide treatment . Vesiculogen contains a large amount of acidic amino acids . These results suggest that the mitogenicity of vesiculogen is due to the presence of anionic groups, such as aspartic acid and glutamic acid, and that the mitogenic substance is a novel, heat stable polyanionic B-cell activator obtained from Ascomycotina.

Derm Beruf Umwelt, 1984, 32(6), 195 - 205
{Diseases caused by atypical mycobacterial}; Kruger M et al.; Infections having atypical mycobacteria are occurring more frequently for 2 main reasons . First there are the disturbances of the immunity system, whether due to the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or the result of therapeutic measures taken against malignant processes, other diseases or after organ transplantation . Second, travel and free-time activities increase the risk of an infection . In many cases such infections become localized on the skin, but can also develop changes in the lungs, depending on the patient's occupation . For this reason we provide a review of the new literature on the microbiology of mycobacteria as well as on the symptoms of diseases of the skin and other organs which are caused by atypical mycobacteria, such as swimming pool granuloma or Buruli ulcer.

Contemp Top Immunobiol, 1984, 14, 1 - 28
Transductional mechanisms of chemoattractant receptors on leukocytes; Snyderman R et al.; Phagocytic leukocytes contain receptors for chemoattractants on their cell surface . Binding of chemotactic factors to these receptors initiates a number of coordinated cellular responses in a strict dose-dependent manner . Motility-related functions such as shape change, cytoskeletal rearrangement, and chemotaxis are stimulated by relatively low doses of chemoattractants, while microbiocidal or cytotoxic functions (i.e., secretion of lysosomal enzymes or stimulation of the respiratory burst), require approximately 10- to 50-fold higher concentrations of these agents . The receptor for oligopeptide chemotactic factors on leukocytes has provided an important model for the study of stimulus-response coupling in phagocytic cells . This receptor on human polymorphonuclear leukocytes exists in two affinity states that are partially interconvertible . Guanine nucleotides regulate the convertibility between a portion of the high- and low-affinity states, thereby suggesting that a nucleotide regulatory protein allosterically modifies receptor affinity and participates in its transduction mechanisms . A fraction of the high-affinity receptors in PMN membranes is not subject to guanine nucleotide regulation and appears to be formed by prior exposure of the receptors to specific agonists . This high-affinity form of the oligopeptide chemoattractant receptor is rapidly internalized at 37 degrees C, and its formation may be dependent on aggregation or covalent modification of the receptor . The chemotaxis and microbiocidal functions of PMNs can be divergently manipulated by pharmacological agents indicating that the transduction mechanisms for these two types of processes are independently regulated . Aliphatic alcohols at doses that induce mild fluidization of PMN membranes increase the average affinity of the chemoattractant receptor and enhance chemotactic functions but markedly depress lysosomal enzyme secretion and the respiratory burst . In contrast, polyene antibiotics that bind to membrane cholesterol lower the receptor's affinity and depress chemotactic functions but enhance secretion of specific granule enzymes . In addition, transmethylation reactions mediated by S-adenosyl-methionine appear to regulate receptor affinity . When such reactions are blocked pharmacologically, the oligopeptide receptor on macrophages reverts to a lower average affinity form and is ineffective in transducing chemotactic as well as microbicidal functions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Aust Health Rev, 1984, 7(4), 269 - 77
Assuring rational antibiotic use: the impact of a joint microbiology-pharmacy surveillance program; Plumridge RJ et al.; A comprehensive antibiotic surveillance program conducted in cooperation with the Microbiology and Pharmacy departments in a teaching hospital is described . The program consists of a number of interrelated processes including the personal advice of specialists including a Clinical Microbiologist, Infection Control Nurse and Ward Pharmacists, re-educative strategies and non restrictive administrative policies . The program does not involve the use of formularies or published guidelines, and retains complete clinical freedom of choice for antibiotics . Studies, including antibiotic prevalence and prescribing surveys, indicate that the program has been an effective means of improving antibiotic use, reducing costs and promoting infection control . This has been achieved by educative means through the provision of relevant information on antibiotic principles, and opportunities for prescribers to improve their problem solving skills, resulting in long term attitudinal change.

J Nutr, 1983 Dec, 113(12), 2587 - 94
Radiometric-microbiologic assay of niacin using Kloeckera brevis: analysis of human blood and food; Guilarte TR et al.; Kloeckera brevis, a yeast, was used as the test organism for the development of a radiometric-microbiologic (RMA) assay for niacin . The assay was determined to be sensitive to the 2 ng niacin per vial level and specific for the biologically active forms of this vitamin . The method was shown to be simple, accurate, and precise in the analysis of niacin in human blood and food . The application of the radiometric technique eliminates some of the problems encountered with conventional turbidimetric-microbiologic assay.

J Clin Microbiol, 1983 Dec, 18(6), 1417 - 8
Rapid latex particle agglutination test for Escherichia coli strains of porcine origin producing heat-labile enterotoxin; Finkelstein RA et al.; A latex particle agglutination test previously shown to be suitable for the rapid identification of Escherichia coli strains of human origin producing heat-labile enterotoxin (R . A . Finkelstein and Z . Yang, J . Clin . Microbiol . 18:23-28) is equally applicable to strains of porcine origin.

Ann Intern Med, 1983 Dec, 99(6), 777 - 82
Antigen detection in the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis . Utility in controlled, blinded trials; Weiner MH et al.; Two blinded, controlled trials were done to evaluate the usefulness of fungal antigen detection for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis . Detection of Aspergillus fumigatus carbohydrate by radioimmunoassay was compared with antibody detection by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and with diagnostic microbiologic and histopathologic procedures . In the first trial, antigenemia was detected in 4 of 6 leukemic patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, but not in 8 acute leukemic controls or in 24 normal controls . Fungal antigenemia persisted for 8 to 75 days in 4 patients and seroconversion occurred at the onset of pulmonary infiltrates in 3 . Antibody to A . fumigatus was detected in 2 of the 6 patients with aspergillosis, but also in 2 leukemic controls and 6 normal controls . Aspergillus species were identified in four of seven bronchoscopies done in 5 patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis . Prospective nasal cultures grew Aspergillus species in 4 of the 6 patients with invasive aspergillosis, but in only 1 patient was this information available before a histologic diagnosis was made . In a second trial, antigenemia was detected in 2 patients with invasive aspergillosis, and in 1 with possible invasive aspergillosis, but not in 9 controls . This study indicates that the radioimmunoassay for A . fumigatus antigen is a highly specific and moderately sensitive serodiagnostic test for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis . Prospective nasal cultures grew Aspergillus species in 4 of the 6 patients with invasive aspergillosis, but in only 1 patient was this information available before a histologic diagnosis was made . In a second trial, antigenemia was detected in 2 patients with invasive aspergillosis, and in 1 with possible invasive aspergillosis, but not in 9 controls . This study indicates that the radioimmunoassay for A . fumigatus antigen is a highly specific and moderately sensitive serodiagnostic test for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis.

Am J Anat, 1983 Dec, 168(4), 543 - 94
Quo vadis basic and clinical chronobiology: promise for health maintenance; Halberg F; Chronobiology is the eminently interdisciplinary science of interactions in time among metabolic, hormonal, and neuronal networks . It involves anatomy, biochemistry, microbiology, physiology, and pharmacology, at the molecular, intracellular, intercellular, and still higher levels of organization . The compounds coordinating a time structure--proteins, steroids, and amino-acid derivatives--provide for the scheduling of interactions among membrane, cytoplasmic, and nuclear events in a network involving rhythmic enzyme reactions and other intracellular mechanisms . The integrated temporal features of the processes of induction, repression, transcription, and translation of gene expression remain to be mapped in relation to the available framework, consisting of the sequences of phospholipid and RNA labeling, DNA formation, and mitosis, to delineate a circadian cell cycle upon which further hormonal and neural coordination acts (Halberg et al., 1959a,b, 1979a) . There is a need for communication over temporal as well as spatial distances among different specialized structures devoted, in individuals, to metabolism, growth, reproduction, and the ability to adjust, and, in species, to the capacity to adapt . For a better understanding at all levels of behavior in its broader sense of organization in time, chronobiology requires familiarity with temporal aspects of metabolism, hormones, and neurons . In other words, broadly trained, full-time "general practitioners" of a chronobiology in its own right are needed.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1983 Nov, 46(5), 1113 - 7
Effect of ambient temperature storage on potable water coliform population estimations; Standridge JH et al.; The effect of the length of time between sampling potable water and performing coliform analyses has been a long-standing controversial issue in environmental microbiology . The issue is of practical importance since reducing the sample-to-analysis time may substantially increase costs for water analysis programs . Randomly selected samples (from those routinely collected throughout the State of Wisconsin) were analyzed for total coliforms after being held at room temperature (20 +/- 2 degrees C) for 24 and 48 h . Differences in results for the two holding times were compared with differences predicted by probability calculations . The study showed that storage of the potable water for up to 48 h had little effect on the public health significance of most samples containing more than two coliforms per 100 ml.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1983 Nov, 80(5), 714 - 8
An atypical subcutaneous infection associated with acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Stoler MH et al.; Cases of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) continue to be reported at an alarming rate . As the numbers of cases increase, so too does the list of unusual manifestations associated with this syndrome . We report here a patient with AIDS who, during his clinical course, had a previously undescribed, histologically atypical, subcutaneous infection develop . Light microscopic, electron microscopic, and microbiologic data are presented . The cause and pathogenesis of this lesion are discussed.

Clin Immunol Immunopathol, 1983 Nov, 29(2), 157 - 66
Radioimmunoassay for immunoglobulin G autoantibody on the surface of mouse erythrocytes; Jones CE et al.; A radioimmunoassay (RIA) for the determination of autoantibody on the surface of erythrocytes from New Zealand Black (NZB) mice is described . This method was adapted to hemagglutination plates in order to facilitate the separation of bound and unbound 125I-labeled rabbit anti-mouse immunoglobulin G with an automated cell harvester . Intra- and interday precision, over the useful quantitative range of the standard curve, was 3.9 and 12.9%, respectively . The RIA was five to ten times more sensitive than the direct antiglobulin test which, unlike the RIA, provided little quantitative information on a group of 20 experimental NZB mice . This is publication number 562 from the Department of Basic and Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, Medical University of South Carolina.

J Clin Periodontol, 1983 Nov, 10(6), 590 - 601
Effect of long-term tetracycline therapy on human periodontal disease; Lindhe J et al.; The present investigation was performed to study the effect of long-term, low dosage tetracycline therapy on advanced periodontal disease in humans . 14 volunteers participated in the trial . Each of the participants had at least 4 pairs of diseased sites around contralateral premolars and incisors with deep pockets and advanced bone loss . The trial extended over a 50-week period and was designed as a double-blind split-mouth study . A Baseline examination included assessments of oral hygiene, gingival conditions, probing depth, attachment level and analysis of the composition of the subgingival microbiota in samples obtained from 8 selected diseased sites . All participants received oral hygiene instruction . In each patient 2 quadrants of the mouth, chosen at random, were treated by scaling and root planing . The 2 remaining quadrants were left unscaled . Following the Baseline examination the patients were randomly distributed into 2 groups of 7 members each . In one of the groups the patients received tetracycline on a daily basis during a 50-week period . The participants of the control group received placebo . Reexaminations were performed 2, 10, 20, 30 and 50 weeks after the Baseline examination . The findings demonstrated that in patients with advanced periodontal disease long-term tetracycline therapy in the absence of scaling resulted in the establishment of a subgingival microbiota almost devoid of motile bacteria and in markedly reduced signs of gingivitis, probing depth and attachment loss . In fact, the alterations observed as a result of tetracycline administration to patients with excellent self-performed plaque control were similar to those obtained by conventional scaling and root planing in the control group.

J Clin Microbiol, 1983 Nov, 18(5), 1141 - 5
Toluidine red unheated serum test, a nontreponemal test for syphilis; Pettit DE et al.; We have shown that a modification of the color-coded antigen developed by Kasatiya and Lambert (Appl . Microbiol . 28:317-318, 1974) can be used as a substitute for other nontreponemal antigens used in screening tests for syphilis . The antigen is based on the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory antigen, with EDTA, choline chloride, and toluidine red toner added . Performance of the toluidine red unheated serum test (TRUST) is identical to that of the rapid plasma reagin 18-mm circle card test (U.S . Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service Publication no . 411) . In a series of preliminary evaluations, the TRUST antigen was found to be stable over a period of 6 months at 4 degrees C . In a comparison of TRUST with the rapid plasma reagin card test, the qualitative agreement was 100%, whereas agreement between these two tests and the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory slide test was 99.7% . The quantitative agreement +/- 1 twofold dilution between TRUST and the rapid plasma reagin card test was 100%; between TRUST and the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory slide test it was 75.0%; and between the rapid plasma reagin card and Venereal Disease Research Laboratory slide tests it was 60.0%.

J Nutr, 1983 Nov, 113(11), 2192 - 6
The folacin contents of foods as measured by a radiometric microbiologic method; Chen MF et al.; A radiometric microbiologic assay for folate was applied to measure food folacin levels . Sixteen different foods were analyzed . The total folacin content of the 16 foods obtained by the radiometric microbiologic method was found to compare well with that obtained by the turbidimetric microbiologic method . The folacin content ranged from 9 ng/ml of frozen reconstituted grape juice to 1820 micrograms/100 g of the cereal Total . The study showed that the radiometric microbiologic assay can be used to measure folacin content in foods.

J Clin Pathol, 1983 Nov, 36(11), 1241 - 5
An evaluation of gentamicin EMIT--its performance on the Kem-O-Mat and its role in the small laboratory; Masterton RG et al.; An investigation was made into the use of gentamicin EMIT on the Coulter Kem-O-Mat in a small microbiology laboratory . EMIT was found to correlate well with plate assay and to be a more rapid, more precise and technically less time-consuming method . EMIT was more expensive in clinical use . This single disadvantage was considered to be outweighed by a saving in capital equipment expenditure and by the benefits to the laboratory and clinician.

Medicine (Baltimore), 1983 Nov, 62(6), 372 - 83
Granulomatous bone marrow disease . A review of the literature and clinicopathologic analysis of 58 cases; Bodem CR et al.; We have reviewed 58 cases of bone marrow granuloma at a single institution over a 20-year time span, and have summarized the available English literature . We conclude that bone marrow granulomas are an infrequent pathologic finding which, when found, require definition as to an underlying etiology . Undoubtedly, the illnesses associated with marrow granuloma are similar to those causing granulomatous hepatitis . The following additional statements may justifiably be made based on this review . There are no morphologic features which allow reliable differentiation between the causes of bone marrow granuloma . By combining careful histologic, microbiologic, and serologic techniques, an etiology can be documented in most (87%) patients with marrow granulomas . A medication history is an important element of this evaluation . Rocky Mountain spotted fever, cytomegalovirus infection, ibuprofen, acute lymphocytic leukemia, and various collagen vascular diseases should be added to the list of causes of marrow granuloma . The prognostic significance of marrow granuloma in patients without an ascertainable underlying illness remains unclear.

J Infect Dis . 1983 Nov;148(5):942.
Avidin-biotin radioimmunoassay for human rotavirus; Yolken RH; RIAs have a number of advantages which make them ideally suited for use in diagnostic microbiology . These advantages include sensitivity, objectivity, and versatility . However, the widespread application of RIAs has been limited by the instability of the reagents required for the performance of available solid-phase RIAs . The relatively short half-life of gamma-emitting isotopes is particularly a problem in cases where multiple antigens must be assayed, since distinct radioactively labeled reagents are required for each antigen to be measured . The problems associated with the use of standard RIAs could be avoided if the specific immunoglobulin directed at the antigen were labeled with a stable, nonradioactive isotope and if a generally reactive radioactive ligand were bound in a subsequent reaction . We have thus developed RIA systems that use immunoglobulin linked with biotin by reaction with biotin N-hydroxysuccinamide ester {1} . The biotin bound to the solid phase is subsequently measured by reaction with unlabeled avidin and 3H-labeled biotin (New England Nuclear Corp, Boston) . The reaction is quantitated by the measurement of tritiated biotin in a standard scintillation counter . This reaction format takes advantage of the stability of biotin-immunoglobulin conjugates, the high affinity of biotin to avidin, and the fact that a single molecule of avidin can react with four molecules of biotin {2} . We devised an avidin-biotin RIA that uses goat and guinea pig antisera directed at human rotavirus and used it to detect rotavirus in 44 stool specimens obtained from children with acute gastroenteritis during the winter months {3}.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Tumori, 1983 Oct 31, 69(5), 423 - 35
Electron microscopy applied to fine-needle aspiration . A report of six cases from various sites; Cinti S et al.; The authors report the results obtained from the application of electron microscopy techniques to the cytology of fine-needle-aspirated samples of neoplastic lesions from various body sites . These results show that the tissue structure, which is usually lost during the squashing necessary for light microscopy cytology, is preserved when the samples are processed for ultrastructural analysis . Electron microscopy also allows a highly detailed study of the cell's inner structures . Thus, when this technique is applied, fine needle-aspirated samples can be regarded as actual microbiopsies . However, because of the high cost of ultrastructural techniques, we suggest that actual analysis be performed only in selected cases, whereas fixation and inclusion for electron microscopy could be done routinely.

Arch Pathol Lab Med, 1983 Oct, 107(10), 505 - 9
Recombinant DNA technology and laboratory medicine; Rabson AB et al.; Recombinant DNA technology has already had a major impact on our understanding of microbiology, cell biology, and genetic diseases and it will certainly have extensive applications in laboratory medicine . The techniques of restriction endonuclease analysis of DNA, nucleic acid hybridization after electrophoretic separation of nucleic acid fragments, and molecular cloning of bacterial, viral, and human genes are already being used in epidemiologic studies and the prenatal diagnosis of certain genetic diseases, such as sickle cell anemia and the thalassemias . New insights into genes that may be involved in human cancer are being developed and may lead to improved methods for diagnosis and classification of tumors.

J Hand Surg {Am}, 1983 Sep, 8(5 Pt 1), 568 - 73
Mycobacterium marinum infection of the hand involving deep structures; Chow SP et al.; Five patients with Mycobacterium marinum infection of the hand involving deep structures were seen recently . Four of them were fishermen . Hydrocortisone injection or simple incision and drainage led to worsening of the infection . The clinical presentation, operative finding, and histopathologic and microbiologic features were quite similar in all five patients . Extensive debridement and therapy with ethambutol and rifampin led to satisfactory results in four patients while biopsy and therapy in the fifth patient seemed to offer another form of acceptable treatment.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1983 Sep, 128(3), 534 - 8
Paragonimiasis in Indochinese refugees . Roentgenographic findings with clinical correlations; Johnson RJ et al.; Twenty-five Indochinese refugees with paragonimiasis were reviewed . Thirteen patients were diagnosed by ova identification in sputum specimens, but 12 patients were diagnosed by an elevated complement fixation titer in conjunction with clinical and epidemiologic criteria . Roentgenographic lesions included diffuse (44%) and segmental (24%) infiltrates, nodules (20%), and cavities (20%) . The classic ring shadow was present in only 8% . Of note was the frequency of pleural effusions (48%), which were massive in 6 patients and the sole manifestation in 5 . Although tuberculosis should always be excluded, work-up of pulmonary effusions and infiltrates in immigrants from Southeast Asia should include a serologic and microbiologic search for paragonimiasis.

JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr, 1983 Sep-Oct, 7(5), 462 - 4
Stability of the B vitamins in mixed parenteral nutrition solution; Chen MF et al.; The effects of various light conditions such as fluorescent light, and indirect and direct sunlight on the stability of the water-soluble B vitamins in parenteral mixtures were studied . The levels of the B vitamins were determined by microbiologic assays and spectrophotometrically . Most of the B vitamins were found to be stable . However, indirect and direct sunlight destroyed 47 and 100%, respectively, of riboflavin-5-phosphate in eight hours . Direct sunlight destroyed 86% of pyridoxine HCl . There was no loss of folic acid in parenteral nutrition mixtures after storage for 7 wk . The microbiologic assays were found to be reliable to measure the levels of the B vitamins in parenteral nutrition solution.

Rev Infect Dis, 1983 Sep-Oct, 5 Suppl 4, S793 - 6
Bacterial virulence and the inflammatory system; Ward PA et al.; The sequence of events by which bacteria activate immune responses is extremely complex . The culmination of these events often leads to immunopathologic consequences, which are evident in both local and systemic bacterial infections . Where mediators are generated, immune/inflammatory cells are activated, and tissue is destroyed . In the case of acute inflammatory reactions, the following scenario can occur: bacteria activate the complement cascade, polymorphonuclear leukocytes are recruited, and lysosomal enzymes and toxic oxygen products that destroy both the inciting bacteria and the surrounding tissue are generated . The complex interplay among the various mediator systems, inflammatory cells, and toxic products is recognized as a complicated array of pathways necessary for clearance of a given bacterial infection . Understanding these pathways, which ultimately lead to an appropriate immune response to the bacteria, is an extremely challenging problem to microbiologists and immunologists alike.

Am J Vet Res, 1983 Sep, 44(9), 1656 - 9
Experimental respiratory syncytial virus pneumonia in young calves: microbiologic and immunofluorescent findings; McNulty MS et al.; Young calves were inoculated with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) intranasally or by a combined intranasal and intratracheal route and were killed between postinoculation (initial) days (PID) 1 and 14 . Viral antigens were detected by immunofluorescence in nasopharyngeal cells from calves killed between PID 2 and 10 . Evidence of infection of the trachea and lungs with RSV was obtained by immunofluorescence and virus isolation in calves inoculated by the combined route, but not in calves inoculated intranasally . Within the lungs, RSV antigens were observed in epithelial cells of bronchioli and alveoli . The only virus detected in inoculated calves was RSV . With the exception of 1 calf, bacteria or mycoplasmas were not isolated from the lower respiratory tracts of inoculated calves . Antibody to RSV was not detected in calves killed up to PID 5, but 4 of 5 colostrum-deprived calves killed between PID 10 and 13 had antibodies to RSV . Preexisting, maternally derived antibody to RSV did not protect the calves from infection . Seemingly, the clinical signs of pneumonia and pathologic lesions observed in inoculated calves were caused by RSV infection.

Infect Immun, 1983 Sep, 41(3), 1138 - 43
Effect of heptakis (2,6-O-dimethyl) beta-cyclodextrin on the production of pertussis toxin by Bordetella pertussis; Imaizumi A et al.; The effect of heptakis (2,6-O-dimethyl) beta-cyclodextrin (Me beta CD) on the production of pertussis toxin was evaluated . The addition of Me beta CD to the medium stimulated cell growth and pertussis toxin production . Me beta CD enhanced pertussis toxin production 100 times more in synthetic media, such as Stainer-Scholte medium (D . W . Stainer and M . J . Scholte, J . Gen . Microbiol . 63:211-220), than in Me beta CD-free medium in 2-day shake cultures . Maximum production of pertussis toxin was estimated as 50 mg of protein per liter of culture broth both by in vitro and in vivo assays . Purified toxin was demonstrated to be biochemically and biologically identical to the toxin produced in Me beta CD-free static cultures.

Infect Immun, 1983 Sep, 41(3), 1031 - 7
Isolation, propagation, and characterization of a second equine rotavirus serotype; Hoshino Y et al.; A rotavirus designated strain H-2 was isolated in primary African green monkey kidney cells from a foal with diarrhea . This cell culture-adapted strain was found to be similar, if not identical, to simian rotavirus (strains MMU18006 and SA-11) and canine rotavirus (strain CU-1) and, in addition, demonstrated a one-way antigenic relationship with five human rotavirus strains (P, B, no . 14, no . 15, and YO) of the third human rotavirus serotype by the plaque reduction neutralization test . This is the fifth example of an animal rotavirus which shares serotypic specificity with a human rotavirus . The H-2 strain is distinct from the H-1 strain (Y . Hoshino et al., J . Clin . Microbiol., in press) of equine rotavirus not only in serotypic specificity by neutralization but also in subgroup specificity, hemagglutinating activity, and RNA electrophoretic migration pattern, thus establishing the existence of a second equine rotavirus serotype . This H-2 isolate is also distinct by neutralization from three other human rotavirus serotypes, 1 (Wa), 2 (DS-1), and 4 (St . Thomas no . 4), as well as bovine (NCDV), and porcine (OSU) rotaviruses.

Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1983 Aug 15, 146(8), 938 - 41
Leukocyte counts and microbiologic cultivation in the diagnosis of puerperal mastitis; Thomsen AC et al.; In order to study the value of leukocyte counts and quantitative microbiologic cultivation of milk in the diagnosis of puerperal mastitis, 491 milk samples from nursing women were examined . In milk samples from mammary glands without inflammatory symptoms, leukocyte counts were less than 10(6)/ml of milk, and the milk was sterile or harbored less than 10(3) bacteria/ml . Samples from mammary glands with inflammatory symptoms could be divided into three groups . In one group, leukocyte counts were less than 10(6)/ml of milk, and cultivation results were similar to those of mammary glands without symptoms . The symptoms persisted for an average of 2.1 days . These cases were considered as milk stasis . In another group, the leukocyte counts were greater than 10(6)/ml of milk, but the milk was sterile or contaminated by skin flora bacteria . Average duration of symptoms was 5.3 days . These cases were considered as noninfectious inflammation of the breast . In the third group, leukocyte counts were greater than 10(6)/ml of milk and bacteria occurred in numbers of greater than 10(3)/ml, which suggests the presence of infectious mastitis . In these cases only antibiotic treatment should be recommended.

Emerg Med Clin North Am, 1983 Aug, 1(2), 345 - 70
Pneumonia and lung abscess; Carden DL et al.; The epidemiologic, microbiologic, radiographic, and clinical presentations of pneumonias caused by the most common pathogens are discussed in detail, and current recommendations for hospitalization are reviewed . Also considered are the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of primary and secondary lung abscess.

Am J Med, 1983 Jul 28, 75(1B), 109 - 18
Antigen detection in cerebrospinal fluid--pros and cons; Kaplan SL; Over the past decade, rapid diagnostic techniques for detection of bacterial polysaccharide antigens have been developed and successfully applied in the clinical setting . Currently, countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis, latex particle agglutination, and coagglutination are the techniques most used in microbiology laboratories . Enzyme immunoassays may become more practical in the future . Quantitation of antigen concentration in cerebrospinal fluid provides prognostic information at the time of admission . This review summarizes the advantages, disadvantages, and clinical applications of these techniques.

N Engl J Med, 1983 Jul 14, 309(2), 67 - 71
Single-dose therapy of chancroid with trimethoprim-sulfametrole; Plummer FA et al.; We conducted a randomized double-blind trial comparing a single dose of trimethoprim-sulfametrole (640 to 3200 mg) with five-day regimens of either trimethoprim-sulfametrole (160 to 800 mg twice daily) or trimethoprim alone (200 mg twice daily) for the treatment of men with chancroid . Of 95 patients, 78 had cultures positive for Hemophilus ducreyi . Twenty-seven, 23, and 28 patients, respectively, were assigned to the single-dose trimethoprim-sulfametrole, the five-day trimethoprim-sulfametrole, and the five-day trimethoprim treatments . The rate of ulcer and bubo resolution, the mean (+/- S.D.) healing times (10.3 +/- 5.7, 11.0 +/- 7.4, and 11.9 +/- 8.2 days, respectively), the microbiologic response, the number of treatment failures, and the number of recurrent ulcers were similar in all three treatment groups . We conclude that single-dose trimethoprim-sulfametrole is a highly effective, inexpensive therapy for chancroid in men and may prove to be an important strategy for the control of H . ducreyi infection.

Rev Infect Dis, 1983 Jul-Aug, 5(4), 713 - 9
Role of Chlamydia trachomatis in perinatal infection; Alexander ER et al.; The transmission of Chlamydia trachomatis from the infected cervix of a mother to the eye of an infant, with resultant inclusion conjunctivitis, was documented in humans and in primates 75 years ago by cytologic methods . With modern microbiologic methodology it is possible to quantitate this transmission . It is now known that 2%-24% (usually 7%-12%) of cervices are infected before delivery and that 18%-50% (usually 20%-25%) of infants born to culture-positive mothers develop conjunctivitis . In addition, nasopharyngeal infection occurs in 15%-20% of infants, and 3%-18% develop pneumonia due to C . trachomatis . Bronchiolitis and otitis media are less common infections . The consequence of rectal and vaginal colonization remains unknown, as does the significance of the increase in antibody titers against C . trachomatis throughout early childhood . Early studies suggesting that C . trachomatis was a prominent cause of postpartum endometritis and a cause of premature delivery have not been confirmed in larger prospective studies when mycoplasma species were simultaneously studied . A subset of mothers with active infection, as evidenced by IgM antibody against C . trachomatis, may have earlier delivery, but it is clear that evaluation of the contribution of C . trachomatis to maternal and fetal risk will require larger studies with evaluation of possible concurrent mycoplasmal infection.

J Am Dent Assoc, 1983 Jul, 107(1), 37 - 41
A rationale for the management of periodontal diseases: effects of tetracycline on subgingival bacteria; Rams TE et al.; Microbiologic criteria obtained with phase-contrast microscopy were used in a short-term, double-blind study to measure the effects of systemic tetracycline HCl on subgingival bacterial populations in advanced periodontal pockets refractory to local therapy (repeated scaling, root planing, and the subgingival administration of chemotherapeutic agents {H2O2, NaHCO3, NaCl, MgSO4}) . Twenty-one subjects, selected for study, had at least one of the following conditions present after local therapy: spirochetes, motile rods, or crevicular leukocytes greater than or equal to 125 per phase-contrast microscopic field . Tetracycline HCl (1 gm/day for 14 days) was randomly distributed to 11 subjects and a placebo to ten subjects, so that neither the subjects nor investigators were aware of the prescription contents . Evaluations after two weeks disclosed that tetracycline HCl significantly reduced elevated levels of spirochetes, motile rods, and crevicular leukocytes to low or undetectable levels, whereas levels in the placebo subjects remained generally unchanged . The results clearly demonstrate the value of tetracycline HCl as an adjunct to periodontal therapy in reducing remaining suspected periodontopathic bacterial populations in advanced lesions after local therapy of scaling, root planing, and topically applied chemotherapy.

Drug Intell Clin Pharm, 1983 Jul-Aug, 17(7-8), 544 - 6
Falsely elevated aminoglycoside serum levels in jaundiced patients; Wagner JC et al.; Two cases in which hyperbilirubinemia produced falsely elevated aminoglycoside concentrations, using the Emit assay, are described . Patients' sera were analyzed by both the Emit and a microbiologic assay . The first patient had a 26-percent greater tobramycin concentration with the Emit assay, as compared with the microbiologic assay, when the total bilirubin was 20.1 mg% . For the same patient, there was essentially no difference between the two assays when the total bilirubin was 4 mg% . The Emit concentrations in the other patient were 34-percent elevated with a total bilirubin of 9.7 mg% . Pharmacokinetic analysis also was performed on serum levels reported by each method . Calculated kinetic parameters and dosage regimens varied greatly . Patients with total bilirubin concentrations greater than 4 mg% may need to have aminoglycoside serum levels assayed by a method other than the Emit assay.

Nature . 1983 Jun 2-8;303(5916):369.
Scientific fraud . The system defends itself; David P; KIE: Nicholas Wade, co-author of the book Betrayers of the Truth, defended his views on fraud in academic science before a panel at the 1983 meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science . Participants reacted negatively to his argument that recently-revealed episodes of cheating and plagiarism involving respectable scientists are not isolated incidents, but indicators of widespread problems in the field . Microbiologist Norman Zinder and other participants challenged Wade's statements and rejected his criticisms of peer review and other traditional checking mechanisms in science .

Quad Sclavo Diagn, 1983 Jun, 19(2), 159 - 75
{Comparative evaluation of 3 miniaturized systems (API 20E, Enterotube II, Sensititre AP60) commonly used in clinical microbiology laboratories}; Chiaradia V et al.; API 20E, Enterotube II, Sensititre AP60 have been evaluated . Some biochemical tests (lysine, ornithine, VP, H2S, adonitol , arabinose, citrate) have revealed significative differences among three systems . The total correlations about bacterial identifications have been very similar . The repetibility of identifications of strains isolated from clinical specimens has been 98.7% for Enterotube and API 20E, 95.5% for Sensititre . The biochemical tests have revealed repetibility greater than or equal to 94%, citrate repetibility instead has been 91%.

Pathologist, 1983 Jun, 37(6), 404 - 9
Decisions related to automation in microbiology; Sodeman TM et al.; The selection of instruments for the microbiology laboratory poses unique problems . The author of this article recommends useful steps in this process.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1983 May, (5), 70 - 5
{Inoculation properties of live combined vaccine against measles and mumps}; Vasil'eva GA et al.; The data obtained in the study of the immunization properties of experimental and production lots of combined parotitis-measles vaccine prepared at the Pasteur Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology (Leningrad) in 1971-1979 are summarized . The preparation was shown to possess low reactogenicity and, at the same time, high immunogenic activity . The reactogenicity of the preparation depended mainly on the presence of the measles component in the divaccine and its immunogenicity, on the measles virus/parotitis virus ratio in one vaccination dose . The concentration of measles virus between 300 and 10000 infective units and parotitis virus between 5000 and 100000 infective units in one vaccination dose, as well as the age of the vaccinees, did not affect the immunization properties of the divaccine . The use of the combined vaccine in the foci of parotitis infection did not increase the reactogenicity of the preparation, but enhanced its immunogenic properties.

Am J Med Technol, 1983 May, 49(5), 323 - 5
Automation in microbiology: a physician's viewpoint; Dupont PF; Physicians in clinical practice are often less than fully aware of the problems and potential resources of the microbiology laboratory . While automation can be of significant benefit simply within the laboratory itself, communication with those directly responsible for patient care is vital if the full potential of automation to improve the quality of health care is to be realized . This paper presents the clinician's viewpoint and suggests affirmative actions the microbiologist can take to improve the clinician/laboratory working relationship.

Am J Med Technol, 1983 May, 49(5), 299 - 301
Roots of automation in microbiology: an introduction; LeBeau LJ; It seems like a long way from the early work of Pasteur and Koch to the automated microbiology laboratory of today . But every advance rests on a knowledge base gleaned from past work; and to understand where we are today, it is necessary to know how we got there . This paper explores the historical roots of current microbiology technology.

Cancer, 1983 May 1, 51(9), 1653 - 5
Enzymatic analysis of gastric microbiopsy specimens . An aid in the differential diagnosis between peptic ulcers and gastric carcinoma?
Kuhn SH, Bezuidenhout DJ.
Microgastric biopsies were obtained from 20 patients with clinical, radiologic, and endoscopic features of gastric neoplasms . Biopsy specimens were taken from both macroscopically normal gastric mucosa (confirmed histology), and from the lesion . In 16 patients, various stages of adenocarcinoma were confirmed . Repeated biopsy examinations, ruled out malignancy in the four remaining patients, in which a final diagnosis of healing ulcers was established . Homogenates were prepared from the biopsy specimens, and subsequently assayed individually for acid- and alkaline phosphatase and acid proteases . Significant variances (P less than 0.05), were demonstrated for acid protease activities when tumor homogenate levels were compared; firstly with normal mucosa and secondly with ulcer homogenate levels . Biopsy hydrolase determinations may be valuable in providing important additional information not obtained from histologic examinations.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1983 May, 31(5), 419 - 24
{Results of a comparative therapeutic trial of single-dose treatment of non-complicated acute male gonorrhea}; Ancelle R et al.; A single dose treatment trial with: spectinomycine 2 g, ampicilline + probenecide 3.5 g + 1 g, thiamphenicol 2.5 g, minocycline 300 mg was undertaken . Three teams were involved, epidemiologists clinicians, microbiologists, 636 patients were included, 483 resumed for control . A negative culture on the third day was considered a success . Failure rates were: spectinomycine 4%, ampicilline-probenecide 3%, thiamphenicol 4%, minocycline 3% . No significant difference was noted between the four rates . The delay of clinical cure was 1.98 days for spectinomycin, 1.87 days for ampicilline - probenecide, 2.16 days for thiamphenicol and 2.12 for minocycline without significant difference . When side effects were analysed, 10% of the patients reported asthenia without difference between the four treatments . Thiamphenicol is responsible for diarrhea 28%, P less than 0,01 minocycline more significantly responsible for guidiness 13%, P less than 0,001, and 18% treated by spectinomycine complained of pain at the time of injection . The antibiotics MIC's are studied . After the analysis of the results, the cost, and the resistances, one treatment was selected.

Am J Med Technol, 1983 Apr, 49(4), 247 - 52
A continuing education program for rural communities: evaluating cognitive and behavioral change; Bruce AW et al.; A total of 133 laboratory workers from 60 institutions participated in a unique continuing education project in North Dakota . Cognitive and behavioral changes of the participants were measured in an attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of the Laboratory Education for North Dakota (LEND) program, which included self-instructional programs (SIPs), telelectures, and workshops . The effects of variables such as institutional size, educational level of participants, topic presented, and type of participation were studied . Institutional size had no significant effect on cognitive change (P greater than .05) but had some effect on behavioral change . Educational level was found to significantly affect pretest scores (P less than .05), but was not a major factor in post-test scores . Certain topics presented (i.e., quality assurance and microbiology) resulted in significantly more behavioral changes than other categories . Behavioral changes and degree of cognitive change did not always correspond . Significant correlation was shown between attendance at wet workshops and the number of behavioral changes.

J Bacteriol, 1983 Apr, 154(1), 253 - 60
Mutations in a new gene, secB, cause defective protein localization in Escherichia coli; Kumamoto CA et al.; We isolated a new class of Escherichia coli mutants with pleiotropic defects in protein secretion . Using a previously described selection procedure (Oliver et al., Ann . Microbiol . {Paris} 133A:105-110, 1982), we obtained a large collection of strains containing mutations that affect protein localization . In many cases, the lesions causing the secretion defects were mapped in or near the previously identified gene, secA (Oliver and Beckwith, Cell 25:765-772, 1981) . However, the selection also yielded mutants with mutations in a new locus, which was designated secB . These secB mutants were defective in the localization of maltose-binding protein and, in at least one case, OmpF protein . Double mutants with lesions in both secA and secB had strong defects in the secretion of maltose-binding protein and OmpF protein . The secB locus mapped near cysE at min 80.5 on the E . coli genetic map . The properties of secB mutants suggest that the secB product could be a component of the E . coli secretory apparatus.

J Gen Microbiol, 1983 Apr, 129 (Pt 4), 973 - 80
Flow cytometry of bacteria: a promising tool in experimental and clinical microbiology; Boye E et al.; The DNA and protein content of individual Escherichia coli cells were measured at a rate of 10(4) cells per second with a sensitive microscope-based flow cytometer . DNA and protein were quantified by measuring the fluorescence from cells stained with a combination of the DNA-binding drugs Mithramycin and ethidium bromide and by scattered light, respectively . Separate experiments demonstrated that the light scatter signal was proportional to protein content . Dual parameter histograms (fluorescence/scattered light) of bacterial cultures gave detailed pictures of changes dependent upon the growth conditions and of the cell cycle kinetics . Effects of antibiotics could be readily detected and characterized after a few hours . The results demonstrate that flow cytometry is a promising method for application in experimental and clinical microbiology.

Ann Trop Med Parasitol, 1983 Apr, 77(2), 113 - 7
The reliability of the microscopic diagnosis of malaria in the field and in the laboratory; Collier JA et al.; Four hundred and seventy thick and thin blood films were prepared from 129 villagers in the Solomon Islands . After staining with Giemsa, Leishman's, and Field's stains, they were randomized and examined in the field, using a miniature McArthur microscope . The specimens were then examined in the local central laboratory and by a microbiologist at a hospital in England . Films over which there was disagreement were examined by an expert at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine . The rate of false negative diagnoses (for thick films) was 3% for the field worker, 9% for the malaria laboratory, and 27% for the English hospital . Field diagnosis was no less reliable than laboratory diagnosis (P less than 0.001) . Field's stain was the most reliable stain for both thick films (P less than 0.001) and thin films (P less than 0.05), for which a new staining technique is described.

Ophthalmology, 1983 Mar, 90(3), 195 - 203
Bacterial periorbital and orbital cellulitis in childhood; Weiss A et al.; The clinical features, microbiologic data, complications, and treatment in 137 children with periorbital cellulitis and 21 children with orbital cellulitis is presented . Periorbital cellulitis was more frequent (87%) than orbital cellulitis (13%) . Periorbital cellulitis is a heterogeneous disease that may complicate trauma of the eyelids, external ocular infection, and upper respiratory infection . Children with periorbital cellulitis related to trauma or external infection tended to be less than 5 years old with negative blood cultures (99%) and positive cultures of percutaneous aspirates (42%); while children with periorbital cellulitis related to upper respiratory infection also tended to be less than 5 years of age, but blood cultures were frequently positive (42%) and cultures of percutaneous aspirates were usually negative (92%) . Three children in the latter group developed meningitis . Intravenous antibiotic alone was effective treatment in most patients (90%) . Orbital cellulitis was more frequent in children older than 5 years and frequently associated with sinusitis (90%) . Blood and skin cultures were usually negative . Intravenous antibiotics alone were effective management in many patients (62%), but a significant proportion required paranasal sinus or orbital surgery (38%).

Proc Soc Exp Biol Med, 1983 Mar, 172(3), 301 - 7
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) does not affect epidermal wound healing; Goldblum OM et al.; We studied the effect of 95% DMSO on dermal/epidermal healing and microbiol flora in partial-thickness wounds . Wounds of 0.3 mm were made in the skin of Yorkshire pigs with a keratome and treated daily with either 95% DMSO, water, or they were left untreated . Wounds were excised on Days 2-7 and the dermis was separated from the epidermis . The dermis was assayed for collagen biosynthesis (by measuring the production of {14C}hydroxyproline (HP) and amount of radioactive peptides released after collagenase digestion) and absolute HP (by spectrophotometric analysis) . The epidermis was evaluated macroscopically for resurfacing . Aerobic bacteria from unwounded and wounded skin were identified and quantitated . There were no significant differences between treatment groups in HP incorporation or absolute collagen content from Days 2-6 after wounding . HP incorporation in the total protein fractions and in the collagenase digestible fractions were analogous . Collagen biosynthesis was similar in both unwounded, untreated, and unwounded DMSO-treated skin . Epidermal healing did not differ between treatment groups . There were no differences in the number or types of bacteria in wounds between treatment groups . These results indicate that topical DMSO is neither beneficial nor harmful in the healing of superficial wounds.

J Virol, 1983 Mar, 45(3), 1159 - 63
Molecular cloning of infectious viral DNA from ecotropic neurotropic wild mouse retrovirus; Jolicoeur P et al.; Among a mixture of amphotropic and ecotropic murine leukemia viruses (MuLVs) isolated from paralyzed wild mice, only N-tropic ecotropic MuLV, cloned by cell culture techniques, has been shown to induce paralysis after reinjection into susceptible mice (M . B . Gardner, Curr . Top . Microbiol . Immunol . 79:215-239, 1978) . The viral DNA genome of one of these neurotropic MuLVs (Cas-Br-E) has been cloned in Charon 21A at the SalI site . One clone, designated NE-8, was studied in more detail . A restriction endonuclease map of this cloned DNA was derived . Cloned viral DNA microinjected into NIH 3T3 cells produced infectious MuLV which was characterized as XC+, ecotropic, and N-tropic . The virus that was recovered after the microinjection of NE-8 DNA was also injected into susceptible SIM.S and NIH Swiss mice and was found to induce lower limb paralysis in these animals . These results make it highly unlikely that other agents (which might have escaped detection and separation from ecotropic MuLV by the techniques previously used) play a role in the etiology of this disease and clearly indicate that the ecotropic MuLV genome harbors sequences responsible for this paralysis . The availability of this clone DNA would now allow us to map these sequences on the genome.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1983 Feb, 45(2), 360 - 5
Enhanced recovery of injured Escherichia coli by compounds that degrade hydrogen peroxide or block its formation; McDonald LC et al.; Escherichia coli LSUFS was injured either by freezing at -10 degrees C or by heating at 57 degrees C for 12 min . Surviving cells were recovered on nonselective tryptone-glucose extract agar and selective violet red bile agar supplemented with compounds that degrade hydrogen peroxide or block its formation . Various concentrations of the following compounds were tested: sodium pyruvate, 3,3'-thiodipropionic acid, catalase, ascorbic acid, potassium permanganate, sodium thioglycolate, dimethylsulfoxide, ethoxyquin, n-propyl gallate, alpha-tocopherol sodium metabisulfite, and ferrous sulfate . Sodium pyruvate and 3,3'-thiodipropionic acid, when added to either medium, significantly (P greater than 0.01) increased recovery of injured cells . More than 90% of the heat-injured cells and 40 to 90% of the freeze-injured cells failed to grow on unsupplemented tryptone-glucose extract agar . Supplementation of violet red bile agar increased recovery, but the counts remained considerably lower than the tryptone-glucose extract agar counts . The repair detection procedure of Speck et al . (M . Speck, B . Ray, R . Read, Jr., Appl . Microbiol . 29:549-550, 1975) was greatly improved by the addition of pyruvate or 3,3'-thiodipropionic acid . However, when this improved repair detection procedure was applied to foods, pyruvate-supplemented media showed some false-positives . We therefore recommend that 3,3'-thiodipropionic acid be used to supplement media in the repair detection procedure.

Br Med J (Clin Res Ed), 1983 Jan 8, 286(6359), 118 - 22
Audits of antibiotic prescribing in a Bristol hospital; Swindell PJ et al.; Audits of antibiotic prescribing were done for periods of up to eight weeks in two successive years on medical, surgical, orthopaedic, gynaecology, obstetric, and urology wards and in an accident and emergency department . Clinical details were matched with antibiotic prescribing, and the appropriateness of the latter was judged independently by two medical microbiologists . Only when they agreed was an individual prescription included in the analysis . Overall, 28% of prescriptions in 1979 and 35% in 1980 were judged as unnecessary, with 17% and 16%, respectively, being for inappropriate choices of antibiotic . An educational programme about antibiotic prescribing carried out between the audits had no beneficial effect overall . Though the results compared favourably with those of audits published, prescribing could still be much improved . To judge by the failure of education, however, this might be difficult to achieve . Most prescriptions were written by junior staff, who in the absence of guidance from their seniors and because of their frequent moves would require a widespread and continual education programme . Published concern about the quality of antibiotic prescribing appears to be justified.

Clin Radiol, 1983 Jan, 34(1), 95 - 7
Overwhelming post-splenectomy infection in Hodgkin's disease: pathogenesis and prevention; Shimm DS et al.; After staging splenectomy, the risk of overwhelming sepsis in patients with Hodgkin's disease reaches 21% in certain subgroups . Youth, recent splenectomy and vigorous chemoradiotherapy predispose patients to this complication . Because of its explosive course and its known microbiology, post-splenectomy sepsis is better suited to prevention than to treatment . Since immunisation prior to treatment produces good antibody responses, all patients with Hodgkin's disease should probably be vaccinated against encapsulated bacteria at least 10 days prior to the onset of therapy.

Zentralbl Gynakol, 1983, 105(24), 1585 - 96
{Diagnostic verification of Group III and III D cytological tests with special reference to follow-up}; Schlegel H et al.; The diagnostic verification of Pap III and Pap III D-smears from mass screening is described with special regard to the importance of colposcopical and cytological long-term controls . 233 (59.8%) out of 390 patients were verified within one year (1.1.-31.12 . 1977) . A high percentage (27.5%) of the first control smears was negative or the cytological picture had become normal (19.5%) after vaginal treatment by antibiotics and application of estrogens . 50 women were cured by conization or primary hysterectomy as the cytological diagnosis yielded suspicion of severe dysplasia or carcinoma in situ . Depending on cytological differential diagnosis, individual situations and the developmental tendency of the atypical epithelium 157 patients (40.2%) were observed for several years . The great diagnostical-therapeutical importance of colposcopy for the early recognition of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) is demonstrated . A direct microbiopsy controlled by colposcopy is a valuable completing method if there are differences between colposcopical and cytological findings during a long-term control of the cases . A slight or moderate dysplasia can be observed for about 2 or 3 years, as most regressions are seen in this period . In problematic cases (young nullipare, patients treated because of infertility or sterility, pregnant women, old women) with severe dysplasia/carcinoma in situ it is possible and justifiable to control the patient temporarily in short distances . All cases which are suspicious of an early stromal invasion call for a definite diagnosis and therapy without any delay . Primary hysterectomy is preferred in patients aged 35 years or more.

