Orthop Rev, 1991 Dec, 20(12), 1065 - 9 Limited open-tendon-sheath irrigation in the treatment of pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis; Juliano PJ et al.; A retrospective review of 27 patients (28 fingers) with pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis, who were treated by a limited, open-tendon-sheath, intermittent-irrigation method that utilized a small pediatric feeding catheter, was conducted . The cases were subcategorized into three stages, based on the intraoperative appearance of the wound . Our results were 100% excellent in stage I; and 88.4% excellent, 5.8% good, and 5.8% fair in stage II . This method proved effective for the surgical management of pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis. Ann Occup Hyg, 1991 Dec, 35(6), 659 - 63 N-nitrosodiethanolamine in commercial cutting fluids without nitrites; Jarvholm B et al.; We have determined the concentration of N-nitrosodiethanolamine (NDELA) in 11 commercial 'nitrite-free' cutting fluids in Sweden in 1989 . The concentrations in diluted fluids after use were 0.02-0.51 ppm . The concentrates contained 0.02-17 ppm . There was no correlation between the occurrence of formaldehyde-releasers, boramines or bacteria and the concentrations of NDELA . An additive in one fluid contained 140 ppm NDELA . The concentration of nitrite in the diluted fluids after use varied between 0 and 40 ppm . There was a correlation between the concentration of nitrite and NDELA . It is concluded that the concentration of NDELA can be low if the suppliers check their additives with regard to NDELA and the users check the concentration of nitrite. J Clin Microbiol, 1991 Dec, 29(12), 2904 - 5 Isoprenoid quinones of "Afipia" spp; Moss CW et al.; The isoprenoid quinone contents of seven strains of "Afipia felis," the type strains of "A . clevelandensis" and "A . broomeae," and reference strains of three unnamed "Afipia" genospecies were determined by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography . The quinone profiles of all "Afipia" strains were essentially identical, with ubiquinone 10 as the major component . The identity of ubiquinone 10 was confirmed by mass spectrometry. Oral Microbiol Immunol, 1991 Dec, 6(6), 350 - 5 Human lactoferrin binding to Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and Prevotella melaninogenica; Kalfas S et al.; Human isolates of Porphyromonas gingivalis (n = 16), Prevotella intermedia n = 82) and Prevotella melaninogenica (n = 18) from diseased periodontal pockets were examined for interaction with human lactoferrin (HLf) in a standardized 125I-labeled protein binding assay . The highest HLf binding was found in P . intermedia strains, followed by P . gingivalis and P . melaninogenica . Further characterization of the interaction was performed with 1 representative strain from each species . HLf binding to P . gingivalis reached a saturation instantly and was optimal at pH 5.0-6.5 . The corresponding values for P . melaninogenica were 90 min and pH 3.0-5.5 . The HLf binding to the 2 strains seem to be nonspecific . In contrast, P . intermedia demonstrated specific binding, and a time-saturability within 60 min with an optimal uptake at pH 6.0-7.5 . Scatchard analysis implied 45,000 receptors per cell with an affinity constant of 5.5 x 10(-7) M on P . intermedia strain 4H . The binding capacity in all 3 strains was affected by the culture medium . HLf binding components in these strains were susceptible to heat or proteases . Binding was eliminated in P . gingivalis and was enhanced in P . intermedia and P . melaninogenica by periodate treatment . Unlabeled HLf or bovine lactoferrin effectively displaced labeled HLf binding . Various proteins and carbohydrates did not inhibit HLf binding . Our data suggest that HLf binds to these periodontitis-associated species and that this mechanism is distinct from the previously known ligand interactions in oral bacteria. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1991 Dec 1, 88(23), 10416 - 20 A dominant positive and negative selectable gene for use in mammalian cells; Schwartz F et al.; We have constructed three different fusion genes containing the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV tk) and the bacterial neomycin phosphotransferase (neo) genes . All three fusion genes utilize the HSV tk promoter but differ at the junction of their components . We have determined if the fusion genes are bifunctional by introducing them into mammalian cells and testing for function of the individual components . One of the fusion genes, TNFUS 69, produced a bicistronic message and a fusion protein that has TK and NEO protein functions . This and other fusion genes of a similar nature could serve as dominant positive and negative selectable markers in mammalian cells. Farmaco, 1991 Dec, 46(12), 1489 - 95 Synthesis and pharmacological properties of 6-substituted 3-(pyridine-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazole {3,4-b}{1,3,4}thiadiazoles; Invidiata FP et al.; A number of new 6-substituted 3-(pyridine-4-yl) 1,2,4-triazole{3,4-b}{1,3,4}thiadiazoles were synthesized and evaluated for their pharmacological activity . Some of them exhibited moderate MAO, antimalarial and in vitro antitumor activity. Biosci Rep, 1991 Dec, 11(6), 387 - 441; discussion 441-4 Chemiosmotic systems in bioenergetics: H(+)-cycles and Na(+)-cycles; Skulachev VP; The development of membrane bioenergetic studies during the last 25 years has clearly demonstrated the validity of the Mitchellian chemiosmotic H+ cycle concept . The circulation of H+ ions was shown to couple respiration-dependent or light-dependent energy-releasing reactions to ATP formation and performance of other types of membrane-linked work in mitochondria, chloroplasts, some bacteria, tonoplasts, secretory granules and plant and fungal outer cell membranes . A concrete version of the direct chemiosmotic mechanism, in which H+ potential formation is a simple consequence of the chemistry of the energy-releasing reaction, is already proved for the photosynthetic reaction centre complexes . Recent progress in the studies on chemiosmotic systems has made it possible to extend the coupling-ion principle to an ion other than H+ . It was found that, in certain bacteria, as well as in the outer membrane of the animal cell, Na+ effectively substitutes for H+ as the coupling ion (the chemiosmotic Na+ cycle) . A precedent is set when the Na+ cycle appears to be the only mechanism of energy production in the bacterial cell . In the more typical case, however, the H+ and Na+ cycles coexist in one and the same membrane (bacteria) or in two different membranes of one and the same cell (animals) . The sets of delta mu H+ and delta mu Na+ generators as well as delta mu H+ and delta mu Na+ consumers found in different types of biomembranes, are listed and discussed. Anal Biochem, 1991 Dec, 199(2), 269 - 74 An electrochemical assay for the characterization of redox proteins from biological electron transfer chains; Baymann F et al.; A sensitive and quick assay for redox proteins based on electrochemical titrations in a thin-layer electrochemical cell is described . Using a combination of modified-electrode and "mediator-enhanced" electrochemistry, equilibration of the cell volume (4 microliters) with the applied potential allows series of spectra as a function of the potential to be recorded rapidly . A complete redox titration between +500 and -600 mV (vs Ag/AgCl/3 M KCl) in 30-mV intervals takes approximately 2 h . The detection limit of the assay, evaluated for cytochrome c at the alpha-band absorption, is quoted to approximately 100 pmol . The use of this redox assay for the detection of redox-active contaminants in biochemical preparations, for the determination of midpoint potentials of redox enzymes, and for the characterization of complex membrane-bound or soluble redox systems is described. Mol Gen Genet, 1991 Dec, 231(1), 124 - 38 Characterization of a novel Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 two-component regulatory system, NtrY/NtrX, involved in nitrogen fixation and metabolism; Pawlowski K et al.; Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 nifA regulation is partially mediated by the nitrogen regulatory gene ntrC . However, the residual nifA expression in ntrC mutant strains is still modulated by the cellular nitrogen and oxygen status . A second ntrC-homologous region, linked to ntrC, was identified and characterized by site-directed insertion mutagenesis and DNA sequencing . Tn5 insertions in this region cause pleiotropic defects in nitrogen metabolism and affect free-living as well as symbiotic nitrogen fixation . DNA sequencing and complementation studies revealed the existence of a bicistronic operon (ntrYX) . NtrY is likely to represent the transmembrane 'sensor' protein element in a two-component regulatory system . NtrX shares a high degree of homology with NtrC proteins of other organisms and probably constitutes the regulator protein element . The regulation of the ntrYX and ntrC loci and the effects of ntrYX, ntrY and ntrX mutations on nifA expression were examined using beta-galactosidase gene fusions . NtrY/NtrX were found to modulate nifA expression and ntrYX transcription was shown to be partially under the control of NtrC. Infect Immun, 1991 Dec, 59(12), 4687 - 92 Evidence for polymorphonuclear leukocyte collagenase and 92-kilodalton gelatinase in gingival crevicular fluid; Overall CM et al.; Analysis of inflammatory exudate collected from sites of experimental periodontitis in cynomolgus monkeys has revealed the presence of collagenase and a 92-kDa gelatinase that comigrated after electrophoresis with the 92-kDa gelatinase released from polymorphonuclear leukocytes . Since neutralizing antibodies to fibroblast collagenase had no effect on the collagenase activity and bacterial collagenases could not be detected, polymorphonuclear leukocytes appear to be the major source of collagenolytic proteinases in inflammatory fluid from gingiva. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 1991 Dec, 36(3), 416 - 20 Transformation of trichloroethylene by sulfate-reducing cultures enriched from a contaminated subsurface soil; Pavlostathis SG et al.; Trichloroethylene (TCE) was reductively dechlorinated to cis-1,2-dichloroethylene (cDCE) by sulfate-reducing cultures enriched from a contaminated subsurface soil . The highest observed transformation rate of TCE was 213 mumol l-1 per day at 35 degrees C . The predominant biotransformation product was cDCE . However, further dechlorination of cDCE was not observed in most of the cultures . Methane production was insignificant and active sulfate reduction was achieved by maintaining excess sulfate . A comparison of sodium sulfide and sodium dithionite for their effect on the transformation of TCE revealed that the latter is a better reducing agent . The extent of TCE transformation in 25 days was ca . 20% higher in the dithionite-amended cultures . A decrease in the rate and extent of TCE transformation was observed with an increase in the concentration of bromoethanesulfonate up to 50 mM. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1991 Nov 27, 181(1), 87 - 94 Sequence conservation of the catalytic regions of amylolytic enzymes in maize branching enzyme-I; Baba T et al.; We have identified cDNA clones encoding branching enzyme-I (BE-I) from a maize kernel cDNA library . The combined nucleotide sequence of the cDNAs indicates that maize BE-I is initially synthesized as a precursor protein with a putative 64-residue transit peptide at the amino terminus, and that the mature enzyme contains 759 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 86,236 Da . The four regions, which constitute the catalytic site of amylolytic enzymes, are conserved in the sequences of BE-I and bacterial branching enzymes . This result demonstrates that branching enzyme belongs to a family of the amylolytic enzymes . The BE-I gene is highly expressed in the early stages of kernel development, and the level of the message concentration decreases slowly as kernel maturation proceeds. J Biol Chem, 1991 Nov 25, 266(33), 22110 - 4 Peptide:N-glycosidase activity found in the early embryos of Oryzias latipes (Medaka fish) . The first demonstration of the occurrence of peptide:N-glycosidase in animal cells and its implication for the presence of a de-N-glycosylation system in living organisms; Seko A et al.; The recent discovery of free oligosaccharides typical for the complex type of glycan chains terminating with a free di-N-acetylchitobiosyl structure in certain fish eggs and early embryos (Ishii, K., Iwasaki, M., Inoue, S., Kenny, P . T . M., Komura, H., and Inoue, Y . (1989) J . Biol . Chem . 264, 1623-1630; Seko, A., Kitajima, K., Iwasaki, M., Inoue, S., and Inoue, Y . (1989) J . Biol . Chem . 264, 15922-15929; Inoue, S., Iwasaki, M., Ishii, K., Kitajima, K., and Inoue, Y . (1989) J . Biol . Chem . 264, 18520-18526) led us to find an enzyme responsible for detachment of N-linked glycan chains from glycoproteins by hydrolyzing the beta-aspartyl-glucosylamine linkage in Oryzias latipes embryos . The enzyme, peptide-N4-(N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminyl) asparagine amidase or peptide:N-glycosidase (PNGase), was partially (2090-fold) purified, and the reaction site at which this enzyme acts was specified by analysis and identification of the reaction products . This is the first demonstration showing PNGase in animal sources, although the presence of PNGases was reported in a variety of plant extracts and bacteria . Thus, the commonality of this type of enzyme is now demonstrated, and the possible physiological role of PNGase in de-N-glycosylation as a basic biologic process is proposed. Science, 1991 Nov 22, 254(5035), 1173 - 7 Recombinant toxins for cancer treatment; Pastan I et al.; Recombinant toxins target cell surface receptors and antigens on tumor cells . They kill by mechanisms different from conventional chemotherapy, so that cross resistance to conventional chemotherapeutic agents should not be a problem . Furthermore, they are not mutagens and should not induce secondary malignancies or accelerate progression of benign malignancies . They can be mass-produced cheaply in bacteria as homogeneous proteins . Either growth factor-toxin fusions or antibody-toxin fusions can be chosen, depending on the cellular target. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1991 Nov 15, 88(22), 10064 - 8 Three-dimensional structure of holo 3 alpha,20 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase: a member of a short-chain dehydrogenase family; Ghosh D et al.; The x-ray structure of a short-chain dehydrogenase, the bacterial holo 3 alpha,20 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.53), is described at 2.6 A resolution . This enzyme is active as a tetramer and crystallizes with four identical subunits in the asymmetric unit . It has the alpha/beta fold characteristic of the dinucleotide binding region . The fold of the rest of the subunit, the quaternary structure, and the nature of the cofactor-enzyme interactions are, however, significantly different from those observed in the long-chain dehydrogenases . The architecture of the postulated active site is consistent with the observed stereospecificity of the enzyme and the fact that the tetramer is the active form . There is only one cofactor and one substrate-binding site per subunit; the specificity for both 3 alpha- and 20 beta-ends of the steroid results from the binding of the steroid in two orientations near the same cofactor at the same catalytic site. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1991 Nov 15, 68(2), 197 - 203 An analysis of the extracellular xylanases and cellulases of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens H17c; Lin LL et al.; The extracellular xylanase and cellulase components of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens H17c were investigated . Two major peaks of enzyme activity were eluted by hydroxylapatite chromatography and designated complex A (CA), having cellulase activity, and complex B (CB) having predominantly xylanase activity but with some activity on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) . CB was further purified on a DE-52 column and subjected to gel filtration . The xylanase and CMCase activities eluted in a single peak with an apparent molecular mass greater than thyroglobulin (Mr 669,000) . CMC xymograms of polyacrylamide gels electrophoresed under non-denaturing conditions indicated the presence of five bands with CMCase activity from CA and eight from CB . Xylan xymograms under the same conditions indicated the presence of four bands of activity in CB . Under mild denaturing conditions the xylanase activity in CB was found in 11 bands with molecular mass ranging from 45 to 180 and the CMCase activity in three bands with molecular mass ranging from 45 kDa to 60 kDa . This indicates that CB exists as a multi-subunit protein aggregate of xylanases, some of which also have cellulase activity. Biochem J, 1991 Nov 15, 280 ( Pt 1), 51 - 5 Comparison of the domain-level organization of starch hydrolases and related enzymes; Jespersen HM et al.; Structure-prediction and hydrophobic-cluster analysis of several starch hydrolases and related enzymes indicated the organization of eleven domain types . Most enzymes possess a catalytic (beta/alpha)8-barrel and a smaller C-terminal domain as seen in crystal structures of alpha-amylase and cyclodextrin glucanotransferase . Some also have a starch-granule-binding domain . Enzymes breaking or forming endo-alpha-1,6 linkages contain domains N-terminal to the (beta/alpha)8-barrel. J Dent Res, 1991 Nov, 70(11), 1409 - 16 A multi-station dental plaque microcosm (artificial mouth) for the study of plaque growth, metabolism, pH, and mineralization; Sissons CH et al.; A plaque growth chamber was developed for long-term growth of five separate plaques from the same plaque or saliva sample under identical conditions of temperature and gas phase . Reagent addition and growth conditions for each plaque could be independently controlled, and each was accessible for sequential sampling and electrode insertion . Plaques were cultured for over six weeks on pellicle-coated Lux (TM) 25-mm diameter cover-slips at 35 degrees C under 5% CO2 in N2, and supplied with a medium containing 0.25% mucin (BMM) at 3.6 mL/h, and with periodic 5% sucrose . Electron microscopy and flora analysis of microcosm plaques showed that they had close similarities to reported characteristics of natural dental plaques . Diverse motile bacteria were present . Sucrose-induced Stephan pH curves and urea-induced pH rises were also similar to those reported for natural plaques . Changes in plaque urease, calcium, phosphate concentrations, and the flora were followed over five weeks in a plaque supplied with BMM containing additional 2.5 mmol/L calcium and 7.5 mmol/L phosphate . Despite this high environmental calcium phosphate concentration, there was no continuing increase in calcium levels, although plaque phosphate doubled . Urease levels fluctuated . Changes in the cultivable flora were minor . A urea-containing calcium phosphate/mono-fluorophosphate pH 5 solution, applied for six min every two h for seven days, increased plaque calcium, phosphate, and fluoride to high levels . Thus, plaques grown over several weeks in the multi-station artificial mouth exhibited metabolic and pH behavior typical of natural plaques, could be analyzed during development, and the system allowed manipulation of environmental variables important in plaque pH control and calcification. Biochem J, 1991 Nov 1, 279 ( Pt 3), 675 - 82 Purification and characterization of methionine gamma-lyase from Trichomonas vaginalis; Lockwood BC et al.; Methionine gamma-lyase (EC 4.4.1.11) was purified to homogeneity from the anaerobic protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis by a series of f.p.l.c . procedures . The enzyme catalyses alpha gamma- and alpha beta-elimination reactions of a number of derivatives of methionine and cysteine . It also catalyses gamma-replacement reactions of the thiomethyl group of methionine, homocysteine and ethionine to yield the corresponding S-substituted homocysteine derivative . The enzyme is pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent, has a native molecular mass of approx . 160 kDa and consists of four apparently identical subunits of molecular mass 43-45 kDa . The absorption spectrum of the enzyme is typical of those obtained for other pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent enzymes, and the holoenzyme can be resolved to the apoenzyme by incubation with hydroxylamine and reconstituted by addition of the cofactor . The enzyme activity is significantly affected by carbonyl and thiol reagents, is competitively inhibited by a number of substrate analogues and is completely inactivated by the suicide inhibitor DL-propargylglycine . The T . vaginalis enzyme is similar, in terms of activity and properties, to the enzymes found in a number of species of bacteria that metabolize methionine under anaerobic conditions . It is suggested that methionine catabolism may be of particular importance to the survival of T . vaginalis under microaerophilic conditions in its host. J Bacteriol, 1991 Nov, 173(21), 6714 - 21 Identification of dcmR, the regulatory gene governing expression of dichloromethane dehalogenase in Methylobacterium sp . strain DM4; La Roche SD et al.; The genes for dichloromethane utilization by Methylobacterium sp . strain DM4 are encoded on a 2.8-kb sequenced DNA fragment, the dcm region . This fragment contains dcmA, the structural gene of dichloromethane dehalogenase and, upstream of dcmA, a 1.5-kb region responsible for inducibility of dichloromethane dehalogenase by dichloromethane . A fragment of the dcm region covering dcmA and 230 bp of its upstream region was integrated into the chromosome of a Methylobacterium sp . strain DM4 mutant deleted for the dcm region . This yielded a strain expressin dichloromethane dehalogenase constitutively at the induced level . Plasmids carrying various segments of the 1.5-kb regulatory region were tested for their ability to restore regulation . The data obtained led to the identification of dcmR, the structural gene of a putative dcm-specific repressor . Transcription of dcmR was divergent from dcmA . dcmR encoded a 30-kDa protein with a helix-turn-helix motif near the amino terminus . The transcription start sites of dcmA and dcmR were identified by nuclease S1 mapping . The promoter regions of these genes contained nearly identical 12-bp sequences covering positions -14 to -25 relative to the mRNA start sites . Experiments with dcmR'-'lacZ fusions demonstrated that dcmR expression was markedly autoregulated at the level of transcription and less so at the protein level . These findings are compatible with both dcmA and dcmR expression being negatively controlled at the transcriptional level by the DcmR protein. Infect Immun, 1991 Nov, 59(11), 4278 - 82 Virulence-related protein synthesis in Naegleria fowleri; Hu WN et al.; Protein synthesis patterns of the low-virulence Naegleria fowleri LEE strain from axenic culture, the same strain after mouse brain passage to increase virulence, and the same strain after growth on bacteria were studied . Comparisons of accumulated proteins, in vivo-synthesized proteins, and in vitro-synthesized proteins translated from poly(A)+ mRNA were made . Differences between amoebae from the different treatments were noted . After 6 months in axenic culture, pathogenic protein synthesis patterns were lost and there was a decrease in virulence . Therefore, the increase in virulence is correlated with numerous specific changes in protein synthesis. Infect Immun, 1991 Nov, 59(11), 4230 - 7 Sulfhydryl-dependent attachment of Treponema denticola to laminin and other proteins; Haapasalo M et al.; Attachment of Treponema denticola ATCC 35405 to laminin, a major basement membrane protein, and to other proteins was studied . Microdilution plates were coated with the proteins, and the attachment of T . denticola was measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique . Compared with bovine serum albumin (BSA), T . denticola had a high affinity to laminin, fibronectin, fibrinogen, and gelatin, as well as to type I and type IV collagens . Attachment to RGD peptide (Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser, the integrin recognition sequence) was only about 30% of that to laminin and was comparable to attachment to BSA . Tests with laminin fragments obtained through elastase digestion showed that the spirochetes attached well to an A-chain 140-kDa fragment involved in eukaryote cell attachment but did not attach to a 50-kDa fragment that includes the heparin binding site . Pretreatment of T . denticola with soluble laminin, fibronectin, gelatin, BSA, or fibrinogen had no effect on the attachment of the bacteria to laminin or fibronectin . A wide variety of compounds were tested for their possible inhibitory actions on the attachment . While most treatments of T . denticola ATCC 35405 had little or no effect on the attachment to proteins, sulfhydryl reagents p-chloromercuribenzoic acid (pCMBA) and oxidized glutathione inhibited the attachment by 70 to 99%, depending on the protein . When T . denticola was first allowed to attach to proteins, addition of pCMBA or oxidized glutathione could no longer reverse the attachment . Heat treatment of the spirochetes also markedly reduced the attachment to laminin, gelatin, and fibrinogen but not to BSA . Mixed glycosidase treatment of the spirochetes inhibited the attachment by 20 to 80% . None of the above treatments of the substrate proteins had any marked effect on the spirochete attachment . The results indicate that T . denticola has the capacity to bind to many different kinds of proteins by utilizing specific attachment mechanisms . The binding appears to involve protein SH groups and/or carbohydrate residues on the surface of T . denticola. Clin Immunol Immunopathol, 1991 Nov, 61(2 Pt 1), 225 - 35 Infection of "nonprofessional phagocytes" with Mycobacterium avium complex; Bermudez LE; Organisms belonging to the Mycobacterium avium complex are the most common bacteria isolated from patients with AIDS . In these patients, M . avium is associated with disseminated disease, and bacteria are found within macrophages in the liver and spleen . To examine the potential of M . avium infection of a nonprofessional phagocyte, the murine fibroblast cell line (L929 cells) are infected with strain 101 (serotype 1) of M . avium . The duplication time for the intracellular bacteria was approximately 36 hr . Progressive intracellular growth ultimately resulted in the destruction of infected cells (after approximately 12 days in culture) . Supernatant obtained from infected L929 cells contained interferon-beta (IFN beta) and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) (50 +/- 12 ng/10(5) cells and 63 +/- 18 pg/10(5) cells, respectively, by 18 hr) . IFN beta could be detected by 3 hr after infection, while GM-CSF was first detected by 6 hr . Release of IFN beta by infected L929 cells could subsequently stimulate NK cells, but not macrophages, to lyse infected L929 cells . These data using L929 cells suggest that M . avium may invade fibroblasts during the course of the infection and that fibroblast infection may trigger NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity against the infected fibroblasts. Infect Immun, 1991 Nov, 59(11), 4263 - 5 Kinetics of accumulation of gamma delta receptor-bearing T lymphocytes in mice infected with live mycobacteria; Griffin JP et al.; The kinetics of accumulation of T cells bearing the gamma delta heterodimer form of the T-cell receptor in mice infected with live Mycobacterium bovis BCG or M . tuberculosis was studied . Substantial numbers of gamma delta T cells accumulated in mice given primary mycobacterial infections, although this accumulation was in parallel to, but not preferential to, that of alpha beta receptor-bearing T cells . In contrast, no accumulation of gamma delta cells was observed in memory immune mice upon rechallenge, thus suggesting that gamma delta cells play no role in the anamnestic response . The results of the study show, further, that large accumulations of gamma delta T cells can also be induced by inoculation with oil adjuvant vehicles containing heat-killed mycobacteria, although not by inoculation of the heat-killed bacteria alone. J Protozool, 1991 Nov-Dec, 38(6), 138S - 140S An