South Med J, 1990 Nov, 83(11), 1359 - 60 Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm complicating mitral valve replacement in a 4-year-old child with acute bacterial endocarditis; Baptist EC et al.; A 4-year-old child with acute bacterial endocarditis required mitral valve replacement . A left ventricular pseudoaneurysm developed following surgery . The etiology and diagnosis of this complication are discussed. J Comput Assist Tomogr, 1990 Nov-Dec, 14(6), 950 - 3 Impending rupture of nonaneurysmal bacterial aortitis: CT diagnosis; Mantello MT et al.; The CT appearance of mycotic abdominal aortic aneurysms leading to eventual rupture has been well described . On the other hand, ruptured nonaneurysmal bacterial aortitis has not been demonstrated in the CT literature . We present two cases with subsequent rupture documented on CT . The characteristic findings of periaortic density and adjacent gas collection should suggest the diagnosis of acute aortic infection . This may herald impending rupture, even in the absence of aneurysmal dilatation, and should direct therapy accordingly. Am J Hematol, 1990 Nov, 35(3), 210 - 2 Acute myocardial infarction, non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis, and disseminated intravascular coagulation in a severe hemophiliac; Green D et al.; Thrombosis in hemophilia is very rare and is usually associated with the administration of prothrombin complex concentrates . We describe a severe hemophiliac with P . carinii pneumonia who had clinical and laboratory evidence of acute myocardial infarction and disseminated intravascular coagulation, and at autopsy, nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis as well . We suggest that prothrombin complex concentrates should be used cautiously in the setting of acute infection, and perhaps be given with appropriate doses of anticoagulants such as heparin. J Neurochem, 1990 Nov, 55(5), 1576 - 84 Solubilization of the membrane-bound sialidase from pig brain by treatment with bacterial phosphatidylinositol phospholipase C; Chiarini A et al.; The total pellet from pig forebrain (from which the cytosolic sialidase was completely washed out) was treated with phosphatidylinositol phospholipase C (PIPLC) and centrifuged at high speed . The supernatant contained sialidase and 5'-nucleotidase activities . The greatest liberation of sialidase was obtained after incubation for 20 min with PIPLC at 37 degrees C using pH 6.0 and a ratio between PIPLC (as units) and protein of 1.6 . Under these conditions, the release of sialidase, 5'-nucleotidase, and protein was 22, 50, and 18.5%, respectively . On treatment with PIPLC, a purified preparation of pig brain neuronal (synaptosomal) membranes released 28% of its sialidase whereas a purified preparation of pig brain lysosomes did not liberate any sialidase activity . The pH optimum of sialidase present in the supernatant obtained after PIPLC treatment of the total pellet was 4.2, the same as that of the enzyme embedded in the membrane . When this supernatant was subjected to ammonium sulfate fractionation, 88% of its sialidase, having a pH optimum of 4.2, was recovered in the fraction precipitated between 20 and 45% of salt saturation and subsequently dialyzed . Ammonium sulfate treatment caused the appearance of a second sialidase activity, having a pH optimum of 6.6 and behaving on fractionation similarly to the pH 4.2 sialidase . The Km and Vmax values of pH 4.2 and pH 6.6 sialidase were similar (1.48 x 10(-4) and 0.98 x 10(-4) M for Km and 1.6 and 1.4 mU/mg of protein for Vmax, respectively), whereas the stability on standing at 4 degrees C or exposure to freezing and thawing cycles was greater for pH 4.2 sialidase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Cereb Blood Flow Metab, 1990 Nov, 10(6), 914 - 22 Microvascular changes during the early phase of experimental bacterial meningitis; Pfister HW et al.; We investigated the temporal profile of the changes in regional CBF (rCBF) and intracranial pressure (ICP) during the early phase of pneumococcal meningitis in the rat . rCBF, as measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry, and ICP were continuously monitored during 6 h post infection (p.i.) . Brain edema formation was assessed by brain water content determinations . Meningitis was induced by intracisternal injection of 75 microliters of 10(7) colony-forming units/ml pneumococci (n = 7) . In control animals (n = 6), saline was injected . There was no change in the rCBF or ICP of controls throughout the experiment . However, there was a dramatic increase in rCBF and ICP associated with brain edema formation in untreated meningitis animals . rCBF increased to 135.3 +/- 33.8% (mean +/- SD) in the untreated animals at 1 h p.i . and reached 211.1 +/- 40.5% at 6 h p.i . (p less than 0.05 compared with controls) . ICP increased from 2.9 +/- 1.4 to 10.4 +/- 4.7 mm Hg at 6 h p.i . (p less than 0.05 compared with controls) . Brain water content was significantly elevated (79.69 +/- 0.24 compared with 78.94 +/- 0.16% in the control group, p less than 0.05) . We investigated the effect of dexamethasone (3 mg/kg i.p.), which was given prior to the induction of meningitis (n = 3) or at 2 h after pneumococcal injection (n = 5), indomethacin (10 mg/kg i.v., n = 5), and superoxide dismutase (SOD; 132,000 U/kg i.v . per 6 h, n = 6).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Immunobiology, 1990 Nov, 181(4-5), 379 - 87 Transfer of T or CD8+ cells from hemorrhaged mice produce alterations in bacterial antigen specific plasma cell repertoires in normal syngeneic recipients; Abraham E et al.; Hemorrhage has multiple effects on immunologic response, including alteration of B cell repertoires and T cell function . This study examined possible relationships between these two phenomena by determining the effects of T cells and T cell subsets transferred from hemorrhaged donors into normal, unhemorrhaged syngeneic recipients on B cell repertoires . Mice given total T or CD8+ cells from hemorrhaged animals then immunized with the bacterial polysaccharide antigen levan had a decreased percentage of plasma cells producing antibody to levan compared to that in mice given T or CD8+ cells from unhemorrhaged animals . These effects of post hemorrhage CD8+ cells were not seen after transfer into nu/nu mice, indicating that these cells did not directly affect B cell function, but rather required other T cell populations in order to alter the B cell repertoire . These results demonstrate that hemorrhage-induced alterations in bacterial antigen specific B cell repertoires may result from T and CD8+ cell mediated changes in T-B interactions. J Physiol, 1990 Nov, 430, 595 - 603 Effects of physical training on febrile and acute-phase responses induced in rats by bacterial endotoxin or interleukin-1; Wada M et al.; 1 . We investigated the effect of physical training on febrile and acute-phase responses induced in rats by intravenous (I.V.) injection of bacterial endotoxin or human recombinant interleukin-1 beta (IL-1) . Physical training was performed by swimming for 1 h per day, 5 days a week . After four weeks of training, animals were used in the experiments . 2 . The I.V . injection of endotoxin produced a febrile response in the trained group but not in the control group . However, there were no statistically significant differences between febrile responses induced by the I.V . injection of IL-1 in the control and trained groups . 3 . The I.V . injection of endotoxin significantly decreased the plasma concentration of iron and zinc and increased the plasma fibrinogen concentration in both the control and the trained groups . However, the decreases in the plasma iron and zinc concentrations in the trained group were significantly greater than those in the control group . The I.V . injection of endotoxin increased the circulating leucocyte count in the only trained group . 4 . The I.V . injection of IL-1 significantly decreased the plasma concentration of iron and zinc and increased the plasma fibrinogen concentration and the circulating leucocyte count in both the control and the trained groups . However, between the two groups, no significant differences in the values of acute-phase reactants were observed . 5 . The present results suggest that the ability to produce cytokine(s) to induce febrile and acute-phase responses is enhanced by physical training . However, physical training has no effect on the febrile and acute-phase responses induced by IL-1. Zentralbl Bakteriol, 1990 Nov, 274(2), 174 - 82 A new and rapid method for the assay of bacterial fatty acids using high resolution capillary gas chromatography and trimethylsulfonium hydroxide; Muller KD et al.; Gas-liquid chromatography of cellular fatty acids is a useful tool for the identification of bacteria . Derivatization of bacterial fatty acids to methyl esters by conventional techniques is usually time-consuming and complicated . A new one-step technique using trimethyl-sulfonium hydroxide allows the direct formation of fatty acid methyl esters within 1-2 min . Some random examples of profiles demonstrate that straight, branched, saturated, unsaturated, hydroxy and cyclopropyl fatty acids match conventional preparations well . The method is a very sensitive one, since only a few colonies are sufficient for preparation of fatty acid methyl esters. Mol Microbiol, 1990 Nov, 4(11), 1871 - 9 Rates of assembly and degradation of bacterial ice nuclei; Watanabe NM et al.; The kinetics of ice-nucleus assembly from newly synthesized nucleation protein were observed following induction of nucleation gene expression in the heterologous host Escherichia coli . Assembly was significantly slower for the small proportion of ice nuclei active above -4.4 degrees C; this was consistent with the belief that these nuclei comprise the largest aggregates of nucleation protein . The kinetics of nucleus degradation were followed after inhibiting protein synthesis . Nucleation activity and protein showed a concerted decay, indicating that most of the functional ice nuclei are in equilibrium with a single cellular pool of nucleation protein . A minority of the ice nuclei decayed much more slowly than the majority; presumably their nucleation protein was distinct either by virtue of different structure or different subcellular compartmentalization, or because of its presence in a metabolically distinct subpopulation of cells. Ann Clin Biochem, 1990 Nov, 27 ( Pt 6), 575 - 80 Cytochemical determination of intracellular polymorphonuclear leukocyte elastase content in patients with severe bacterial infection and septicaemia correlated with coagulation parameters; Eldanasouri N et al.; Haemorrhagic disorders are known to occur during septicaemia . We studied the role of elastase-like protease (ELP) of human granulocytes in the activation and consumption of clotting factors and their specific inhibitors . Patients with septicaemia and severe bacterial infection were examined for ELP content in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PNL), as well as plasma levels of ELP complexed to alpha-1 protease inhibitor, total alpha-1 protease inhibitor (alpha-1 PI), clotting factor VII and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) . In all patients, a decrease in ELP content of PNL was accompanied by an increase in plasma ELP complexes . The degree to which ELP content of PNL was lowered was related both to the clinical diagnosis and the course of illness . The ELP content of PNL showed a significant positive correlation with plasma factor VII and significant negative correlations with PTT and alpha-1 PI . These data suggest that ELP release is accompanied by stimulation of the production of alpha-1 PI, and may contribute in vivo to the consumption of coagulation factors . The correlation with PTT might point to an activation of Hageman factor, which may activate both intrinsic coagulation and ELP release . The estimation of ELP content