Histochemistry, 1983, 78(4), 539 - 44
Microbiochemical approach to liver cell heterogeneity around terminal hepatic venules; Hildebrand R; Using lyophilized cryostat sections of liver the activities of alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and pyruvate kinase were measured using a Lowry technique in the first layer of hepatocytes adjacent to terminal hepatic venules and in the residual parenchymal of the perivenous zone of the acinus in normally fed adult male Wistar rats . Alanine aminotransferase was homogeneously distributed in the two areas measured (ratio hepatocytes adjacent to terminal hepatic venules/residual parenchyma of the perivenous zone: 1.05) . Enzyme activities of the lactate dehydrogenase were significantly lower in the hepatocytes adjacent to terminal hepatic venules (ratio: 0.65) and those of the pyruvate kinase significantly higher (ratio: 1.12) than in the residual parenchyma of the perivenous zone indicating liver cell heterogeneity in this zone of the liver acinus.

Epidemiol Rev, 1983, 5, 96 - 123
Epidemiology of sexually transmitted Chlamydia trachomatis infections; Thompson SE et al.; PIP: This paper provides a comprehensive review of the literature on the epidemiology of sexually transmitted chlamydial infections . Its major sections focus on the following substantive areas: microbiology, serologic classification, infections of men (urethritis, epididymitis, prostatitis), infections of women (endocervicitis, urethritis, salpingitis, endometritis, infertility, ectopic pregnancy), effect of genital chlamydial infections on pregnancy, other diseases (Reiter's syndrome, cervical atypia, gastrointestinal infection, lymphogranuloma venereum), and prevention and control programs . It is conceded that wide gaps remain in our understanding of the epidemiology of these organisms . If the estimate that 20% of salpingitis cases are due to C trachomatis is accepted, then at least 20,000 women/year in the US may be infertile because of chlamydial infection . At present, there is a need to define the prevalence and incidence of chlamydial infection in different populations so that high risk groups can be identified and targeted for prevention programs . Studies must also continue to test the link between maternal chlamydial infection and abortion, prematurity, perinatal mortality, and puerperal maternal infections . Ultimately, the most efficient approach to managing chlamydial infection may be provided by a vaccine .

Clin Chest Med, 1983 Jan, 4(1), 55 - 62
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis; Stankus RP et al.; Hypersensitivity pneumonitis represents a disease spectrum and not a single pulmonary disorder . Both acute and chronic forms of disease occur and presumably reflect different yet interrelated immune mechanisms of pathogenesis . The diagnosis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, although often straightforward, may depend on the use of immunologic and microbiologic analyses with the aid of inhalation challenge testing . Finally, the immune pathway to disease expression is as yet undefined and may represent subtle changes in "suppressor" cell populations and their regulatory effects on immune effector cells.

Clin Pharmacol Ther, 1983 Jan, 33(1), 73 - 6
Mezlocillin kinetics in hepatic insufficiency; Bunke CM et al.; To establish elimination kinetics of mezlocillin in patients with hepatic insufficiency, we gave eight normal subjects and four patients with hepatic insufficiency and normal renal function a single 3-gm dose of mezlocillin by intravenous infusion . Subjects with hepatic insufficiency all had serum bilirubins levels of above 3 mg/dl, prothrombin times more than 2 sec longer than control, and creatinine clearances above 60 ml/min . Mezlocillin concentrations were determined by microbiologic assay . Kinetic analysis was by model-independent methods . Elimination half-life was 0.96 hr for subjects with normal liver function and 2.62 hr for patients with hepatic insufficiency . Mean total body clearance for normal subjects was 247 ml/min, while in patients with hepatic insufficiency it was 125.4 ml/min . We conclude that hepatic insufficiency prolongs mezlocillin elimination and suggest that therapeutic guidelines be set up.

Int J Dermatol, 1982 Dec, 21(10), 602 - 3
Improved methods for office fungal culture; Gip L; A new screening culture method which can be used as an office fungal culture involves a microculture, where a selective medium (DTM) is used for coating a thin transparent plastic slide . Sampling is performed with a transparent adhesive tape which is pressed on to the surface of the agar and allows daily microscopic examination of the culture . Identification of the fungus is based on its micromorphologic features and possible color change of the substrate . Growth of dermatophytes and candida usually can be detected and registered within 48 hours . The screening method is simple to handle and read and may be monitored by inexperienced personnel with virtually no microbiologic knowledge.

Lab Invest, 1982 Dec, 47(6), 568 - 78
Legionnaires' pneumonia after intratracheal inoculation of guinea pigs and rats; Winn WC Jr et al.; We have developed a model of legionnaires' pneumonia in guinea pigs and rats . A reproducible population of Legionella pneumophila was obtained in late exponential growth phase and inoculated into the trachea of young animals . Either immunologic or microbiologic evidence of infection was demonstrated in 27 or 28 guinea pigs and 19 of 20 rats that had been inoculated with 10(5) to 10(7) colony-forming units . An acute pneumonia that resembled human legionnaires' disease was produced in both species, and Legionella antigen was closely related to inflammation in the distal air spaces . A fatal illness was produced in guinea pigs, and pneumonia was more extensive than in rats . Extrapulmonary inflammatory lesions, particularly splenic necrosis, were more frequent in guinea pigs than in rats . Each rodent species has potential advantages for testing specific questions and both should be useful for future investigations.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1982 Dec, 126(6), 1050 - 7
Legionnaires' pneumonia after aerosol exposure in guinea pigs and rats; Davis GS et al.; We developed an animal model of Legionnaires' pneumonia to permit study of aerosol infection, pathogenesis, and pulmonary host defense mechanisms in this disease . Guinea pigs and rats were exposed in a nose-only inhalation facility for 30 min to an aerosol of Burlington serogroup 1 Legionella pneumophila . Lungs contained 10(3) to 10(4) L . pneumophila immediately after exposure . Both guinea pigs and rats developed pneumonia, with 100% infectivity by microbiologic, histologic, and serologic criteria . Guinea pigs demonstrated illness, fever, and 56% mortality; rats showed little illness and 11% mortality . In both species, diffuse patchy pneumonitis coalesced and consolidated as the disease progressed . Aerosol challenge with 3H-L . pneumophila showed exponential growth of the bacteria in the lungs of both species . Guinea pigs and rats can be infected by aerosol exposure to L . pneumophila to produce a disease that closely simulates human Legionnaires' pneumonia . Rapid initial intrapulmonary growth suggests that resident lung defense mechanisms are quite ineffective against L . pneumophila, and that recruited or immunospecific defenses may be more critical in the outcome of infection . The difference in severity of illness between guinea pigs and rats may be exploited for different experimental designs.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1982 Dec, 44(6), 1296 - 307
Estimates of bacterial growth from changes in uptake rates and biomass; Kirchman D et al.; Rates of nucleic acid synthesis have been used to examine microbiol growth in natural waters . These rates are calculated from the incorporation of {3H}adenine and {3H}thymidine for RNA and DNA syntheses, respectively . Several additional biochemical parameters must be measured or taken from the literature to estimate growth rates from the incorporation of the tritiated compounds . We propose a simple method of estimating a conversion factor which obviates measuring these biochemical parameters . The change in bacterial abundance and incorporation rates of {3H}thymidine was measured in samples from three environments . The incorporation of exogenous {3H}thymidine was closely coupled with growth and cell division as estimated from the increase in bacterial biomass . Analysis of the changes in incorporation rates and initial bacterial abundance yielded a conversion factor for calculating bacterial production rates from incorporation rates . Furthermore, the growth rate of only those bacteria incorporating the compound can be estimated . The data analysis and experimental design can be used to estimate the proportion of nondividing cells and to examine changes in cell volumes.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1982 Dec, 126(6), 981 - 5
The value of bronchoscopy in establishing the etiology of pneumonia in renal transplant recipients; Hedemark LL et al.; Fifty-two episodes of fever and new pulmonary infiltrates were evaluated prospectively in 51 renal allograft recipients . Thirty-nine flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopies were performed in the diagnostic evaluation of these infiltrates . Specific etiologic diagnoses were obtained in 30 (77%) of the patients . This information was clinically useful, as defined by preset criteria, in 21 (54%) of the patients and definitive but not clinically useful in an additional 9 (23%) . In the remaining 9, it was neither definitive nor clinically useful . Microbiology brush specimens were useful in establishing etiologic diagnoses in 12 (44%) of the 27 patients in whom it was performed . Transbronchial lung biopsies yielded specific etiologic diagnoses in 9 (53%) of the 17 biopsies obtained . Complications related to the bronchoscopic procedure occurred in 2 patients (5% of total bronchoscopies) . No prolonged morbidity was noted . We conclude that fiberoptic bronchoscopy is a safe, useful procedure, and should be considered early in the diagnostic evaluation of pulmonary infections in renal transplant recipients.

Am J Hosp Pharm, 1982 Nov, 39(11), 1920 - 3
Accuracy and efficiency of three methods of preparing piggyback admixtures; Fraterrigo CC et al.; The efficiency and accuracy of three methods of preparing i.v . admixtures in small-volume plastic bags were compared . One hundred individual 1-g doses of cephalothin sodium in 50-ml minibags were prepared by each of three methods; the PharmAide Fluid Dispensing System (PAFDS), the Valleylab IV Formulator, and the Viavac vacuum unit, using 20-g, 20-g, and 1-g vials of cephalothin sodium, respectively . For each method, preparation time and cost were recorded . To determine accuracy, a random 10% sample of minibags prepared by each method was assayed for cephalothin concentration by microbiologic assay . The IV Formulator required the least time to prepare 100 doses, followed by the PAFDS and the vacuum unit . Cost data for the three methods were nearly identical, with a difference of only $0.07 per dose between the least and most expensive . The minibags prepared using the vacuum pump and unit-of-use vials were more accurate than those prepared with 20-g vials and the other two methods . However, the initial concentration of the cephalothin sodium vials before transferring to the minibags was not tested . Each method studied was found to have advantages and disadvantages . No one system could be judged best for all situations.

Am J Epidemiol, 1982 Nov, 116(5), 834 - 9
An outbreak of Norwalk gastroenteritis associated with swimming in a pool and secondary person-to-person transmission; Kappus KD et al.; In June 1977 an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis affected 103 students and teachers at an elementary school in Ohio . The illness typically lasted 24 hours or less and was characterized by vomiting (86%) and cramping (70%), but more than half of the persons involved also reported having nausea, diarrhea, and headache . Similar illness frequently followed in household members (29%) of families with primary cases . Investigation revealed that 70% of the children and teachers who swam in a pool at an all day outing June 1 (4 classrooms) and 55% of those who swam during a similar outing June 2 (2 classrooms) had the onset of acute illness from 12--48 hours later . None of the children who attended the outings but did not swim had a similar illness . The evidence suggested that the primary outbreak was caused by contaminated water in the pool and that person-to-person spread of illness followed . Results of a microbiologic study of pool water were negative for bacterial and viral pathogens . Throat washings, stool specimens, and paired blood samples studied for evidence of pathogens were negative initially, but subsequent serologic studies suggested that infection by Norwalk virus was the cause of the outbreak . The pool chlorinator which was inadvertently unconnected at the time of the school visits was reconnected and an underground leak in the water supply pipes was corrected . No more cases were reported after the pool was drained, cleaned, and reopened.

Pediatrics, 1982 Oct, 70(4), 511 - 5
Pediatricians and general practitioners: a comparison of the management of children with febrile illness; Leduc DG et al.; To assess the relative competence of pediatricians and general practitioners in managing febrile illnesses in childhood, a prospective study was undertaken of 259 children less than 10 years of age seen consecutively at the emergency room of a children's hospital and a general hospital . Both groups of patients were similar in demographic characteristics, age, sex, presenting complaints, and height and duration of fever . Of the 148 patients entered in the study at children's hospital and the 111 at general hospital, 90% and 94%, respectively, were interviewed by telephone within two weeks of their emergency room visit to determine outcomes based on duration of the acute illness episode and further physician contacts or admissions to hospital . Although no significant differences in the measured outcomes of febrile illnesses seen by pediatricians or general practitioners were found, a trend in favor of those cared for by pediatricians was discernible with respect to two key measures: unresolved symptoms at one week (8.3% vs 12.5%) and subsequent hospitalization (0.8% vs 3.0%) . The overall frequency of laboratory use and antibiotic prescriptions was the same in both groups; however, significant differences were noted in the type of laboratory test used: general practitioners ordered three times more roentgenograms than pediatricians and one fifth the number of microbiologic tests . Larger prospective studies are needed to test how these findings may be generalized in view of their importance for quality assurance in the primary care of children.

Med Hypotheses, 1982 Oct, 9(4), 369 - 73
Systemic lupus erythematosus - a state of hyperinterferonemia?
Weinberger A, Aderka D, Pinkhas J.
On the basis of immunologic and microbiologic data as well as recent observations it is postulated that interferon is responsible for many of the clinical signs and symptoms in systemic lupus erythematosus such as alopecia, joint manifestations, fever and leukopenia . Recognition of the important role of interferon in active systemic lupus erythematosus leads to some practical conclusions: a) a new therapeutic approach to active lupus must consider a treatment which will lead to reduced interferon activity; b) one of the laboratory parameters of activity of the disease may be interferon measurements.

Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 1982 Sep 13, 298(1093), 473 - 97
Microbiology of thiobacilli and other sulphur-oxidizing autotrophs, mixotrophs and heterotrophs; Kuenen JG et al.; Recent studies on the ecophysiology of the obligate chemolithotroph Thiobacillus neapolitanus have given better insight into its specialization for an autotrophic mode of life . This appears not only from its high constitutive levels of autotrophic enzymes, but also from its possession of carboxysomes, which seem to be specialized organelles for CO2 fixation and concentrating reducing power . At the same time, these organisms are metabolically versatile with respect to nitrogen assimilation pathways, and during starvation are able to utilize endogenous resources such as polyglucose for carbon and energy . Studies on the facultative chemolithotrophs such as Thiobacillus novellus and Thiobacillus A2 have shown that they can grow mixotrophically on mixtures of inorganic and organic substrates, i.e . they can utilize these compounds simultaneously provided that they are growth limiting . Thiobacillus A2 displays a remarkable flexibility not only with respect to the organic substrates that it can utilize but, for example, also in the choice of various pathways for glucose metabolism . Competition experiments carried out between specialized and versatile thiobacilli strongly indicate that the ecological advantage of the versatile thiobacilli may lie not so much in their short-term flexibility, but rather in their ability to grow mixotrophically . Studies on most heterotrophic chemolithotrophs are still in their infancy . Promising progress has been made in the study of the physiology of Beggiatoa species . Renewed interest in the sulphur-oxidizing bacteria stems from recent findings about their role in food chains, and their possible application in industry.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1982 Sep, 78(3), 337 - 41
Computer-assisted diagnostic surgical pathology reporting; Davey PW et al.; A very simple method of computer-assisted reporting of surgical pathology (including gross description, microscopic description, and diagnosis) has been developed . This method is based on a modification of the existing microbiology program and files in the comprehensive MedLab Company Pathlab computer system, with the use of mark sense cards for entering surgical number, gross and microscopic description, diagnosis and pathologist's name . The chief advantages of this system compared with other computerized surgical pathology reporting methods are its speed and simplicity of operation, reduction in clerical time, and production of concise reports for the patients' charts.

J Oral Rehabil, 1982 Sep, 9(5), 451 - 68
Juvenile periodontitis: an historical review; Saxby MS; A review of the literature on juvenile periodontitis has been undertaken . This paper traces the historical development of the appreciation of the condition . Some of the numerous early attempts to define a systemic background are noted, and the concept of 'periodontosis' and its subsequent influence, e.g . on epidemiological and clinical studies are discussed . The refining over the last 20 years of the concept of aggressive periodontal disease in the young is recorded . The patterns of bone loss in juvenile periodontitis and some forms of treatment are presented, together with evidence on its histopathology . Recent research has tended to concentrate on the microbiology and immunological background of juvenile periodontitis and a number of these studies are discussed.

Rev Infect Dis, 1982 Sep-Oct, 4 Suppl, S379 - 91
The pharmacokinetics of cefotaxime and its metabolites in subjects with normal and impaired renal function; Ings RM et al.; The pharmacokinetics of single doses (15 mg/kg) of cefotaxime and each of its metabolites were examined in six normal subjects and 24 patients who showed various degrees of renal insufficiency . An additional nine patients with renal failure were entered into a multiple-dose study in which cefotaxime (1 g) was given twice daily for five to seven days . After intravenous administration, the levels of cefotaxime in serum declined in two phases . The half-life for the terminal phase was 1.10 +/- 0.78 hr . Cefotaxime administered intramuscularly was well absorbed from the injection site (91% +/- 19%) and produced maximal levels of 25.5 +/- 3.5 microgram/ml in serum at approximately 0.5 hr after injection . The levels of the desacetyl metabolite in serum were comparatively low, and the half-life of this metabolite was 1.3 hr . Microbiologic measurements of cefotaxime showed that the half-life of the drug was lower in normal subjects (1.71 +/- 0.90 hr) than in patients with severe renal impairment (half-life, 10.20 +/- 3.43 hr) . However, this difference was due primarily to desacetylcefotaxime . Specific measurement by high-performance liquid chromatography indicated only a slight increase in the half-life of cefotaxime, whereas the increase in half-life of desacetylcefotaxime was greater . The most pronounced increases in half-life of metabolites occurred when values for creatinine clearance in patients were below about 5 ml/min per 1.73 m2 . When cefotaxime was administered repetitively, the ratio of maximal serum levels after the last dose to those after the first dose demonstrated minimal accumulation of intact drug . The average accumulation of desacetylcefotaxime in this group of patients was about twofold, and that for metabolites M2 and M3 was approximately fourfold . This accumulation of metabolites was observed only in those patients with severe renal impairment and was not excessive . Hemodialysis caused a significant reduction in the half-life of both cefotaxime and desacetylcefotaxime . Recommendations are made for the adjustment of dosing schedules in patients with renal failure.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1982 Aug, 44(2), 363 - 70
Relationship between fluorescein diacetate-stained hyphae and oxygen utilization, glucose utilization, and biomass of submerged fungal batch cultures; Ingham ER et al.; The relationship between fungal activity and staining with fluorescein diacetate (FDA) was investigated by growing Penicillium citrinum and Rhizoctonia solani in submerged batch cultures at different initial glucose concentrations and aeration rates . A modified FDA staining method, similar to the Jones and Mollison technique (P . Jones and J . Mollison, J . Gen . Microbiol . 2:54-69, 1948), was developed to assess both total and FDA-stained hyphae . In previous studies, soil hyphae stained with FDA were considered viable . However, determination of a quantitative relationship between FDA staining and fungal activity is necessary before such an assumption can be made . Growth rates and the rate of change in the percentage of FDA-stained hyphae were significantly correlated . The regression equation calculated for the relationship was: growth rate (mg . ml-1 . h-1) = 0.34 + 1.1 (rate of change in the percentage of FDA-stained hyphae { . ml-1 . h-1}) . Changes in activity as measured by O2 utilization, glucose utilization, and biomass correlated significantly with changes in the percentage of FDA-stained hyphae, although the relationships among these parameters were different for each fungal species . Fungal growth stage was also correlated with the percentage of FDA-stained hyphae . Staining was 10% or greater during fungal growth and less than 10% during the late growth, stationary, and death phases . Thus, the rate of change in the percentage of FDA-stained hyphae can be used to predict fungal activity rate changes for single fungal cultures and growth rates for mixed fungal cultures, and the growth stage can be assessed by the percentage of FDA-stained hyphae.

J Med Educ, 1982 Aug, 57(8), 602 - 8
A program for training physician-investigators; Lehotay DC et al.; A decreasing number of physicians are selecting careers in clinical investigation . In order to aid in reversing this trend, the Physician Investigator Training Program for residents and postdoctoral fellows was developed within the Department of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine . Ph . D.s with broad-based research experience serve as the core faculty . The trainees are not assigned clinical duties during the two-year period of the program . The first nine months of the curriculum consist of formal lectures and laboratory training encompassing basic laboratory techniques, cell and tissue culture, separation techniques, advanced instrumental techniques, kinetics, enzymology and receptors, membrane structure and transport, radioimmunoassay, statistical analysis, computer programming, mathematics, microbiology, animals in research, immunology, epidemiology, teaching methods, and manuscript and grant-writing . The last 15 months are devoted to a supervised laboratory research project . The program may serve as a model to train increased numbers of physician-investigators.

Br J Surg, 1982 Jul, 69(7), 401 - 3
Anorectal sepsis: microbiology in relation to fistula-in-ano; Grace RH et al.; One hundred and sixty-five patients presented in a 4-year period: 68 (41.2 per cent) had had previous anorectal sepsis and in 56 of these patients (82.3 per cent) the presenting sepsis was at the site of the previous abscess . The abscesses were drained and pus was sent for culture; any fistula, if found, was laid open . A second examination under anaesthesia was performed within 7--10 days if no fistula had been found . The pus from 114 patients grew bowel-derived organisms; 62 (54.4 per cent) fistulas were found . The pus from 34 patients grew skin-derived organisms but no fistula was demonstrated in this group . It is suggested that a second examination need only be performed if culture of the pus grows bowel-derived organisms: anorectal abscesses which grow skin-derived organisms are not associated with a fistula.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1982 Jul, 78(1), 54 - 7
Anisakis larval type I in fresh salmon; Rosset JS et al.; Larval ascarid nematodes recently discovered in fresh salmon were identified as Anisakis larval Type I, this roundworm is the etiologic agent of anisakiasis, a parasitic disease characterized by eosinophilic granulomas affecting the human gastrointestinal tract . Infection may occur following ingestion of raw or poorly cooked fish . Patients generally present with an acute abdominal syndrome mimicking a wide variety of clinical conditions, thus creating a diagnostic dilemma . Unselected samples of fresh salmon tested by the University of Michigan Clinical Microbiology Laboratory and School of Public Health were all infected, the mean worm burden calculated as 79.3 larvae per kilogram of fish . The significance of this infection and the implications for morbidity in the United States are discussed.

Am J Physiol, 1982 Jul, 243(1), R185 - 92
Coulometric microrespirometry; Heusner AA et al.; Capacitive coulometry is based on the automatic quantitative replacement of O2 consumed by an animal in a closed system with electrolytic O2, produced by discharging a capacitor through a CuSO4 solution . The sensitivity of the device is better than 0.1 nl . The unit volume of O2 produced (1 nl) is both accurate and precise within 1% in a temperature range from 2.8 to 40 degrees C . The upper limit of recordable O2 consumption is 1 ml/h . The microrespirometer can be autoclaved, making the technique ideally suited for metabolic studies in microbiology, cell and organ cultures, and comparative physiology.

J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Jul, 16(1), 60 - 2
Further evaluation of the Biken test (modified Elek test) for detection of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli producing heat-labile enterotoxin and application of the test to sampling of heat-stable enterotoxin; Honda T et al.; A total of 2,229 strains of Escherichia coli isolated from subjects with traveller's diarrhea were tested for heat-labile enterotoxin production by the Biken test (Honda et al., J . Clin . Microbiol . 13:1--5, 1981) . Results of the Biken test showed a 99.0% coincidence with those obtained by Chinese hamster ovary cell assay . The use of antiserum against E . coli heat-labile enterotoxin gave sharper and clearer results than did the use of antiserum against cholera enterotoxin . Samples for heat-stable enterotoxin assay were obtained from the agar plates used for the Biken test, and the heat-stable enterotoxin activities of these samples were compared with those of samples obtained from standard liquid cultures . Results for samples of 2,229 strains from the Biken agar plates and from liquid cultures were almost identical.

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol, 1982 Jul, 54(1), 12 - 4
Localized oral blastomycosis mimicking actinomycosis; Rose HD et al.; A case of blastomycosis limited to the oral cavity is presented . The disease apparently originated in the mandible and eroded into the oral cavity . Secondary bacterial infection of the sinus tracts resulted in a clinical picture that mimicked cervicofacial actinomycosis . Appropriate microbiologic studies, including culture confirmation of the causative organism, were necessary to establish a definitive diagnosis.