improved rat model of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia: induced infections in Pneumocystis-free animals; Boylan CJ et al.; An immunosuppressed rat model of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is described that results in a predictable course of disease development which includes moderate P . carinii (Pc) infections in 2 to 3 weeks, heavy infections in 4 to 5 wk, and a high percentage of mortality due to PCP in 6 wk . The model also provides uninfected, immunosuppressed contemporary controls, an experimental compartment that is needed to correctly interpret results obtained from many different studies . Non-invasive intratracheal inoculation of cryopreserved parasites into Pc- and virus-free rats immunosuppressed by weekly injections of methylprednisolone are key features of the model that result in the development of consistent heavy Pc infections and very few secondary infections by bacteria and fungi . This model is useful for (1) maintaining isolates or strains of Pc over time, (2) producing large numbers of parasites for laboratory studies, and (3) evaluating the anti-Pc activity of experimental compounds and approved drugs. J Protozool, 1991 Nov-Dec, 38(6), 131S - 133S A review of common infectious disease agents of laboratory mice and rats: potential influence on Pneumocystis carinii; Barthold SW; The influence of viruses and bacteria on Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is suspected but not known for certain . A number of adventitious viruses and bacteria are common among commercially available and institutionally raised rodents, which may impact upon, or interfere with, the induction of PCP in rodents in several ways . Based upon the biological behavior and prevalence of certain rodent agents, the potential for such impact is great . Infectious agents can directly interfere with research by inducing severe disease in the immunocompromised host . They may also influence the course of P . carinii infection or disease via direct effects upon the respiratory tract or via indirect effects on lymphoreticular cells or other organ systems . Examples of likely agents and their potential effects are discussed. J Protozool, 1991 Nov-Dec, 38(6), 128S - 129S Pneumocystis carinii--animal production perspective; Russell RJ et al.; Pneumocystis carinii is an important cause of pneumonia in immunocompromised human patients . The organism is also found as a saprophyte in the lungs of many species of animals . Animal models have been used as a source of P . carinii organisms for study of the disease . The rat model has been especially useful . Initially, the infection was latent in most colonies, and P . carinii pneumonia readily developed when animals were immunosuppressed . Today, many barrier raised rodent colonies are free of adventitious viruses, bacteria, Mycoplasma sp., and parasites, including P . carinii . Variability is now seen in the rat model . The use of cultured organisms to experimentally infect rats and mice prior to immunosuppression has met the need for some investigators, however, latent-infected, barrier-raised and isolator-raised rodents are still required . Colonies specifically infected with P . carinii can provide latent-infected animals and are better protected from potentially interfering organisms than barrier-raised animals . The development of these colonies is feasible as investigators and animal producers work together to define and develop this resource. Mol Biol (Mosk), 1991 Nov-Dec, 25(6), 1650 - 60 {Radiosensitivity of coding and noncoding DNA sequences of various organisms}; Fonarev AB et al.; Relationship between pyrimidine distribution patterns and radiosensitivity (Z) of DNA molecules of different species was derived by computer analysis of recurrence frequency of pyrimidine clusters . Blocking factors (beta) and Z for coding and non-coding DNA sequences of species from different taxonomic classes have been calculated within a new model . The radiosensitivity of coding DNA sequences practically does not vary whereas Z values were increased during evolution from simplest to higher organisms . The beta and Z values calculated for several groups of individual genes were shown to vary considerably. J Endod, 1991 Nov, 17(11), 531 - 6 Human polymorphonuclear granule components: relative levels detected by a modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in normal and inflamed dental pulps; Rauschenberger CR et al.; Lysosomal granules of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN's) contain proteolytic enzymes and other components important in the regulation of inflammation and the elimination of bacteria or debris associated with pulp disease . However, PMN lysosomal degranulation is nonspecific and can result in destruction of healthy connective tissue adjacent to the areas of damaged or infected tissue . For this study a modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the human PMN lysosomal granule products: elastase, cathepsin G, and lactoferrin . Evaluation of 55 pulp samples yielded a statistically significant difference (p less than 0.05) among the levels of elastase and lactoferrin in normal and moderate to severely inflamed pulps . Although cathepsin G levels were increased, there was no statistical significance (p greater than 0.05) among groups . The results indicate that a modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique can be used to measure PMN lysosomal granule components in dental pulp tissues . Additionally, elastase and lactoferrin levels appear to be valid diagnostic markers of advanced dental pulp disease. Stoma (Lisb), 1991 Nov - 1992 Jan, 2(18), 37 - 8, 41-3, 45 {Etiopathogenesis of periapical lesions}; Azevedo Pina Vaz IG; In recent years, considerable interest has been generated in the role of bacteria in causing periapical pathogenesis . This article reviews and correlates clinical and laboratory research bearing on this important topic . Bacteria in dental root canals play a decisive role in the development of periapical lesions and some of them have the ability to establish themselves in periapical tissue . Multiple mechanisms are involved: they include also immunological responses. Nurs J India, 1991 Nov, 82(11), 307 - 8 Vitamin A; Pinnock C; PIP: 20-40 million children in the world have mild vitamin A deficiency and another 3 million have severe vitamin A deficiency leading to high rates of xerophthalmia and blindness . Vitamin A influences growth, survival, and resistance to infection . Vitamin A deficiency reduces the T-cells' ability to fight infection and decreases mucous production resulting in more bacteria being able to attach themselves to respiratory mucosa . Thus it increases the body's susceptibility to respiratory infection . For example, health workers in rural Indonesia who followed children for 18 months and learned that those with mild vitamin A deficiency are twice the risk of respiratory infection than those who do not have such a deficiency . This risk is higher regardless of the children's overall nutritional status . A study in urban India shows the same results . A study in Ethiopia finds children with xerophthalmia not only at increased risk of respiratory infection but also of diarrhea . Other studies demonstrate that respiratory disease, diarrhea, and measles precipitate vitamin A deficiency . For example, corneal ulceration follows an episode of measles in 79% of all corneal ulceration cases in Tanzania . In Indonesia, children with measles are 11 times more likely to have xerophthalmia . Children with mild vitamin A deficiency in Indonesia face death 4 time more often than those with no such deficiency . Vitamin A supplementation decreases mortality 72% in 60-71 month old children and 15% in 12-23 month old children, yet increases it 23% in 36-47 month old children . In Ethiopia, an infection is more predictive of severe, symptomatic vitamin A deficiency than is preexisting malnutrition . Still vitamin A deficiency increases the likelihood of respiratory infection and diarrhea . Thus vitamin A deficient children enter a downward spiral . The longterm solution to vitamin A deficiency is community development and increased consumption of dark green edible plants and red and orange fruits . Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1991 Nov, 35(11), 2253 - 61 Correlation between aminoglycoside resistance profiles and DNA hybridization of clinical isolates; Shaw KJ et al.; DNA hybridization data and aminoglycoside resistance profiles (AGRPs) were determined for 4,088 clinical isolates from three studies (United States, Belgium, and Argentina) . The correlation between susceptibility profiles and hybridization results was determined with nine DNA probes . For each of the seven aminoglycoside resistance profiles which we were able to test, the data suggested at least two distinct genes could encode enzymes which lead to identical resistance profiles . Furthermore, the DNA hybridization data showed that individual strains carried up to six unique aminoglycoside resistance genes . DNA hybridization revealed interesting differences in the frequencies of these genes by organism and by country. Photochem Photobiol, 1991 Nov, 54(5), 859 - 70 Action spectra again? Coohill TP. Action spectroscopy has a long history and is of central importance to photobiological studies . Action spectra were among the first assays to point to chlorophyll as the molecule most responsible for plant growth and to DNA as the genetic material . It is useful to construct action spectra early in the investigation of new areas of photobiological research in an attempt to determine the wavelength limits of the radiation region causing the studied response . But due to the severe absorption of ultraviolet (UV) radiation by biological samples, UV action spectra were first limited to small cells (bacteria and fungi) . Advances in techniques (e.g . single cell culture) and analysis allowed accurate action spectra to be reported even for mammalian cells . But precise analytical action spectra are often difficult to obtain when large, pigmented, or groups of cells are investigated . Here some action spectra are limited in interpretation and merely supply a wavelength vs effect curve . When polychromatic sources are employed, the interpretation of action spectra is even more complex and formidable . But such polychromatic action spectra can be more directly related to ambient responses . Since precise action spectra usually require the completion of a relatively large number of careful experiments using somewhat sophisticated equipment over a range of at least six wavelengths, they are often not pursued . But they remain central to the elucidation of the effect being studied . The worldwide community has agreed that stratospheric ozone is depleting, with the possibility of a consequent rise in the amount of UV-B (290-320 nm) reaching the earth's surface . It is therefore essential that new action spectra be completed for UV-B effects on a large variety of responses of human, animal, and aquatic plant systems . Combining these action spectra with the known amounts of UV-B reaching the biosphere can give rise to solar UV effectiveness spectra that, in turn, can give rise to estimates of effect . Preliminary estimates suggest that ozone layer depletion may seriously impact such important biological end-points as skin cancer, cataracts, the immune system, crop yields, and oceanic phytoplankton . So action spectra continue to play a central role in important photobiological research. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1991 Nov, 57(11), 3345 - 9 Development of the BIOLOG substrate utilization system for identification of Legionella spp; Mauchline WS et al.; The genus Legionella consists of 51 serogroups comprising 34 species . Biochemical reactions and cell wall fatty acid and quinone analyses may confirm that an isolate is a Legionella sp . and indicate to which species it belongs, but DNA hybridization studies have been necessary for a definitive identification . Recently, the commercially available BIOLOG identification system has offered a standardized, easily reproducible system of substrate metabolism by bacteria resuspended in multiwell plates . A tetrazolium dye acts as an electron acceptor during the oxidation of the wide range of substrates and forms an irreversible, highly colored formazan when reduced . The 95 substrate wells are read rapidly with a conventional plate reader, and the results are downloaded for comparison with a computer data base, allowing quick identification . The BIOLOG system's ability to test more diverse classes of substrates, including amino acids, peptides, carboxylic acids, and carbohydrates, was used in this study to establish a new data base and identify the asaccharolytic Legionella spp . In particular, Legionella pneumophila behaved as a microaerophile, and the fastest, most diverse metabolic activities occurred after the development of a low-oxygen incubation environment . Alternatively, bacteria could be successfully incubated in air when their concentration was double that recommended by the manufacturer . Similar results were obtained by using either Page's amoebal saline or distilled water as the resuspending and incubation medium . Type strains did not cross-identify with any of the strains already in the manufacturer's data base . The results indicate that this modified system has value in being able to identify Legionella isolates to the species level. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1991 Nov, 57(11), 3107 - 13 Comparison of the adhesion properties of Deleya marina and the exopolysaccharide-defective mutant strain DMR; Shea C et al.; Deleya marina 219 (ATCC 25374) produces large quantities of an acidic exopolysaccharide and characteristically forms mucoid colonies and large aggregates of cells . The exopolysaccharide of wild-type D . marina cells appears to occur as both film and fibrils in electron micrographs . The organization of exopolymeric material was indicative of structural heterogeneity . A spontaneous rough-colony mutant defective in exopolysaccharide, D . marina DMR, has been isolated . The absence of exopolymer corresponds to a nonmucoid, nonaggregating, adhesion-altered phenotype . In microplate adhesion assays, wild-type cells grown at 19 or 25 degrees C attached to hydrophilic surfaces but not to a hydrophobic surface . In contrast, mutant cells exhibited a significantly reduced level of attachment to hydrophilic surfaces and increased adhesion to a hydrophobic surface. Res Vet Sci, 1991 Nov, 51(3), 299 - 305 Examination of milk samples from experimentally infected heifers by an N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase test and an antigen-capture ELISA; Ball HJ et al.; Milk samples collected from normal and experimentally infected quarters of five heifers throughout their first lactation were examined by bacterial culture, milk cell count (MCC), N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase) test and a monoclonal antibody based antigen-capture ELISA . The results were analysed according to the presence (mastitis positive) or absence (mastitis negative) of bacteria on culture, and the numbers of false negative and false positive results of the other three tests defined in relation to this . Similar numbers of false negative results were observed with the MCC (20), NAGase (18) and ELISA (13) . False positive results due to the physiological factors present in early lactation were evident in the MCC, prominent in the NAGase test and absent from the ELISA . The major difference in false positive results associated with experimental infection between the three tests was the more rapid return to negative values of the ELISA following resolution of infection, compared with MCC and NAGase. Mol Microbiol, 1991 Nov, 5(11), 2649 - 61 DNA sequencing and complementation/deletion analysis of the bchA-puf operon region of Rhodobacter sphaeroides: in vivo mapping of the oxygen-regulated puf promoter; Hunter CN et al.; Within the photosynthetic gene cluster of Rhodobacter sphaeroides the genes encoding light-harvesting LHI and reaction-centre complexes are transcriptionally linked in the order pufBALMX . The region stretching 1.6 kb upstream of pufB has been examined by DNA sequencing and by complementation/deletion analysis . These studies demonstrate that three open reading frames are located upstream of pufB . One open reading frame, designated bchA, terminates just inside pufQ, which is located proximal to pufB . BchA contains a 37 bp region that functions as the oxygen-regulated promoter for pufQ, and probably for the puf operon as a whole . We also demonstrate that the protein encoded by pufQ appears to play a role in bacteriochlorophyll biosynthesis. Equine Vet J, 1991 Nov, 23(6), 470 - 4 Mononuclear cell infiltration of the equine endometrium: immunohistochemical studies; Waelchli RO et al.; Endometrial sections from mares with varying degrees of mononuclear cell infiltration were examined for immunoglobulin (Ig)A-, IgM-, IgG(T)- and IgG(Fc)-containing cells, luminal and glandular epithelial cell Ig-staining and free interstitial Ig-staining, using a peroxidase anti-peroxidase technique . Mares with mild to moderate (Group 2) and mares with severe diffuse mononuclear cell infiltration, superimposed by acute endometritis (Group 3), had significantly higher numbers of Ig-containing cells than genitally-normal mares (Group 1) . The differences between Groups 1 and 3 were significant for all four isotypes . In Groups 1 and 2, numbers of IgA-containing cells were significantly larger than numbers of IgM- and IgG(T)-containing cells . Generally, more glandular epithelial cells stained for IgA and IgM than for IgG(T) and IgG(Fc), and Ig-staining for all isotypes increased from Group 1 to Group 3 . Free interstitial staining did not appear to differ among the three groups, but IgG(Fc)- and IgG(T)-staining generally was more intense than IgA- and IgM-staining . The efficiency of uterine defence in the mare does not seem to depend solely on humoral factors, and defects involving other components of the defence system may contribute to failure of the uterus to clear infection. Zentralbl Hyg Umweltmed, 1991 Nov, 192(3), 258 - 63 Improved recovery of Legionella from water samples by use of black membrane filters; Szewzyk R et al.; A higher recovery of Legionella bacteria from water samples was achieved using black filters that were directly placed on agar plates after filtration, compared to the traditional method using white filters that are shaken in buffer after filtration . Up to 100 times more Legionella colonies/100 ml were found using black filters compared to the traditional method . The two filtration methods revealed, however, no big differences with pure culture experiments . Treatment with acid solution, directly on the filters without dilution of the concentrated sample, effectively reduced the number of accompanying bacteria. Trends Biochem Sci, 1991 Nov, 16(11), 408 - 11 RNA polymerase-associated transcription factors; Greenblatt J; Proteins that bind to RNA polymerase regulate initiation and termination of transcription in bacteria . Recently, such RNA polymerase-associated proteins were also found to be essential for accurate transcription by eukaryotic RNA polymerase II. J Clin Microbiol, 1991 Nov, 29(11), 2571 - 7 A cloned DNA probe identifies Cowdria ruminantium in Amblyomma variegatum ticks; Waghela SD et al.; Heartwater, caused by Cowdria ruminantium and transmitted by ticks of the genus Amblyomma, is a constraint to ruminant animal production in sub-Saharan Africa . This rickettsial disease could spread from endemically infected areas of sub-Saharan Africa and certain Caribbean islands to other countries, including the United States, in which Amblyomma ticks exist . To detect C . ruminantium in tick vectors and animals, we made DNA probes from C . ruminantium DNA isolated from endothelial cell cultures . Two clones were evaluated; pCS20 from Crystal Springs (Zimbabwe) strain DNA had a 1,306-bp insert, and pCR9 from Kiswani (Kenya) strain DNA had a 754-bp insert . Both DNA probes detected 1 ng of Crystal Springs DNA; however, the pCS20 probe had a 10-fold-greater ability to discriminate between C . ruminantium DNA and DNA from other organisms . Also, the pCS20 probe did not hybridize to 400 ng (highest amount tested) of DNA from bovine cells, 3 protozoa, 3 rickettsiae, and 12 bacteria . In all experiments, C . ruminantium DNA was detected in midguts from 99 of 160 Amblyomma variegatum nymphs infected as larvae and in midguts from 38 of 80 adult ticks infected as nymphs but not in midguts from control nymphs and adults . The presence of C . ruminantium in nymphs and adults was confirmed by transmission of heartwater to goats . The DNA sequences of both probes were determined; synthetic oligonucleotides from pCS20 are recommended as DNA probes for C . ruminantium. Int J Colorectal Dis, 1991 Nov, 6(4), 208 - 11 Lactulose hydrogen and {14C}xylose breath tests in patients with ileoanal anastomosis; Santavirta J; To study the intestinal bacterial flora and mouth to pouch transit time after ileoanal anastomosis, lactulose hydrogen and {14C}xylose breath tests were performed on 19 patients with ileoanal anastomosis and J-pouch and 8 patients with conventional ileostomy . Evaluated by the {14C}xylose breath test, patients with ileoanal anastomosis and ileal pouch showed no difference in the bacterial flora of the proximal small bowel when compared with ileostomy patients . The lactulose hydrogen breath test showed a significant rise in breath hydrogen, indicating bacterial overgrowth, in 68% of patients with ileoanal anastomosis but in none with conventional ileostomy (p less than 0.01) . It was concluded that this peak in breath hydrogen was produced by the bacteria in the pouch . Thus the lactulose hydrogen breath test can be used to measure mouth to pouch transit time in 2/3 of patients with ileoanal anastomosis . Mouth to pouch transit time was 63 +/- 9 min and it correlated inversely with stool frequency (p less than 0.05). Anticancer Drug Des, 1991 Nov, 6(5), 467 - 79 Comparison of half-lives and cytotoxicity of N-chloroethyl-4-amino and N-mesyloxyethyl-benzoyl compounds, products of prodrugs in antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT); Springer CJ et al.; The synthesis of two novel drugs, 4-{bis{2-(mesyloxy)ethyl}amino}benzoic acid (7) and 4-{(2-chloroethyl){2-(mesyloxy)ethyl}amino}benzoic acid (8) is described here . They are the active drugs of two prodrugs (9 and 10) designed for use as anti-cancer agents . The prodrugs (9, 10 and 11) were made as a series of compounds which are bifunctional alkylating agents in which the activating effect of the ionized carboxyl function is masked through an amide bond to a glutamic acid residue . These relatively inactive prodrugs were designed to be activated to their corresponding alkylating agent active drugs (7, 8 and 12 respectively) at a tumour site by prior administration of a monoclonal antibody conjugated to a bacterial enzyme . This system is called antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT) . The chemical half-lives of the prodrugs and their active drugs were measured in order to determine their relative reactivities . The half-lives ranged from 21 to 324 min for the active drugs and from 42 to 1158 min for the prodrugs . The viability of two different tumour cell lines was monitored with each active drug and prodrug . The IC50 values varied from 65 to 625 microM for the active drugs: no IC50 values could be obtained for the prodrugs, using a rapid incubation procedure . Each in vitro technique demonstrated the ability of the glutamic acid moiety to deactivate the drugs, forming effective prodrugs. Pneumologie, 1991 Nov, 45(11), 924 - 7 {Local immunization against P . aeruginosa with an outer-membrane-protein vaccine}; Grundmann T et al.; Averting initial colonization of the respiratory tract with P . aeruginosa would be of great benefit for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) . Our approach to this problem is mucosal immunization with a vaccine prepared from the OMP fraction of a PAO-1 strain of P . aeruginosa . Sprague-Dawley rats were given 5 intragastric doses of the vaccine on 5 consecutive days and an intranasal booster dose 21 days later . Immunized animals developed high titers of OMP-specific IgG antibodies in serum and a specific IgA response in bronchioalveolar and small intestinal lavage samples, all determined by ELISA . When challenged 7 days after the booster (day 28) by intratracheal injection of live bacteria of a heterologous strain of P . aeruginosa the immunized rats showed enhanced bronchopulmonary bacterial clearance compared to nonimmunized controls, as indicated by bacterial counts from homogenized lung tissue taken 4 hrs after challenge . Thus, mucosal immunization with OMP vaccines might hinder initial colonisation of the lungs with P . aeruginosa. Food Chem Toxicol, 1991 Nov, 29(11), 751 - 5 Quantitative relationship between oral nitrate-reducing activity and the endogenous formation of N-nitrosoamino acids in humans; Shapiro KB et al.; Salivary nitrate and nitrate concentrations, in vitro kinetics of nitrate reduction in saliva, and numbers of salivary nitrate-reducing micro-organisms were each compared with N-nitrosoamino acid excretion in 16 humans eating controlled diets . N-Nitrosoproline (NPRO) and N-nitrosothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (NTCA) excretion were measured after intake of nitrate (5.24 mmol) and L-proline (4.35 mmol) before and after treatment with an oral antiseptic (Peridex, 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate) . Peridex treatment resulted in a 94% reduction in the numbers of salivary nitrate-reducing bacteria, a decline from 17 to 4% in the amount of salivary nitrate that was reduced to nitrite in vivo, and an 85% reduction in the rate of in vitro nitrate reduction by saliva . Concurrently, there were 62 and 74% inhibitions of endogenous NPRO and NTCA formation, respectively . Correlations of the numbers of nitrate reductase micro-organisms, in vivo oral nitrate reduction and salivary nitrite concentrations, with individual NPRO excretion, indicated that individuals with higher oral nitrate-reducing capacities formed more N-nitrosoamino acid endogenously . These data suggest that individual differences in oral nitrate reduction are a significant factor in gastric nitrosation and account for a large proportion of the interindividual variability in nitrosoamino acid excretion. J Am Soc Nephrol, 1991 Nov, 2(5), 1007 - 13 Lack of plasma interleukin-1 beta or tumor necrosis factor-alpha elevation during unfavorable hemodialysis conditions; Powell AC et al.; Plasma interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were determined by ELISA in 17 healthy controls, 23 HD patients, 10 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients, and 15 chronic renal failure patients, as well as in 2 HD patients experiencing pyrogenic reactions . Another group of 10 chronic HD patients were dialyzed for 2.5 h, 5 with first-use Cuprophan membranes and 5 with first-use high-flux cellulose triacetate membranes . The mean bacterial and endotoxin concentrations of the dialysate used for HD treatments during the study period were 18,440 +/- 530 CFU/mL (mean +/- SEM) and 976 +/- 205 pg/mL, respectively . Blood specimens were obtained intradialysis and postdialysis for cytokine assay and were incubated to augment cytokine production . There was no difference in plasma IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha concentrations among the healthy controls, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients, chronic renal failure patients, or HD patients . Neither cytokine increased significantly during or after HD . Two patients experiencing pyrogenic reactions had plasma TNF-alpha concentrations of 537 and 413 pg/mL, compared with matched controls of 6 and 0 pg/mL . Il-1 beta concentration did not differ from controls . We conclude that: (1) plasma IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha are not chronically elevated in chronic renal failure, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, or HD patients; (2) HD with new Cuprophan or cellulose triacetate membranes and high concentrations of dialysate endotoxin and bacteria does not cause elevation of circulating IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha; and (3) pyrogenic reactions might be mediated by TNF-alpha. J Dairy Sci, 1991 Nov, 74(11), 3782 - 90 Variation in