in PNL in patients with septicaemia is likely to represent intravascular ELP release during the inflammatory process . It appears to be useful in combination with the assay of ELP complex in plasma the level of which is influenced by the capacity of the reticuloendothelial system for clearance. Res Microbiol, 1990 Nov-Dec, 141(9), 1033 - 8 Domain shuffling during evolution of the proteins of the bacterial phosphotransferase system; Saier MH Jr et al.; About twenty permeases of the bacterial phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS) have been sequenced and analysed . The results of these analyses suggest that interdomain shuffling, splicing, fusion, deletion, and duplication have occurred repeatedly during their evolution . A uniform nomenclature for these proteins and their domains is proposed. Trends Genet, 1990 Nov, 6(11), 363 - 8 Bacterial defenses against oxidative stress; Storz G et al.; Bacteria treated with low doses of oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide adapt to subsequent high doses of these oxidants by inducing the expression of numerous genes . The study of these genes and the roles they play in defending bacteria against oxidative damage has given general insights into what oxidants are hazardous to cells, what cell constituents are damaged by oxidants, and how cells sense and respond to oxidative stress. J Gen Virol, 1990 Nov, 71 ( Pt 11), 2585 - 91 Effects of different biological response modifiers on interferon expression in bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-responsive and LPS-hyporesponsive mouse peritoneal macrophages; Di Marzio P et al.; We have previously shown that the antiviral state of explanted mouse peritoneal macrophages (PM) decays during in vitro culture and that this decay is much more rapid in Lpsd PM than it is in Lpsn PM . Moreover, Lpsn PM can transfer the antiviral state to other cells, whereas Lpsd PM cannot . In vitro treatment of Lpsn PM with different agents {i.e., bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interferon (IFN)-gamma, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and antibody to Mac-1 antigen} induced an antiviral state to vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) which was inhibited by antibodies to IFN-beta . Treatment of Lpsn PM with LPS or IFN-gamma resulted in greater accumulation of IFN-beta mRNA, whereas no change in the barely detectable levels of IFN-alpha mRNA was observed . Marked accumulation of IFN-beta mRNA was also observed in PM after TNF-alpha treatment . M-CSF and IFN-gamma (but not LPS) also induced an IFN-mediated antiviral state in Lpsd PM . Low levels of spontaneous transcription of IFN-beta mRNA were detected in nuclei from Lpsd PM . Treatment of Lpsd PM with IFN-gamma for 3 h resulted in the accumulation of IFN-beta mRNA without any concomitant increase in the transcription of the IFN-beta gene, as determined by run-on transcription assays with isolated nuclei . The addition of as little as I international unit/ml of IFN-gamma to PM resulted in a 100-fold inhibition of VSV yield . As antibodies to IFN-alpha/beta inhibited only a portion of the IFN-gamma-induced antiviral state, such an antiviral state might reflect the synergism between IFN-gamma and endogenous IFN-beta . In fact, the addition of low doses of both IFN-gamma and IFN-beta to either Lpsn or Lpsd PM resulted in synergistic antiviral effects . In vivo treatment of Lpsd mice with granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-CSF, M-CSF, IFN-gamma or Newcastle disease virus rendered peritoneal cells capable of transferring an antiviral state . These results indicate that (i) various stimuli can induce IFN-beta production by PM, (ii) Lpsd PM spontaneously transcribe low levels of IFN-beta mRNA, even though they cannot transfer an antiviral state, (iii) different stimuli, but not LPS, induce a normal IFN response in Lpsd PM, (iv) IFN-gamma increases the accumulation of IFN-beta mRNA in Lpsd PM by post-transcriptional mechanisms and (v) IFN-gamma may act synergistically with endogenous IFN-beta in inducing a potent antiviral state to VSV in PM. Gene, 1990 Oct 15, 94(2), 229 - 35 Transactivation of the HIV promoter by Tat can be estimated by a bacterial blue-white color system; Wollisch EM et al.; We describe an assay system which allows easy quantitation of transactivation of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) promoter by the viral Tat protein . We make use of the novel expression assay for the study of transcriptional activators {Rusconi et al., Gene 89 (1990) 211-221} . After transfection of a reference plasmid, a Tat expression plasmid, a plasmid in which the expression of simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen is driven by the HIV promoter and a replicator plasmid containing an SV40 ori into mammalian cells, low Mr DNA is shuttled back into Escherichia coli . Transactivation is quantitated by comparing the number of white colonies (due to the replicator plasmid) in presence and absence of Tat to the number of blue colonies (due to the reference plasmid) . At high copy numbers of transfected reporter plasmid the system was saturated with respect to large T antigen and not accessible to transactivation by the viral Tat protein . Gradual decrease of the concentration of the HIV-promoter-containing plasmid resulted in continuous improvement of transactivation of this promoter . The demonstration of a 200-fold stimulation of the HIV-1 promoter indicates the sensitivity of the assay and its general applicability to analyse the interplay between a transacting factor and the responsive DNA/RNA sequences. J Leukoc Biol, 1990 Oct, 48(4), 306 - 15 Modulation of an adhesion-related surface antigen on equine neutrophils by bacterial lipopolysaccharide and antiinflammatory drugs; Bochsler PN et al.; The essential role of the CD11/CD18 family of leukocyte adhesion molecules (LeuCams) in neutrophil-substrate adhesion is well documented . We have found that a monoclonal antibody designated 60.3 (MoAb 60.3) that recognizes the common beta-subunit (CD18) on human neutrophils (PMN) also recognizes a surface antigen on equine PMN . Antigen expression as assessed by immunofluorescence flow cytometry was enhanced by zymosan-activated serum (ZAS) or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) stimulation . Pretreatment of equine PMN with MoAb 60.3 inhibited ZAS-stimulated aggregation, indicating that the monoclonal recognized a functional epitope on equine PMN involved in adhesion-related functions . Cells pretreated only with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 1 microgram/ml) exhibited moderate increased binding of MoAb 60.3 as determined by fluorescence intensity . Preincubation of PMN with LPS resulted in a slight increase in MoAb 60.3 binding after subsequent ZAS stimulation, greater than that with either LPS or ZAS as sole stimulus . Similarly, enhanced binding of MoAb 60.3 was observed with LPS preincubation when PMA was used as a stimulus, but this effect was dose dependent and was observed at only one of three PMA concentrations tested (1 ng/ml) . In other experiments, preincubation of PMN with antiinflammatory drugs inhibited 41.5-45.1% of ZAS-stimulated PMN adhesion to monolayers of equine endothelial cells . To determine whether modulation of expression of the adhesion-related antigen recognized by MoAb 60.3 correlated with these observed adhesive responses of PMN, we used immunofluorescence flow cytometry to assess expression of the antigen on drug-treated PMN . Using 10% ZAS as a stimulus, phenylbutazone (PBZ; 100 micrograms/ml) pretreatment of PMN reduced subsequent MoAb 60.3 binding by only 12.3%, and dexamethasone (DEX; 10(-5) M) reduced binding by only 1.0%; reductions of 16.4% with PBZ and 9.3% with DEX occurred when PMA (10 ng/ml) was used as the PMN stimulant . These data suggest that equine PMN express a functional adhesion molecule similar to those found on human PMN and that LPS may enhance the expression of this surface antigen . Expression of this adhesion-related surface antigen on equine PMN does not correlate well with levels of drug-induced diminished adhesion of PMN to endothelium in vitro. J Appl Bacteriol, 1990 Oct, 69(4), 599 - 608 Cleanability in relation to bacterial retention on unused and abraded domestic sink materials; Holah JT et al.; The relative cleanability of stainless steel, enamelled steel, mineral resin and polycarbonate domestic sink materials was assessed by comparing the number of organisms remaining on surfaces after cleaning . In unused condition all materials, other than one enamelled steel, were equally cleanable . Stainless steel, abraded artificially or impact damaged to a similar degree as stainless steel subjected to domestic wear, retained approximately one log order less bacteria after cleaning than the other materials subjected to the same treatments . Little difference in cleanability was recorded between the abraded surfaces of the other materials although enamelled steel surfaces were less cleanable than mineral resin or polycarbonate after impact damage, because of the greater susceptibility of enamelled steel to damage by this treatment . When cleaning time was extended beyond 10 s for the abraded and impact damaged materials, their cleanability was not enhanced as compared with stainless steel . Changes in surface finish after abrasion were assessed by surface roughness measurement and scanning electron microscopy . Surfaces with poor cleanability before and after abrasion were characterized by pitting, crevices or jags . These surfaces are likely to retain more bacteria because of increased numbers of attachment sites, a larger bacterial/material surface contact area and topographical areas in which applied cleaning shear forces are reduced . Materials that resist surface changes, e.g . stainless steel, will remain more hygienic when subjected to natural wear than materials which become more readily damaged. J Trop Pediatr, 1990 Oct, 36(5), 213 - 7 Cerebrospinal fluid C-reactive protein measurement--a bedside test in the rapid diagnosis of bacterial meningitis; John M et al.; C-reactive protein (C-RP) determinations were performed by the Latex agglutination method on the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of 212 patients with clinical features suggestive of meningitis . Patients were grouped as follows Group I: bacterial meningitis and partially treated bacterial meningitis (n = 22) . Group II: viral encephalitis (n = 11) . Group III: tuberculous meningitis (n = 18) . Group IV: (i) febrile convulsions (n = 87); (ii) epileptic seizures (n = 70); (iii) intracranial haemorrhage (n = 4) . C-RP was a better indicator of bacterial meningitis (sensitivity 91 per cent) than the Gram's stain (sensitivity 46 per cent) . C-RP was positive in 91 per cent of patients in Group I, none in Groups II and III and 0.6 per cent in Group IV . C-RP determination in CSF proved to be a useful indicator of bacterial meningitis and served to distinguish it from viral encephalitis, tuberculous meningitis, febrile convulsions and other central nervous system disorders. J Dairy Sci, 1990 Oct, 73(10), 2929 - 33 Interlaboratory variation in a diaminopimelic acid assay: influence on estimated duodenal bacterial nitrogen flow; Robinson PH et al.; Samples of ruminal bacteria and duodenal digesta were collected from two dairy cows fed a 65% forage diet . Samples were sent blind to four laboratories for diaminopimelic acid analysis . Analyzed values differed among laboratories within sample type, and concentrations ranked as follows: laboratory D greater than laboratory A greater than laboratory B greater than laboratory C . Consideration of differences in actual procedures used among laboratories resulted in several hypotheses to explain some of the interlaboratory variation . Using diaminopimelic acid values from each laboratory to estimate duodenal bacterial nitrogen flow showed that