JAMA, 1982 Jun 25, 247(24), 3337 - 9
Head and neck infection after renal transplantation; Reyna J et al.; Infections of the head and neck were identified in 12 (9%) of 128 consecutive patients undergoing renal transplantation . The infections included sinusitis, otitis media, dental abscess, Ludwig's angina, parotitis, and nasal abscess . A significant correlation was found between the development of infection and juvenile-onset diabetes but not with previous splenectomy . None of the infections occurred during treatment of rejection episodes with corticosteroids . The clinical presentations and microbiologic agents causing the infections were similar to those found in nonimmunosuppressed patients.

Bull Assoc Anat (Nancy), 1982 Jun, 66(193), 225 - 39
Electron microscopic study of the oviduct epithelium of the rabbit: normal structure and modifications in 4 weeks experimental hydrosalpinx; Foroglou C et al.; The ultrastructure of the oviduct epithelium in its ampullary portion has been examined in 10 rabbits . As normal control material we used microbiopsies of tubal mucosa, taken before ligature of the oviduct . The experimental material consisted of microbiopsies of tubal mucosa, taken in the same animals, 4 weeks after ligature of the oviduct and subsequent induction of hydrosalpinx . The main morphological alteration of the epithelium in hydrosalpinx consisted of absence of cilia in certain areas and presence of vacuoles in the cytoplasm of the ciliated cells . The secretory cells showed an increased number of granules in their cytoplasm . These observations suggest that 4 weeks after ligature of the oviduct the destruction of cilia and the increase of secretions may cause an impairment in the ovum transport through the oviduct.

Hautarzt, 1982 Jun, 33(6), 315 - 20
{Occlusive thrombotic lymphangiofibrosis of the penis}; Marsch WC et al.; The disease is characterized by a painless tender and mainly worm-like lesion which partly or totally encircles the distal penis, proximal of the sulcus coronarius . Usually, there are no local or regional inflammatory signs of the glans, preputium, or the inguinal lymph nodes . The anatomic target is a lymphatic collecting vessel . The pathologic process is morphologically based on three major features: lymphostasis, coagulation thrombus formation, and vessel wall thickening . We therefore propose the term lymphangiofibrosis thrombotica occlusiva . Men 20-40 years of age are most commonly affected . A therapeutic measure is not necessary, unless there is no spontaneous regression which one can except in 90% of the patients within 2 months . Mechanical and unknown microbiologic insults are discussed as etiological factors . Furthermore, the topographical distribution of blood and lymphatic vessels of the distal penis region is delineated . Six patients are presented with the clinical data.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1982 Jun, 43(6), 1294 - 9
Development of high heat resistance of Arizona neotype by preincubation at 35 degrees C in media containing NaCl; Ng H; When cells of Arizona neotype were preincubated at 35 degrees C in a medium containing NaCl (1 to 10%), they were found to be much more heat resistant upon being tested at 57 degrees C in a Trypticase (BBL Microbiology Systems) soy-yeast extract broth medium containing 10% NaCl than cells that had not been preincubated . Although no growth takes place during preincubation in the presence of 10% NaCl, some metabolic activity is necessary, since the presence of 2,4-dinitrophenol during incubation reduced the amount of gain in heat resistance . Incubation in the presence of N2, instead of air, abolished the effect . Chloramphenicol and rifampin, however, had no effect . Preincubated cells were just as heat resistant when separated by centrifugation and suspended in a fresh medium as when suspended in the incubated supernatant liquid . Conversely, the incubated supernatant liquid did not confer increased heat resistance upon unincubated cells . The increase in heat resistance, therefore, is probably a result of the salt osmotically plasmolyzing the cells by removing intracellular water, thus rendering the cellular contents more stable to heat . It is not known, however, why metabolic activity is necessary.

Pflugers Arch, 1982 Jun, 393(4), 308 - 12
Changes in "active" and "inactive" renin in the juxtaglomerular apparatuses of rat nephrons and plasma induced by different salt intake; Gillies A et al.; The juxtaglomerular apparatuses (JGA) of deep and superficial nephrons were isolated by microbiopsy or by microdissection . Inactive renin content was determined by acidification of JGA or plasma to pH 3.0 . In rats with low salt intake the renin content of superficial JGA was 13.4 +/- 3.0 ng AI/JGA/h before and 20.4 +/- 3.4 ng AI/JGA/h (n = 9), P less than 0.05) after acidification . The corresponding values for deep JGA were 9.1 +/- 1.2 ng AI/JGA/h and 12.7 +/- 2.7 ng AI/JGA/h (n = 9, P less than 0.01) . The plasma renin concentration was 54.1 +/- 15.0 ng AI/ml/h before and 56.0 +/- 10.6 ng AI/JGA/h (n = 7, N.S.) after acidification . In rats with a normal salt intake the superficial renin JGA renin content was 11.6 +/- 2.3 ng AI/JGA/h before and 11.0 +/- 2.7 ng AI/JGA/h (n = 9, N.S.) after acidification . The renin content of deep JGA was 4.6 +/- 0.6 ng AI/JGA/h before and 8.6 +/- 3.1 ng AI/JGA/h (n = 9, P less than 0.005) after acidification . Plasma renin concentration was 34.5 +/- 4.7 ng AI/ml/h and did not change after acidification . In rats with a high salt intake superficial JGA content was 6.8 +/- 1.7 ng AI/JGA/h before and 8.4 +/- 2.1 ng AI/JGA/h (n = 9, N.S.) after acidification . The corresponding values for deep JGA were 5.7 +/- 1.6 ng AI/JGA/h and 6.9 +/- 1.6 ng AI/JGA/h (n = 9, N.S.) respectively . Plasma renin concentration was 13.1 +/- 1.1 ng AI/ml/h and this to 21.8 +/- 2.9 ng AI/ml/h (n = 8, P less than 0.01) after acidification . These results suggest that although the synthesis of active and inactive renin is linked, the secretion of the two forms may be independent.

Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther Toxicol, 1982 Jun, 20(6), 268 - 70
The successful treatment of mycotic infections in immunosuppressed renal transplant recipients with ketoconazole; Zazgornik J et al.; Ketoconazole, a new broad-spectrum antimycotic drug, was administered to six renal transplant recipients with mucocutaneous and/or systemic candidosis . A beneficial clinical and microbiologic effect was seen in the treated patients . This orally administered drug was well tolerated, and side effects were not evident . Our results indicate that good treatment of mycotic infections can be expected even in patients with impaired graft function, since ketoconazole metabolism occurs mainly in the liver.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1982 Jun, 125(6), 678 - 80
Bacterial cultures of the lower respiratory tract in normal volunteers with and without experimental rhinovirus infection using a plugged double catheter system; Halperin SA et al.; To test a method of obtaining specimens for microbiologic culture from the lower respiratory tract, we bronchoscoped 25 otherwise normal subjects with and without experimental rhinovirus infections and collected specimens for bacterial culture with a brush housed in a plugged double catheter apparatus . Fifty-two specimens of the lower respiratory tract were obtained from the 25 subjects; nasopharyngeal swabs were also obtained from each subject prior to bronchoscopy . Specimens obtained from the lower respiratory tract were positive for bacteria in 21 (84%) of 25 subjects and at 38 (73%) of 52 sites . The frequency of obtaining positive bacterial cultures was similar in volunteers with (69%) or without (90%) rhinovirus infection . Oropharyngeal contamination of bronchial specimens was minimized by administering atropine and by bronchoscoping subjects in the supine or Trendelenburg position . These data indicate that the plugged double catheter brush system does not consistently yield specimens that are free of bacterial contamination from the oropharynx.

Am J Med Technol, 1982 Jun, 48(6), 525 - 9
Use of gram stain to predict vitreous fluid infection; Durfee K et al.; To determine whether vitreous fluid Gram stains can successfully predict and indicate the nature of intraocular bacterial infection while awaiting culture results, a retrospective study of Gram stain and culture results on 12 endophthalmitis cases over the last two years was conducted . Out of ten culture-positive vitreous fluids, seven demonstrated bacteria on direct Gram stain and three had negative Gram stain results . Vitreous fluid artifacts resembling bacteria were seen in two other Gram stains and are described . When organisms are present in the vitreous fluid, they are frequently visible on a Gram-stained smear . The microbiologist must be able to differentiate the Gram stain appearance of normal vitreous fluid, probable artifacts, and infected vitreous fluid . Experience and diligence of the microbiologist are essential to correctly evaluate the vitreous fluid Gram stains.

J Bacteriol, 1982 May, 150(2), 984 - 8
Genetic mapping of ada and adc mutations affecting the adaptive response of Escherichia coli to alkylating agents; Sedgwick B; The adaptive response to alkylating agents is an inducible repair system which protects Escherichia coli against the mutagenicity and toxicity of these agents . Four mutations, ada-3, ada-5, ada-6, and adc-1, which confer differing phenotypes as regards this response, were shown to be cotransducible with gyrA, and were located at 47 min on the E . coli genetic map . A mutation already shown on the map at 47 min as tag (B . J . Bachmann and K . B . Low, Microbiol . Rev . 44:1--56, 1980; Karran et al., J . Mol . Biol . 140:101--127, 1980) is now known to be an ada mutation (G . Evensen and E . Seeberg, personal communication).

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1982 Apr, (4), 96 - 8
{Evaluation of the safety, reactogenicity and antigenic activity of inactivated chromatographic influenza vaccine in school children}; Vasil'eva RI et al.; To evaluate the safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity of inactivated chromatographic influenza vaccine A(H3N2) produced by the Pasteur Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology in Leningrad, children aged 7-15 years received the vaccine intradermally in doses of 114-228 IU, and 152 children received placebo . In this study inactivated influenza vaccine introduced parenterally to children aged 11-15 years in a dose of 228 IU proved to be nonreactogenic . The reactogenicity index of the preparation injected in a dose of 114 IU to children aged 7-10 years was 0.6% . Immunization in a single injection was accompanied by significant seroconversions in 87.5%-96.0% of children with the highly pronounced growth of antibody titers (21.1-34.6 times) . The complex of clinico-laboratory tests showed the safety of this preparation for both age groups.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1982 Apr, 43(4), 895 - 8
Increased production of aflatoxins by Aspergillus parasiticus Speare in the presence of rubratoxin B; Moss MO et al.; The influence of rubratoxin B, a metabolite of Penicillium rubrum Stoll, on the growth and aflatoxin production of a strain of Aspergillus parasiticus Speare grown in the chemically defined medium of Reddy et al . (Appl . Microbiol . 22:393-396, 1971) was studied . After 4 days of incubation on a rotary shaker at 25 degrees C, the presence of 10 microgram/ml caused 45 to 50% reduction in dry weight production, although at the same concentration of rubratoxin B, the reduction of growth after 10 days was only 15% . In the presence of 50 microgram/ml there was a reduction in dry weight production of 94% after 4 days of incubation, and it was still 86% after 8 days . Rubratoxin B concentrations of 50 microgram/ml and higher usually caused a reduction in aflatoxin production in the medium comparable with the reduction in biomass, but at concentrations as low as 10 microgram/ml, there was a pronounced increase in the production of aflatoxins, especially of G1, despite the reduction in biomass . The ecological significance of these observations is discussed.

J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Mar, 15(3), 362 - 5
Exoantigen Studies of Sporothrix schenckii, Ceratocystis minor, and Graphium penicilliodes cultures; Polonelli L et al.; Cultures of Sporothrix schenckii were serologically tested by the exoantigen immunodiffusion technique of Kaufman and Standard (L . Kaufman and P.G . Standard, J . Clin . Microbiol . 8:42-45, 1978) . This rapid and sensitive technique permitted the identification of 10 isolates of S . schenckii within 3 days . The production of the antigen-antiserum reference system and exoantigens with two different methods are reported . The demonstration of common antigens in S . schenckii and Ceratocystis minor, the suspected perfect state of S . schenckii, indicates that the two are antigenically related; however, the question as to whether C . minor represents the perfect form of S . schenckii will depend upon the induction of a sexual state in S . schenckii.

J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Mar, 15(3), 447 - 55
Thin-layer chromatography of lipid antigens as a means of identifying nontuberculous mycobacteria; Brennan PJ et al.; The previously described thin-layer chromatography procedure (Brennan et al., J . Clin . Microbiol . 8:374-379, 1978) for identifying serovars of the Mycobacterium avium-M . intracellulare-M . scrofulaceum complex, based on their specific C-mycoside glycopeptidolipid antigens, has now been extended to all 31 known serovars . Photographs of the characteristic pattern of the glycopeptidolipids are presented . Although the procedure is fraught with the difficulties inherent to comparative thin-layer chromatography, it is particularly suitable for the screening of isolates which are not amenable to seroagglutination, such as those which autoagglutinate or for which antisera are not presently available . In this way it was possible to tell whether isolates were of the M . avium-M . intracellulare-M . scrofulaceum complex and whether or not they had previously been recognized . Knowledge of the chemical features of the typing antigens nontuberculous mycobacteria other than M . avium-M . intracellulare-M . scrofulaceum strains also enables us to develop thin-layer chromatography systems for the identification of M . kansasii, M . szulgai, members of the M . gordonae complex, M . terrae, M . xenopi, and M . gastri.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Mar, 21(3), 399 - 401
Assay of netilmicin, using enzyme immunoassay for gentamicin; Larson T et al.; A homogenous enzyme immunoassay for the quantitative determination of netilmicin in serum was developed . The procedure utilizes a commercially available assay for gentamicin (EMIT; Syva Co., Palo Alto, Calif.) . The method was adapted to a microcentrifugal analyzer, and log-logit regression analysis was performed with a computer . The results of samples assayed by this method correlate well with microbioassay (r2 = 0.985) and radioimmunoassay (r2 = 0.986) . This method is not only precise and accurate, but also very rapid and economical and compares favorably to other available methods of netilmicin assay.

Laryngoscope, 1982 Mar, 92(3), 273 - 7
Panel discussion: pathogenesis of otitis media . Pathology and microbiology of otitis media; Meyerhoff WL et al.; Otitis media (OM) can be subdivided into purulent, serous, mucoid, and chronic forms . It may occur in the absence of tympanic membrane changes and involve the inner ear . Purulent otitis media is characterized early by edema, hyperemia, and polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration in the subepithelial space (SES) and later by mucosal metaplasia, granulation tissue, and osteitis . S . pneumoniae and H . influenza are most commonly identified . Serous and mucoid OM frequently develop from eustachian tube dysfunction . Serous transudate from vessels in the SES passes to the middle ear (serous otitis media) . Basal cells differentiate into goblet cells and subepithelial glandular formation occurs . This secretory activity, coupled with fluid reabsorption, results in a mucoid effusion . Bacteria can be cultured from about 30% of these effusions . Chronic otitis media denotes irreversible tissue pathology . It may be sterile although S . aureus and coliform bacteria are frequently isolated.

J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Mar, 15(3), 366 - 71
Rapid typing of herpes simplex virus based on immunological specificity of viral thymidine kinase and typing according to sensitivity to iododeoxyuridine; Gronowitz JS et al.; We describe two methods for typing of herpes simplex virus (HSV) . One procedure is based on the finding that the multiplication of HSV type 1 strains in primary rabbit kidney cells is inhibited by 2 x 10(-5) M iododeoxyuridine, whereas growth of HSV type 2 strains is considerably less affected . Forty-nine different HSV isolates were typed according to this method . For all isolates except two the results were found to be in agreement with results obtained by another typing procedure, the counterimmunoelectroosmophoretic method (S . Jeansson, Appl . Microbiol . 24:96-100, 1972) . One HSV type 1 isolate behaved as a type 2 strain and was found to be a deoxythymidine kinase-negative mutant strain . The other deviant strain exhibited an intermediate iododeoxyuridine sensitivity, thus being impossible to type with this method . Another, faster typing procedure which is based on the immunological difference between HSV type 1 and 2 deoxythymidine kinase is also presented . This assay, in combination with the conventional methods for isolation, enables the detection of deoxythymidine kinase-negative therapy-resistant HSV strains . Finally, we report the detection and typing of HSV deoxythymidine kinase present in vesicle fluids.

Fed Regist, 1982 Mar 19, 47(54), 11880 - 2
Medical devices; various proposed rules for device classification; withdrawal of proposed rules . Food and Drug Administration . Withdrawal of proposed rules; Chemical Abstracts coverage of the preclinical sciences journal literature; This study examines Chemical Abstracts (CA) coverage of the journal literature cited by researchers from preclinical science departments affiliated with medical schools . Using references from 70 dissertations written between 1973 and 1977 in the fields of anatomy, biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology, and physiology, coverage of journal articles was studied . Approximately 57% of the cited literature was covered . Biochemistry (83.5%), pharmacology (80.4%), and microbiology (76.2%) were covered the best while pathology (27.8%) was covered the worst . Coverage of anatomy (55.4%), immunology (40.1%), and physiology (42.4%) was dependent upon the research being conducted . With the advent of multidata base searching, Chemical Abstracts should be considered as a source of references for preclinical science researchers.

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1982, 76(5), 587 - 9
The susceptibility of Culicoides variipennis Coq . (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) to laboratory infection with Rift Valley fever virus; Jennings M et al.; The vector potential of Culicoides variipennis for Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) was investigated . Insects from a colony maintained at the Animal Virus Research Institute, Pirbright, were fed through a membrane on a mixture of mouse blood and RVFV (virus concentration of blood meal 7 X 95 log10 MLD50ml) . Engorged insects were maintained at 25 degrees C +/- 1 degrees C . Samples of insects were tested at daily intervals to determine their virus content . Four of the five females tested immediately after feeding contained virus . The mean virus concentration of these infected flies was 2 X 7 log10MLD50 . The virus concentration per fly decreased to 0 by day 2 post infection . On day 3, a virus concentration of 2 X 4 log10 MLD50 per fly was recorded from a pool of 17 flies but between day 4 and day 12 when the experiment terminated no virus was detected in any of the 135 females tested . Because of the pathogenic nature of RVFV, this work was carried out under the stringent security regulations at the PHLS Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research, Porton Down . The problems arising from experiments requiring the handling and infection of insects under such conditions are described.

J Neurosci Res, 1982, 8(2-3), 241 - 50
Comparative features of spinal neuronotrophic factors in fluids collected in vitro and in vivo; Manthorpe M et al.; Survival in monolayer culture of 4-day (stage 23) chick embryo lumbar spinal cord neurons can be regulated by two opposing activities . One, spinal neuronotrophic activity, promotes neuronal survival; and the other, spinal neuronotoxic activity, eliminates the neurons from the culture even when the trophic support is present at an optimal concentration . Quantitative microbioassays for each activity are presented and used to measure the relative amounts of each agent within different sources including glial, muscle, and spinal cord cell-conditioned media and fluid collected from peripheral and central nervous tissue lesions . Although both activities were present in all of the sources tested, their concentrations in the wound fluids were orders of magnitude greater than in the conditioned media . The fluid-derived trophic activities were inactivated by heat and trypsin and nondialyzable, whereas all of the conditioned media-derived trophic activities were heat- and trypsin-resistant and dialyzable.

Acta Anat (Basel), 1982, 113(3), 226 - 34
Ultrastructural localization of calcium in human uterine tube epithelial cells; Lindenbaum ES et al.; Microbiopsies of 38 specimens of human Fallopian tube fimbrial epithelium obtained during hysterosalpingectomy operations were processed for electron microscopic observation . Calcium localization was demonstrated utilizing the pyroantimonate-osminium-tetroxide technique . Calcium deposits were consistently observed as scattered granules in the nuclei, nucleoli, and cell membranes of secretory and ciliary cells regardless of the stage of the menstrual cycle . On the other hand, mitochondrial-bound calcium was observed in the ciliary cells during the preovulatory phase, coinciding with relatively high estrogen levels, and was not found during the peri- and postovulatory phases of the menstrual cycle . It appears that there is cellular calcium which is relatively stable and is probably part of the structural components of the cells . The ciliary cell mitochondrial calcium appears to be more labile and is therefore available for mobilization and utilization in the metabolic processes associated with the periovulatory phase.

Acta Anat (Basel), 1982, 113(1), 69 - 77
Juxtanuclear globule of the human fimbrial epithelium ciliary cell: a histo- and cytochemical study; Peretz BA et al.; Microbiopsies of human Fallopian tube fimbrial epithelium were obtained during routine gynecological operations, and during pregnancy while undergoing hysterectomy in the first trimester or cesarean section in the third trimester . Specimens were studied under light and electron microscopes utilizing histo- and cytochemical techniques . Large juxtanuclear globules were demonstrated in the ciliary cell at all stages of the cycle . During the proliferative phase, these globules contained large lipid droplets and glycogen rosettes . The content of the globules in the early luteal phase was mostly amorphous electron-lucid material which failed to stain with PAS, alcian blue and the Millon reaction . However, reaction products of acid phosphatase as well as calcium precipitate were scattered in them as discrete granules . The same type of globule was found in early pregnancy . During late luteal phase and late pregnancy, the content of the globule was once again composed of lipids and glycogen . It seems that lipid and glycogen accumulate during the preovulatory phase, while depletion and dispersion of these substances occur in the periovulatory phase, probably due to increased energy utilization . Late luteal phase revealed subsequent replenishment of these reserves, as was also revealed in late pregnancy.

J Bacteriol, 1982 Jan, 149(1), 1 - 5
Relationship between temperature and growth rate of bacterial cultures; Ratkowsky DA et al.; The Arrhenius Law, which was originally proposed to describe the temperature dependence of the specific reaction rate constant in chemical reactions, does not adequately describe the effect of temperature on bacterial growth . Microbiologists have attempted to apply a modified version of this law to bacterial growth by replacing the reaction rate constant by the growth rate constant, but the modified law relationship fits data poorly, as graphs of the logarithm of the growth rate constant against reciprocal absolute temperature result in curves rather than straight lines . Instead, a linear relationship between in square root of growth rate constant (r) and temperature (T), namely, square root = b (T - T0), where b is the regression coefficient and T0 is a hypothetical temperature which is an intrinsic property of the organism, is proposed and found to apply to the growth of a wide range of bacteria . The relationship is also applicable to nucleotide breakdown and to the growth of yeast and molds.

Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 1982, 16(4), 383 - 419
Fish silage: a review; Raa J et al.; Based on a review of various production principles of fish silage, this paper discusses the prospects of introduction of this method, as an alternative to fish meal, to utilize low value fish and waste products, particularly in developing countries . The paper covers the biochemistry, microbiology, and nutritional aspects of fish silage, as well as production technology and economy.

Boll Ist Sieroter Milan, 1982, 61(6), 473 - 82
{Risk factors in maternal-fetal infections . Research conducted in 93 cases}; Franchi M et al.; The results of microbiologic cultures from 186 vaginal samples obtained from 93 labouring women have been compared with the results of the microbiologic cultures from meconium of their newborns, to test possible risk-factors for IMF . The high frequency of positive cultures from vaginal samples (83.3%), constantly with strong bacterial charge, and the proved direct mother to foetus transmission for many potential pathogens (23.6%), cause various interpretative problems and require further studies.

J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Jan, 15(1), 181 - 3
Production of K88, K99, and 987P antigens by Escherichia coli cultured on synthetic and complex media; Francis DH et al.; A synthetic medium (E agar) containing glucose and citric acid as the only organic nutrients was found superior to blood agar, Minca-IsoVitaleX (BBL Microbiology Systems, Cockeysville, Md.) agar and broth, and tryptic soy broth (without glucose) for promoting expression of K99 antigen by Escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrheic calves and piglets.

Clin Exp Hypertens A, 1982, 4(11-12), 2259 - 71
Formation and activation of renin in vivo; Gillies A et al.; Active and acid activated renin was measured in glomeruli of rats obtained by microbiopsy and in rat plasma . Sodium depletion increased total and active renin in the juxtaglomerular apparatus and approximately one third of the renin was in an inactive form in sodium depletion . Sodium loading decreased active and total renin and there was no inactive renin present . In plasma changes in a similar direction occurred for active and total renin but in sodium depletion there was no inactive renin present while with sodium loading approximately 40% was in the inactive form . Haemorrhage caused a release of active renin in both sodium states and did not alter the renin content of the J.G.A . Increased delivery of sodium chloride to the macula densa increased the active renin content of J.G.A . but did not alter the total renin content . These results are compatible with two different roles of the renin angiotensin system . One being concerned with intrarenal regulation of glomerular filtration and renal blood flow and the other with maintenance of vascular tone . The conversion of inactive renin to active renin being of particular importance in the regulation of G.F.R.