milk somatic cells of heifers at first calving; Miller RH et al.; To evaluate variation in milk somatic cells, 24 primiparous cows (paired by calving date) were sampled during the first 75 d of lactation . Milk somatic cell counts were lowest at 9 to 10 wk . For differential cell counts in milk, only percentage of macrophages changed significantly during first 75 d (33% at 1 wk, 25% at 6 wk, and 34% at 11 wk) . Epithelial cells were identified and ranged from 11 to 20% of total . For milk somatic cell count, variation between cows within pairs sampled contemporaneously was small (3 to 24%) . However, variation between cows was much greater for the differential cell counts (46% of total for lymphocytes and 34% for epithelial cells) . Of 1021 quarter foremilk samples, 26 were positive for major pathogens, but 326 were positive for various species . Prevalence of bacteria was significantly higher during first 10 d after calving . Rear quarters had significantly higher bacterial presence: 47% for left rear versus 21% for left front and 37% for right rear versus 24% for right front . Total milk somatic cell count after first calving appears to depend primarily on differences in temporary factors and is not a stable characteristic of individual cows . Proportions of the different somatic cell types in milk may vary consistently by cow in early first lactation. Int J Artif Organs, 1991 Nov, 14(11), 681 - 5 Using ultrapure water in hemodialysis delays carpal tunnel syndrome; Baz M et al.; Since 1977, our patients have undergone chronic HD with ultra-pure dialysate (UPD), defined as having endotoxin levels below 0.008 ng/ml and less than 1 bacteria/ml of dialysate . We evaluated the incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in three groups of patients . Group I (GI), 84 patients, dialysed for 6.1 +/- 3.2 years (mean +/- SD) with UPD only; Group II (GII), 39 patients, first dialysed for 3.7 +/- 2.3 years with non-UPD and afterwards for 8.4 +/- 2.1 years with UPD; Group III (G III), 103 patients treated for 6 +/- 5.9 years exclusively with non-UPD . All patients were dialysed with cuprophan or cellulose acetate membranes . Results, expressed by Kaplan-Meier actuarial survival curves as the percent of patients without CTS, show that CTS occurred significantly less in GI than in GIII . This may be due to less stimulation of monocytes resulting from the absence of bacteria, endotoxins and pyrogens in the dialysate, which would reduce the stimulation of cytokines release, interleukin 1 and 6, and tumor necrosis factor, known to stimulate beta 2 microglobulin synthesis. Scand J Gastroenterol, 1991 Nov, 26(11), 1179 - 87 Adhesion of Helicobacter pylori to human gastric mucosal biopsy specimens cultivated in vitro; Rosberg K et al.; The therapeutic advances in Helicobacter pylori infection is hampered by the lack of suitable animal model systems . We have previously reported on successful adherence of H . pylori to pig gastric mucosa cultured in vitro . The aim of this study was to verify the technique in human biopsy specimens cultured in vitro . Mucosal samples were taken from H . pylori-negative and H . pylori-positive patients undergoing gastric surgery . The non-infected tissue was infected with H . pylori in vitro, and the infected tissue was put into culture immediately . Total number and those H . pylori firmly attached were checked throughout a 72-h culture . Viability of cultured human gastric mucosa was good and unaffected by the presence of H . pylori . The amount of bacteria adhering, increased with time from 0.01% to 2-4% after 72 h in culture . In vivo-infected specimens initially had a low number of firmly attached H . pylori, but total H . pylori increased with time in culture . It is concluded that human gastric biopsy specimens show good viability for 72 h and that viability and cell division of H . pylori were maintained in both in vivo and in vitro H . pylori-infected tissue . In both cases the total number of viable bacteria attached to the specimens increased with incubation time. Anaesth Intensive Care, 1991 Nov, 19(4), 525 - 9 Single versus double occlusive dressing technique to minimize infusion thrombophlebitis: Vialon and Teflon cannulae reassessed; Myles PS et al.; Infusion thrombophlebitis is the commonest complication of intravenous cannulation . This study was undertaken to prospectively evaluate a double-occlusive dressing technique and a new cannula, bismuth oxide-Teflon (Critikon Inc., Aust.), comparing it to Vialon (Deseret Medical Inc., Utah, USA) . The study group of two hundred patients had a 16 gauge intravenous cannula inserted in theatre using a standard technique . The incidence of thrombophlebitis was determined on a daily basis . Cannula tips were sent for culture on removal . Vialon was found to be superior to Teflon after day 1 . Although a double-occlusive dressing technique increased the duration of cannulation (50.9 vs . 41.9 hours, P less than 0.05), there was no difference in the incidence of thrombophlebitis . Neither cannula material nor dressing technique had an influence on the results of cannula tip culture (6% incidence) . There was no evidence of bacteraemia in any case. FEMS Microbiol Immunol, 1991 Nov, 3(6), 345 - 9 Immunological characterization of a low molecular mass polypeptidic antigen of Borrelia burgdorferi; Sambri V et al.; The presence of a low molecular mass polypeptidic antigen in Borrelia burgdorferi was described . The protein was exposed at the bacterial surface since it was clearly identified by mAb 3H4 using the immunofluorescence test performed with living bacteria . This antigen was cleaved by proteinase K treatment, whereas it was resistant to the action of chymotrypsin, trypsin and thermolysin . Western blotting analysis of the immunological reactivity of this antigenic structure performed using monoclonal antibody, mouse-immune ascitic fluids raised against B . burgdorferi and other spirochetes, sera from patients with Lyme disease and other infirmities in which false positive results in serological tests for B . burgdorferi have been described, demonstrated that this protein expresses only species-specific epitopes which may be recognized during human B . burgdorferi infections. Drugs, 1991 Nov, 42(5), 749 - 65 The use of interferon-alpha in virus infections; Finter NB et al.; The interferons (IFN) act too slowly to arrest acute viral infections, but interferon-alpha (IFN alpha) preparations have proved useful in some chronic infections and will clearly be used increasingly in these in the future . In the preparations derived from human leucocytes or cultured B lymphoblastoid cells, which are in routine clinical use, mixtures of a number of distinct subtypes of human IFN alpha have been identified . There are also 3 slightly different versions of the same single subtype, IFN alpha-2, made by recombinant DNA procedures in bacteria . IFN alpha preparations are injected intramuscularly or subcutaneously . Dose-related side effects are common but usually tolerable, but prolonged treatment may cause increasing fatigue and depression . Some patients form neutralising antibodies which block the effects of the IFN; these appear to be relatively more common after recombinant IFN alpha-2 than after IFN derived from human cells . Given intranasally, IFN alpha can prevent a subsequent experimental rhinovirus infection, or the spread of natural colds within a family . Repeated administration progressively damages the nasal mucosa, so that long term prophylaxis is not possible . IFN alpha has proved useful in patients with papillomavirus warts of the larynx, ano-genital region (condyloma acuminata) and skin (common warts) . Treatment regimens remain to be optimised and are likely to include surgery or other treatments . IFN alpha and zidovudine (azidothymidine) synergistically inhibit the growth of HIV in vitro, and combination are on trial in patients with early AIDS . Very large doses of IFN alpha are effective against Kaposi's sarcoma in some AIDS patients . In chronic hepatitis B, continuing virus replication may lead to cirrhosis or primary liver cancer . Earlier clinical trials with IFN alpha gave inconclusive results, but recent large studies have confirmed that 25 to 40% of patients obtain benefit; this probably results from both the antiviral and the immunomodulatory effects of IFN alpha . In patients with chronic hepatitis C, the biochemical markers usually improve rapidly during IFN alpha administration, but relapse if treatment is stopped after only a few months; to increase the chances of sustained cure, the treatment period is now being prolonged. Mutat Res, 1991 Nov, 258(3), 207 - 36 The genetic toxicology of ortho-toluidine; Danford N; ortho-Toluidine, a monosubstituted aniline and an intermediate in the dyeing industry, with a number of uses in other fields such as rubber processing and pharmaceutical production, has been in production for over 100 years . It is metabolised in vivo into a number of compounds, some of which are active genotoxins . It has been demonstrated to be a carcinogen in mice and rats and is a suspected human carcinogen . o-Toluidine has a wide range of genetic effects . It is a weak bacterial, fungal and mammalian mutagen, although the conditions required are stringent . The metabolising system used is of particular importance . o-Toluidine is also a clastogen, generally on prolonged exposure . It induces aneuploidy in both fungi and mammalian cultured cells . It also produces DNA damage (single-strand breaks and unscheduled DNA synthesis, UDS) and causes cell transformation . o-Toluidine can be considered a general genotoxin demonstrable under special conditions, particularly with regard to metabolism. Acta Virol, 1991 Nov, 35(6), 573 - 9 Coxiella and Rickettsiella: comparison of ultrastructure with special reference to their envelope; Popov V et al.; Ultrastructure of Rickettsiella phytoseiuli (R.p.) multiplying in female ticks Dermacentor reticulatus was compared with that of Coxiella burnetii (C.b.) in the same ticks and in mice . C.b . in ticks and mice were always represented by 2 main cell types: small dense round or rod-like cells (DC) and larger bacteria-like cells (BC) . DC were surrounded with a characteristic five-layered 20 nm thick envelope . Under the envelope DC had a stack of parallel intracytoplasmic membranes with a periodicity 5-6 nm . R.p . in tick fat body and synganglion were also inside phagosomes and formed 6 sequentially developing cell forms: dense (elementary), intermediate, bacterial, giant, and crystal-forming in which small dark bodies (initial particles) condensed . Two of them--dense and bacterial--corresponded to DC and BC of C.b . The DC envelope structure of R.p . was strikingly similar to that of some C.b . DC in mouse . We confirmed the general morphologic similarities in the structure of C.b . and R.p . DC and that of C.b . BC and intermediate cells of R.p . The envelope structure of DC type was found in other gracilicute bacteria and is supposed to have no taxonomic value but to be a reflection of population heterogeneity. Infect Immun, 1991 Nov, 59(11), 4238 - 48 Construction of minitransposons for constitutive and inducible expression of pertussis toxin in bvg-negative Bordetella bronchiseptica; Walker MJ et al.; Appropriately detoxified pertussis toxin (PT) of Bordetella pertussis is considered to be an essential component of new-generation whooping cough vaccines, but the development of a procedure to obtain high levels of purified toxin has been and continues to be a major difficulty . To produce a system enabling the biological separation of PT from other virulence determinants of B . pertussis and the attainment of high yields of the toxin, minitransposons containing the PT operon were constructed and stably integrated into the chromosome of Bordetella virulence regulatory gene (bvg)-negative Bordetella bronchiseptica ATCC 10580 . Since the minitransposons introduced into Bordetella spp . lack the cognate transposase function, they are unable to undergo further transposition events or mediate gene deletions and rearrangements that lead to strain instability . The TnPtacPT minitransposon contains the PT operon under the control of the tac promoter and directs IPTG (isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside)-inducible expression of PT in B . bronchiseptica ATCC 10580 . The level of IPTG-induced PT expression was, however, lower than that found for the wild-type B . pertussis Tohama I strain . The TnfusPT minitransposon contains a promoterless PT operon which is only expressed after insertion of the transposon downstream of an appropriately oriented indigenous promoter . After "promoter probing" of B . bronchiseptica with the transposon, clones were screened for PT production by immunoblotting with specific monoclonal antibodies . One clone, designated B . bronchiseptica 10580:: TnfusPT1, expresses significantly higher levels of PT than does B . pertussis Tohama I . The recombinant toxin produced was biologically active in the Chinese hamster ovary cell-clustering assay . High-level expression of PT from a B . bronchiseptica host promoter should provide better yields of the toxin from bacteria not producing other bvg-regulated pathogenesis factors that may play a role in the undesired side effects of current pertussis vaccine preparations. J Bacteriol, 1991 Nov, 173(22), 7228 - 32 Purification and characterization of hydroxypyruvate reductase from the facultative methylotroph Methylobacterium extorquens AM1; Chistoserdova LV et al.; Hydroxypyruvate reductase was purified to homogeneity from the facultative methylotroph Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 . It has a molecular mass of about 71 kDa, and it consists of two identical subunits with a molecular mass of about 37 kDa . This enzyme uses both NADH (Km = 0.04 mM) and NADPH (Km = 0.06 mM) as cofactors, uses hydroxypyruvate (Km = 0.1 mM) and glyoxylate (Km = 1.5 mM) as the only substrates for the forward reaction, and carries out the reverse reaction with glycerate (Km = 2.6 mM) only . It was not possible to detect the conversion of glycolate to glyoxylate, a proposed role for this enzyme . Kinetics and inhibitory studies of the enzyme from M . extorquens AM1 suggest that hydroxypyruvate reductase is not a site for regulation of the serine cycle at the level of enzyme activity. Enzyme Microb Technol, 1991 Nov, 13(11), 858 - 68 Polyethyleneimine in immobilization of biocatalysts; Bahulekar R et al.; A variety of polymers with amino pendant groups have been accepted as suitable enzyme carriers . A number of synthesis strategies and techniques are adopted to anchor enzymes . The polymers are activated through derivatization either prior to or during adsorption to facilitate the covalent binding of enzyme . Polyethyleneimine (PEI), with the highest concentration of amino groups, has found acceptance as a carrier in a number of industrial immobilized biosystems . The two forms of PEI known are the linear crystalline type and the more important amorphous branched structure with a distribution of primary, secondary, and tertiary amino groups in the ratio 1:2:1 . The primary and secondary amino groups are conveniently modified to generate facile enzyme carriers . A number of patents have been filed on the use of PEI to bind a rich variety of enzymes and whole cells . This review is primarily a compilation of these reports and purports to highlight the potential of PEI. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1991 Oct 31, 180(2), 579 - 84 Stimulation of starfish coelomocytes by interleukin-1; Burke RD et al.; Echinoderms have coelomocytes that are capable of non-specific phagocytosis of pathogens and cellular debris . It has been suggested that cytokines, analogous to vertebrate interleukins, are involved in mediating these responses, though how they may function is not known . Using a mouse thymocyte proliferation assay we confirm that cytokine activity, which can be blocked with antibodies to mammalian IL-1 alpha, can be extracted from coelomic fluid of the starfish Pisaster ochraceus . A subset of starfish coelomocytes in primary culture will readily phagocytose bacteria added to cultures . In a microscopic assay the proportion of coelomocytes that will phagocytose bacteria increases significantly when cultures are treated with recombinant IL-1 alpha, yet the number of phagosomes per cell remains constant . We propose that endogenous interleukins stimulate recruitment of phagocytic cells as part of the non-specific cellular defence mechanism of asteroids. FEBS Lett, 1991 Oct 21, 291(2), 371 - 5 Methyl-coenzyme M reductase preparations with high specific activity from H2-preincubated cells of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum; Rospert S et al.; The study of the nickel enzyme methyl-coenzyme M reductase from methanogenic bacteria has been hampered until now by the fact that upon cell rupture the activity of the enzyme always dropped to at best only a few percent of its in vivo activity . We describe here that when Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum cells were preincubated with 100% H2 before disintegration methyl-coenzyme M reductase activity stayed high . The cell extracts with a specific activity of 2 U/mg protein exhibited two nickel-derived EPR signals, designated MCR-red1 and MCR-red2, previously only observed in intact cells . The enzyme was purified 10-fold to a specific activity of 20 U/mg in the presence of methyl-coenzyme M, which stabilized both the activity and the EPR signal MCR-red1 . The enzyme preparation displayed an UV/Vis spectrum with an absorption maximum at 386 nm and a shoulder at 420 nm . Upon inactivation of the enzyme with O2 or CHCl3, the maximum at 386 nm and the EPR signals MCR-red1 and MCR-red2 disappeared. Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1991 Oct 19, 121(42), 1538 - 44 { The intestine-liver-lung axis in septic syndrome}; Pugin J et al.; Abacteremic sepsis is frequent in intensive care units, and is closely associated with the development of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multiple systems organ failure (MSOF) . It carries a high mortality . The gut is thought to be the "motor" of such septic states and the first step of a "gut-liver-lung axis" . Shock of any type or sepsis can by themselves lead to increased permeability of the intestinal mucosal barrier . This, in turn, may promote bacterial translocation, i.e . the passage of bacteria or bacterial products such as endotoxin from the lumen of the gut into the portal bloodstream . When such products reach the liver, activation of Kupffer cells occurs, resulting in the secretion of pro-inflammatory and hypotensive mediators . The latter are mainly the tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukins-1 and -6 . These substances trigger many biologic cascades, and may explain the development of abacteremic septic states and MSOF . The mediators cause binding of polymorphonuclear neutrophils to pulmonary endothelial cells, and their degranulation . In addition, they activate local and systemic coagulation mechanisms . This explains the morphological changes observed in early sepsis-induced ARDS, i.e . pulmonary edema, vascular thrombosis and hemorrhages . Studies are currently in progress in an attempt to limit bacterial and endotoxin translocation and the action of the mediators. Nucleic Acids Res, 1991 Oct 11, 19(19), 5181 - 5 Rapid determination of nucleotide content and its application to the study of genome structure; Krane DE et al.; We have developed a sensitive, reliable and accurate procedure for estimating the base composition of small samples of DNAs . This method has been applied to the analysis of genomic DNAs from several sources including large regions of human DNA cloned as yeast artificial chromosomes . To determine whether the human genome is compartmentalized into large segments of homogeneous base composition, we examined the GC content of a 1.2 megabase contig spanning the cystic fibrosis gene. Cell, 1991 Oct 4, 67(1), 155 - 67 The phosphorylated form of the enhancer-binding protein NTRC has an ATPase activity that is essential for activation of transcription; Weiss DS et al.; The NTRC protein of enteric bacteria is an enhancer-binding protein that activates transcription in response to limitation of combined nitrogen . NTRC activates transcription by catalyzing formation of open complexes by RNA polymerase (sigma 54 holoenzyme form) in an ATP-dependent reaction . To catalyze open complex formation, NTRC must be phosphorylated . We show that phosphorylated NTRC has an ATPase activity, and we present biochemical and genetic evidence that NTRC must hydrolyze ATP to catalyze open complex formation . It is likely that all activators of sigma 54 holoenzyme have an ATPase activity. No Shinkei Geka, 1991 Oct, 19(10), 969 - 74 {A case of Osler-Weber-Rendu disease with brain abscess; the mechanism of the formation of brain abscess and its treatment in Osler-Weber-Rendu disease}; Higuchi M et al.; A 54 year-old man, who had a hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (Osler-Weber-Rendu disease; O-W-R) accompanied by pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas (PAVFs) and congestive heart failure, developed seizure, right hemiparesis and dysphasia . A brain CT scan revealed a cystic lesion with perifocal edema in left frontoparietal lobe . A contrast enhanced CT scan showed a ring-like enhancement . Dynamic CT scans disclosed that the ring in the cortical side was enhanced more thickly than that in the ventricular side . Considering the severity of the cardio-pulmonary condition, and the deep location of the abscess, we performed an echo-guided aspiration and drainage of the abscess under local anesthesia . No bacteria were demonstrated in the culture of the contents of the abscess . After the surgery, the right hemiparesis and dysphasia were much improved and a CT scan showed the marked reduction of the abscess . However, around eight days after the surgery, the patient showed severe pleural effusion due to progressive heart failure and died on the 11th postoperative day . Autopsy disclosed a shrunken brain abscess, multiple cerebral infarction, multiple PAVFs and severe constrictive pericarditis which was regarded as the cause of death in the patient . In this report, we presented the therapeutic advantage of echo-guided surgery for the treatment of brain abscess in a high-risk patient . We also discussed the mechanism of the formation of brain abscess in patients of O-W-R disease by reviewing published cases. J Clin Microbiol, 1991 Oct, 29(10), 2204 - 8 Identification of two new antigenic subgroups within the genus Mobiluncus; Schwebke JR et al.; Classifications of 48 atypical clinical isolates of Mobiluncus spp . were determined on the basis of biochemical reactions, morphology, antigenic profiles, and DNA hybridization studies . Two new subgroups with unique antigenic profiles are described . Like typical Mobiluncus species, the antigenic variant of M . mulieris is associated with bacterial vaginosis . The atypical isolates of M . curtisii were frequently recovered from women with normal vaginal flora and were also recovered from sterile body sites . These isolates may be incorrectly identified if current biochemical and morphological criteria are used for identification . Gram stain morphology, however, correctly identifies these isolates to the species level . The characterization of these atypical isolates has important implications for future investigations in which serological methods are used for diagnosis, epidemiology, and determination of pathogenicity of Mobiluncus spp. Clin Podiatr Med Surg, 1991 Oct, 8(4), 827 - 41 Electrical stimulation for dermal wound healing; Gentzkow GD et al.; The investigations of biologic actions (in vitro, animal, and human) demonstrated several effects that help explain why electrical stimulation works . Based on the latest scientific understanding of the wound healing process, one would expect that a therapy that decreases edema, debrides necrotic tissue, attracts neutrophils and macrophages, stimulates receptor sites for growth factors, stimulates growth of fibroblasts and granulation tissue, increases blood flow, stimulates neurite growth, induces epidermal cell migration, prevents postischemic oxygen radical-mediated damage, inhibits bacteria, and reduces numbers of mast cells ought to be beneficial for wound healing . Numerous human and animal efficacy studies confirm that electrical stimulation of the proper charge, density, and total energy causes dramatically improved healing of dermal wounds . As of this writing, no devices have yet been approved by the FDA for use in wound healing, although several devices approved for other indications are being used for this purpose . One device (the Staodyn Dermapulse) has undergone controlled animal and human testing, and an application requesting approval for treating dermal ulcers has been submitted to FDA . Taken together, the efficacy studies and the "mechanism of action" studies provide compelling, scientific evidence that electrical stimulation is safe and effective for promoting the healing of dermal wounds. Am J Physiol, 1991 Oct, 261(4 Pt 1), L349 - 56 Genetic element from human surfactant protein SP-C gene confers bronchiolar-alveolar cell specificity in transgenic mice; Glasser SW et al.; Transgenic mice bearing chimeric genes consisting of 5'-sequences derived from the human surfactant protein C (SP-C) gene and the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene were generated . Analysis of CAT activity was utilized to demonstrate tissue-specific and developmental expression of chimeric genes containing 3.7 kb of sequences from the human SP-C gene . Lung-specific expression of the 3.7 SP-C-CAT transgene was observed in eight distinct transgenic mouse lines . Expression of the 3.7 SP-C-CAT transgene was first detected in fetal lung on day 11 of gestation and increased dramatically with advancing gestational age, reaching adult levels of activity before birth . In situ hybridization demonstrated that expression of 3.7 SP-C-CAT mRNA was confined to the distal respiratory epithelium . Antisense CAT hybridization was detected in bronchiolar and type II epithelial cells in the adult lung of the 3.7 SP-C-CAT transgenic mice . In situ hybridization of four distinct 3.7 SP-C-CAT transgenic mouse lines demonstrated bronchiolar-alveolar expression of the chimeric CAT gene, although the relative intensity of expression at each site varied within the lines studied . Glucocorticoids increased murine SP-C mRNA in fetal lung organ culture . Likewise, expression of 3.7 SP-C-CAT transgene increased during fetal lung organ or explant culture and was further enhanced by glucocorticoid in vitro . The 5'-regions of human SP-C conferred developmental, lung epithelial, and glucocorticoid-enhanced expression of bacterial CAT in transgenic mice . The increased expression of SP-C accompanying prenatal lung development and exposure to glucocorticoid is mediated, at least in part, at the transcriptional level, being influenced by cis-active elements contained within the 5'-flanking region of the human SP-C gene. Mutat Res, 1991 Oct, 261(2), 101 - 15 Genotoxicity testing of extracts of a Swedish moist oral snuff; Jansson T et al.; The present study was designed to investigate the potential genotoxicity of aqueous and methylene chloride extracts of Swedish moist oral snuff . The test systems were selected to provide optimal data for the prediction of carcinogenicity in rodents and included assays for the induction of mutation in bacteria, sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE) in human lymphocytes, of chromosome aberrations and gene mutations in V79 Chinese hamster cells and of micronuclei in mouse bone marrow cells . In addition, the methylene chloride extract was tested for the induction of sex-linked recessive lethal mutations in Drosophila melanogaster . The aqueous extract of 'Snus' induced SCE in human lymphocytes and chromosome aberrations in V79 cells, the latter effect being observed both with and without metabolic activation . No induction of point mutations was detected with the Ames test or in V79 cells and the micronucleus test in mice was negative . It was demonstrated that the induction of chromosome aberrations without metabolic activation may be due to a high salt concentration, indicating that the clastogenic agent(s) in this extract required metabolic activation . The methylene chloride extract showed genotoxicity in the Ames test, the SCE test and