laboratory D estimated a 17% higher flow than the average for laboratories A, B, and C, which were similar. Pneumologie, 1990 Oct, 44(10), 1180 - 2 Oral immunization with a polyvalent bacterial lysate can reduce mortality by infection with S . pneumoniae or influenza A in mice; van Daal GJ et al.; We investigated the effect of oral immunization in of mice which were exposed to S . pneumoniae or influenza A . The results suggest that oral immunization reduces the mortality rate . We believe that this effect is partially due to nonspecific defense mechanisms. Immunol Lett, 1990 Oct, 26(1), 7 - 10 Bacterial immunity and immunogenesis of normal human salivary IgA and serum IgG2 antiphospholipid autoantibody: a link? Cheng HM, Sam CK. The anti-phospholipid antibody (aPL) in 26 heat-inactivated normal human sera (NHS) was tested for IgG subclass in ELISA . The specific antibody in NHS included all four IgG antibody subclasses, as well as IgA . The incidence of IgG subclasses ranged from 50% (13/26) for IgG1 to 92% (24/26) for IgG2 . Specific IgA anti-phospholipid antibody (aPL) was detected by ELISA in 38% (28/73) of normal human saliva . The salivary IgA aPL bound preferentially to anionic phospholipids including cardiolipin, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidic acid but not to phosphatidylcholine or sphingomyelin . Unlike aPL in normal human sera, aPL in saliva was predominantly not associated with the previously described heat-labile inhibitor of aPL . This may indicate a role of salivary IgA aPL in local immunity by binding to cross-reactive bacterial cell surface components including phospholipids. J Biomater Appl, 1990 Oct, 5(2), 91 - 106 Physical chemical description of bacterial adhesion; van Loosdrecht MC et al.; For the description of general bacterial adhesion phenomena two different physicochemical approaches are available . The first one, based on a surface Gibbs energy balance, assumes intimate contact between the interacting surfaces . According to this approach adhesion is solely related to the Gibbs energies of the surfaces involved . The second approach, based on colloid chemical theories (DLVO theory), allows for two types of adhesion: 1 . secondary minimum adhesion, which is often weak and reversible, and 2 . irreversible primary minimum adhesion . In the first case a thin water film is present between the interacting surfaces . In the DLVO approach adhesion is determined by long range interactions, i.e., Van der Waals and electrostatic interactions . Van der Waals interactions may be related to the hydrophobicity of the cell wall . For the measurement of bacterial hydrophobicity and electrokinetic potential several macroscopic methods are available . Based on a literature review of the influence of both surface characteristics on adhesion, it is concluded that the surface Gibbs energy balance approach is not adequate to describe the majority of adhesion phenomena . On the other hand the DLVO-theory describes the observations fairly well, especially in the case of reversible (secondary minimum) adhesion . The influence of adsorbing (in)organic compounds, extracellular polymers and cell surface appendages on adhesion can also be predicted by a DLVO-type approach. J Biomater Appl, 1990 Oct, 5(2), 107 - 33 Bacterial polymers: physicochemical aspects of their interactions at interfaces; Neu TR et al.; How do bacteria stick to a surface? There is still not enough information about to answer this question especially at the molecular level . This question only gives rise to more questions . What is the structure of the true adhesive bacterial polymer? Is only one bacterial polymer or several polymers involved in the adhesion process? What is the role of proteins associated with the bacterial polysaccharides? What type of polymer is produced for the adhesion to hydrophobic surfaces? Is the polymer produced as a response to the surface? This review is an attempt to summarize the physicochemical aspects of bacterial polymers and their interaction with surfaces . It was tried to give an overview of the literature published in this field . The article is divided into the following sections: first, the forces involved in bacterial adhesion are discussed . Third, different fluid conditions are investigated . Fourth, the nature of different bacterial polymers which are important for the interaction with a surface is elaborated . Fifth, the current knowledge about biological polymers at interfaces is shown . And sixth, the role of polymers in the adhesion of bacteria available to date is highlighted. J In Vitro Fert Embryo Transf, 1990 Oct, 7(5), 280 - 2 Preimplantation murine embryos are more resistant than human embryos to bacterial endotoxins; Randall GW et al.; Bacterial endotoxins have been correlated with increased fragmentation of early cleavage-stage human embryos and decreased pregnancy rates in human in vitro fertilization programs . The purpose of the present study was to test the direct effects of increasing concentrations of endotoxins on in vitro fertilization and development of mouse embryos to the blastocyst stage . Sexually mature B6D2F1 female mice were superovulated and oocytecumulus complexes were collected from the oviducts and randomized into control and treatment groups . Oocytes (n = 867) were inseminated with capacitated sperm . Treatments included Ham's F-10 supplemented with 3 mg/ml bovine serum albumin and increasing amounts of endotoxin (0.35, 0.64, 0.92, 1.5, 2.08, 3.21, 6.07, and 11.79 ng/ml) . Percentage cleavage, percentage fragmentation at the four-cell stage, and percentage expanded blastocyst formation (of cleaved embryos) were evaluated . Statistically significant decreases in cleavage at 6.07 ng/ml (P less than 0.05) and blastocyst formation at 11.79 ng/ml (P less than 0.05) of endotoxin were observed . Fragmentation at the four-cell stage was significantly increased at 3.21 ng/ml (P less than 0.05) of endotoxin . We conclude that the levels of endotoxin necessary to decrease murine preimplantation development significantly is higher than that reported for human embryos. Circ Shock, 1990 Oct, 32(2), 153 - 63 Contribution of platelet activating factor to hemodynamic and sympathetic responses to bacterial endotoxin in conscious rats; Qi M et al.; The effect of the platelet activating factor (PAF) antagonist WEB 2086 on blood pressure; heart rate; and plasma glucose, lactate, and catecholamine concentrations were examined following either PAF or endotoxin administration in conscious rats . PAF infusion (50 ng/kg/min for 60 min) resulted in a sustained hypotension, with tachycardia and elevated plasma norepinephrine (NE; 1.8-fold increase), epinephrine (E; 6.7-fold increase), and dopamine (DA; 1.0-fold increase) at 30 min after beginning infusion . Plasma NE, E, and DA became 4.1 (NE)-, 17.4 (E)-, and 3.3 (DA)-fold higher than control at 60 min after beginning infusion . Both the hemodynamic and plasma catecholamine alterations induced with PAF were completely blocked with WEB 2086 pretreatment . Bacterial endotoxin treatment (5 mg/kg, i.v . bolus) produced well-characterized responses of hypotension, tachycardia, hyperglycemia, hyperlactacidemia, and an elevation in plasma catecholamines . Whereas complete blockade of the hypotensive and tachycardic effect of endotoxin was achieved with WEB 2086 at 30 min following endotoxin, the increases in plasma catecholamines and lactate elicited by endotoxin were attenuated but remained significantly higher than control levels . Hyperglycemia following endotoxin was not altered by WEB 2086 treatment . In endotoxic rats pretreated with WEB 2086 there was significant hypotension, tachycardia, and hyperlactacidemia and an elevation in plasma catecholamines at both 60 and 120 min, but all were less severe compared to non-WEB 2086-treated endotoxic animals . The results demonstrate that WEB 2086 completely blocked early endotoxin-induced hypotension and tachycardia but not catecholamine elevation following endotoxin . This work suggests that sympathetic activation following endotoxin may be mediated by factors other than hypotension. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses, 1990 Oct, 6(10), 1203 - 8 Cumulative AIDS incidence and altered mortality from bacterial infections; Fife D et al.; To determine whether populations with high cumulative incidence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) experienced increased deaths from sepsis, central nervous system abscess, or endocarditis, New Jersey AIDS patients were grouped according to their age, sex, race, and residence-specific cumulative incidence of AIDS since the onset of the AIDS epidemic . Between 1980 and 1986, among 25-44 year olds in the highest cumulative incidence group for AIDS, sepsis mortality increased from 3.3 to 15.2 deaths/100,000/year, an increase of 11.9 deaths/100,000/year (95% confidence interval (6.9, 17.0) deaths/100,000/year); mortality from central nervous system abscesses increased from zero to 1.7 (0.1, 3.2) deaths/100,000/year; and mortality from endocarditis increased from 0.8 deaths/100,000/year to 2.4 deaths/100,000/year, an increase of 1.6 (-0.5, 3.7) deaths/100,000/year . Age-matched New Jersey patient populations with low cumulative incidence of AIDS did not sustain a similar increase . The HIV disease-associated increase in sepsis mortality among young populations represents a new component of the substantial increase in U.S . sepsis mortality that occurred over the last two decades, but was previously limited to older populations. Trends Biochem Sci, 1990 Oct, 15(10), 391 - 5 Regulation of bacterial physiological processes by three types of protein phosphorylating systems; Saier MH Jr et al.; A single type of protein-phosphorylating system, the ATP-dependent protein kinases, is employed in the regulation of a variety of cellular physiological processes in eukaryotes . By contrast, recent work with bacteria has revealed that three types of protein-phosphorylating systems are involved in regulation: (1) the classical protein kinases, (2) the newly discovered sensor-kinase/response-regulator systems, and (3) the multifaceted phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system . Physiological and mechanistic aspects of these three evolutionarily distinct systems are discussed. Pediatr Infect Dis J, 1990 Oct, 9(10), 718 - 21 Thrombocytosis after pneumonia with empyema and other bacterial infections in children; Wolach B et al.; Thrombocytosis is seen in association with many conditions, including infectious diseases . We studied thrombocytosis after severe bacterial infections, particularly pneumonia with empyema in children . A systematic survey of the phenomenon was conducted . Twenty-seven children admitted for pneumonia with empyema were studied . Thrombocytosis (platelet counts greater than 500 x 10(3)/microliters) was present in 92.5% . Platelet counts reached their maximum at 15.1 +/- 3.7 days (range, 7 to 25) and declined to normal after 3 weeks of illness . Compared with a healthy control group, significant thrombocytosis, but of lower incidence, was also noted in children with lobar pneumonia without pleural effusion, bacterial meningitis and osteomyelitis . Platelet functions were examined in seven of the children but no abnormalities were observed . Bone marrow aspiration of three children with pneumonia and empyema showed megakaryocytic hyperplasia . We found no correlation between thrombocytosis, neutrophilia, fever, the clinical course, complications, prognosis or treatment . Neither thromboembolic nor hemorrhagic phenomena were observed. Am J Pathol, 1990 Oct, 137(4), 971 - 8 Bacterial lipopolysaccharide transforms mesangial into proliferative lupus nephritis without interfering with processing of pathogenic immune complexes in NZB/W mice; Cavallo T et al.; Systemic lupus erythematosus is a multifactorial systemic disease in which genetic, immunologic, hormonal, and environmental factors may contribute to