Am J Physiol, 1982 Jan, 242(1), F63 - 8
Aldosterone binding in isolated tubules I . Biochemical determination in proximal and distal parts of the rabbit nephron; Farman N et al.; Microbiochemical methods were applied to proximal tubules (PCT) and a mixture of distal and cortical collecting tubules (D + C) of rabbit kidney in order to define aldosterone binding sites . For each experiment, after incubation of kidney pyramids with {3H}aldosterone ({3H}A), either alone or in the presence of an excess unlabeled A, 100-150 mm of both categories of tubules were microdissected using collagenase . Specific binding was determined on the nuclear fraction of each sample . Aldosterone concentrations ranged from 2 X 10(-9) to 4.5 X 10(-8) M . No specific binding was detectable in PCT . Specific binding in D + C increased rapidly as a function of {3H}A concentration up to 5 X 10(-9) M and then more slowly . No plateau was reached . Both the absence of saturation of the binding curve and the curvilinear aspect of the Scatchard plot suggested the presence of two binding sites, one of high affinity, presumably a mineralocorticoid site, and the other of lower affinity, possibly a glucocorticoid site . These experiments suggest that the distal structures of the nephron, located in the cortex, are the main sites of binding of aldosterone and contain a high number of specific binding sites for this hormone.

Nephrologie, 1982, 3(1), 12 - 8
{Pharmacokinetics of cefotaxime and metabolites in uremic patients (author's transl)}; Fillastre JP et al.; The study was done after a single dose in 6 normal subjects and 24 patients with varying degrees of renal insufficiency . In normal subjects, the results are similar whatever the assays are used . In uremic patients, the half-life for the terminal phase increased with renal failure with the microbioassay, but it is demonstrated that deacetyl cefotaxime has only a prolonged half - life with a more specific assay = HPLC method . After repetitive doses, the tendency for accumulation was only noted in patients with very severe renal failure (creatinine clearance less than 5 ml.min-1).

Infection, 1982, 10 Suppl 1, S19 - 24
Microbiology Diagnosis of chlamydia trachomatis infection; Ripa KT; The etiological diagnosis of what is today known as infection by Chlamydia trachomatis was first made possible in 1907 when Halberstaedter and von Prowazek identified inclusions in conjunctival scrapings by means of Giemsa staining . C . trachomatis was originally classified as a virus, and the culture systems used were those for viruses . Macchiavello was the first to describe the isolation of C . trachomatis in embryonated hens' eggs (1944), but the first isolation is usually credited to T'ang and co-workers (1957), also using eggs . A major step in the understanding of chlamydial infections was made in 1965 when Gordon and Quan published a paper on the use of irradiated McCoy cells for isolation purposes . This technique made it possible to perform cultures from genital specimens with simplicity in comparison to isolation from eggs . Various culture techniques have been developed parallel to the expanding knowledge of the basic biology of the genus Chlamydia . McCoy cells (mouse fibroblasts), HeLa 229 (derived from human cervical carcinoma cells) and BHK-21 cells (baby hamster kidney cells) are the cell types regularly used for the culture of C . trachomatis . The principles underlying the various culture techniques are discussed . A description of the original irradiated McCoy cell system and the simplified, sensitive technique using cycloheximide-treated McCoy cells are given in this paper.

Fertil Steril, 1981 Nov, 36(5), 599 - 605
Chlamydia trachomatis associated with chronic inflammation in abdominal specimens from women selected for tuboplasty; Henry-Suchet J et al.; Chronic inflammation is a frequent cause of tuboplasty failure . Therefore, it would be useful for one to know the microbiologic agent of infection and to treat it before the tuboplasty . By laparoscopy, a search for Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and other microbiologic agents was carried out in the peritoneum and tubes of 118 women divided into 3 groups . Sixty-nine had a checkup before tuboplasty, of which 30 were found to have a chronic inflammatory condition discovered during laparoscopy (group 1) and 39 to have no sign of inflammation (group 2) . Forty-nine women with a completely normal pelvis, being followed for possible sterility, were used as a control group . Cultures and serodiagnosis show a significant difference for C . trachomatis between the pathologic groups and the control group . They show no noticeable difference for U . urealyticum . These findings, compared with those by other authors, indicate that C . trachomatis could be an important microbiologic agent in tubal sterility, strongly connected with a low-grade chronic inflammatory condition, and their presence at the time of tuboplasty is to be considered.

J Nutr, 1981 Nov, 111(11), 1869 - 75
Radiometric--microbiologic assay of vitamin B-6: application to food analysis; Guilarte TR et al.; A radiometric microbiologic assay for vitamin B-6 was applied to food analysis . The method was shown to be specific, reproducible and simpler than the standard turbidimetric microbiologic technique . The analysis of seven commercially available breakfast cereals was compared to a high performance liquid chromatography method . Three out of the seven cereals agreed when assayed with both methods (P greater than 0.1) . Four cereals, however, differed in value considerably (P less than 0.05) . Further studies are required to determine whether these differences were due to different extraction procedures used . The study showed that the new radiometric-microbiologic method can be used to measure total vitamin B-6 or, combined with a column separation procedure, to analyze for specific forms of the vitamin.

Am J Med Technol, 1981 Nov, 47(11), 905 - 8
ELISA: a tool for the clinical microbiologist; Peterson EM; The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), with its ability to detect both antigens and antibodies, is finding an increasing number of applications in the clinical microbiology laboratory . This paper describes the basic steps common to all ELISA procedures, as well as the specific variations in technique . Applications of ELISA techniques to the clinical microbiology laboratory are reviewed, and commercially available materials and systems for elisa are discussed.

J Nutr, 1981 Nov, 111(11), 1861 - 8
Radiometric-microbiologic assay fo vitamin B-6: analysis of plasma samples; Guilarte TR et al.; A radiometric microbiologic assay for the analysis of vitamin B-6 in plasma was developed . The method is based on the measurement of 14CO2 generated from the metabolism of DL-l-14C-valine (L-l-14C-valine) by Kloeckera brevis . The assay is specific for the biologically active forms of the vitamin, that is, pyridoxine, pyridoxal and pyridoxamine, and their respective phosphorylated forms . The biologically inert vitamin B-6 metabolite (4-pyridoxic acid) did not generate a response at concentrations tested . The radiometric technique was shown to be sensitive to the 1 nanogram level . Reproducibility and recovery studies gave good results . Fifteen plasma samples were assayed using the radiometric and turbidimetric techniques . The correlation coefficient was r = 0.98 . Turbid material or precipitated debris did not interfere with the radiometric microbiologic assay, thus allowing for simplification of assay procedure.

Infect Immun, 1981 Nov, 34(2), 337 - 40
Immunological nonidentity of heat-labile enterotoxins from human and porcine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli; Honda T et al.; The Ouchterlony double-gel diffusion test demonstrated that heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) from human strains of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli was antigenically related but not identical to that from porcine E . coli . All human strains examined produced immunologically identical LTs, and all porcine strains examined produced immunologically identical LTs . The Biken test (modified Elek test), developed for detection of E . coli LT (Honda et al., J . Clin . Microbiol . 13: 1-5, 1981), was useful for confirmation of these results.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1981 Oct, 76(4 Suppl), 590 - 6
Quality control of agar diffusion susceptibility tests . Data from the Quality Assurance Service Microbiology Program of the College of American Pathologists; Knowles RC et al.; During the period from January 1979 through January 1981, 155 active participants in the Microbiology Program of the College of American Pathologists Quality Assurance Service (QAS) submitted approximately two million individuals determinations on three quality control reference strains . Of these determinations, 83% were obtained using the standardized disc-diffusion procedure of Bauer and co-workers, and, 6% using the agar overlay modification of Barry and associates . The mean and standard deviation for data obtained using these procedures were similar to those for data collected from the inception of the program in 1974 through December 1978 . The number of individual determinations falling above or below existing control limits, however, was significantly less for the present data than for that previously reported . These differences result from a change in computation procedures . In the current report percentages of daily values exceeding the NCCLS limits were calculated using actual counts, whereas in the previous reports these percentages were estimated by accepting an assumption of Gaussian distribution.

Arch Inst Pasteur Tunis, 1981 Sep-Dec, 58(3), 423 - 30
{Experimental realization of the life cycle of Ergasilus lizae Kroyer, 1853, parasitic Copepoda of the fish Mugilidae . First results of infestation}; Ben Hassine OK et al.; The life cycle of the parasitic Copepoda Ergasilus lizae with the infestation of a Mullet belonging to the species Liza aurata were obtained experimentally . The first results on the larval development process and the spreading over the branchial microbiotope by parasitic females are described.

Am J Dis Child, 1981 Sep, 135(9), 826 - 8
Abscesses complicating DTP vaccination; Bernier RH et al.; Reports of abscesses after the use of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine (DTP vaccine) from two different lots (No . 1 and 2) of a single manufacturer (manufacturer A) prompted an investigation into the rates of abscess formation following the use of DTP vaccine from several different manufacturers . A total of 74 abscesses for lot 1, 16 for lot 2, and three for other DTP products was uncovered . The overall rate after lots 1 and 2 was 1.1 per 1,000 doses administered compared with 0.01 per 1,000 doses for DTP vaccine from other manufacturers (P less than .0001) . Faulty technique, site and route of inoculation, microbiologic contamination, and hypersensitivity were ruled out as likely explanations for the increase in abscesses among recipients of DTP vaccine from manufacturer A . Use of a single needle to withdraw vaccine from the vial and to inoculate the vaccinees, combined with high aluminum adjuvant content in the implicated vaccine, may have led to an increased rate of abscess formation.

Eur J Immunol, 1981 Sep, 11(9), 734 - 8
Differences in the cell binding affinity of a cross-reactive monoclonal anti-Ia alloantibody in mice of different H-2 haplotypes; Birnbaum D et al.; The analysis of an Ia specificity was performed in several H-2 haplotypes by evaluating the affinity of the binding to mouse spleen cells of a monoclonal anti-Ia alloantibody . We used the monoclonal antibody 10-2.16 (Oi et al., Curr . Top . Microbiol . Immunol . 1978 . 81: 115.) which recognizes on I-A gene products a public specificity common to several H-2 haplotypes (f, ja, k, r, s and u) . One parameter of the affinity (dissociation rate constant) was determined by the kinetics of the dissociation of cellbound 125 I-labeled Fab fragments in the presence of homologous antibodies . The dissociation rate constants thus obtained were different when the antibody reacted with cells from mice bearing different haplotypes and were similar for reactions with different mouse strains bearing the same haplotype . These data strongly suggest that the Ia public determinants involved are not strictly identical in different haplotypes, and support the concept that a serological cross-reaction does not necessarily mean structural identity between public antigenic determinants.

J Periodontol, 1981 Sep, 52(9), 492 - 9
Determination of periodontal disease activity; Hancock EB; The determination of disease activity has a direct impact on therapeutic measures in periodontics . Evaluations that may indicate disease activity have been reviewed under the topics of traditional evaluations, gingival crevicular fluid contents, tissue changes, circulating factors, and sulcular microbiota . The traditional methods, such as probing, radiographs, and clinical indices, were static evaluations that had limited validity in determining disease activity . When used in longitudinal tests, these methods may be used retrospectively to detect disease activity . Evaluation of the contents of gingival crevicular fluid has promise as a noninvasive method of determining tissue changes in the periodontium . To date, none of the crevicular fluid constituents has been a reliable indicator of disease activity . Tissue changes in the periodontium are important in understanding the disease processes but have had limited value as indicators of disease activity . The ability to determine disease activity through identification of substances or changes in the systemic circulation would prove quite useful to the clinician . Although some reports found lymphocyte transformation indicative of active disease, others had conflicting results . Finally, examinations of sulcular microbiota provided evidence suggesting that active periodontal disease was associated with specific groups of pathogens and with elevated counts of motile organisms . The evaluation of such pathogens and motile organisms currently shows the most promise for determining periodontal disease activity . However, long-term assessments and further clinical trials are necessary before this type of evaluation can be widely accepted . It is hoped that such studies will enable the clinician to predict the natural history of active and inactive periodontal disease.

J Cutan Pathol, 1981 Aug, 8(4), 273 - 6
Scanning electron microscopic evidence of bacterial overgrowth in intertrigo; Burkhart CG et al.; A scanning electron microscopic (SEM) study of intertrigo is presented . Marked changes of the keratinocyte surface characteristics and in the number and distribution of bacteria in the various stages of intertrigo are reported . Bacterial overgrowth was significant . This study confirms the value of SEM in the study of the skin surface and in cutaneous microbiology.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1981 Aug, 42(2), 216 - 21
Rapid chemotaxis assay using radioactively labeled bacterial cells; Wellman AM et al.; A rapid chemotaxis assay is described in which radioactively labeled cells of the assay organism are used to detect the number of cells trapped in capillaries containing attractant . The sensitivity and reproducibility of the radioactive technique is comparable to that of the dilution plating procedure of Adler (J . Adler, J . Gen . Microbiol . 17:77-91, 1973), but is faster and also permits the results of the assay to be determined on the day that the assay is run . The method could be particularly useful for environmental studies and for field experiments, since it does not rely on sterile techniques for dilution plating.

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol, 1981 Aug, 52(2), 150 - 3
A retrospective study of patients with recurrent chronic atrophic candidosis; Samaranayake LP et al.; A retrospective study was carried out in thirty-seven patients who had recurrent chronic atrophic candidosis (CAC) . The factors commonly believed to predispose to CAC were investigated, including corrected whole blood folate, iron saturation, and vitamin B12 . The incidence of CAC based on clinical and microbiologic criteria was assessed before and after antifungal therapy and correction of predisposing factors . No significant difference was found . Hence, the role of additional, less well-known predisposing factors in the etiopathology of CAC should be considered when one is treating patients with recurrent, chronic Candida infections.

Am J Infect Control, 1981 Aug, 9(3), 70 - 5
Nosocomial pseudoepidemics and pseudoinfections: an increasing problem; Kusek JW; The infection control practitioner often relies on microbiologic data in order to conduct nosocomial infection surveillance and control activities . On the basis of a review of the medical literature, false positive culture and stained smear results representing pseudoinfection are being reported with greater frequency . Documented cases and clusters of pseudoinfectons are reviewed, and the epidemiologic characteristics and methods for detection and prevention of this increasingly recognized problem are discussed.

Am J Med Technol, 1981 Jul, 47(7), 567 - 8
Laboratory alert: clues to the identification of dermatophytes as the etiologic agents of subcutaneous abscesses; Head ES et al.; Trichophyton mentagrophytes was isolated on blood agar and in thioglycollate broth after prolonged incubations of four and seven days, respectively, of a routine bacterial culture taken from a subcutaneous abscess on the inner thigh of a 24 year old woman . The lesions had been present on both thighs for six months before correct diagnosis and treatment . Attention is called to the importance of clinical history to the alert microbiologist in determining the correct diagnosis of such lesions when the original bacterial culture reveals no growth after 48 hours.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1981 Jul, 76(1), 50 - 6
Microcomputer reporting and information system for microbiology; Norbut AM et al.; A computerized reporting and information system for microbiology employing a relatively inexpensive microcomputer is described . A comprehensive approach to accessioning and result entry for microbiology is presented . A daily laboratory worklist is generated for each work area, providing the responsible technologist with information on previously processed specimens . Manipulation of patient and specimen information permits the performance of various functions, including the generation of billing reports, workload statistics, quality-control summaries, epidemiologic surveys, and cumulative reports . The employment of many user-definable data lexicons allows optimal use of disk space while affording rapid information retrieval . Data file maintenance is automatically accomplished by the system, requiring no user intervention.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1981 Jul, 76(1), 43 - 9
Coordinated computer reporting of clinical microbiology data; Eggert AA et al.; The importance of the incorporation of microbiology information into the laboratory cumulative report implies that continuing efforts need to be made to enhance the readability and style of such reports . In addition, the optimizing of laboratory work flow around a computer record-keeping system in microbiology is essential to guarantee technologist satisfaction with and usage of the system . The efforts and results of extending a commercially available system in the microbiology laboratory are discussed and compared with another approach using the same system base . The project led to smooth laboratory work flow and highly successful combined reports . Necessary software modifications are summarized.

Sex Transm Dis, 1981 Jul-Sep, 8(3), 192 - 7
Treatment of chancroid with erythromycin; Carpenter JL et al.; Chancroid is a sexually transmitted disease that is not often recognized in the United States . It has traditionally been treated with sulfonamides and/or tetracyclines . Recently, 14 active-duty U . S . Army personnel who acquired chancroid in the Far East were seen at the Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Wash . All of the organisms were isolated from clinical material on solid media without the use of a blood-clot tube . Because of dissatisfaction with conventional treatment and the demonstration of in vitro sensitivity of the organism to erythromycin, seven of the last eight patients were treated with erythromycin . All patients treated with erythromycin had rapid and favorable responses and none suffered recurrences . The results of this study led to three conclusions: chancroid is a relatively common disease in the Far East, the causative organism can be isolated by most clinical microbiology laboratories with proper technique, and erythromycin is an effective drug in the treatment of chancroid.

Acta Cytol, 1981 Jul-Aug, 25(4), 373 - 6
Blind pleural biopsy in combination with cytology of pleural effusions; Winkelmann M et al.; The efficiency of a combination of blind pleural biopsy and pleural cytology was examined in a retrospective study of 181 cases observed between 1968 and 1978 . The material contained 64 confirmed cases of malignant tumors and 20 of tuberculosis . Of the tumors, 81.3% were diagnosed by one or both methods; 18.7% remained negative . In 53% of the cases, the positive diagnoses corresponded between the two methods; in 26.6% the tumor was found only by cytology and in 10.9%, only by histology . Repeat investigations slightly improved the results with both methods . Reasons for false-negative cytology were bad preservation, fibrosis, nonexfoliative tumors and a mistake of preparation in one case . False-positive results occurred twice in histology, and two cases judged highly suspicious by cytology proved to be clinically negative . In cases of tuberculosis, histologic diagnosis was superior to microbiologic diagnosis.

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol, 1981 Jul, 52(1), 19 - 22
Noma in a nonhuman primate; Buchanan W et al.; A lesion in Macaca cyclopis which appears to conform to defined characteristics of noma in human beings has been reported . Clinical features in common include the gangrenous appearance of the lesion, the association with necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, and the massive destruction of soft tissue and bone in the oronasofacial regions . Systemic features in common include debilitation of the host, leukocytosis, and depression of cellular immunologic responses . Microbiologic studies revealed the presence of organisms commonly found in necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis . The detection of true noma in nonhuman primates may now allow the opportunity for study of the etiology, pathophysiology, and therapy of this condition for human benefit.

Clin Biochem, 1981 Jun, 14(3), 157 - 8
Noise levels in hospital laboratories . Are they a problem and can they be reduced?
Pragay DA.
In this paper the question of noise level in laboratories was considered and the results of noise level measurements made in various areas of chemistry, hematology and microbiology laboratories in 15 hospitals in the Western New York area were presented . It was concluded that even though the measured noise levels were within the limits set by OSHA, they were sometimes quite high and should be reduced whenever possible.

Mol Biochem Parasitol, 1981 Jun, 3(2), 103 - 15
The cyclopropane fatty acid of trypanosomatids; Fish WR et al.; Cis-9,10-Methyleneoctadecanoic acid, one of a group of cyclopropane fatty acids commonly found in bacteria but not in eukaryotic cells, has been identified in the phosphatidylethanolamines of 27 isolates representing 5 genera of trypanosomatid flagellates (Crithidia, Leptomonas, Herpetomonas, Phytomonas, Leishmania) . Its presence did not appear to be associated with endosymbiotic or other microbiol associates . It was absent from 12 isolates of the genera Blastocrithidia, Endotrypanum and Trypanosoma.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1981 Jun, 41(6), 1316 - 20
Automation of the Limulus amoebocyte lysate test by using the Abbott MS-2 microbiology system; Jorgensen JH et al.; A rapid, automated method for the performance of the Limulus amoebocyte lysate endotoxin assay has been developed by using the Abbott MS-2 Microbiology System . This instrument automatically determines sequential changes in the optical density of up to 176 samples at 1- or 5-min increments during a 1-h assay period . Graphic representation of optical density changes can be viewed on a cathode-ray tube or reproduced by using a hard-copy printer . Limulus amoebocyte lysate preparations that were obtained from different commercial producers and that had similar endotoxin sensitivities by the conventional gelation method varied somewhat in reactivity when determinations were based upon rate changes in optical density . Lysates from Associates of Cape Cod, Difco Laboratories, and M . A . Bioproducts were the most readily adaptable to the MS-2 System . Use of the MS-2 system increased the sensitivity of these preparations from 60- to 250-fold, and as little as 1 pg/ml was detected . Adaptation of the MS-2 instrument for this purpose provides an objective, reproducible, automated method for the performance of Limulus amoebocyte lysate tests on a variety of fluids.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1981 Jun, 75(6), 822 - 5
Pseudo-sulfur granules associated with intrauterine contraceptive devices; O'Brien PK et al.; PIP: Microscopic slides of 235 samples of endometrial curettings obtained when an IUD was removed were reviewed for the presence of sulfur granule-like structures and IUD-associated material . Where such structures were present, the following stains were done: Gram, Ziehl-Neelsen, periodic acid-Schiff, Grocott's modification of Gomori's methenamine silver, and von Kossa's stain for calcium . A prospective study was conducted in an effort to determine a possible microbiologic origin of the "granules." 50 IUDs removed at the time of dilatation and curettage were cultured . The technics used are described . In 235 endometrial samples examined histologically, 17, or 7.2%, showed the presence of granular structures . 1 true actinomycotic granule was identified . There were 16, or 6.8%, examples of pseudo-sulfur granule; 71 endometria (30%) contained IUD-associated material . All of the pseudo-sulfur granules were found in samples containing the IUD-associated material . The finding of IUD associated material and granules was not related to the type of IUD that was removed . On histologic examination, the most common type of sulfur granule-like structure found showed a glassy eosinophilic color, a radiate appearance, and peripheral clubbing . 14 (28%) of the IUDs cultured yielded no growth, and 17 (34%) grew normal vaginal flora . 19 of the cultures yielded a variety of organisms not normally considered part of the vaginal flora; there was no association with a particular type of IUD . Of the 50 IUDs cultured, 3 had pseudo-sulfur granules in the histologic sections of the corresponding endometrial curettings . 33% of patients with pseudo-sulfur granules and 52% of patients without these granules sought removal of the IUD because of symptoms . The most common type of granule encountered is classified as a psuedo-sulfur granule and is nonpathogenic .

Am J Med, 1981 Jun, 70(6), 1215 - 21
Intravenous trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole therapy for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia; Sattler FR et al.; Twenty-nine immunocompromised patients were treated with intravenous trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for possible Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia . The diagnosis was established in 15 severely hypoxemic patients with lymphoreticular malignancy or cardiac transplants by open lung biopsy or transthoracic needle aspirate . In 13 (87 percent) of the 15, the response to therapy was rapid . They became afebrile in a mean of 2.1 days, showed improved arterial blood oxygenation in 4.7 days and improvements on the chest roentgenogram in 4.3 days . Eight (53 percent) of the 15 survived and were clinically cured . Five other patients with documented P . carinii infection improved clinically but subsequently died of other causes . Postmortem examination in these showed no P . carinii cysts . Two patients with P . carinii pneumonia died soon after therapy was started and had P . carinii cysts in lung tissue at autopsy . The combined clinical and microbiologic response of 87 percent equals or exceeds that of other reported treatment regimens . Intravenous trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole may, therefore, be the most ideal therapy for severely ill adults with P . carinii pneumonia . Second lung biopsies in 12 patients on therapy showed that P . carinii cysts were rarely found after several days of treatment . This suggests that lung tissue may be falsely negative for P . carinii cysts in persons treated empirically but who later undergo lung biopsy.

J Clin Microbiol, 1981 Apr, 13(4), 760 - 8
Alternative ways of estimating serological titer reproducibility; Wood RJ; A quantitative measure of the reproducibility of serum antibody titers has recently been proposed (R . J . Wood and T . M . Durham, J . Clin . Microbiol . 11: 541-545, 1980) . The measure advocated is "the probability that the maximum ratio of two distinct (integer) titers (obtained in the blind) on the same specimen will not exceed 2." This measure of the reproducibility of serological titers is considered to be a fixed probability for any given specimen and set of test conditions . Although it is a fixed constant during the time period of a study, there are alternative methods one might use to compute an estimate of it, using laboratory data . Four such methods of estimating test reproducibility are discussed and evaluated . The estimates obtained from the two principle methods are evaluated quantitatively by means of Monte Carlo computer simulation . The simulation results show that, from a given sample of replicate integer titers, these two principal methods yield estimates that are highly correlated . In addition, with moderate numbers of replicates (sample size) these methods provide estimates that are on the average properly directed at the true reproducibility values (that is, are essentially, unbiased), particularly when the true reproducibility of the test is at least 0.9 . The reliability, or stability, of the alternative estimates is studied for selected sample size.