the chromosome aberration test, whereas no induction of gene mutations in V79 cells was observed . Once again, the results suggested that metabolism is required for genotoxicity . The methylene chloride extract did not cause induction of micronuclei in mice or of sex-linked recessive lethal mutations in Drosophila melanogaster . These combined data on genotoxicity were analyzed using various models for the prediction of carcinogenicity . In a sequential testing model, the probabilities that the aqueous and methylene chloride extracts of 'Snus' are carcinogenic due to a genotoxic mechanism were both predicted to be low . Using carcinogenicity prediction by battery selection (CPBS), the probabilities of the methylene chloride and aqueous extracts being correctly identified as non-carcinogens are 71 and 77%, respectively . Up to date, the CPBS approach has been validated primarily for individual compounds, so some caution should at present be exercised in interpreting the results using this method . Based on these results, the carcinogenic potential of Swedish 'Snus' should be considered to be low, a conclusion in agreement with the low incidence of oral cancer in Sweden compared to other countries. J Parasitol, 1991 Oct, 77(5), 658 - 62 Fine structure and sugar transport functions of the tegument in Clinostomum marginatum (Digenea: Clinostomatidae): environmental effects on the adult phenotype; Uglem GL et al.; Digenean flukes can be classified into 3 groups according to their location in the host: the lumen of the alimentary canal or associated organ, body cavity or tissue, and external surfaces . We obtained adults of Clinostomum marginatum that had matured in these 3 habitats and compared the fine structure and glucose transporting capacity of their teguments . Adults from the esophagus of herons, Ardea herodias, had thick, smooth teguments and took up glucose by facilitated diffusion, the type of transport that is Na(+)-independent and insensitive to phlorizin . By contrast, the surfaces of adults cultured from metacercariae in body cavities of laboratory mice were amplified 3-5-fold due to numerous irregular projections of the tegument . Glucose transport by these worms was largely Na(+)-dependent and inhibited by phlorizin, indicating active transport . Ectoparasites from herons' mouths had relatively thick, smooth teguments, but these worms always were encrusted with bacteria and yeast that are known to absorb and metabolize glucose . Most of the attached bacteria, and the apparent glucose uptake associated with their presence, were removed by treating the worms with antibiotics prior to transport assays . As facilitated diffusion and active transport are operational simultaneously in metacercariae, the type of transport function, if any, expressed in the adult is determined by environmental conditions associated with the worm's habitat. Genes Dev, 1991 Oct, 5(10), 1924 - 34 MAT alpha 1 can mediate gene activation by a-mating factor; Sengupta P et al.; In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, expression of alpha-specific genes is governed by the MAT alpha 1 and MCM1 gene products . MAT alpha 1 and MCM1 bind cooperatively to PQ elements upstream of alpha-specific genes . The PQ element not only directs alpha-specific expression but can also direct gene induction in response to treatment with a-mating pheromone . We have used gene fusions to investigate whether induction conferred by the PQ box is mediated through either MAT alpha 1 or MCM1, or a combination of both . When MCM1 is fused to the DNA-binding domain of the bacterial repressor LexA, this fusion protein is capable of trans-activating a lacZ reporter gene driven by a LexA operator . However, the transcriptional activity of the MCM1-LexA fusion is not further enhanced by treatment of cells with a-factor . A MAT alpha 1-LexA fusion protein is also capable of trans-activation through a LexA operator . Moreover, the activity of the MAT alpha 1-LexA fusion protein can be further induced by treatment with a-factor . When progressive deletions are made from the amino terminus of MAT alpha 1 in the fusion protein, the basal level of trans-activation progressively decreases, but the inducibility of the fusion protein increases . MAT alpha 1-LexA fusion proteins, which have greater than or equal to 57 amino acids deleted from the amino terminus of MAT alpha 1 are not capable of trans-activation . In addition, the activity of the MAT alpha 1-LexA fusion protein is dependent on the functions of the STE7, STE11, and STE12 genes that encode components of the pheromone response pathway. Eur J Biochem, 1991 Oct 1, 201(1), 283 - 7 In vivo 31P-NMR studies of Desulfovibrio species . Detection of a novel phosphorus-containing compound; Santos H et al.; The phosphorus metabolism of sulfate-reducing bacteria was, for the first time, probed by in vivo 31P NMR . A novel phosphoric anhydride diester compound was detected in Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ATCC 27774 at intracellular concentrations up to 5 mM . The compound has been extracted and partially purified by anion-exchange chromatography and analysed by 31P, 13C and 1H NMR . These studies show that the novel phosphorus-containing compound is formed by five carbon atoms and is probably cyclic, with a Mr of approximately 300 . Various Desulfovibrio strains were examined in vivo for the presence of this phosphorus-containing compound . Detectable amounts of the novel metabolite were found in D . desulfuricans ATCC 27774 when grown on lactate/sulfate, lactate/thiosulfate or pyruvate/sulfate . The phosphorus-containing compound was not detected when this strain of D . desulfuricans was grown on lactate/nitrate or pyruvate; neither was it detected in two other strains which, like D . desulfuricans ATCC 27774, have the capability of utilizing nitrate as a terminal electron acceptor. Arch Biochem Biophys, 1991 Oct, 290(1), 66 - 78 ATP sulfurylase from trophosome tissue of Riftia pachyptila (hydrothermal vent tube worm); Renosto F et al.; ATP sulfurylase (ATP: sulfate adenylyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.4) was extensively purified from trophosome tissue of Riftia pachyptila, a tube worm that thrives in deep ocean hydrothermal vent communities . The enzyme is probably derived from the sulfide-oxidizing bacteria that densely colonize the tissue . Glycerol (20% v/v) protected the enzyme against inactivation during purification and storage . The native enzyme appears to be a dimer (MW 90 kDa +/- 10%) composed of identical size subunits (MW 48 kDa +/- 5%) . At pH 8.0, 30 degrees C, the specific activities (units x mg protein-1) of the most highly purified sample are as follows: ATP synthesis, 370; APS synthesis, 23; molybdolysis, 65; APSe synthesis or selenolysis, 1.9 . The Km values for APS and PPi at 5 mM Mg2+ are 6.3 and 14 microM, respectively . In the APS synthesis direction, the Km values for MgATP and SO4(2-) are 1.7 and 27 mM, respectively . The Km values for MgATP and MoO4(2-) in the molybdolysis reaction are 80 and 150 microM, respectively . The Kia for MgATP is 0.65 mM . APS is a potent inhibitor of molybdolysis, competitive with both MgATP and MoO4(2-) (Kiq = 2.2 microM) . However, PPi (+ Mg2+) is virtually inactive as a molybdolysis inhibitor . Oxyanion dead end inhibitors competitive with SO4(2-) include (in order of decreasing potency) ClO4- greater than FSO3- (Ki = 22 microM) greater than ClO3- greater than NO3- greater than S2O3(2-) (Ki's = 5 and 43 mM) . FSO3- is uncompetitive with MgATP, but S2O3(2-) is noncompetitive . Each subunit contains two free SH groups, at least one of which is functionally essential . ATP, MgATP, SO4(2-), MoO4(2-), and APS each protect against inactivation by excess 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoate) . FSO3- is ineffective as a protector unless MgATP is present . PPi (+Mg2+) does not protect against inactivation . Riftia trophosome contains little or no "ADP sulfurylase." The high trophosome level of ATP sulfurylase (67-176 ATP synthesis units x g fresh wt tissue-1 from four different specimens, corresponding to 4-10 microM enzyme sites), the high kcat of the enzyme for ATP synthesis (296 s-1), and the high Km's for MgATP and SO4(2-) are consistent with a role in ATP formation during sulfide oxidation, i.e., the physiological reaction is APS + MgPPi in equilibrium SO4(2-) + MgATP. J Virol, 1991 Oct, 65(10), 5448 - 56 Alternative pathway for induction of human immunodeficiency virus gene expression: involvement of the general transcription machinery; Sakaguchi M et al.; Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is viable and mitogen inducible in the absence of its binding sites for the inducible transcription factor NF-kappa B . We have investigated alternative mechanisms for induction of HIV-1 transcription . Using transient transfection assays, we found that transcription from an HIV-1 LTR containing mutant kappa B sites was activated 10- to 20-fold in a variety of human cell types by the phorbol ester phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) . The promoter elements conferring this inducibility were localized to the region downstream of nucleotide -70, which contains the TATA and TAR elements and binding sites for transcription factors Sp1 and LBP-1 . Synthetic promoters containing only Sp1 sites and a TATA element were also induced in transfection experiments as well as in in vitro transcription experiments with T-cell nuclear extracts . Moreover, promoters containing a TATA box in the absence of Sp1 sites or Sp1 sites in the absence of a TATA box were equally inducible in vitro, as was an RNA polymerase III promoter . The activities of RNA polymerases II and III and of the 38-kDa TATA-binding protein transcription factor IID (TFIID), were not induced by PMA, but electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed a highly inducible protein-DNA complex that interacted specifically with the TATA sequence . This protein-DNA complex appeared to be much larger than that found with the 38-kDa human TFIID expressed in bacteria . Taken together, these data suggest that a component of the general transcription machinery, and possibly a TFIID-associated protein, is induced in T cells by PMA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Infect Immun, 1991 Oct, 59(10), 3740 - 9 Extraction, purification, and characterization of major outer membrane proteins from Wolinella recta ATCC 33238; Kennell WL et al.; The outer membrane of Wolinella recta ATCC 33238 was isolated by French pressure cell disruption and differential centrifugation . Outer membrane proteins (OMPs) were solubilized by Zwittergent 3.14 extraction and separated by DEAE-Sephacel ion-exchange chromatography . The major OMPs that were found in W . recta ATCC 33238 and in several other Wolinella spp . consisted of proteins with apparent molecular masses of 51, 45, and 43 kDa . These three conserved proteins were purified to essential homogeneity by one- and two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and characterized chemically . Heating at between 75 and 100 degrees C revealed both the 43- and 51-kDa proteins to be heat modified from apparent molecular masses of 32 and 38 kDa, respectively . The 45-kDa protein was unmodified at all temperatures tested . Two-dimensional isoelectric focusing-SDS-PAGE revealed the 51-kDa protein to be composed of multiple pIs between a pH of 5.0 and greater than 8.0 while the 43- and 45-kDa proteins had a pI of approximately 6.0 . N'-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of the first 30 to 40 amino acids and search of the Protein Identification Resource data base for similar proteins only revealed the 43-kDa protein to be similar to the P.69 OMP of Bordetella pertussis; however, the homology was weak (33%) . Amino acid analysis revealed the 43-kDa protein to be noncharged and the 45- and 51-kDa proteins to be hydrophilic, containing between 38 to 42% polar residues but no cysteine . This study reports the purification and partial characterization of three conserved proteins in W . recta ATCC 33238. Ann R Australas Coll Dent Surg, 1991 Oct, 11, 150 - 66 Recognition and prevention of failures in clinical dentistry . Endodontics; Abbott PV; There are many factors that can contribute to endodontic failure, but the major factor that will be associated with almost every failure is the presence of bacteria . Treatment procedures must include techniques that will remove the bacteria that are already present and then prevent further bacterial ingress . Failures can usually be recognized by thorough clinical and radiographic examinations . They can be prevented by careful case selection and by following the accepted standard endodontic procedures and not deviating from these for the sake of expediency . This paper provides an overview of the factors affecting endodontic success and discusses methods used to recognize and prevent failures. Oral Microbiol Immunol, 1991 Oct, 6(5), 257 - 63 Adhesive properties of strains of Fusobacterium nucleatum of the subspecies nucleatum, vincentii and polymorphum; Xie H et al.; This study surveyed some adhesive properties of strains of Fusobacterium nucleatum representative of the 3 recently defined groups or subspecies that could relate to their colonization and virulence . With one exception, F . nucleatum strains agglutinated sheep erythrocytes, but the quantity of bacteria required and the sensitivity of the hemagglutination reactions to inhibition by 0.05 M galactose or arginine varied between strains, and did not exhibit clear-cut correlations with subspecies . Neuraminidase treatment of erythrocytes generally enhanced the hemagglutinating activity of most strains, but trypsin treatment had no effect . Strains of F . nucleatum also attached in moderate numbers to buccal epithelial cells . Treatment of the epithelial cells with neuraminidase or with trypsin increased the numbers of all Fusobacterium strains that attached . Treatment of hydroxyapatite (HA) beads with submandibular or parotid saliva also promoted the adhesion of all strains of F . nucleatum studied . Treatment of HA with human serum or albumin produced a selective effect . Adhesion of some strains was promoted by serum and albumin treatment, and that of other strains was unaffected . Adhesion of all