disease pathogenesis . Bacterial products (eg, bacterial lipopolysaccharide {LPS}) induce a lupuslike disease in normal mice and trigger an early and accelerated form of lupus nephritis in NZB/W mice . To investigate whether the mechanism by which LPS accelerates nephritis in the NZB/W mice involves interference with processing of immune complexes (IC), we administered LPS to NZB/W mice for 5 weeks and probed the kinetics of removal, liver uptake, and organ localization of a subsaturating dose of radiolabeled IC (2.5 mg of bovine serum albumin-antibovine serum albumin) . Control NZB/W mice received vehicle (saline) alone . In NZB/W exposed to LPS, features of polyclonal B-cell activation (PBA) were enhanced, anti-DNA antibodies were raised, and a proliferative glomerulonephritis developed that was associated with renal insufficiency and substantial proteinuria . This LPS-accelerated nephritis could not be attributed to altered complement concentration, to altered blood cell carrier function, to delayed removal of pathogenic (large-sized) ICs from the circulation, to impaired liver uptake of ICs, or to enhanced localization of ICs in kidney . The findings indicate that transformation of nephritis is probably the result of LPS-induced PBA, that defective processing of pathogenic IC is not a contributory factor to nephritis, and that mechanisms other than passive renal localization of circulating ICs must be operative. Postgrad Med, 1990 Oct, 88(5), 217 - 9, 223 Bacterial or viral meningitis? Measuring lactate in CSF can help you know quickly; Bailey EM et al.; Measurement of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lactate is a useful test when properly applied to the appropriate clinical situation and can offer information other CSF parameters cannot provide . Except for Gram's stain of CSF, lactate level is the most important CSF parameter in the early differentiation of viral (aseptic) and bacterial purulent meningitis. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol, 1990 Oct, 70(4), 537 - 9 Aerobic bacterial contamination in dental materials; Rice CD et al.; Current concern about disease transmission points out the need for better infection control in dentistry . The purpose of this study was to test samples of dental materials in factory-sealed containers for aerobic bacterial contamination . Multiple unopened containers of 12 different dental materials were obtained from the dental school dispensary . Samples were removed from each container and incubated at 38 degrees C in standard broth medium for 1 week . Those that exhibited visual signs of possible bacterial growth were subjected to a Gram stain for verification . The results of that test indicated that 20% to 30% of the samples of alginate, glass ionomer cement and base powders, and retraction cord contained bacterial contamination . The remaining eight dental materials exhibited no apparent bacterial growth . Thus viable aerobic organisms were found in samples from 4 of 12 dental material products. Obstet Gynecol, 1990 Oct, 76(4), 727 - 30 Enumeration of clue cells in rehydrated air-dried vaginal wet smears for the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis; Larsson PG et al.; Among 235 women attending an outpatient clinic, the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis was made using three of the following four criteria: typical discharge, pH more than 4.5, positive amine sniff test, and clue cells in a wet smear . These findings were correlated with the finding of clue cells in air-dried wet smears rehydrated more than 1 month after the visit . The rehydrated specimens had the same microscopic appearance as a nonpreserved wet smear . The demonstration of clue cells in the rehydrated smears correlated with the composite diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis with a sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 98% . In a busy multi-physician setting, the scoring of clue cells in stored and rehydrated smears can be used to obtain consistent readings for wet-smear diagnostics, thus simplifying teaching and increasing the utility of wet smears in clinical research. Hepatology, 1990 Oct, 12(4 Pt 1), 710 - 5 Monomicrobial nonneutrocytic bacterascites: a variant of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis; Runyon BA; Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is diagnosed when (a) the ascitic fluid culture is positive, (b) the ascitic fluid neutrophil count is greater than or equal to 250 cells/mm3 and (c) there is no evident intraabdominal surgically treatable source for infection . Few details are available regarding the variant of ascitic fluid infection in which the culture grows bacteria (pure growth of a single type of organism), but the neutrophil count is less than 250 cells/mm3 . In this prospective study of 138 episodes of culture-positive spontaneously infected ascites detected in 105 patients, 44 (31.9%) were episodes of "monomicrobial nonneutrocytic bacterascites" compared with 94 (68.1%) episodes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis . Seventeen patients had both types of infection . The infection-related mortality and hospitalization mortality were similar between the two groups . Patients with bacterascites appeared to have less severe liver disease . In 62% of bacterascites episodes in which a second paracentesis was performed before any treatment the fluid spontaneously became sterile without development of ascitic fluid neutrocytosis . Thirty-eight percent of patients with bacterascites (who underwent a second paracentesis before treatment was started) progressed to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis--sometimes within a few hours . The concentration of the chemoattractant C5a was not decreased in the ascitic fluid of the bacterascites patients; this excludes ascitic fluid C5a deficiency as the explanation of the lack of neutrocytosis . Monomicrobial nonneutrocytic bacterascites is a common variant of ascitic fluid infection that may resolve without treatment or may progress to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Infect Immun, 1990 Oct, 58(10), 3257 - 61 Pathophysiologic glucocorticoid elevations promote bacterial translocation after thermal injury; Jones WG 2nd et al.; Thermal injury results in transient elevations of plasma glucocorticoids and promotes translocation of bacteria from the gut to the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) in rats . Translocated organisms are quickly cleared following uncomplicated thermal injury . However, subsequent burn wound infection, in temporal association with sustained pathophysiologic elevations of plasma corticosterone, results in the continued presence of enteric bacteria in the MLN . To study the role of sustained pathophysiologic steroid elevations in the mediation of this prolonged bacterial translocation, Wistar rats were randomly placed in groups receiving one of the following: (i) a 30% total body surface area scald injury with placement of a subcutaneous corticosterone pellet, (ii) a 30% total body surface area scald and a sham pellet implantation, (iii) a sham burn and a corticosterone pellet implantation, or (iv) a sham burn and a sham pellet implantation . The animals were sacrificed on days 1 and 4 after injury, and cultures of the MLN, as well as the liver and spleen, were taken . Implantation of corticosterone pellets resulted in sustained elevations of plasma corticosterone compared with controls not receiving corticosterone pellets, similar to results seen in association with injury and infection . These pathophysiologic elevations were associated with the prolonged presence of organisms in the MLN (90% of burned rats with implanted corticosterone pellets versus 25% of rats with uncomplicated burns on postburn day 4; P less than 0.01), but only in the presence of burn injury . Pathophysiologic glucocorticoid elevations did not lead to progression of translocation to the viscera or blood . Thus, the pathophysiologic glucocorticoid response contributes to the translocation of enteric bacteria and their prolonged presence in the MLN after systemic injury. Exp Hematol, 1990 Oct, 18(9), 969 - 73 A 17-kd polypeptide, sensitive to bacterial collagenase, is synthesized by bone marrow macrophages; Ruland LJ 3rd et al.; A novel polypeptide with a molecular weight of 17 kd (17k protein) was identified in bone marrow cell cultures . The synthesis of 17k protein is elevated in cell cultures maintained under Dexter conditions, which support myelopoiesis . The predominance of macrophages in the stromal layer of these cultures and the observation that a mouse myelomonocytic cell line P388D1 is capable of synthesizing large amounts of 17k protein led us to the study of its synthesis by bone marrow macrophages . Metabolic labeling with {14C}proline and partial amino acid analysis of 17k protein demonstrated that the polypeptide contains relatively high amounts of proline and is also sensitive to degradation with bacterial collagenase . However, no hydroxyproline is detectable in 17k protein, and it is extensively degraded with bacterial collagenase . However, no hydroxyproline is detectable in 17k protein, and it is extensively degraded by proteolysis with pepsin, using conditions under which collagen triple helices are resistant to degradation, suggesting that collagen-like structures are not contained in 17k protein . This polypeptide is found predominantly in the cellular layers of bone marrow macrophage cultures . Incorporation of {14C}proline into 17k protein is diminished by increasing concentrations of colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) . The 17k protein may be involved in macrophage proliferation because its synthesis is inhibited by CSF-1, which is required for the maintenance of bone marrow macrophages in vitro. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo), 1990 Oct, 36(5), 475 - 83 Hypocholesterolemic effect of phototrophic bacterial cells in rats; Lee MG et al.; The effect of diets containing the cells of a phototrophic bacteria (PTB) . Rhodopseudomonas capsulata, on lipid metabolism was examined in the serum and liver of rats . Three groups of rats, 5 animals per group, were fed either a diet containing 0.2 or 2.0% PTB cells or a casein-based control diet . Each diet contained 1% cholesterol (CHOL) . While serum glucose levels were not significantly different between the control and the PTB groups, total CHOL and triacylglycerol (TG) in the serum were significantly lower in the PTB groups than in the control group (p less than 0.01) . The ratio of serum HDL-CHOL to total serum CHOL was significantly higher in the PTB groups than in the control group (p less than 0.01) . The 2.0% PTB group had lower hepatic TG (p less than 0.05) but higher hepatic CHOL (p less than 0.05) than did the control group . These results indicate that PTB cells contain a factor or factors which affect hepatic metabolism or secretion of CHOL. Inflammation, 1990 Oct, 14(5), 599 - 611 Bacterial lipopolysaccharide enhances polymorphonuclear leukocyte function independent of changes in intracellular calcium; Klein JB et al.; Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) enhanced expression of C3bi receptors (CR3), phagocytosis of opsonized bacteria, and subsequent hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) . The role of changes in intracellular calcium concentration ({Ca2+}i) in LPS-induced priming was examined by determining the effect of modulators of intracellular calcium on enhanced PMN function, determining the ability of calcium ionophores to reproduce the effects of LPS, and measuring PMN {Ca2+}i following addition of LPS . Inhibition of intracellular calcium-dependent processes with TMB-8 or quin-2 blocked all three measures of LPS-induced priming . LPS did not stimulate an increase in {Ca2+}i, and calcium ionophores failed to reproduce the effect of LPS . Maintenance of {Ca2+}i is necessary for LPS