Am J Med, 1981 Apr, 70(4), 941 - 6
Microbiologic sampling of the inanimate environment in U.S . hospitals, 1976-1977; Mallison GF et al.; Data obtained in the first two phases of the Study on the Efficacy of Nosocomial Infection Control (SENIC Project) indicate that in 1975 three-quarters of U.S . hospitals performed environmental culturing on a routine basis; however, between 1970 and 1975, one-quarter had reduced the extent of environmental culturing permanently . Large hospitals (greater than or equal to 200 beds) and those with an infection control nurse who had completed a training course in hospital epidemiology were more likely to have reduced the extent of culturing . In 1976-1977 hospitals that performed such culturing collected an average of 500 environmental cultures per year, whereas larger hospitals and those with an infection control nurse collected significantly fewer cultures . Only 28 percent of the approximately two million environmental cultures collected in U.S . hospitals in 1975 were indicated by recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and the American Hospital Association current at the time.

J Clin Microbiol, 1981 Apr, 13(4), 742 - 9
Evaluation of five gentamicin assay procedures for clinical microbiology laboratories; Selepak ST et al.; Five gentamicin assay procedures (a bioassay, an enzyme immunoassay, a latex agglutination inhibition test, a fluorescence immunoassay, and a radioimmunoassay) were evaluated to determine which was optimal for our laboratory . The evaluation was based on recovery and precision studies and results of analyses of patient samples, as well as technical assay performance factors . The latex agglutination inhibition test appears useful for laboratories performing only occasional assays for gentamicin; however, the fact that some rheumatoid factor-positive sera, as well as some other sera for unknown reasons, may give falsely low values is a potential drawback to this procedure . Because of its accuracy, precision, rapid turn-around time, and relative simplicity of performance, we selected the enzyme immunoassay procedure for routine use for gentamicin assays in our laboratory.

J Dent Res, 1981 Apr, 60(4), 770 - 5
In vivo enamel fluoride uptake from and caries inhibition by topical fluoride agents; Gibbs M et al.; Acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF), Duraphat or Fluor Protector, was applied to the molar teeth of rats fed a cariogenic diet . The first maxillary molar teeth were subjected to a microbiopsy procedure for fluoride analysis and the mandibular molars scored for caries . All three topical fluoride agents produced a significant increase in the fluoride content of the outermost 5.0 micron of enamel . Only APF produced a significant reduction in caries incidence at all sites.

J Appl Physiol, 1981 Apr, 50(4), 736 - 40
Release of oxygen products from lung macrophages by N-formyl peptides; Holian A et al.; Incubation of guinea pig pulmonary macrophages with N-formylmethionylphenylalanine (FMP) resulted in 1) a rapid increase in O2 consumption and 2) an accumulation of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide in the extracellular medium . The accumulation of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide was completely prevented in the presence of superoxide dismutase and catalase, respectively . FMP-stimulated O2 consumption and superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide accumulation were proportional to the macrophage concentration, showed similar dependence on FMP concentration, had nearly identical kinetics, and were partially abolished by antimycin A, an inhibitor of mitochondrial respiration . FMP also stimulated a three- to fourfold increase in hexose monophosphate shunt (HMS) activity . Catalase had no effect on the amount of glucose oxidized by the HMS, indicating that removal of hydrogen peroxide was without effect on the observed HMS activity . Since FMP is similar in structure to the oligopeptides of bacterial metabolism, its ability to stimulate the release of these microbiocidal products of oxygen metabolism may be important in vivo.

Cancer, 1981 Mar 1, 47(5), 1023 - 30
Infections in children with malignant disease in Argentina; Lopez E et al.; During six-month period, 102 consecutive episodes of fever in 68 children (ranging from 1 month to 14 years of age) with malignant diseases were prospectively evaluated . Sixty-five had acute lymphoblastic leukemia, nine had acute myeloblastic leukemia, nine had malignant lymphoma (four Hodgkin and five non-Hodgkin), five had chronic myeloid leukemia, four had rhabdomyosarcoma, three had CNS tumors, two had neuroblastoma, one had Wilms, and four had other malignant tumors . Forty cases (39.2%) showed severe neutropenia (500 neutrophil/m3) during the episode . S . aureus, E . coli, and S . pyogenes were in 53% of the 75 microbiologic isolates . Twenty-two percent of the viral studies were positive . Mycologic studies were all negative, except one case with C . Albicans . Pneumonia (33 cases), cellulitis (15 cases), pharyngitis (12 cases), and varicella (11 cases) were the most common final diagnosis . Seventy-one percent of the episodes were etiologically documented (by bacterial isolate, characteristic serology, and/or typical clinic picture); 19% of the febrile episodes were probable infections, and 10% were fever of uncertain cause . Ninety percent of the cases responded well to therapy, and mortality of this series was 7% . Gentamicin, Carbenicillin, and Methicilin were the more common antibiotics employed . We conclude that in our population 1) infection is a frequent cause of morbidity in children with malignant diseases; 2) the most common cause of the febrile episodes is bacterial infection; 3) S . aureus, E . coli and S . pyrogenes are the most frequent bacterial isolates, and P . aeruginosa is infrequent; 4)viral infections are relatively frequent in this group of children; and 5) with adequate management, the mortality is low.

Acta Endocrinol (Copenh), 1981 Mar, 96(3), 328 - 34
Protein composition in single follicles, homogenates and fine-needle aspiration biopsies from normal and diseased human thyroid; Anderberg B et al.; The protein composition of the thyroid colloid was analysed by microgel electrophoresis and densitometry in 41 euthyroid patients . The colloid samples were obtained from single follicles by micropuncture, from homogenates of microbiopsies or from aspiration biopsies . Fourteen of the patients had morphologically normal thyroid tissue, 18 had atoxic nodular goitre and 19 of the patients had atoxic adenoma . Ten of the patients with nodular goitre had prior to the investigation received lithium therapy for psychiatric disorders . The main component of the thyroid colloid was 19S thyroglobulin (TG), but larger iodoproteins (S-TG) and smaller protein fractions, an albumin-like protein and a pre-albumin fraction, were also present in varying relative amounts . Analyses of homogenates of microbiopsies from normal thyroid tissue demonstrated the same protein composition as observed in single follicles . In colloid samples from atoxic nodular goitre the lighter protein fractions were absent in most of the samples . Analyses of homogenates or aspiration biopsies could not demonstrate this alteration in the protein composition in nodular goitre . Lithium therapy resulted in a significantly lower amount of the lighter protein fractions but unchanged amounts of the globulin fractions in atoxic nodular goitre.

J Med Educ, 1981 Mar, 56(3), 167 - 73
Use of NBME examinations to assess retention of basic science knowledge; Kennedy WB et al.; About 10 years ago results of the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) "Minitest," comprised of samples of questions from NBME Part I and Part II tests, indicated that the change in performance in the total basic science examinations would be minimal between the second and fourth years of medical school . By inserting samples of Part I basic science questions into Part II, large scale tests could be made of the change in performance . In two pilot projects, in a longitudinal study of the same students at a two-year interval, in a cross-sectional study of two groups of students at the same time, and in a comparison of performance of basic science questions in the Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX), the prediction of the minitest results was sustained . Overall performance on all basic science questions decreased only a little . However, the changes in the individual disciplines ranged from a consistent improvement in pathology to a substantial decrease in biochemistry . Pharmacology and behavioral sciences fluctuated between small increases and decreases . Physiology, microbiology, and anatomy decreased consistently, but not as much as biochemistry.

JAMA, 1981 Feb 27, 245(8), 836 - 8
The cytological diagnosis of pulmonary blastomycosis; Trumbull ML et al.; We reviewed 30 episodes of pulmonary blastomycosis among 29 patients to compare the methods of diagnosis and to assess the usefulness of cytological sputum examination . Complement fixation and skin tests were not helpful in diagnosis . Confirmation by culture of sputum or tissue required, on average, five weeks . We compared the cytological examination of bronchial secretions with that of microbiologic wet smears . The cytological technique yielded a positive diagnosis in 93% of patients and in 70% on the first specimen . Sixty-one percent of microbiologic wet smears proved positive, with 32% positive on the first specimen . The cytological findings were reported significantly sooner . In addition, cytological diagnosis of Blastomyces dermatitidis in sputum and bronchial washings of patients suspected of having a pulmonary cancer or infection reduced the time of diagnostic workup and the incidence of major surgery.

J Clin Microbiol, 1981 Feb, 13(2), 252 - 7
K99 antigen-positive enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli from piglets with diarrhea in Sweden; Smyth CJ et al.; K88 antigen-negative enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and non-enterotoxigenic strains isolated from piglets with diarrhea were examined for K99 antigen by agglutination tests after growth on Minca-IsoVitaleX (BBL Microbiology Systems, Cockeysville, Md.) agar medium . Of 64 K88-negative enterotoxigenic strains from as many piglets, 17 were found to be K99 positive . Of these, 10 were Swedish and 7 were of Norwegian origin . All 17 produced heat-stable enterotoxin detectable in the infant mouse assay, but only 2 gave positive ligated loop tests in 3- to 7-week-old piglets . Ligated loop tests in 5- to 12-day-old piglets were positive for each of the 15 K99-positive strains tested . Each of the Swedish K99-positive isolates was from a piglet of lesser than or equal to 7 days of age . One piglet harboring a K99-positive strain also harbored an O141:K88 enterotoxigenic strain producing only heat-stable enterotoxin . Five of the Swedish piglets yielding K99-positive isolates were from dams vaccinated wih a multicomponent bacterial vaccine containing K88 antigen . The K99 strains were O:K:H serotyped . The O serogroups represented were O8, O9, O64, O101, and O140 . None of the 101 non-enterotoxigenic porcine isolates, representing 42 serogroups and non-O-groupable and rough strains, was found to be K99 positive . The findings indicate that so-called class 2 or atypical porcine enterotoxigenic E . coli should be routinely examined for the presence of K99 antigen.

J Hyg (Lond), 1981 Feb, 86(1), 59 - 69
Monitoring infectious diseases using routine microbiology data . II . An example of regression analysis used to study infectious gastroenteritis; Tillett HE; Routine data used to study infectious diseases may contain biases which obscure trends . A 16-year series (up to 1968) of routine laboratory data was used to study patterns of incidence of infective gastroenteritis for which no laboratory diagnosis could be made . An artificial pattern was detected . This arose because GPs tended to refer a greater proportion of their patients during dysentery epidemics . Multiple regression analysis was used to separate out this effect so that the underlying trends could be observed . The seasonal pattern of undiagnosed cases showed an autumn peak . There were also early-winter epidemics of disease with little or no excretion of red blood or pus cells in the diagnostic faeces specimen . Some of the winter communicable disease among older children and adults appeared to be associated with signs of a temporary fat malabsorption in pre-school age cases . Undiagnosed cases in older children and adults were not related to the E . coli serotypes causing disease in infants during this period . The statistical method applied increased the usefulness of these routine data . Although this series of laboratory records is now more than a decade old the results of the analysis can be compared with new observations as more is learned about the epidemiology of previously unrecognized pathogens, especially rotaviruses.

J Hyg (Lond), 1981 Feb, 86(1), 49 - 58
Monitoring infectious diseases using routine microbiology data . I . Study of gastroenteritis in an urban area; Tillett HE et al.; Sources of information for monitoring infectious disease are routine data, special surveys and ad hoc investigations . In practice much use is necessarily made of routine notifications and laboratory records although this reporting is often incomplete and may therefore be biased . In a retrospective study of a 16-year series (up to 1968) of routine records concerning the diagnosis of gastroenteritis at one Public Health Laboratory we found it possible to identify biases . During school outbreaks of dysentery, laboratory investigation of diarrhoea increased appreciably and such response to publicity affects the use of routine data in surveillance . Although the patients examined were probably representative diagnostically, their selection may not have reflected the age incidence of disease . Valid geographical comparisons within the urban area were not feasible because medical practitioners differed in their use of laboratory facilities and in their habits of notification . Nevertheless, as far as can be established retrospectively, these data did reflect time trends in disease incidence and so had value for monitoring purposes . Several of the biases defined are likely to apply to other sets of routine data . A further communication will describe a statistical method of correcting for quantifiable bias.

J Biol Chem, 1981 Jan 25, 256(2), 723 - 7
Immunochemical studies on catabolite inactivation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Muller M et al.; Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (EC 4.1.1.49) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was purified to homogeneity . The enzyme is composed of four subunits of Mr = 64,000 . Specific antibodies against phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase were raised in rabbits and purified by affinity chromatography . Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase is rapidly inactivated when glucose is added to cells starved for carbon (Haarasilta, S., and Oura, E . (1975) Eur . J . Biochem . 52, 1-7; Gancedo, C., and Schwerzmann, K . (1976)( ARch . Microbiol . 109, 221-225) . In the present study this inactivation has been analyzed by immunochemical techniques . It was found that the loss of catalytic activity is paralleled by a decrease in cross-reacting material which suggests degradation of the enzyme . In the absence of glucose the enzyme is degraded very slowly, which indicates that glucose-induced inactivation cannot simply be due to repression of enzyme synthesis in the presence of a rapid rate of degradation . Experiments with a proteinase-deficient mutant showed that proteinase B, carboxypeptidase Y, and carboxypeptidase S are not involved in the inactivation system.

Clin Ther, 1981, 3(6), 413 - 24
Influence of acute renal impairment in the penetration of cefoxitin into interstitial tissue fluid in rabbits; Dominguez-Gil AA et al.; The pharmacokinetics of cefoxitin were studied after the administration of a single intravenous dose of 40 mg/kg to rabbits with normal renal function and rabbits with varying degrees of renal impairment . The plasma and interstitial fluid concentrations of the antibiotic were determined by a microbiologic plate diffusion method . The antibiotic follows a two-compartment open kinetic model . The plasma half-life of slow disposition phase t1/2 beta, increases from 0.26 hour in rabbits with normal renal function to 5.41 hours in rabbits with severe renal impairment . In the interstitial fluid the elimination half-life increases from 1.18 hours in rabbits with normal renal function to 99.00 hours in rabbits with renal impairment . A linear relationship is established between the values that define the elimination of the antibiotic and the serum creatinine concentrations . The constant of the incorporation into the interstitial fluid decreases significantly in rabbits with renal impairment.

Infect Immun, 1981 Jan, 31(1), 193 - 8
Investigation of a hemolysin produced by enteropathogenic Treponema hyodysenteriae; Knoop FC; A hemolysin produced by Treponema hyodysenteriae, the etiological agent of swine dysentery, was investigated . A virulent isolate (B204) was inoculated into a standard culture medium consisting of Trypticase soy broth without dextrose (BBL Microbiology Systems) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum in an atmosphere of 70:30 deoxygenated H2-CO2 . Sterile cell-free filtrates were prepared at 2-h intervals and assayed for hemolytic activity by using washed sheep erythrocytes . The maximum hemolytic titer was obtained during the early log phase of growth (4 h) . A loss of hemolytic activity was observed when cell-free filtrates were stored at 23 and 4 degrees C . Storage at -20 or -80 degrees C after lyophilization resulted in retention of the hemolytic titer for periods of up to 30 days . Enzymatic inactivation of the hemolysin was accomplished with pronase, but not with deoxyribonuclease, ribonuclease, lipase, or trypsin . Addition of exogenous ribonucleic acid-core to the standard culture medium resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the amount of hemolysin produced . The hemolysin could be purified by acid and ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by ion exchange and molecular sieve chromatography . The molecular weight of the hemolysin was 68,000 when determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis.

Zentralbl Gynakol, 1981, 103(12), 668 - 77
{Conisation and pregnancy (author's transl)}; Schlegel H et al.; Reference is made to experience obtained from specialised outpatient practice in an account of diagnostic and therapeutic approach to pregnant women with pathological cervix smear . Six out of 93 pregnant women were conisised during pregnancy and 41 after delivery . Postpartum primary vaginal hysterectomy was performed on three women with additional gynaecological indication . Strict follow-up checks were made on 43 patients, among them three with residual dysplasia who had undergone conisation prior to conception . Differentiated approach, which is of great practical importance, in particular to high-risk pregnancy, has proved to be possible by specialised diagnosis, with colposcopy, differential cytological testing, and microbiopsy being included . Postponement of conisation to a date after delivery or after achievement of the desired family size can be justified under the condition of regular follow-up checks for women with intra-epithelial cervical neoplasia, on account of the latter's long latency . However, immediate therapeutic action, even within pregnancy, must be the response to any indication to invasive growth.

Infect Control, 1981 Jan-Feb, 2(1), 21 - 5
Surveillance in a surgical intensive care unit: patient and environment; McGuckin MB et al.; Microbiologic surveillance of both the patients and the ambient environment of a surgical intensive care unit allowed us to relate the incidence of nosocomial respiratory tract infection to levels of airborne bacteria . Over the study period respiratory tract nosocomial infection rates varied from 0.7% to 17.0%, and nonrespiratory infection rates varied from 1.0% to 25.0% . Airborne bacteria counts during that time varied from 1.0 +/- 0.8 S.E . CFU/ft3 to 96.0 +/- 6.8 S.E . CFU/ft3 . There was a reasonably close correlation between airborne bacteria levels and the incidence of nosocomial pneumonia (r = 0.81, p less than 0.05) . Furthermore, there was a close correlation between a specific organism nosocomial infection rate and the number of colonies of that organism present in the air (r = 0.88, p less than 0.05) . In contrast, there was no significant relationship between airborne bacteria counts and nonrespiratory attack rates (r = 0.60, p less than 0.05) . If the bacteria traveled from the air to the patients, there appear to be at least three possible explanations for this significant relationship: (1) direct inoculation of the airway by the airborne bacteria; (2) inoculation of the airway by direct contact, which is related to the degree of "cleanliness" of the environment; and (3) an increased incidence of contaminated respiratory equipment and airway inoculation because of high counts of airborne bacteria . It is also possible that high bacterial air counts represent contamination of the air from patients with respiratory infections . Regardless of the pathway(s), surveillance of the ambient environment may prove to be a useful epidemiologic tool in the study and control of nosocomial respiratory tract infections in certain high-risk patient care areas.

Parazitologiia, 1981 Jan-Feb, 15(1), 87 - 91
{History of Charles Nicolle's discovery of the route of typhus infection}; Bykhovskaia-Pavlovskaia IE; In 1909 French microbiologist, director of the Pasteur Institute in Tunis Charles Nicolle discovered the ways of the louse-borne typhus infection . With his numerous experiments on apes he proved that body louse is a transmitting gent of louse-borne infection . This great discovery which has formed the basis of modern concepts of the disease epidemiology and led to its prophylaxis has become lasting contribution to the history of medical science.

J Dairy Sci, 1981 Jan, 64(1), 167 - 73
Microbiology of ultrahigh temperature milk; Westhoff DC; Ultrahigh temperature thermal processing can sterilize milk . Potential energy savings of a commercially sterile, aseptically packaged, nonrefrigerated milk provide the incentive for eventual introduction of the product in the United States . Attention should be directed to raw milk quality, processing parameters, quality control tests, and thermal inactivation data for spores in the ultrahigh temperature range.

Mikrobiyol Bul, 1981 Jan, 15(1), 19 - 29
{Isolation and identification of atypic mycobacteria and diagnosis by biochemical tests}; Saglam M et al.; In this study, 3350 samples sent to Microbiology Institute Tuberculosis Laboratory from various clinics between 1976--1979 were examined for mycobacteria . From these samples, 124 M . tuberculosis var . hominis, and 9 strains of atypic mycobacteria were isolated . In this rather limited study, percentage of atypic mycobacteria isolated from persons come from different parts of this country was (% 0,25) . The ratio of atypic mycobacteria to mycobacteria isolated was 7%.

Mikrobiologiia, 1981 Jan-Feb, 50(1), 134 - 9
{Microbiologic processes in meromictic Lake Sakovo}; Gorlenko VM et al.; The freshwater meromictic lake Sakovo located in the Vologda Region was investigated . Its maximal depth is 16 m . The lake contained very high sulfate concentrations up to 816 mg/l; however, the rate of sulfate reduction in the water was low (not more than 16 mg H2S/l/day, whereas 4.5 mg of H2S was produced per day in the sediments . Bacterial sulfate reduction was shown to be limited by the deficiency of an organic substrate . Not more than 11 mg of H2S/l was contained in the nonmixing layers of the monimolimnion . The boundary line of the H2S zone was at a depth of 3.5-4.5 m and coincided with the thermocline and chemocline . The water in this region was green due to the growth of two species of green sulfur bacteria: Pelodictyon luteolum (the maximum of 7.35 x 10(6) cells in 1 ml) and Chlorobium limicola in the symbiotic complex of Chlorobium aggregatum (the maximum of 0.42 x 10(6) aggregates in 1 ml) . Phototrophic bacterial cells synthesized 320 microgram of C per litre per day at a depth of 4.25 m . The assimilation of carbon dioxide in the dark in the zone of contact between H2S and O2 containing waters constituted 100 mg of C per litre per day, and apparently was due to the chemosynthesis of thiobacteria (the maximum of 1000 cells in 1 ml) . It has been calculated that 9 mg of H2S per 1 m2 per day is formed in the water, and 500 mg of H2S per 1 m2 per day is produced in the sediments . Green bacteria oxidize about 268 mg of H2S per 1 m2 per day while thiobacteria oxidize 250 mg of H2S pe2 1 m2 per day . Sulfur bacteria may be possibly supplied with supplied with sulfide by syntrophism with sulfate reducing and sulfur reducing bacteria as well as by diffusion of H2S from the sediments.

J Cancer Res Clin Oncol, 1981, 101(3), 265 - 74
Dept . of Microbiology, School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC; Gautam SC et al.; The responsiveness of spleen cells from C57BL/6J mice to various immunogenic stimuli was examined during the progressive growth of a poorly immunogenic fibrosarcoma T241 . A strong correlation was observed between the progressive tumor growth and the depression of response to Concanavalin A, lipopolysaccharide, sheep red blood cells, and alloantigens in mixed lymphocyte reaction and cell-mediated lympholysis (CML) . The maximum depression of these immune responses occurred when the animals had grown tumors for 3-4 weeks . Furthermore, serum from these animals collected 20 days after tumor transplantation was highly immunosuppressive . The possible mechanisms of tumor-induced immunosuppression have been discussed.

Padiatr Padol, 1981, 16(4), 459 - 63
{Cytomegalovirus in subacute infant pneumonitis (author's transl)}; Zach M et al.; A subacute pneumonic disease of a young infant is described . Insidious onset, afebrile course, tachypnea, staccato cough, disseminated crepitations on auscultation, signs of infiltration and hyperexpansion on chest X-ray, eosinophilia as well as elevation of immunoglobulin fractions G and M suggested infection with chlamydia trachomatis . Microbiologic investigations, however, documented active infection with cytomegalovirus . Hence these symptoms were either caused by both organisms or constitute a rare monorganic manifestation of connatal cytomegalovirus disease . The syndrome of subacute pneumonia in the young infant might not necessarily depend on the infection with a specific organism.

Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1980 Dec 1, 138(7 Pt 2), 1091 - 5
Microbiologic techniques for the diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease in developing countries; Osoba AO; Pelvic inflammatory disease is a major medical problem that causes serious complications in a large number of the female population in many developing countries . It is estimated that between 20% and 30% of gynecologic admissions in these countries are due to PID . The alarmingly high prevalence of gonorrhea is probably a major cause of this syndrome . Diagnosis of PID on clinical grounds without laboratory verification is the rule . The various techniques for diagnosing PID are discussed briefly . Primarily because of very small health budgets, the limitations faced by developing nations in the accurate diagnosis of PID are (1) a lack of adequately trained personnel, (2) inadequate clinic facilities, (3) low accuracy of clinical diagnosis, and (4) ill-equipped and understaffed laboratory services . Suggestions are offered for improvement of the present unsatisfactory situation.

Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1980 Dec 1, 138(7 Pt 2), 1022 - 5
Microbiology of specimens obtained by laparoscopy from controls and from patients with pelvic inflammatory disease or infertility with tubal obstruction: Chlamydia trachomatis and Ureaplasma urealyticum; Henry-Suchet J et al.; We cultured for Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and Mycoplasma hominis and performed chlamydial serologic studies in 99 women undergoing laparoscopy . These women included patients with acute salpingitis, infertile women with and without mild pelvic inflammatory disease, and controls . C . trachomatis infection was significantly more common in patients than in controls . We also identified low-grade "silent" PID among women with infertility resulting from tubal obstruction and suggest this may be caused by chlamydiae.

Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1980 Dec 1, 138(7 Pt 2), 1012 - 6
Laparoscopy in the diagnosis and management of patients with suspected salpingo-oophoritis; Ledger WJ; There is a potential role for laparoscopy in the management of patients with suspected salpingo-oophoritis . It would be helpful in establishing the diagnosis in patients who are admitted with a clinical diagnosis of salpingo-oophoritis . Laparoscopy also would be beneficial in the long-term evaluation of fertility of patients treated for salpingo-oophoritis . Finally, this technique will delineate the microbiologic details of patients with endosalpingitis . How frequently laparoscopy should be employed will be dependent upon findings from prospective studies.

Biochem J, 1980 Nov 1, 191(2), 555 - 60
Complex lipids of a lipolytic and general-fatty-acid-requiring Butyrivibrio sp . isolated from the ovine rumen; Hazlewood GP et al.; The complex lipids of the naturally-occurring general-fatty-acid-auxotroph Butyrivibrio S2 {Hazlewood & Dawson (1979) J . Gen . Microbiol . 112, 15-27} grown with palmitic acid as sole fatty-acid supplement have been investigated and some have been isolated in a state of purity and analysed . The majority are phospholipids (84%) and many contain galactose . They typically possess few esterified long-chain fatty-acid residues (C16:0), but are rich in esterified butyric acid and C16-alkenyl groups . Most of the phosphorus-containing lipids, including the two major lipids of the organism, contain esterified diabolic acid, a long-chain vicinal dimethyl-substituted dicarboxylic acid {Klein, Hazlewood, Kemp & Dawson (1979) Biochem . J . 183, 691-700} in definite stoichiometric relationship to phosphorus . No phosphatidylglycerol was present, but its monobutyroyl ester was detected as a minor component . Galactofuranosyldiacylglycerol (plasmalogen) and its monobutyroyl ester, cetyl alcohol and diacylglycerol were also identified.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Nov, 144(2), 509 - 17
Developmental regulation of laccase levels in Aspergillus nidulans; Law DJ et al.; Asexual spores (conidia) of Aspergillus nidulans contain a dark green pigment which is not present in other cell types . Synthesis of this pigment is catalyzed, in part, by a developmentally controlled p-diphenol oxidase, or laccase, encoded at the gamma A genetic locus (A . J . Clutterbuck, J . Gen . Microbiol . 70:423-435, 1972) . We have investigated the mechanisms regulating expression of the gamma A gene of A . nidulans . Vegetative hyphae grown in submerged culture lacked detectable laccase enzyme activity and neither contained nor synthesized immunoprecipitable laccase protein . When such cultures were induced to conidiate by harvesting the cells onto filter papers and aerating them, laccase levels began to increase after 10 to 16 h, reached a peak at 20 to 36 h, and then declined slowly . Immunological assays showed that increases in laccase enzyme activity were (i) proceded by a transient rise in the relative rate of laccase protein synthesis and (ii) closely paralleled by increases in the amount of laccase protein . Addition of cycloheximide to cultures at any time after inducing conidiation inhibited further accumulation of laccase enzyme activity . These data are most consistent with increases in laccase levels being due to regulated, de novo synthesis of laccase protein . Addition of inhibitors of ribonucleic acid synthesis to conidiating cultures also inhibited further accumulation of laccase, suggesting that laccase expression is regulated by alterations in the transcriptional activity of the gamma A locus.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1980 Oct, 33(10), 1125 - 8
{Radioimmunoassays of 3H-fortimicins (author's transl)}; Okumura S et al.; Radioimmunoassays for unique aminoglycoside antibiotics, three fortimicin components, have been developed using antisera obtained from rabbits injected with fortimicin A-, isofortimicin A- or fortimicin B-BSA conjugate, respectively . Fortimicins were tritiated with N-succinimidyl-{2, 3-3H} propionate . For fortimicin A, the standard curve was linear to logit-log plot yielding an sensitivity of 0.2 ng/tube . A correlation coefficient of 0.99 was obtained between the radioimmunoassay and a microbioassay for fortimicin A in human sera . In the assay cross-reaction occurred with fortimicin derivatives and there was no cross-reaction with neomycin, kanamycin, sagamicin, amikacin, dibekacin, penicillins and cephalosporins . From the comparison of the specificity observed in three kinds of antisera, the following conclusions have been obtained: (1) Anti-fortimicin A and anti-isofortimicin A antisera were specific for the corresponding haptens . (2) In fortimicin B-BSA conjugate and 3H labeled antigen of fortimicin B, the fortamine ring might be inverted from the 4C1 confirmation to the 1C4 conformation . Thus the specificity of anti-fortimicin B antisera for fortimicins resembled to that of anti-fortimicin A antisera.

Eur J Biochem, 1980 Oct, 111(1), 59 - 66
Generation of an electrochemical proton gradient by lactate efflux in membrane vesicles of Escherichia coli; Ten Brink B et al.; The 'energy-recycling model' {Michels et al . (1979) FEMS Microbiol . Lett . 5, 357-364} postulates the generation of an electrochemical gradient across the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane by carrier-mediated efflux of metabolic endproducts in symport with protons . Experimental evidence for this model is presented . In membrane vesicles from Escherichia coli ML 308-255 L-lactate translocation (both uptake and efflux) is carrier-mediated . The H+/L-lactate stoichiometry varies, depending on the external pH, between 1 and 2 . This change in stoichiometry is most likely the result of a protonation of the lactate carrier protein . This process has a pK of 6.75 . L-Lactate efflux from membrane vesicles, loaded with 50 mM potassium L-lactate, results at an external pH of 6.6 in an 11-fold accumulation of proline inside the vesicles . This accumulation is completely inhibited by the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone . The uptake of proline is not the result of a potassium or an osmotic gradient . At an external pH of 6.6 efflux of L-lactate from the vesicles leads to the generation of an electrical potential across the membrane of -55 mV, as is demonstrated from the accumulation of the lipophilic cation tetraphenylphosphonium.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1980 Oct, 74(4 Suppl), 581 - 5
Quality control of agar diffusion susceptibility tests . Data from the Quality Assurance Service Microbiology Program of the College of American Pathologists; Knowles RC et al.; From 1974 through December 1978, over 180 laboratories participated in the Microbiology Program of the College of American Pathologists Quality Assurance Service (QAS), submitting a total of 2,372,000 individual antibiotic determinations on three quality control reference strains . Of these determinations, 89.5% were obtained by the standard Bauer-Kirby method; 8.4% by the agar overlay modification of Barry and associates . Standard statistical analysis of data obtained using the agar overlay modification has been reported for each antimicrobic/reference strain combination . Comparisons have been made between the QAS data and those data obtained in earlier collaborative studies, which currently serve as precision and accuracy control limits . In many cases QAS data exceed the existing control limits.

J Clin Microbiol, 1980 Oct, 12(4), 583 - 9
Evaluation of serum gentamicin assay procedures for a clinical microbiology laboratory; Lantz CH et al.; Four methods for the measurement of serum gentamicin concentration were evaluated with respect to cost-effectiveness, accuracy, and precision . Gentamicin concentration was determined in 112 clinical samples by the Staphlococcus epidermidis agar diffusion bioassay procedure in routine service in our laboratory at the time this study was initiated . Appropriate portions of these clinical samples were frozen and later thawed for remeasurement of gentamicin by bioassay or for measurement of gentamicin in one of three other systems . These included the Enzymatic Radiochemical Assay, the Diagnostic Products Corporation Radioimmunoassay and the New England Nuclear Corporation Radioimmunoassay . In addition, gentamicin dissolved in horse serum at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 micrograms/ml was aliquoted, frozen, and later thawed for assay in each of the above systems . The data were analyzed for evidence of constant and proportional bias as well as for accuracy and precision.

J Endocrinol, 1980 Sep, 86(3), 443 - 9
Protein composition of the thyroid colloid in patients with hyperthyroidism; Anderberg B et al.; Analysis of the protein composition of the thyroid colloid was performed in 28 patients operated on for hyperthyroidism . Fifteen of the patients were treated before the operation with carbimazole combined with thyroxine and 13 were treated with propranolol alone . Colloid was collected by micropuncture of single follicles in peroperative thyroid biopsies . The protein composition was analysed by microgel electrophoresis and densitometry, both in the colloid samples and in the supernatant fraction of homogenates of microbiopsies from the thyroid specimens . The analyses showed that, during treatment with carbimazole and thyroxine, the relative amount of the larger thyroglobulin aggregates (S-TG) was decreased compared with the relative amount observed in the colloid from normal thyroid tissue . In the hyperfunctioning thyroid tissue from the propranolol-treated patients the protein composition of the colloid was similar to that observed in normal tissue and the relative amount of the S-TG fractions was significantly higher than in the carbimazole- and thryoxine-treated group . It may be concluded that the increased release of thyroid hormones in hyperthyroidism is not combined with changes in the protein composition of the thryoid colloid . The decreased relative amount of the S-TG fractions in the thyroid colloid from patients treated with carbomazole and thryoxine was probably due to an insufficient capacity to iodinate thyroglobulin.

J Clin Microbiol, 1980 Sep, 12(3), 336 - 42
Diagnostic significance of immunoglobulin M antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii detected after separation of immunoglobulin M from immunoglobulin G antibodies; Filice GA et al.; Failure to demonstrate immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence (IgM-IFA) in sera from some patients with acute acquired toxoplasmosis has recently been attributed to an inhibitory effect of high titers of IgG antibodies in these sera (Pyndiah et al . J . Clin . Microbiol . 9:170-174, 1979) . To confirm these findings and define their importance for diagnosis, we used gel filtration to separate IgM from IgG antibodies in a series of sera that were negative in the IgM-IFA test . A total of 68 sera were from patients with acquired toxoplasmosis, 13 were from uninfected adults, 13 were from infants with congenital toxoplasmosis, and 7 were from uninfected neonates . Of the 68 sera from patients with acquired toxoplasmosis, IgM preparations (from the separated sera) were positive in the IgM-IFA test in 36 (53%) . There was a significant (P = 0.00003) association between high titers of IgM-IFA antibodies in the IgM preparations (corrected for dilution of IgM antibodies by the gel filtration procedure) and recent acquisition of infection . IgM antibodies were also detected in 5 (38%) of the IgM preparations of 13 sera from congenitally infected infants but not in any of the IgM preparations of sera from uninfected neonates . IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii were shown to interfere with demonstration of IgM antibodies in the IgM-IFA test . Treatment of sera with protein A resulted in greater dilution of IgM antibodies and less efficient separation of IgM from IgG antibodies than did separation of sera by gel filtration . Treatment of sera with protein A did not result in increased detection of IgM antibodies to T . gondii . Testing of IgM preparations (obtained by gel filtration) resulted in a significant increase in sensitivity of the IgM-IFA test for the diagnosis of recently acquired and congenital toxoplasmosis.

Minerva Stomatol, 1980 Sep-Oct, 29(5), 373 - 84
{Indications for the treatment of bone rarefactions of endodontic origin}; Gotte P et al.; Bone rarefactions arising from dental lesions are commonly thought to be sustained by the microbiol component or by the toxins spread out into the surrounding bone by the disintegrated pulp . In thise case endodontic therapy is the only one capable of obtaining a full recovery . In our opinion the most suitable endodontic procedure is that described by Schilder: with his technique infact a great deal of substantial results can be achieved . Bone rarefactions are to be surgically treated only when endodontic therapy does not guarantee the complete removal of microrganisms and that of the tissue debris arising from the disintegrating pulp possibly located in the root's area . This event may occur in the following circumstances: 1) fracture of endodontic instruments; 2) partial filling with cement or any other not removable material; 3) misleading endodontic therapy (distored roads or circular steps); 4) a peculiar anatomy of the dental rost such as that resulting when the apex bears a drop or a trumpet-like appearance; 5) bent roots, very hardly treated; 6) when a dry root's dent cannot be obtained because of the presence of large and continually secreting cysts . Bone rarefactions should then be treated by surgical procedures such as apicectomy backward filling of the root's canal and root's apex locking with direct view of the apex . Apicectomy should only be visualized asd a surgical transport of the apex from a point where the apex is open to an other where is apex is completely filled up by the endodontic treatment . Surgical procedure of the backward filling of the root's canal should be followed only when the root's canal unapproachability does not allow any endodontic treatment such as that suggested by Schilder . Finally surgical procedure to fill up the root's canal with direct view of the apex results from the combination of two surgical treatments: 1) the filling up of the root's canal (Schilder procedure), and 2) the modelling of the root's canal up to a point where the last one is hermetically sealed . This result can be achieved removing the apex when it bears a drop or trumpet-like appearance or the transported apex foramen . It can also be obtained by removing the wounded apex or the radicular canal when it is unapproachable along the 2 or 3 distal mms . and finally ad dry root's canal when it remains wet by the continuous secretion of the liquid material endowed in the cystic cavity.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1980 Sep, 171(4-5), 408 - 15
Collaborative study of the effectiveness of the screening test on APA medium for aflatoxin producing aspergilli; Jesenska Z et al.; In 252 strains or Aspergillus flavus the ability of producing a blue fluorescenting substance in the APA medium (Hara et al., Appl . Microbiol . 27 (1974) 118) and the ability to produce aflatoxin B1 (AF) on Karlsbad biscuits have been investigated . In 92% of strains the three working places agreed in the characteristics of the observed properties of strains, but 20 (8,0%) strains producing AF on biscuits were evaluated on APA as negative . In 3 strains of 13 the working places B and C, which determined the AF production on buscuits, did not agree in their results . The authors discussed about the causes, but came to the conclusion that the screening method for the searching of AF producing of A . flavus by aid of the APA medium can be suitable at the investigation of big amounts of strains in routine laboratories, even when there exists a risk that some producers will be overlooked.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1980 Sep, 74(3), 316 - 9
In-vitro inactivation of aminoglycoside antibiotics by piperacillin and carbenicillin; Hale DC et al.; Clinical microbiology laboratory experiences wherein aminoglycoside serum assay results appeared inconsistent with the amount of the compound given when administered in combination with a semisynthetic penicillin led us to compare the interaction of three currently available aminoglycoside antibiotics with carbenicillin, as a representative semisynthetic penicillin given in large doses, and with piperacillin, a new broad-spectrum semisynthetic penicillin . Amikacin, gentamicin, and tobramycin were incubated in serum in vitro with various concentrations of carbenicillin and piperacillin . In the presence of very high concentrations of the two penicillins, tobramycin was the most rapidly inactivated aminoglycoside, gentamicin was next, and amikacin was only slightly inactivated . With low concentrations of the two penicillins, the rates of aminoglycoside inactivation were negligible . Carbenicillin, in high concentration, inactivated the aminoglycosides more rapidly than piperacillin . In patients experiencing renal failure, the maintenance of moderate serum levels of carbenicillin and piperacillin may be important in attempting to maintain adequate aminoglycoside serum levels.

Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 1980 Aug 11, 290(1040), 369 - 86
Genetic engineering: possibilities and prospects for its application in industrial microbiology; Murray K; A wide range of techniques is now available for the construction of hybrid DNA molecules comprising components from disparate species . Transfer of segments of DNA from other organisms, and especially eukaryotes, to Escherichia coli permits their preparation in quantities sufficient for detailed analysis of their structure and mechanism of expression . This information could be exploited to enhance the quantity or quality of polypeptide products from bacterial cells . Greatly increased yields of bacterial enzymes have been obtained in this way in several instances . The approaches that have been pioneered with bacteria are currently being applied to higher organisms . Much work is in progress with yeasts, in which transformation has been successfully demonstrated, with animal viruses and cells in culture and with some plant systems and offers the promise of wider application of genetic engineering in the not too distant future.

J Clin Pathol, 1980 Aug, 33(8), 744 - 9
Data processing in microbiology: an integrated, simplified system; Ridgway GL et al.; A MUMPS based computer system is described for the processing of data in a microbiology laboratory . The system uses visual display units and mnemonic codes for data input . All functions are carried out within the department by the medical, technical, and clerical staff . While the system described is integrated with other user-systems in the hospital, it is readily adaptable, and portable to a stand-alone system.

Am J Pathol, 1980 Aug, 100(2), 443 - 54
The connective tissue component of the caprine arthritis-encephalitis syndrome; Crawford TB et al.; The gross and microscopic connective tissue lesions in 12 goats with caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE) are described, including those from which a virus (CAEV) was isolated . Lesions were most often associated with synovial-lined structures including joints, tendon sheaths, and bursae, and were typified by synovial cell proliferations, subsynovial mononuclear cell infiltration, the presence of fibrin, fibrinous concretions, necrosis, and mineralization . Extrasynovial lesions were located in kidneys, vessels, and brain . The inflammatory infiltrates in these organs were predominantly mononuclear . Amyloid was also found in liver, spleen, and kidney . Microbiologic techniques failed to demonstrate any bacteria, mycoplasma, or chlamydia in the lesions.

Am J Pathol, 1980 Aug, 100(2), 365 - 82
A mouse model of pneumonitis induced by Chlamydia trachomatis: morphologic, microbiologic, and immunologic studies; Chen W et al.; Swiss-Webster white mice were infected with Chlamydia trachomatis organisms through intranasal inoculation . It was found that a typical interstitial pneumonitis could be induced . Histopathologic findings showed that the lung infiltration was predominantly polymorphonuclear cells and was most prominant on Day 2 . The cellular infiltrate gradually changed to mononuclear cells after Day 3 . Intracytoplasmic inclusions were frequently found in the interstitial cells and occasionally in the bronchial epithelial cells . Typical chlamydial bodies (elementary, intermediate, and reticulate forms) were identified by electron microscopy . The organisms were recovered from mouse lungs on Days 1--7, with the highest yields on Day 2 . This correlated with the peak of lung infiltration seen by histologic examination . Antibodies specific to the infecting immunotype began to appear between Day 7 and Day 10 after inoculation and lasted until Day 35 without a decline in titers . A delayed hypersensitivity reaction was observed by footpad test from Day 5 to Day 21, with the peak reaction at Day 7 . This study showed that the mouse model could be used to study the immunopathogenesis of C trachomatis infection.

Med Trop (Mars), 1980 Jul-Aug, 40(4), 433 - 8
{Leprosy control in Guadeloupe (French West Indies) . I General organization notification and registration of patients (author's transl)}; Millan J; The French department of Guadeloupe gets good health structures and a high number of physicians in regard to its population . The Institut Pasteur of Guadeloupe is in charge of the leprosy control, with a team of specialized physicians who are in the same time microbiologists . The control methodology must take into account the fear still caused by the disease in the population, the patient's request to remain anonymous, the rquirements of the law concerning the notification and the registration of every new patient, and the real contagiosity of leprosy . In thirty years, a pragmatic, effective and not too compelling approach has been set up . A full cooperation, has been developed between the private practioners, the Public health service with its hospitals for specialized treatments, and the Institut Pasteur in charge of epidemiological control.

Mikrobiologiia, 1980 Jul-Aug, 49(4), 595 - 8
{Adaptation of yeasts of the genus Debaryomyces to protocatechuic acid}; Karasevich IuN; Among five yeast strains belonging to the genus Debaryomyces that were unable of utilizing aromatic compounds (phenols and hydroxybenzoic acids), three strains, viz . D . kloeckeri BKM-Y-1044, D . marama BKM-Y-100 and D . marama BKM-Y-2045, were adapted to protocatechuic acid . The adapted yeasts utilized protocatechuic acid if its concentration in the medium was 0.1%, but did not utilize it, or did at a very low rate, if the concentration of protocatechuic acid was decreased to 0.05% . The mechanism of adaptation is rare mutations occurring in succession, and the process takes therefore several months . The adaptation seems to be based on reversion of inactivated genes for enzymes involved in the preparative metabolism of protocatechuic acid . Three typical yeast species of the Debaryomyces genus are proposed (D . hansenii, D . kloeckeri and D . konokotinae) which include all of the Debaryomyces species and strains available at the Institute of Microbiology of the USSR Academy of Sciences.

J Forensic Sci, 1980 Jul, 25(3), 638 - 45
Bite mark evidence: a case report using accepted and new techniques; Glass RT et al.; A case report of murder involving bite marks on the victim is presented . The bite mark examination procedures are outlined . Microbiologic and histologic/histochemical techniques are used to further delineate the nature of the bite marks and to aid in the identification of the murderer . Preparation and presentation of evidence are discussed.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1980 Jul, 74(1), 51 - 60
Computer system for a hospital microbiology laboratory; Delorme J et al.; An online computer system has been developed for a university hospital laboratory in microbiology that processes more than 125,000 specimens yearly . The system performs activities such as the printing of reports, fiscal and administrative tasks, quality control of data and technics, epidemiologic assistance, germ identification, and teaching and research in the different subspecialties of microbiology . Features of interest are smooth sequential transmission of clinical microbiologic test results from the laboratory to medical records, instantaneous display of all results for as long as 16 months, and updating of patient status, room number, and attending physician before the printing of reports . All data stored in the computer-file can be retrieved by any data item or combination of such . The reports are normally produced in the laboratory area by a teleprinter or by batch at night in case of mechanical failure of the terminal . If the system breaks down, the manually completed request forms can be sent to medical records . Programs were written in COBOL and ASSEMBLY languages.

Arthritis Rheum, 1980 Jul, 23(7), 825 - 36
Chronic arthritis of rabbits induced by mycoplasmas . I . Clinical microbiologic, and histologic features; Washburn LR et al.; Mycoplasma arthritidis and Mycoplasma pulmonis induced chronic arthritis in rabbits on intraarticular injection, characterized by joint swelling and histologic evidence of chronic active inflammation persisting at least one year . Cartilage and bone destruction was a prominent late feature of M arthritidis but not M pulmonis disease . Despite the progressive nature of the disease and persistence of active inflammation for many months after inoculation, mycoplasmas and mycoplasma antigens were not found in joint tissues after 7 weeks.

J Pediatr, 1980 Jul, 97(1), 11 - 5
Effect of upper respiratory tract infection on eustachian tube ventilatory function in the preschool child; Sanyal MA et al.; A prospective tympanometric and microbiologic study of 28 pre-schoolchildren was undertaken to better define the effect of acute URI on induction of eustachian tube dysfunction . Significant negative middle ear pressure was present in 12.7% of tympanograms from well children . However, abnormal tympanograms were detected during 74.7% of acute URIs . The abnormality was present on day 1 or 2 of illness in the majority of cases; 10.1% of illnesses were complicated by OME . Respiratory viruses or Sp were etiologically implicated in 40.5% of illnesses; isolation rates of Pn and HF from well and ill children were similar . Although colonization of the nasopharynx of well children with Pn or HF was associated with a higher incidence of abnormal middle ear pressure, colonization with Pn or HF during URI did not influence the frequency of tympanogram abnormality.

Infect Control, 1980 Jul-Aug, 1(4), 233 - 6
Surveillance for nosocomial infections: can the sources of data be reduced?
Gross PA, Beaugard A, Van Antwerpen C.
With the goal of achieving economy in infection control surveillance we tested the relative efficiency of the various surveillance sources for detecting nosocomial infections (NIs) . We reviewed the initial and final surveillance sources of 415 NIs at Hackensack Hospital during an 11-month period; cultures were taken on most of the patients with NIs . Positive microbiology cultures were the initial sources in 64.8% of NIs and secondary sources in 23.6% . Chart review of patients with positive cultures added another 2.9% . Therefore, 91.3% of NIs could have been detected by positive culture reports . The remainder were discoverable by notification from nurses, or by studying admission cards or temperature rounds . Although the NIs missed by lack of a positive culture report often were significant infections, these alternate methods of surveillance did not help to detect any clusters of infections that could be traced to a particular source among the staff or the environment.