strains of F . nucleatum was enhanced to statherin-treated HA, whereas HA treated with salivary proline-rich protein-1 did not foster F . nucleatum attachment . Three of 4 strains of the subspecies vincentii, and each of 2 polymorphum strains studied exhibited strong adhesion to HA treated with either human type I or type IV collagen . However, only 1 of 5 strains of the subspecies nucleatum bound well to collagen-treated HA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1991 Oct-Nov, 60(3-4), 293 - 311 Metabolite production and growth efficiency; Linton JD; The capacity to sustain the large fluxes of carbon and energy required for rapid metabolite production appears to be inversely related to the growth efficiency of micro-organisms . From an overall energetic point of view three main classes of metabolite may be distinguished . These are not discrete categories, as the energetics of biosynthesis will depend on the precise biochemical pathways used and the nature of the starting feed stock(s) . (1) For metabolites like exopolysaccharides both the oxidation state and the specific rate of production appear to be inversely related to the growth efficiency of the producing organism . Maximum rates of production are favored when carbon and energy flux are integrated, and alteration of this balance may negatively effect production rates . (2) The production of metabolites like organic acids and some secondary metabolites results in the net production of reducing equivalents and/or ATP . It is thought that the capacity of the organism to dissipate this product-associated energy limits its capacity for rapid production . (3) For metabolites like biosurfactants and certain secondary metabolites that are composed of moieties of significantly different oxidation states production from a single carbon source is unfavorable and considerable improvements in specific production rate and final broth concentration may be achieved if mixed carbon sources are used . By careful selection of production organism and starting feedstock(s) it may be possible to tailor the production, such that the adverse physiological consequences of metabolite overproduction on the production organism are minimized. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1991 Oct, (10), 14 - 7 {The glycolipids of the causative agent of tularemia}; Sukhar' VV; Up to 10 glycolipids were detected in F . tularensis with the use of thin-layer chromatographic techniques . These glycolipids were slime antigens of F . tularensis membrane . Attenuated F . tularensis strains were found to have defects in their glycolipid composition: in the vaccine strain glycolipid 8 was replaced by more polar lipid 8-a; the avirulent strain had only two glycolipids, and one of them was not typical for virulent strains . Considering that glycolipids differed from entero-bacterial Vi-antigen in their physical-chemical and biological properties, the suggestion was made that the use of the symbol "Vi" to denote the surface substances of F . tularensis should be abolished. Med Trop (Mars), 1991 Oct-Dec, 51(4), 399 - 406 {HTLV1 and coinfections}; Brosset C et al.; After reminding the epidemiology of the HTLV1 infection the authors sum up the actually recommended diagnosis procedure . --Case finding by ELISA, confirmation by WESTERN-BLOT and/or RIPA (anti-gag and anti-env specificities), or even PCR which makes specific diagnosis of HTLV1/2 . --Or if possible directly by PCR which has helped some authors to find provirus in seronegative people . Coinfections caused by HIV and by Strongyloides are the best documented . As a rule, HTLV1 seems to have rather a worsening effect on evolutiveness and on seriousness of the clinical picture caused by mixed infections, than the contrary (possibly for lack of experience and owing to slow evolution of HTLV1 pathology) . Several mechanisms have been proposed concerning coinfections with HTLV1 and HIV (in vitro studies) . --Immortalization of CD4 lymphocytes infected with HTLV1 by stimulating both IL2 and its receptor, and by activating lymphocytes with translocation of the replicating factor NF k B in the nucleus, on a promoting sequence of HIV-LTR by stimulating its replication . --The product of HTLV1 tax gene would also have a transactivating effect on the provirus HIV-LTR replication . And finally infection with HTLV1 may facilitate HIV by inducing CD4, molecule expression in non-expressing cells . In Strongyloides modulating effects of HTLV1 on the immune response would facilitate and predispose Strongyloides stercoralis multiplication . As far as other coinfections are concerned (caused by viruses, by parasites: such as malaria, filariasis, trypanosomiasis or by bacteria), epidemiological convergence (risk factors, and geographic distribution) on the one hand, and immunological dysregulation induced by the other, on the other hand, would be of varying importance . In conclusion, these data ask more questions than they answer . But it seems to be established that detection of HIV and Strongyloides should performed in every case HTLV1 carries and vice versa. Boll Chim Farm, 1991 Oct, 130(9), 347 - 54 Particulate contamination in parenterals: current issues; Groves MJ; Particulate matter may be described as insoluble material(s) inevitably present in injectable solutions . Processing conditions for parenteral solutions are designed to substantially minimize the absolute amounts of particolate present down to around 0.1 micron diameter . It is technically relatively easy and, therefore, inexpensive to remove most particulate above 100 microns in diameter . Currently it is extremely difficult, and correspondingly expensive, to remove material in the 1 micron and submicron ranges . Pharmaceutical injectable products, made available at a reasonable cost, must inevitably contain some particulate over a range of sizes, from the molecular level to the visible . An unfiltered solution could contain, at random, various identities (with differing morphologies) of particulate . Filtration affects the size, and numbers, of particulate present but, generally, not the randomness of the identities . An exception would be in situations where clearly definable particle species such as bacteria or intact starch grains are totally removed during the filtration process . A parenteral solution may legitimately contain low levels of random numbers of random species of particulate without necessarily being "contaminated" and, therefore, unacceptable for use . However, it could be argued that a solution containing a dominant particulate species is contaminated by that species . The particle size distribution of a random number/random identity system is characteristic and can be separated from a contaminating species situation . Simple statistical methodology for making this critical distinction will be reviewed . National compendial limits for particulate in injectable fluids are compared, and attention is drawn to the scientific background underlying limits published in the USP. Biotechniques, 1991 Oct, 11(4), 446 - 8, 450-2 Vector PCR; Runnebaum IB et al.; A strategy employing PCR technology to facilitate the amplification of DNA segments inserted in plasmid vectors is described . Nine oligonucleotide primers specific for vector sequences bracketing cloning sites in seven commonly used vectors were designed . We used these primers for the amplification of 25 different inserts ranging in size from 0.4-4.8 kb . Vector PCR-generated products used as radiolabeled DNA probes in Southern hybridization compared favorably with conventionally prepared probes . This strategy was successfully applied to single colonies of bacteria containing recombinant plasmids for direct amplification of the plasmids insert from the bacterial lysate . Vector PCR enabled the production of microgram quantities of DNA from limited amounts of starting material without the time-consuming steps required for bacterial culture and purification of plasmid DNA . The amplification reaction is independent of the DNA segment to be amplified, rendering the method universally applicable. Kansenshogaku Zasshi, 1991 Oct, 65(10), 1317 - 24 {Fundamental studies on "M . TB probe assay kit" for the identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis}; Fujiwara K et al.; DNA probe assay kit for the identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was evaluated . This kit is based on beads capture method and using a 20 well assay tray . The culture isolate is suspended with 0.5 ml sterilized water in the tube containing phi 3 mm glass beads for dispersion, transferred to a well of the assay tray . After lysation and adsorption of the nucleic acids to the capture bead, 125I-DNA probe specific for the M . tuberculosis is added to the sample and hybridized for 1 hour at 65 degrees C . Hybridized probe trapped on the capture bead is quantitated using a gamma counter . This hybridization assay kit can detect more than 1 x 10(5) bacteria per assay . Using the control DNA (synthesized oligonucleotide complementary to the probe sequences) and suspension of the culture isolates, the intra assay C.V . value was 4.3% and 5.2% respectively . To compare this probe assay kit with the conventional culture identification method, a total of 144 culture isolates were examined . This test for the M . tuberculosis had 99.3% agreement with the conventional identification procedures, and demonstrated 100% sensitivity and 98.2% specificity . The suspension of culture isolates can be stocked by freezing, the samples can be assayed together when they have accumulated instead of every day . As shown in the above, this assay kit demonstrates a high level of specificity and sensitivity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Immunol Cell Biol, 1991 Oct, 69 ( Pt 5), 337 - 48 Preferential binding of Chlamydia trachomatis to subsets of human lymphocytes and induction of interleukin-6 and interferon-gamma; Fitzpatrick DR et al.; The interactions between Chlamydia trachomatis and human blood mononuclear leukocytes were studied using flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, electron microscopy and cytokine assays . Under serum-free conditions, elementary bodies (EB) of C . trachomatis were found to bind to human T lymphocytes as well as to B cells and monocytes/macrophages (M phi) . For all cell types the binding was saturable, rapid, temperature-independent and independent of the chlamydia-specific serological status of the donor . Similar proportions of T and B cells bound EB at similar levels . In the T cell population, proportionally less CD8+ cells bound EB . Whereas M phi phagocytosed and destroyed the bound micro-organisms for lymphocytes, the Chlamydia remained at the surface, adherent to morphologically featureless membrane areas and showed no evidence of uptake even after long periods at 37 degrees C . Host molecules modulated these basic binding patterns: a heat-stable serum factor inhibited EB binding to T cells and a heat-labile serum factor enhanced binding to B cells . Stimulation with C . trachomatis EB rapidly elicited cytokine production by lymphocytes including interleukin-6 from B cells and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) from T and/or nonT/nonB cells . The responses were irrespective of the serological status of the donor . The findings suggest that C . trachomatis-leucocyte interactions may differ from the interactions of other bacteria and human leucocytes . The possible relationship between leucocyte-binding, cytokine induction, and the pathognomonic development of lymphoid follicles during mucosal C . trachomatis infections is discussed. Avian Dis, 1991 Oct-Dec, 35(4), 674 - 80 Tracheal cilia response to exogenous niacin in drinking water of turkey poults infected with Bordetella avium; Yersin AG et al.; Niacin was added daily to the drinking water of control and Bordetella avium-infected turkey poults at a dosage of 0, 70, and 280 mg/liter over a 2-week experimental period . Fourteen days postinoculation, tracheal sections were examined by histological and morphometrical analysis of cilia, as well as agar plate isolation for bacteria . Infected poults exhibited a 96-97% loss of cilia along the tracheal epithelial border, compared with only a 4-5% loss in controls . Infected poults receiving niacin in the drinking water exhibited only a 61.0% and 76.0% loss of cilia at doses of 70 mg/liter and 280 mg/liter, respectively . The results indicate that niacin treatment may influence the pathogenicity of B . avium infection. Harefuah, 1991 Oct, 121(7-8), 217 - 9 {Leukocyte esterase in the rapid detection of intraamniotic infection}; Mazor M et al.; Several lines of evidence support the view that premature rupture of the membranes and premature labor are associated with bacterial infection of the amniotic cavity . The standard method of diagnosing intraamniotic infection is amniotic fluid culture, but the results become available only after 72 hours . Methods for more rapid diagnosis of bacterial invasion are therefor needed . We examined leukocyte esterase activity for this purpose . Amniotic fluid obtained from 62 women in preterm labor was cultured for aerobic, anaerobic and mycoplasma species . Leukocyte esterase activity was measured with a Bio-dynamics test strip . The sensitivity of the test was 50.0% and its specificity 93.4% . It was found to be a simple and rapid method for the detection of intraamniotic infection. J Anim Sci, 1991 Oct, 69(10), 4062 - 9 Interrelationship between hypersensitivity to soybean proteins and growth performance in early-weaned pigs; Li DF et al.; The objective of this growth trial was to determine the interrelationship between immunological criteria, gut morphology, and performance of starter pigs fed soybean proteins processed by different methods . One hundred twenty-five pigs were orally infused with 6 g/d of either dried skim milk, soybean meal (48% CP), soy protein concentrate, extruded soy protein concentrate, or experimental soy protein concentrate from 7 to 11 d of age and then fed a diet containing the same protein sources from weaning (d 21) to 35 d of age . All pigs were fed a corn-soybean meal diet containing 10% dried whey, 1.25% lysine, and 3% soybean oil for the remaining 21 d of the experiment . Xylose absorption and anti-soy immunoglobulin G (Ig