J Infect Dis, 1980 Jul, 142(1), 87 - 94
Diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis by passive hemagglutination assay of antibody; Gold JW et al.; Sheep red cells treated with concanavalin A and sensitized with a partially purified aspergillus antigen were used to detect antibody to Aspergillus by passive hemagglutination (PHA) . Sera from eight patients with aspergillomas or allergic aspergillosis had PHA titers of greater than or equal to 1:800 and antibody detectable by immunodiffusion (ID) . Of 122 hospitalized cancer patients without invasive aspergillosis, 118 had titers of less than or equal to 1:80, 86 of < 1:10, two of 1:160, and two of 1:320 . None had antibody by ID . Antibody was detectable by PHA in sera from 12 of 14 healthy microbiology laboratory workers . Of 55 cancer patients who had sera available for testing within two weeks before diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis, 18 patients seroconverted: 13 by both PHA and ID, two by PHA alone, and three by ID alone . PHA titers rose from < 1:10 to between 1:40 and 1:1,280 . In immunosuppressed patients who were at risk of developing invasive aspergillosis, the appearance of antibody correlated with the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis.

Med Hypotheses, 1980 Jul, 6(7), 735 - 45
Is interferon produced in physiologic conditions?
Bocci V.
On the basis of a number of physiologic, microbiologic and immunologic data it is possible to formulate the hypothesis that interferon is produced continuously in health by the gut-and bronchial-associated lymphoid tissue and, although several anatomic areas are involved, interferon synthesis is supposed to be restricted to the mucosal portals of entry . The interferon physiologic response is characterized by prevalent production of type II interferon and by its localized release, function and catabolism . However, the consequences of this response may have far-reaching biological importance because production of IF, though localized, can activate fundamental defence systems throughout life . It is furthermore postulated that the progressive decline of the interferon physiologic response may be one important event favouring the insurgence of tumours and autoimmune diseases in ageing.

Z Gesamte Inn Med, 1980 Jun 15, 35(12), 500 - 4
{The present significance of infection medicine and the problem of clinical microbiology}; Tauchnitz C; Despite the reduction of the number of contagious infectious diseases the bacterial infection still play a considerable role . Here endogenic infections by the normal flora of the own body stand in the foreground . As hospital or nosocomial infections they endanger the patient who is disturbed in his defense by the basic disease and/or iatrogenically, in which case opportunistic germs and polyresistant problem germs participate . By this the tasks of the infection medicine are considerably enlarged, which demands measures to its reconsilidation . Nowadays also the medical microbiology must more and more orientate itself to clinical than to purely epidemiological questions . The establishment of a clinical microbiology has become urgently necessary . The clinical disciplines should participate in the adequate discussions, in order to yield the best possible result . A 3-step-proposition is made for realisation.

J Clin Microbiol, 1980 Jun, 11(6), 728 - 36
Identification of nocardiae and streptomycetes of medical importance; Mishra SK et al.; During a taxonomic investigation of Nocardia spp . and Streptomyces spp., we received 658 isolates from laboratories of both human and veterinary medicine . Our procedure leading to the identification of 92% of these isolates, the species that they represented, and a characteristic pattern of properties of the strains of these species are presented . A key devised for the tentative identification of species of nocardiae and streptomycetes that are believed to be of medical importance is included to assist clinical microbiologists in identifying their strains.

J Clin Pathol, 1980 Jun, 33(6), 581 - 4
New methods for the isolation of Legionella pneumophila; Greaves PW; Some new methods for the isolation of Legionella pneumophila are described which have been successful in recovering this organism from 6/10 patients with clinical evidence of Legionnaires' disease . The increased sensitivity of these methods combined with speedier isolation of the organisms than has hitherto been possible will hopefully lead to eventual isolation of this organism as a routine procedure in diagnostic microbiology laboratories.

Arch Intern Med, 1980 May, 140(5), 697 - 8
Fatal pulmonary psittacosis and aspergillosis . Case report of dual infection; Emmons RW et al.; A 59-year-old man in previously good health had acute, progressive bronchopneumonia and died after a three-week course of illness, despite treatment with various antibiotics . Serologic, microbiologic, and histologic findings indicated infection with both Chlamydia psittaci and Aspergillus fumigatus . Disseminated, invasive aspergillosis sometimes is a complication of chronic respiratory disease, malignancy, or other deficiency of host defenses, but to our knowledge, this is the first report of psittacosis as a coincidental, probably predisposing disease.

Acta Pharmacol Toxicol (Copenh), 1980 May, 46(5), 329 - 36
Pharmacokinetic studies of 5-fluorouracil after oral and intravenous administration in man; Almersjo OE et al.; The pharmacokinetic conditions for oral administration of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) were investigated in 16 patients with malignant liver tumours . The concentration of 5-FU in portal and systemic blood was determined by a microbiologic method every 10 min . during 2 hours after oral or intravenous administration of a standard dose of 250 mg 5-FU ( approximately 4 mg/kg b . wt.) or 15 mg 5-FU/kg b . wt . The drug was rapidly absorbed after oral administration with peak values within 10-30 min . 25% of the lower and 40% of the higher oral dose reached the systemic circulation . The reduction of systemic bio-availability was partly accomplished by a loss in the gastrointestinal tract and partly by extraction by the liver . The hepatic extraction ratio was calculated to 0.56 and 0.26 after the lower and the higher dose respectively indicating a saturable process . The availability of 5-FU was significantly higher in portal blood than in systemic blood after oral administration . The opposite conditions were found after intravenous administration . Thus, oral administration of 5-FU to patients with malignant liver tumours seems rational.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1980 May, 33(5), 501 - 5
A new many-purpose culture medium for chemotherapeutic and microbiologic studies; Uri JV et al.; A new semisynthetic culture medium was prepared and found to serve many useful purposes in chemotherapeutical research and also in diagnostic microbiology . It contains 0.5% peptone, 0.1% glucose and is supplemented with 10% 10% McIlvaine's buffer . The medium is pH-stable and, being almost colorless, it is suitable for turbidimetric studies and enzymatic experiments which involve color-changes . For in vitro chemotherapeutic experimental studies it is a useful medium and, in certain cases, it behaves like an almost antagonist-free medium . Used as broth or in agar-base, it supports the growth of all of the 280 clinically important strains studied, including aerobic bacteria, Candida and Trichophyton . It promotes the germ tube formation of C . albicans and C . stellatoidea.

Am J Epidemiol, 1980 May, 111(5), 574 - 91
The emergence of infection surveillance and control programs in US hospitals: an assessment, 1976; Haley RW et al.; To assess the current state of hospitals' infection surveillance and control programs (ISCPs) nationwide and to provide a sampling frame for selecting hospitals for later phases of the SENIC Project, the authors mailed a screening questionnaire in March, 1976, to virtually all US hospitals; 86% of those in the SENIC target universe responded . Of these, 64% (2299) reported that their ISCPs were being supervised by a physician or a microbiologist with special interest in infection control, and 42% had an infection control nurse (ICN), or equivalent, working at least half time . In contrast to the supervisors, most of the ICN's had recieved special training in hospital infection epidemiology and spent the majority of their time doing surveillance . Almost all hospitals (87%) had practiced some form of infection surveillance . Almost all hospitals (87%) had practiced some form of infection surveillance, with half reporting very active programs . Larger hospitals with ISCP staff tended to use active clinical casefinding methods, while smaller hospitals tended to use passive techniques . Most hospitals (76%) were collecting relatively large numbers of environmental cultures routinely, although a growing number (about 25%) had reduced or discontinued this practice . Routine culturing was more often performed in hospitals employing passive surveillance methods . Although the adoption of selected infection control policies and practices has varied widely, chronological data indicate that a major infection control movement has emerged since 1970.

Obstet Gynecol, 1980 May, 55(5 Suppl), 203S - 206S
Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of postoperative infections; Ledger WJ; Discontinuation of routine use of plastic surgical adhesive drapes, the electrocautery surgical knife, routine preoperative shaving, and routine intraoperative placement of wound drains may reduce the incidence of postoperative wound infection . Other potentially helpful measures include hot conization of the cervix before hysterectomy, delayed wound closure, and minimization of preoperative hospitalization time . Microbiologic cultures and the standard temperature definition of morbidity help but little in diagnosing postoperative infection; needed is careful physical examination of the patient before antibiotics are given . Drainage of abscesses and delay of wound closure may help one avoid the use of antibiotics . To prevent infections, an appropriate antibiotic should be in the tissues within 3 hours after surgery; its use should end in the recovery room . Prospective comparison studies are needed to help physicians choose among today's antibiotics.

J Laryngol Otol, 1980 Apr, 94(4), 433 - 6
Granulomatous vasculitis--a clinical presentation; Mukherjee DK; A case of granulomatous vasculitis affecting vessels in the left temporal area of the skull, and also vessels in the right and left axillary areas, is described . Initially, the patient responded favourably to antibiotic therapy, raising the possibility of a microbiologic agent as the causative factor of this puzzling disorder . Finally she has responded very favourably to steroids, thereby indicating a possible immunologic basis for the condition, as has already been postulated by several authors.

Can J Ophthalmol, 1980 Apr, 15(2), 73 - 5
Canaliculitis: review of 12 cases; Demant E et al.; Canaliculitis must be considered in patients with chronic unilateral conjunctivitis . Pouting of the punctum, canalicular swelling and expression of particulate matter or stones are important clinical signs, and dacryocystography often helps in diagnosis . Meticulous microbiologic studies may not reveal actinomycetes . Canaliculotomy with silver nitrate cauterization is effective treatment.

South Med J, 1980 Apr, 73(4), 456 - 8
Aspiration after overdosage of sedative or hypnotic drugs; Aldrich T et al.; We have reviewed the charts of 329 patients admitted to our hospital because of overdosage from sedative or hypnotic agents . Of this population 11.2% were believed to have aspirated . Included in this group were 13 patients who were observed to aspirate and 24 who were suspected of aspiration because of the appearance of radiographic infiltrates associated with compatible microbiologic studies . In the observed group, seven became febrile, four were hypotensive, eight had radiographic infiltrates, three had complications, and one died . In the group suspected of aspiration, 23 became febrile, ten became hypotensive, five had complications, and none died . We believe the low mortality from aspiration in this setting justifies caution in the use of steroids and antibiotics.

Am J Surg, 1980 Apr, 139(4), 586 - 90
Percutaneous needle biopsy of pulmonary lesions; Jackson R et al.; Percutaneous needle biopsy of lung lesions has proved useful in the diagnosis of tumors and infectious lesions of the lung . Accurate tissue diagnosis of tumors was obtained in 81 percent of attempts, and an accurate microbiologic diagnosis was obtained in 75 percent of infectious lesions . Eleven percent (23 of 213) of patients biopsied for tumor were spared diagnostic thoracotomy, and only one biopsy gave a false-positive result . There has been no mortality, and the only significant morbidity was a 12 percent incidence of pneumothorax necessitating chest tube insertion . The use of this technique in varied clinical settings has made it a valuable and often primary diagnostic tool for lung lesions.

Am J Med Technol, 1980 Mar, 46(3), 173 - 8
Personalized competency-based instruction applied to medical technology education; Lam JW et al.; This paper describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of a medical microbiology course employing personalized competency-based instruction offered in the upper division of an innovative medical technology education program . Also, the effectiveness of personalized instruction is discussed in terms of career mobility for clinical practitioners, competency-based achievement, mastery of learning and student/instructor--student/proctor ratio . Its role in curriculum research and development, as well as the potential for personalized competency-based instruction to improve the quality of education for clinical laboratory personnel, is discussed.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1980 Mar, 121(3), 595 - 8
Hemophilus influenzae pneumonia in adults: report of five cases caused by ampicillin-resistant strains; Stratton CW et al.; Recently there has been increased recognition of Hemophilus influenzae as a cause of pneumonia in adults . Although ampicillin-resistant strains of Hemophilus influenzae have been a major problem in pediatric practice, such strains have not previously been noted to be a significant problem in the treatment of adult pneumonia . We report 5 cases of pneumonia caused by beta-lactamase-producing strains of Hemophilus influenzae . These organisms were susceptible to chloramphenicol but resistant to ampicillin . Cure was achieved by treatment with chloramphenicol after the initial treatment with ampicillin had failed . The ability of a microbiology laboratory to isolate and to test routinely for ampicillin-resistant strains is an important factor in the successful treatment of Hemophilus influenzae infections.

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol, 1980 Mar, 49(3), 200 - 3
The prevention of contamination of teeth stored for transplantation; Comfort MB; Tissue culture media and their application to the storage of teeth are described . The problems of contamination in culture and a method of achieving a sterility level of 73 percent are discussed . Contamination was reduced at each stage, using unerupted teeth, chlorhexidine disinfection, saline irrigation, ultrasonics, a laminar-flow cabinet, and four antibiotics in culture . A method of microbiologic screening is outlined.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1980 Mar, 121(3), 477 - 81
The accuracy of diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis at a teaching hospital; Greenbaum M et al.; Accuracy of the clinical diagnosis of tuberculosis and of the mycobacteriology laboratory test results was assessed in a teaching hospital by reviewing clinical and microbiologic data on patients from whom Mycobacterium tuberculosis had been recovered . Mycobacteria were isolated in 230 of 6,550 specimens (3.5%) . Clinical data were available for 42 patients with tuberculosis, 20 of whom had significant underlying nonmycobacterial disease . Positive tuberculin skin tests wee recorded for 90% of the patients with no underlying disease and for 29% of the patients with underlying disease . Tuberculosis was not suspected initially in 16 of 32 patients with pulmonary disease, and had not been diagnosed by the time of discharge in 10 patients . Of all respiratory specimens from patients with cavitary disease, 57% of the acid-fast stains and 96% of the cultures were positive . In contrast, 32% of stains and 70% of cultures were positive from patients with noncavitary pulmonary tuberculosis . One false-positive acid-fast stain was observed during this study.

J Clin Microbiol, 1980 Mar, 11(3), 226 - 33
Atmospheric analysis and redox potentials of culture media in the GasPak System; Seip WF et al.; Oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations, internal atmospheric pressure, catalyst temperature, and time of appearance of water condensate were monitored for various time intervals at ambient (20 to 25 degrees C) temperature in a GasPak 100 Anaerobic System (BBL Microbiology Systems, Cockeysville, Md) . Simultaneously, the redox potential (Eh) of various plated culture media in the system was also measured . The oxygen concentration was reduced to less than 0.4% in 100 min . The Eh of the media, corrected for hydrogen ion, reached -100 mV within 60 to 100 min, and the carbon dioxide concentration increased to between 4 and 7% in 60 min, depending on the number of plates of media present . Condensate appeared generally between 10 and 15 min, and the temperature of the lid reached a maximum between 20 and 40 min . Condensate time and lid temperature increase are important early indicators of a correctly functioning GasPak System . A characteristic pressure-vacuum-pressure profile is produced as a result of controlled release of hydrogen and carbon dioxide gases and the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen to produce water . Anaerobic conditions were achieved well before the methylene blue anaerobic indicator became decolorized, which required more than 6 h at 20 to 25 degrees C . At this time the Eh of media in the jar was well below -200 mV . Since the indicator is reduced within 5 h at 35 degrees C, the Eh of media in the jar would also be expected to decrease more rapidly at the higher temperature.

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol, 1980 Mar, 49(3), 263 - 5
Use of the carbon dioxide laser in sterilization of endodontic reamers; Hooks TW et al.; The object of this study was to test a new method of sterilizing endodontic instruments by using a carbon dioxide laser system . This was done by contaminating endodontic reamers with spores, exposing them to a CO2 laser beam, and checking for their viability by standard microbiologic techniques . It was found that 100 percent of the spores were killed by the CO2 laser . This holds promise as an effective method of sterilizing endodontic instruments in the future.

J Reprod Med, 1980 Feb, 24(2), 93 - 8
Recurrent reproductive failure due to severe placental villitis of unknown etiology; Russell P et al.; A case is reported of recurrent reproductive failure due to a severe placental villitis of unknow etiology . Five successive pregnancies ended in four unexpected third-trimester deaths in utero and one live birth at 37 weeks' gestation . This infant of the fourth pregnancy showed severe intrauterine growth retardation but no other stigmata of chronic infection . The placentas of the last three pregnancies showed marked focal chronic parenchymal inflammation with widespread necrosis, villous vasculitis and a lymphocytic deciduitis of the maternal floor . Microbiologic, serologic and electron microscopic techniques variously employed on maternal, fetal and placental specimens failed to demonstrate a possible causative agent although the placental inflammatory pattern was strongly suggestive of recurrent infection.

Am J Surg, 1980 Feb, 139(2), 262 - 4
Spontaneous segmental infarction of the greater omentum; Crofoot DD; Spontaneous segmental infarction of the greater omentum, although rare, is probably more common than the 112 reported cases suggest, but its sporadic occurrence has lent itself more to isolated case reports than to an extensive overview of the disease . Despite the frequent preoperative diagnosis of appendicitis, the presentation and course are seldom typical of appendicitis . Progressive peritoneal signs finally dictate surgical exploration . A vertical incision provides the best access to the involved organs and should be used whenever the diagnosis of appendicitis is in doubt . A surgeon who encounters free serosanguineous peritoneal fluid and a normal appendix should suspect omental disease . No convincing etiology has yet been advanced although blunt trauma, whether substantial or trivial, may account for some cases . The close temporal and geographic relation of two of these cases has raised the question of infectious etiology; however there was no microbiologic or pathologic evidence of bacterial or viral infection.

Am J Med Technol, 1980 Feb, 46(2), 96 - 101
A model career ladder approach to medical technology education; Reed JP et al.; The medical technology program at the University of Vermont was modified in 1972 to create a 2 + 2 integrated curriculum with specialty options progressing that associate degree to baccalaureate degree . This design allows the fundamentals acquired in the associate degree curriculum of the medical laboratory technician (MLT) to serve as a practical and theoretical foundation that can be expanded upon in the baccalaureate degree curriculum of the medical technologist (MT) . Options in the baccalaureate degree curriculum are generalist, specialist in clinical chemistry, in hematology, and in clinical microbiology . The design of this program provides a response to the changing role of the clinical laboratory practitioner.

Am J Med Technol, 1980 Feb, 46(2), 102 - 5
A program for in-house proficiency testing in clinical microbiology; Estevez EG; A design for an in-house blind proficiency testing program in clinical microbiology has been developed using a multi-level approach to proficiency testing, with progressive levels of organism identification difficulty . Flexibility of design allows the program to be used in any laboratory by starting the program at the appropriate level of difficulty . The necessary steps to initiate a similar testing program are detailed and benefits of the program are analyzed.

Aktuelle Traumatol, 1980 Feb, 10(1), 9 - 13
{The significance of low-frequency magnetotherapy for local treatment of burns . An experimental comparative approach (author's transl)}; Sauer HD et al.; Under standardized experimental conditions 3rd degree burns were produced on the neck of 241 Wistar-rats . The process of wound-healing was documented by means of planimetric, histologic and microbiologic methods . In comparison to an untreated control-group the effectiveness of low-frequency magnetotherapy (system magnetodyn 5 by W . Krauss) as well as coagulation of necrosis according to Grob and autologous skin-transplantation were studied . The results obtained indicate that only early debridement of necrosis and subsequent autologous skin-grafting guarantees sufficient acceleration of wound healing . The low-frequency magnetotherapy according to Krauss showed no effect of therapeutic value . With the coagulation of necrosis, as described by Grob, a germfree status under the necrosis was obtained for nearly 2 weeks.

Padiatr Padol, 1980, 15(4), 297 - 303
{Chlamydia trachomatis infant pneumonitis (author's transl)}; Zach M et al.; A subacute pneumonic disease in a young infant characterized by insidious onset and protracted course is described . The child was afebrile, tachypneic, with a staccato cough, conjunctivitis, eosinophilia and disseminated crepitations on auscultation . The chest X-ray showed extensive infiltration and hyperexpansion . Immunoglobulin fractions G and M and antibody titers against chlamydia trachomatis were elevated . These findings suggest the existence of chlamydial pneumonitis in small infants in Austria . It will only be possible to estimate the incidence of chlamydial disease when the appropriate microbiologic techniques are available.

Mikrobiologiia, 1980 Jan-Feb, 49(1), 25 - 30
{Microbiologic oxidation of diesel fuel by the total factor experiment method}; Gusev MV et al.; The effect of nitrogen, phosphorus, glucose and temperature on the assimilation of diesel fuel and the biomass yield of Mycobacterium mucosum was studied by the method of complete factor experiment . The concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus were shown to be most important for the above processes . The growth dynamics of the culture was studied as well as the utilization by it of diesel fuel and glucose added to the medium separately or in combination . The presence of glucose in the medium had no effect on the utilization of diesel fuel; however, the utilization of glucose in the presence of diesel fuel was considerably decelerated.

Transfusion, 1980 Jan-Feb, 20(1), 105 - 7
The sterility of platelet and granulocyte concentrates collected by discontinuous flow centrifugation; Cordle D et al.; Platelet concentrates prepared by a discontinuous flow centrifugal technique (Haemonetics) were examined for evidence of bacterial contamination and subsequent growth from 3 to 11 days after collection . Of the 126 platelet concentrates examined, 4 revealed bacterial growth . However, the growth patterns indicated contamination during the microbiologic manipulations rather than contamination of the units during preparation . These studies indicate that platelet concentrates prepared using the Haemonetics Blood Processor can be safely transfused for up to three days after collection if stored at 4 to 6 C.

Am J Med Technol, 1980 Jan, 46(1), 51 - 7
Construction and validation of an equivalency examination for an MLT/MT career mobility curriculum; Schoeff L et al.; A career mobility program in medical technology, recently developed at the University of Illinois Medical Center, Peoria, utilizes equivalency examinations to recognize professional competencies achieved by a medical laboratory technology graduate with an associate degree toward completion of a bacclaureate degree in medical technology . Four criterion-referenced examinations in clinical chemistry, clinical microbiology, hematology, and blood bank-serology were constructed by 30 medical laboratory technician (MLT) and medical technology educators from Illinois community colleges and universities in 1976-1977 . A description of the development of these exams, the process of criterion referencing, the administration of the exams for norming, and the utilization of the exams by applicants of the career mobility program is presented.

J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1980, 24(1), 104 - 9
Definition, prophylactic value and toxic hazard in the use of antiseptics; Weuffen W et al.; Antiseptics are mainly microbiostatic, relatively insoluble compounds, with little ability to penetrate into the skin or the mucous membranes . They can be used prophylactically or therapeutically on various areas of the body surface (skin and the mucous membranes, e.g., of mouth, intestinal-, respiratory-, and urogenital tract) . If used in this way, they do not generally cause toxic effects, though sensitization to safe antiseptics may occur . The use of chemotherapeutic agents as antiseptics should be avoided wherever possible, because of the risk of emergence of resistant bacteria; but it would be clearly indicated if this were the only way to save a patient's life . Resistance to antiseptics is less likely to emerge than to antibiotics.

Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg, 1980, 14(2), 185 - 9
Time factor, infection frequency and quantitative microbiology in hand injuries: a prospective study; Nylen S et al.; In a prospective study for 108 surgically treated hand wounds the infection rate was significantly lower in tidy than in untidy injuries (6 and 32%) . Infection was significantly more frequent when slough developed than in wounds without slough (54 and 11%) . Only seven patients received antibiotic prophylaxis . Quantitative analysis of bacteria in the wound margins was performed in 89 cases . No significant difference in the frequency of infection was found when the cultures yielded greater than 10(5) or less than 10(5) bacteria/gram tissue . Prolongation of the interval between injury and operation (up to 18 hours) was not associated with increased rate of infection . Cases with longer intervals than 18 hours were too few for statistical analysis . The duration of the operation or of tourniquet application did not influence the infection rate . The importance of adequate wound care, gentle technique and staged treatment are discussed, and also the question of prophylactic antibiotic medication.

Arch Pathol Lab Med, 1980 Jan, 104(1), 3 - 6
Recent advances in viral diagnosis; McIntosh K; A number of new methods have been developed for the rapid and sensitive detection of viral antigens in clinical specimens . These methods are similar in sensitivity to traditional viral culture, but are easier, less expensive, and considerably more rapid . It seems likely that clinical pathologists and microbiologists will become increasingly involved in viral diagnosis.

Blood Cells, 1980, 6(2), 173 - 84
Flow cytometry and cell sorting; Fulwyler MJ; Publication Types:

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