priming, but an increase in {Ca2+}i is not a component of the signal transduction pathway leading to PMN priming by LPS. Rev Odontol Univ Sao Paulo, 1990 Oct-Dec, 4(4), 278 - 83 {Influence of bacterial plaque disclosing agents on patient oral hygiene motivation under direct supervision and direction}; Duarte CA et al.; Research was carried out with the objective of studying the clinical influence of dental plaque disclosing agents as motivators for patients oral hygiene . Methylene blue, basic fuchsin, Bismark brown, malachite green, and gentian violet were used for dental plaque disclosure . Five groups were evaluated, 12 patients each, besides a control group of 12 patients . The experimental period analysed statistically was of approximately 7 weeks . The statistical analysis of the results proved not to have significant differences among the 6 groups analysed. J Laryngol Otol, 1990 Oct, 104(10), 749 - 57 Quantitative analysis of the bacterial findings in otitis media; Stenfors LE et al.; Qualitative and quantitative bacterial analysis of 200 samples of middle ear effusions collected from patients with current otitis media was performed . When middle ear pathogens (S . pneumoniae, H . influenzae and B . catarrhalis) were found during current acute otitis media or otitis media with effusion infection, the quantity of these bacteria was of the magnitude 10(6)-10(8)/ml and 0-5 x 10(5)/ml effusion material, respectively . Mucopurulent effusion material contained 6 x 10(5)-10(8) bacteria per ml whereas effusion from chronically discharging ears exceeded 10(9) bacteria per ml . Serous effusions did not harbour middle ear pathogens . The appearance of the effusion material was dependent on the number of bacteria involved . Quantification of bacteria in various middle ear effusions offers opportunities to make the diagnosis of various otitis media infections more accurate and readily comparable. J Pediatr, 1990 Oct, 117(4), 523 - 30 Cerebral blood flow and carbon dioxide reactivity in children with bacterial meningitis; Ashwal S et al.; We examined total and regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) by stable xenon computed tomography in 20 seriously ill children with acute bacterial meningitis to determine whether CBF was reduced and to examine the changes in CBF during hyperventilation . In 13 children, total CBF was normal (62 +/- 20 ml/min/100 gm) but marked local variability of flow was seen . In five other children, total CBF was significantly reduced (26 +/- 10 ml/min/100 gm; p less than 0.05), with flow reduced more in white matter (8 +/- 5 ml/min/100 gm) than in gray matter (30 +/- 15 ml/min/100 gm) . Autoregulation of CBF appeared to be present in these 18 children within a range of mean arterial blood pressure from 56 to 102 mm Hg . In the remaining two infants, brain dead within the first 24 hours, total flow was uniformly absent, averaging 3 +/- 3 ml/min/100 gm . In seven children, CBF was determined at two carbon dioxide tension (PCO2) levels: 40 (+/- 3) mm Hg and 29 (+/- 3) mm Hg . In six children, total CBF decreased 33%, from 52 (+/- 25) to 35 (+/- 15) ml/min/100 gm; the mean percentage of change in CBF per millimeter of mercury of PCO2 was 3.0% . Regional variability of perfusion to changes in PCO2 was marked in all six children . The percentage of change in CBF per millimeter of mercury of PCO2 was similar in frontal gray matter (3.1%) but higher in white matter (4.5%) . In the seventh patient a paradoxical response was observed; total and regional CBF increased 25% after hyperventilation . Our findings demonstrate that (1) CBF in children with bacterial meningitis may be substantially decreased globally, with even more variability noted regionally, (2) autoregulation of CBF is preserved, (3) CBF/CO2 responsitivity varies among patients and in different regions of the brain in the same patient, and (4) hyperventilation can reduce CBF below ischemic thresholds. J Leukoc Biol, 1990 Oct, 48(4), 316 - 32 Ultrastructural and immunocytochemical study of the uptake and distribution of bacterial lipopolysaccharide in human monocytes; Kang YH et al.; Interaction of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with monocytes stimulates production of a variety of mediators that are involved in the pathogenesis of septic shock and wound repair . We report here the mechanisms of LPS uptake and intracellular distribution of LPS in human monocytes . Ficoll-Hypaque-purified peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC) were exposed to LPS from rough Escherichia coli (J5) or to biotin-conjugated LPS (biotin-LPS) from smooth E . coli (0111:B4), or to fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated LPS of E . coli (055:B5) at 37 degrees C for various times and processed for electron microscopy, immunocytochemistry, and flow cytometry . Monocytes were identified by the presence of numerous cytoplasmic peroxidase-positive granules or by monoclonal antibodies against monocyte . LPS micelles were identified by their specific bilayer structure, staining of horseradish peroxidase reaction product, or colloidal gold using biotin-LPS or a monoclonal antibody to LPS . Binding of LPS to cell surface was observed 5 min after incubation with LPS . Intracellular localization of LPS micelles was found 30 min following exposure to LPS . Prolonged incubation with LPS increased intracellular LPS . Intracellularly, LPS micelles were found in large membrane-bound vacuoles, in small vesicles, and in the cytoplasm and nucleus . They were also observed in association with the cytomembrane of various organelles . The overall results indicate that LPS may be taken up by monocytes by direct passive diffusion through ruptures of plasma membrane, pinocytosis, and phagocytosis, involving specific and/or nonspecific binding, and suggest that peripheral blood monocytes play an important role in clearance of LPS; that LPS may have broad effects on cell functions; and that the nonspecific binding to various cytomembranes may be destructive to cell organelles and cells in general. Mol Microbiol, 1990 Oct, 4(10), 1621 - 8 Regulation of bacterial gene expression by metal-protein complexes; Hennecke H; Metal ions are essential cofactors in several transacting bacterial gene regulators . Upon binding of the metal, the receptor proteins act either as repressors of gene expression or, in other systems, as transcriptional activators . Other metal-dependent regulatory proteins may function, directly or indirectly, as sensors of the cellular oxygen status, and may even be mediators in light-responsive gene regulation. Mol Microbiol, 1990 Oct, 4(10), 1771 - 7 Functional similarities between retroviruses and the IS3 family of bacterial insertion sequences? Fayet O, Ramond P, Polard P, Prere MF, Chandler M. Members of the IS3 family of insertion sequences are found in a wide range of bacteria . At least 10 members of this family carry two major open reading frames: a small upstream frame (0 phase), and a longer downstream frame in the -1 phase . The downstream frame shows significant similarity at the amino acid level . A highly conserved region of this frame also exhibits notable similarity with a region of the integrase (endonuclease) domain of retroviruses . Although the overall transposition mechanism of the insertion sequence and retroviral elements is certainly different, the two groups may share additional common features, including a -1 frameshift resulting in the production of a fusion protein. J Natl Cancer Inst, 1990 Sep 19, 82(18), 1497 - 503 Development of micrometastases: earliest events detected with bacterial lacZ gene-tagged tumor cells; Lin WC et al.; For the study of micrometastases at their earliest stages, we transfected the lacZ gene, which codes for beta-D-galactosidase in Escherichia coli, into BALB/c 3T3 cells transformed by the Ha-ras oncogene (also known as HRAS1) of a human EJ bladder carcinoma . These cells were subsequently injected into 6-week-old, female athymic NCR-NU nude mice by several routes . With chromogenic detection of the product of the lacZ gene (a heterologous gene not observed in animal cells) by use of 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indoyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside, we easily identified tumor cells implanted in the lungs minutes after intravenous injection by the intensely blue staining of the cells harboring the lacZ gene . The number of lung-associated tumor cells remained constant for several hours after intravenous injection but then decreased to a stable level by 24 hours . At most sites of lung invasion, multiple tumor cells, rather than single cells, were identified; this finding suggests that cooperation among multiple cells may be important in the early stages of micrometastasis development . Within several days, a few foci of micrometastases were expanding by proliferation and/or migration of individual tumor cells among host lung cells . These results confirm that the lacZ gene is an ultrasensitive histochemical marker for analyzing both qualitatively and quantitatively the earliest stages of micrometastasis development in the lung and in other organs where micrometastases may ensue. Surgery, 1990 Sep, 108(3), 567 - 71 An experimental assessment of the effect of blood transfusion on susceptibility to bacterial infection; Galandiuk S et al.; Clinical investigations in patients who have undergone transplantation and patients with cancer and infection suggest that blood transfusions have an immunosuppressive effect . To investigate the impact on responses to infection, an experimental transfusion model was developed in the rat with allogeneic or syngeneic transfusions . Animals were given either a moderate or severe bacterial challenge, both simulating a clinical surgical infection, immediately after transfusion or 1 week later; hypotension and hemodilution were especially avoided . Blood transfusion adversely affected the animals' capacity to resist immediate moderate challenge, but not a later one . The effect was maximized by allogeneic transfusion but was not demonstrable after severe bacterial challenge, whether immediate or late. J Bacteriol, 1990 Sep, 172(9), 5506 - 10 Relationship between the acceptor/donor radioactivity ratio and cross-linking in bacterial peptidoglycan: application to surface synthesis during the division cycle; Cooper S; The relationship between the experimental measurement of the cross-linking of bacterial peptidoglycan and the mode of its insertion is analyzed . The cross-linking value, in practice and in theory, is independent of the pattern of strand insertion . Since the measure of the mode or pattern of insertion is the acceptor/donor radioactivity ratio (ADRR), no correction need be made for the ADRR . The measurement of cross-linking using radioactivity is independent of the labeling time, the specific activity of the label, and the mode of strand insertion . It is not concluded, however, that cross-linking does increase during the division cycle. Yale J Biol Med, 1990 Sep-Oct, 63(5), 429 - 33 Transfusion-induced immunomodulation and its possible role in cancer recurrence and perioperative bacterial infection; Blumberg N et al.; Over the last decade, it has become evident that homologous transfusions carry immunologic consequences beyond the well-understood ones of alloimmunization to blood cell antigens . Transfusions constitute temporary transplants of large amounts of allogeneic antigen given intravenously and cause down-regulation of many cellular immune functions . These changes may explain in part the association of transfusion with such clinically important events as (1) improved survival of renal allografts, (2) decreased recurrence rates for autoimmune disease, (3) increased frequency and earlier recurrences of solid tumors, (4) increased frequency of post-operative bacterial infection, and (5) increased severity of viral infection . Preliminary data suggest that, in animal models and clinical settings, syngeneic or autologous transfusions are not associated with such events . This finding supports the hypothesis that these associations are cause and effect and involve immunologic mechanisms. Can Crit Care Nurs J, 1990 Sep-Oct, 7(3), 6 - 14 Acute bacterial meningitis . The pathophysiological sequence of events; Rashotte J et al.; Despite the availability of a new vaccine, acute bacterial meningitis continues to be a potentially life-threatening childhood disease . The mortality rate is approximately 5% and research suggests that many of the survivors suffer from various forms of morbidity . The pediatric intensive care nurse must immediately recognize the signs and symptoms of impending complications so that interventions can be implemented before it becomes impossible to reverse a critical situation and/or to prevent longterm sequelae . Therefore nursing care requires a thorough understanding of the pathophysiological sequence of events of this disease process. Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol, 1990 Sep-Oct, 26(5), 700 - 5 {Use of bacterial luciferase for determining monoamine oxidase activity}; Sobolev AIu et al.; A bioluminescence assay is proposed for measuring monoamine oxidase activity in different biological specimens (platelets, mitochondria) . The assay is based on the bioluminescent reaction catalysed by bacterial luciferase and coupled to monoamine oxidase . Two modifications of the bioluminescence assay were used . In the first case, the bioluminescent system was added to monoamine oxidase preincubated with the substrates, while in the second case, all the components of the coupled enzymatic systems were directly mixed in a cell . The proposed bioluminescence assay is simple, highly sensitive and rapid, and could be especially useful for biomedical examinations. J Med Assoc Thai, 1990 Sep, 73(9), 526 - 9 Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in acute hepatitis B; Meensook C et al.; Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is a disorder that occurs almost exclusively in patients with cirrhosis . Herein, we report a 22-year-old man with acute viral hepatitis B associated with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis which is a rare complication . The diagnosis was made at laparotomy, performed presumably to treat a perforated viscus, which resulted in a fatal outcome. Kansenshogaku Zasshi, 1990 Sep, 64(9), 1184 - 91 {Studies on relationships between the inhibition of human neutrophil NADPH oxidase by anti-inflammatory drugs and development of bacterial infections}; Umeki S et al.; The effects of anti-inflammatory drugs (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA; salicylic acid, SA; indomethacin, IM; hydrocortisone, HC) on the respiratory burst oxidase (NADPH oxidase) from human neutrophils in both whole cell and fully soluble (cell-free) systems were investigated . These drugs were found to inhibit the superoxide generation by human neutrophils exposed to phorbol myristate acetate in a whole cell system and the activation of superoxide-generating NADPH oxidase by sodium dodecyl sulfate in cell-free systems . Concentrations of these drugs required for 50% inhibition of the oxidase (ID50) were; ASA (more than 3.0 mM in the whole cell system and 1.35 mM in the cell-free system), SA (more than 3.0 mM in the whole cell system and 1.30 mM in the cell-free system), IM (180 microM in both systems) and HC (50 microM in the whole cell system and 40 microM in the cell-free system) . In addition, these drugs time-dependently inhibited the activation of NADPH oxidase in cell-free systems . In the cell-free system, all of the drugs did not change the Km values for NADPH of the oxidase . These results suggest that these anti-inflammatory drugs, especially HC and IM, inhibit the reconstitution (activation) of neutrophil NADPH oxidase enzyme in the cell-free (whole cell) system. Acta Otolaryngol, 1990 Sep-Oct, 110(3-4), 292 - 9 Age-dependent changes in bacterial adherence to epithelial cells of nasopharynx in vivo; Stenfors LE et al.; Epithelial cells were scraped from the posterior wall of the nasopharynx (NPH) of 20 consecutive patients (age range 1 to 52 years, 9 males, 11 females) undergoing ENT surgery under general anaesthesia . The cellular mixture was immediately homogenized, filtrated through a 5 microns pore filters and centrifuged (10 min, 1,500 rpm) . Non-ciliated, squamous epithelial cells caught by the filter were harvested and stained with acridine orange . Epithelial cells with bacteria attached were evaluated when specimens were examined under a fluorescence microscope . A distinct difference was noted between young individuals and adult patients regarding bacterial adherence to nasopharyngeal epithelial cells, adherence in young patients being especially remarkable . Bacteria appeared not to attach to ciliated epithelial cells . The high incidence of otitis media infections among young individuals may be due to the remarkable bacterial adherence to nasopharyngeal non-ciliated epithelial cells in this age group. J Clin Microbiol, 1990 Sep, 28(9), 2035 - 9 Reservoir of four organisms associated with bacterial vaginosis suggests lack of sexual transmission; Holst E; This study consisted of a search for the possible reservoir and mode of spread of the four bacterial vaginosis-associated organisms Mobiluncus mulieris, Mobiluncus curtisii, Mycoplasma hominis, and Gardnerella vaginalis . Their occurrence in rectal, oral, and pharyngeal specimens from women with and without bacterial vaginosis, their male sexual consorts, four homosexual men, and children (altogether, 374 people) was studied . Genital samples were also obtained from all adults . All four organisms were isolated from the rectums of 45 to 62% of women with bacterial vaginosis and 10 to 14% of women without bacterial vaginosis . They also occurred in the rectums of males and children . M . hominis was recovered from the oropharynxes of 12 adults whose sexual consorts had genital occurrences of the organism . Mobiluncus spp . occurred only in the vaginas of women with bacterial vaginosis (97%) . The organisms were only infrequently recovered from genital samples from 135 males . Organisms were recovered from the urethras and/or coronal sulci of 10 of 44 male consorts of women with bacterial vaginosis . However, after 2 weeks of condom use during sexual intercourse, only M . hominis remained in the urethra of one man . These findings suggest that the organisms associated with bacterial vaginosis are not spread sexually but colonize the vagina from an endogenous intestinal tract site . The pathophysiological mechanisms leading to bacterial vaginosis in a subpopulation of all women are still unknown. Clin Cardiol, 1990 Sep, 13(9), 666 - 7 Embolic mononeuropathy in subacute bacterial endocarditis; Andreas S et al.; A 49-year-old man presented with temperature up to 39.5 degrees C, a sudden peroneal nerve lesion, and a cardiac murmur . The peroneal nerve lesion was likely caused by an embolic occlusion of an artery supplying the nerve . Until now, six cases of embolic mononeuropathy in endocarditis have been reported in the literature . Embolic mononeuropathy is a very rare manifestation of subacute bacterial endocarditis and quite often complicates, as do other more common embolic manifestations, the correct diagnosis. Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis, 1990 Sep, 58(3), 491 - 502 Quantitation of IgM antibodies to the M . leprae synthetic disaccharide can predict early bacterial multiplication in leprosy; Hussain R et al.; Quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays detecting IgM to the soluble Mycobacterium leprae crude sonicate (CD75) and the synthetic disaccharide antigen coupled to bovine serum albumin (ND-BSA) were assessed for their ability to determine early infection in families/household contacts of leprosy patients and employees of a leprosy center working in close contact with leprosy patients . Although IgM to both antigens (CD75 and ND-BSA) correlated with the bacterial index (BI) assessed histologically on skin-biopsy samples, the level of IgM antibodies to ND-BSA was a much more sensitive indicator of low bacterial loads . A 4.4-fold difference in antibody levels was observed between the mean group levels of endemic controls (N = 116) and tuberculoid leprosy patients with a BI of 0 (N = 88), increasing to sevenfold in tuberculoid leprosy patients with a BI of 1 (N = 20) . Using a statistical cut off with endemic controls (mean + 2 S.D.), household/family contacts showed 30% seropositivity (N = 180) as compared to staff contacts who showed 17% seropositivity (N = 55) . Percent seropositivity in family contacts was not related to the type of leprosy of the index case (lepromatous vs . tuberculoid) or the duration of treatment of the index case . Age of the individual in the family contact group had a significant influence on seropositivity . These results support the hypothesis that, in this community, factors other than the viable bacterial load of the index case, such as genetic susceptibility, may be influencing the high rate of seropositivity in family contacts . IgM ND-BSA antibodies seem to provide a good indicator of low antigenic loads and could prove to be useful in detecting subclinical infection before the onset of disease . Follow-up studies of these seropositive individuals are in progress to understand the relationship between seropositivity and the progress of clinical disease. Aust N Z J Surg, 1990 Sep, 60(9), 723 - 5 Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in a healthy adult male; Gribbin JC et al.; A 44-year-old man was admitted with acute abdominal pain, anorexia, nausea and dry retching, with tenderness and rigidity of the abdominal wall . Exploratory laparotomy revealed generalized peritonitis . He developed delerium tremens soon after operation and dehiscence of the abdominal wound 36 hours postoperatively . When the wound was closed and reinforced his recovery was uneventful . This case was unusual because he did not have ascites or cirrhosis, which are commonly associated with the disease. Yakugaku Zasshi, 1990 Sep, 110(9), 688 - 92 {Studies on collagenase inhibitors . II . Inhibitory effects of anthraquinones on bacterial collagenase}; Tanaka T et al.; The inhibitory activities of 44 anthraquinones against bacterial collagenase were assayed in vitro . Emodin (1,6,8-trihydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone, 41) was the most potent active inhibitor among them (IC50; 4.0 X 10(-5) M) . The type of inhibition by 41 was found to be a mixture type by use of Lineweaver-Burk plots . Since the inhibitory activities of anthraquinones were not affected by the concentration of Ca2+ in the assay medium, it is considered that the inhibitory mechanism is not a chelate effect on Ca2+ . In mono-substituted anthraquinones, the compounds which have a substituent (OH or SO3Na) at 2-position show more potent inhibitory activity than the corresponding 1-substituted compound. J Burn Care Rehabil, 1990 Sep-Oct, 11(5), 428 - 35 Cytomegalovirus infection promotes bacterial translocation in thermally injured mice; Erickson EJ et al.; Thermally injured mice that were given intraperitoneal injections of murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) appeared to be clinically septic and to have increased mortality rates . To evaluate the possible role of MCMV infection in promoting bacterial translocation in burned mice, mesenteric lymph nodes were cultured from two strains of mice (BALB/c and CBA) that were given thermal injuries alone, MCMV alone, or both . BALB/c mice injected with 5 X 10(5) plaque-forming units MCMV following a 15% to 16% total body surface area scald injury had increased incidence of positive mesenteric lymph node cultures compared with other groups . No intestinal mucosal histologies, mucosal dry weights, or wet-to-dry weight ratios in any animals were abnormal . Differences in cecal bacterial concentrations were not observed . Murine cytomegalovirus infection appears to enhance bacterial translocation in this model. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1990 Sep, 87(17), 6803 - 7 Pathway of proton transfer in bacterial reaction centers: replacement of serine-L223 by alanine inhibits electron and proton transfers associated with reduction of quinone to dihydroquinone; Paddock ML et al.; The pathway of proton transfer in the reaction center (RC) from Rhodobacter sphaeroides was investigated by site-directed mutagenesis . Ser-L223, a putative proton donor that forms a hydrogen bond with the secondary quinone acceptor QB, was replaced with Ala and Thr . RCs with Ala-L223 displayed reduced electron transfer and proton uptake rates in the reaction QA-QB- + 2H+----QAQBH2 . The rate constant for this reaction, k(2)AB, was found to be reduced approximately 350-fold to 4.0 +/- 0.2 s-1 . Proton uptake measurements using a pH indicator dye showed a rapid uptake of 1 H+ per RC followed by a slower uptake of 1 H+ per RC at a rate of 4.1 +/- 0.1 s-1; native RCs showed a rapid uptake of 2H+ per RC . Evidence is provided that these changes were not due to gross structural changes in the binding site of QB . RCs with Thr-L223 showed little reduction in the rates of electron and proton transfer . These results indicate that proton transfer from the hydroxyl group of Ser-L223 or Thr-L223 is required for fast electron and proton transfer associated with the formation of the dihydroquinone QH2 . In contrast, previous work showed that replacing Glu-L212, another putative proton donor to QB, with Gln slowed proton uptake from solution without significantly altering electron transfer . We propose a model that involves two distinct proton transfer steps . The first step occurs prior to transfer of the second electron to QB and involves proton transfer from Ser-L223 . The second step occurs after this electron transfer through a pathway involving Glu-L212. Rev Sci Tech, 1990 Sep, 9(3), 733 - 57 Diagnosis of viral and bacterial diseases; Knowles DP Jr et al.; The potential contributions of techniques, such as restriction enzyme analysis, nucleic acid detection, the polymerase chain reaction and competitive inhibitive tests, are only beginning to be defined . The extraordinary promise of these procedures has yet to be fully realized . However, before these techniques are accepted and widely used, they should be shown to have sensitivity and specificity comparable to those of current tests . Finally, they should be safe, easy to conduct and automated to facilitate the study of large numbers of specimens. Cardioscience, 1990 Sep, 1(3), 209 - 12 Effect of bacterial toxins on spermine-induced inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity of cultured heart cells; Pignatti C et al.; The exposure of quiescent cultures of cardiac cells to 1 microM spermine for 2 hours leads to an increase of the content of intracellular polyamines and to a 40% decrease of basal adenylate cyclase activity . The response of adenylate cyclase to stimulation by PGE1 is reduced by about 50% after spermine treatment . The effects of the amine on adenylate cyclase are completely prevented by pretreating the cells with pertussis toxin which blocks the activation of the inhibitory guanine binding protein (Gi) . In vitro experiments with adenylate cyclase from cells pre-treated with pertussis toxin show that spermine fails to reduce basal enzyme activity and to counteract the stimulation by PGE1 or forskolin . Cholera toxin, which blocks the deactivation of the stimulatory protein (Gs), does not influence the effects of spermine either in vivo or in vitro . The results suggest that spermine acts through the activation of Gi . This hypothesis is supported by the fact that, in vitro, the inhibition of stimulated adenylate cyclase by the amine is synergistic with that of a stable analog of GDP, GDP beta S, which causes deactivation of Gs. Vrach Delo, 1990 Sep, (9), 84 - 5 {The bacterial excretion dynamics of patients with fibrous-cavernous pulmonary tuberculosis}; Sadykov AS; A study of 294 patients with fibrous-cavernous pulmonary tuberculosis revealed that massive bacteria elimination and drug polyresistance is found in patients with advancing and complicated course of the disease . It was established that after a nine-months course of treatment bacteria elimination was observed in 50% of patients with advancing fibrous-cavernous pulmonary tuberculosis. J Med Microbiol, 1990 Sep, 33(1), 35 - 41 The use of immunogold-silver staining to study antigen variation and bacterial entry into eukaryotic cells by conventional light microscopy; van Putten JP et al.; Immunogold-silver staining is a sensitive staining technique that enables the visualisation of the presence of individual antigens by conventional light microscopy . The application of this method to detect the antigenic heterogeneity of bacterial surface components and also the localisation of intracellular or extracellular bacteria is described . The latter application involved selective immuno-silver staining of the extracellular bacteria and counterstaining of the intracellular bacteria and the eukaryotic cells by crystal violet . The efficacy of the assay was confirmed by transmission electronmicroscopy of the silver-stained specimens . Immunogold-silver staining was shown to be useful for studying bacterial antigen variation and the uptake of bacteria by eukaryotic cells. Prakt Zubn Lek, 1990 Sep, 38(9), 257 - 60 {Bacterial contamination of the atmosphere in the dental surgery during preparation with turbine tools}; Dziedzic I; The aerosol formed during work with turbine tools has an undesirable impact on the environment of dental surgeries . It may cause atmospheric transmission of infection . Recent qualitative and quantitative evaluation of aerosols assumes theoretical knowledge of physical and chemical properties and transformation of the aerosol system . These findings which influenced the selection of methods of the author's more recent measurements are the subject of the submitted paper. Arq Bras Cardiol, 1990 Sep, 55(3), 201 - 4 {Cerebral malformation of the conceptus associated with maternal bacterial endocarditis and with aortic valve replacement during pregnancy}; Avila WS et al.; A twenty-three years old woman, without previous heart disease developed endocarditis with negative bloods cultures on the fourth month of her third pregnancy . Fever was controlled through antibiotics, however she developed cardiac insufficiency and was submitted to surgery for replacement of aortic valve with a bioprosthesis . The post operative period showed no problems and the patient was discharged on the forty second day after admission . On the thirty ninth week of pregnancy she gave cesarean birth, without complications . The newly born, apgar 5 (1 min.) and 7 (5 min) presented signs of neurological problems, characterized on the second month as a cerebral atrophy . Among various possible factors, the most likely would be cardiopulmonary bypass circulation as the cause of the neurological malformation. Rev Chil Pediatr, 1990 Sep-Oct, 61(5), 258 - 61 {Auditory brainstem evoked potentials in hearing loss after bacterial meningitis}; Devilat M et al.; Fourteen children with acute bacterial meningitis, were examined for auditory brainstem evoked potentials (ABEP) during their initial hospital course (days 3 to 24 from admission) . Different degrees of neurosensory hypoacusia were detected in 8 patients (57.14%) . Children aged less than one year seemed to be more susceptible to auditory deficit . In 6 children a second ABEP was done after a time interval which ranged from 20 to 570 days after the first one and all them showed residual hypoacusia . The short term evolution suggests that the acute process can be prolonged for more than 1 month after hospital admittance, and the altered auditory function tends to persist over the mid term . It is concluded that despite this research's methodological limitations . ABEP seem useful for early detection of postmeningitical neurosensory hypoacusia and follow-up of these patients. Mikrobiologiia, 1990 Sep-Oct, 59(5), 812 - 8 {Artificial immobilization of the two-membered bacterial system Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus 109D--Escherichia coli B in polyacrylamide gel}; Afinogenova AV et al.; The interaction of a parasite with a host was studied in the two-membered bacterial system, Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus 109D and Escherichia coli B, immobilised in polyacrylamide gel (PAAG) . The parasite localised inside the host cells was found to be more resistant to the toxic action of PAAG components than free B . bacteriovorus . The latter lost its mobility and was inactivated in the matrix of the carrier whereas the intracellular parasite had a normal cycle of development in the periplasm of the infected cells . The dynamics of B . bacteriovorus and E . coli incidence in the liquid phase and in PAAG granules was studied while the immobilised system was incubated . The interaction in the immobilised system could be intensified by growing more bacterial host cells in PAAG particles . The immobilisation was shown to favour the survival of the parasite and the host in the two-membered system. Res Microbiol, 1990 Sep-Oct, 141(7-8), 1019 - 25 Expression of rotavirus VP7 antigens in fusions with bacterial proteins; Reeves PR et al.; We have cloned antigenic regions of the VP7 gene from rotavirus RV-5 into the lamB gene . The insertions discussed in this paper comprise 250bp of rotavirus DNA and cover the A and B antigenic regions of the protein . The fusion proteins are expressed and are present in the outer membrane: they react with anti-rotavirus antibody . However, as yet we have not been able to demonstrate that the fusion has LamB protein functions with regard to maltodextrins or L phage, and the fusion protein appears to exist in the outer membrane as a monomer rather than as a trimer. Res Microbiol, 1990 Sep-Oct, 141(7-8), 1009 - 12 Presentation of foreign antigenic determinants at the bacterial cell surface using the TraT lipoprotein; Harrison JL et al.; The TraT protein is an oligomeric outer membrane lipoprotein, specified by plasmids of the IncF group, that is very highly exposed at the bacterial cell surface . We have investigated the feasibility of using the protein as a carrier of foreign antigenic determinants by genetic insertion of the C3 epitope of type 1 poliovirus into defined sites in the protein . Several of the hybrid proteins constructed had features characteristic of the native protein and one in particular retained the ability of function in surface exclusion and genetic suppression assays as well as to assemble into oligomers . Our results suggest that the TraT protein can be used to transport and present foreign antigenic determinants at the cell surface. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol, 1990 Sep, 13(9), 1089 - 91 QT sensing rate responsive pacing during subacute bacterial endocarditis: a case report; Kaye GC et al.; A 63-year-old woman treated with a QT sensing rate responsive pacemaker following aortic valve replacement developed late subacute bacterial endocarditis . During febrile periods, associated with systemic upset, pacing was physiological as evidenced by an increased heart rate during pyrexia and a decrease when afebrile. J Ind Microbiol, 1990 Sep, 6(1), 71 - 5 Evaluation of infrared spectroscopy as a bacterial identification method; Lipkus AH et al.; A study motivated by the recent revival of interest in the use of IR spectroscopy to identify bacteria is reported . A library of FT-IR spectra of dried bacterial films was complied using 16 different strains . A test set was compiled from spectra of the same strains grown several months later . The test set was quantitatively compared with the library on the basis of spectral similarity in the region 980-1190 cm-1 . Six of the strains in the test set were not matched with the correct strain in the library despite efforts to reproduce the conditions under which cells were grown and prepared . The results suggest that reproducibility of the bacterial spectra is a potential difficulty that must be addressed by any attempts to develop FT-IR spectroscopy as a bacterial identification method. Eur J Biochem, 1990 Aug 17, 191(3), 551 - 5 Expression in Escherichia coli of ferredoxin:NADP+ reductase from spinach . Bacterial synthesis of the holoflavoprotein and of an active enzyme form lacking the first 28 amino acid residues of the sequence; Aliverti A et al.; A cDNA clone for the preprotein of spinach ferredoxin:NADP+ reductase has been modified to allow the expression in Escherichia coli of the mature flavoprotein form the lacks the transit peptide . An expression vector, pFNR1, was constructed by subcloning the fragment into the plasmid pDS12/RBSII, SphI . In the crude extracts of transformed cells after induction, two active holoproteins of 35 kDa and 32 kDa, respectively, were found . The 32-kDa protein, purified by immunoaffinity chromatography, was found to lack the first 28 residues of the spinach protein sequence and to have a methionine as the N-terminal residue instead of Val29 . A new expression plasmid, pFNR2, was obtained by in vitro mutagenesis of the codon GTG for Val29 to the synonymous GTT; in this case, only the 35-kDa protein was expressed by transformed cells . Both the 35-kDa and 32-kDa enzymes were purified and characterized . All the properties analyzed of the cloned 35-kDa enzyme were very similar to those of the spinach flavoprotein . The 32-kDa form showed the same catalytic efficiency of the spinach enzyme as a diaphorase but its interaction with oxidized ferredoxin was partially impaired. Biochemistry, 1990 Aug 7, 29(31), 7222 - 8 Ultraviolet-induced thymine hydrates in DNA are excised by bacterial and human DNA glycosylase activities; Ganguly T et al.; Ultraviolet irradiation of DNA results in various pyrimidine modifications . We studied the excision of an ultraviolet thymine photoproduct by Escherichia coli endonuclease III and by a preparation of human WI-38 cells . These enzymes cleave UV-irradiated DNA at apyrimidinic sites formed by glycosylic removal of the photoproduct . Poly(dA-{3H}dT).poly(dA-{3H}dT) was UV irradiated and incubated with purified E . coli endonuclease III . 3H-Containing material was released in a manner consistent with Michaelis-Menten kinetics . This 3H-labeled material was determined to be a mixture of thymine hydrates (6-hydroxy-5,6-dihydrothymine), separable from unmodified thymine by chromatography in three independent systems . Both cis-thymine hydrate and trans-thymine hydrate were chemically and photochemically synthesized . These coeluted with the enzyme-released 3H-containing material . No thymine glycol was released from the UV-irradiated polymer . Similar results were obtained with extracts of WI-38 cells as the enzyme source . The release of thymine hydrates by both glycosylase activities was directly proportional to the amount of enzyme and the irradiation dose to the DNA substrate . These results demonstrate the modified thymine residues recognized and excised by endonuclease III and the human enzyme to be a mixture of cis-thymine hydrate and trans-thymine hydrate . The reparability of these thymine hydrates suggests that they are stable in DNA and therefore potentially genotoxic. J Periodontol, 1990 Aug, 61(8), 515 - 20 Scanning electron microscopic observations of cell populations and bacterial contamination of membranes used for guided periodontal tissue regeneration in humans; Selvig KA et al.; Fourteen intrabony periodontal defects and six furcation defects (Class II) were treated by a flap procedure which included the use of a polytetrafluoroethylene membrane to allow guided tissue regeneration . After 4 to 6 weeks of healing, the membranes were retrieved and examined by scanning electron microscopy for the presence of adherent cells and other tissue elements . The cervical open pore-structured collar of the membrane, which in most cases had become partially exposed to the oral cavity, had a deposit of bacterial plaque . Bacterial Bacterial colonies and a scatter of single cells in some instances extended into the mid-third of the membrane . Fibroblast-like cells and, in some specimens, blood vessels and fibrous structures were seen in the mid-third and deep parts of the membrane . Generally, however, the occlusive portion of the membrane was characterized by a sparseness of adherent tissue elements . There did not seem to be a systematic difference in the nature and distribution of the adherent structures on the inner and outer surfaces of the membrane . The findings suggest that, in addition to preventing flap tissues from contacting the root surface, an important function of the membrane is to protect the integrity of the underlying blood clot by diverting mechanical stress acting on the flap during early stages of healing. Int J Androl, 1990 Aug, 13(4), 273 - 7 Granulocyte elastase levels do not correlate with anaerobic and aerobic bacterial growth in seminal plasma from infertile men; Cumming JA et al.; Seminal culture and leucocyte elastase measurements were undertaken on samples from 30 men attending an infertility clinic . Elastase levels over 1000 ng ml-1 were obtained in 14 men and positive bacterial culture in 11 men, but there was no correlation between these two sets of measurements . While granulocyte elastase measurement in semen may reflect inflammation, our study suggests that it cannot be used as a simple marker of infection particularly in a population such as ours where the prevalence of prostatitis and genital infection is low. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1990 Aug, 142(2), 365 - 8 Increased levels of interleukin-1 in bronchoalveolar washings from children with bacterial pulmonary infections; Wilmott RW et al.; To investigate its role in pulmonary infections, concentrations of interleukin-1 were measured in 22 bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples from 19 children with cystic fibrosis (CF), and in 13 disease controls by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for IL-1 beta and the D10.G4.1 proliferation assay for IL-1 activity . Significantly higher levels of IL-1 beta and IL-1 activity were found in BALF from patients with bacterial pulmonary infections than in those without such infection . There was no significant difference between the levels in patients with CF and pulmonary infections and those in children with bacterial infections complicating other diseases . High performance liquid chromatography showed that most of the IL-1 beta was associated with a molecular weight peak of 17 to 18 kD . Pulmonary inflammation reflected by the number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in the sample correlated significantly with the IL-1 concentration. Surgery, 1990 Aug, 108(2), 384 - 91; discussion 391-2 Altered motility and bacterial flora after functional end-to-end anastomosis; Hocking MP et al.; The functional end-to-end technique with a gastrointestinal stapler is commonly used for small-bowel anastomosis, but the effects of this anatomically side-to-side anastomosis on motility are unknown . Fasting small-bowel myoelectric activity and culture results were compared in six animals undergoing handsewn end-to-end and functional end-to-end anastomoses . Serosal electrodes were placed at 10 cm intervals, and the small bowel was divided 25 and 55 cm from the ligament of Treitz . The functional end-to-end and end-to-end techniques were performed in each animal in random order . Fasting myoelectric recordings were obtained at weekly intervals for up to 20 weeks after operation . New electrodes were placed, and additional recordings were obtained from 29 to 39 weeks, 51 to 63 weeks, and 108 to 112 weeks after operation . The recordings were visually inspected for passage of phase 3 of the migrating myoelectric complex (MMC) . By 12 to 20 weeks after operation, 91% of MMCs crossed the end-to-end anastomoses versus 22% across the functional end-to-end anastomosis (p less than 0.001) . Even 2 years after surgery only 56% of MMCs crossed the functional end-to-end anastomosis . Quantitative bacterial cultures suggested a trend toward bacterial overgrowth in the functional end-to-end anastomosis . These results demonstrate that the functional end-to-end anastomosis alters small-bowel motility to a greater degree than an end-to-end anastomosis and may predispose to bacterial overgrowth. Dtsch Zahnarztl Z, 1990 Aug, 45(8), 478 - 9 {Dissolution of alloy components from Ni/Cr base alloys by bacterial leaching}; Gehre G et al.; The method of bacterial leaching of non precious dental alloys represents a useful completion of the method arsenal of biological investigations . In contrast to other well known methods it allows to point out small differences in corrosion resistance between alloys of the same type in a biologic system. Acta Neurol Scand, 1990 Aug, 82(2), 138 - 42 Increased intrathecal synthesis of fibronectin in bacterial and carcinomatous meningitis; Weller M et al.; Immunoreactive fibronectin (Fn) was quantified in paired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples from patients with bacterial meningitis (n = 46), tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) (n = 6), HIV infection (n = 6), Guillain-Barre syndrome (n = 5), carcinomatous meningitis (n = 11), multiple sclerosis (n = 15), disk disease (n = 11), and controls (n = 28) . A highly significant elevation of CSF Fn was found in bacterial meningitis, TBE, and carcinomatous meningitis . There were no significant differences in serum Fn between any of the groups . An Fn index to estimate the rate of intrathecal Fn synthesis reached the highest value in bacterial meningitis . Our findings suggest that CSF Fn may be an indicator of adequate host reaction and tissue repair . For diagnostic purposes, the determination of CSF Fn probably does not add much to routine CSF laboratory tests. Eur J Immunol, 1990 Aug, 20(8), 1789 - 94 Cellular requirements for anti-DNA production induced in mice by immunization with bacterial DNA; Gilkeson GS et al.; To further define DNA immunization as a model for anti-DNA production, we investigated the cellular requirements for this response in mice immunized with single-stranded DNA from E . coli . The anti-DNA responses of genetically immune-deficient mice and congenic controls were measured by ELISA after immunization with E . coli DNA as complexes with methylated bovine serum albumin in complete Freund's adjuvant . T cell-deficient BALB/c-nu/nu mice failed to produce IgG anti-DNA by this protocol despite high backgrounds of IgM anti-DNA . In contrast, CBA/N mice expressing the xid defect displayed IgG anti-DNA responses comparable to those of CBA/J mice despite a reduced IgM response; the specificity of CBA/N and CBA/J anti-DNA antibodies was similar as determined by binding to synthetic DNA and RNA antigens . These results suggest that the anti-DNA response stimulated by DNA immunization is dependent on T cells but not the B cell population affected by xid . The intact IgG response of immunized xid mice differs from that of lupus mice bearing xid where this gene defect leads to significant reduction of spontaneous anti-DNA production. J Lab Clin Med, 1990 Aug, 116(2), 153 - 61 Optimization of detection of bacterial endotoxin in plasma with the Limulus test; Roth RI et al.; Detection and quantification of bacterial endotoxin in plasma by the Limulus amebocyte lysate test (or other assays for endotoxins) is hindered by the presence of inhibitors . Treatment of plasma to overcome inhibitory activities is required before plasma can be successfully assayed for endotoxin . We have conducted an investigation comparing the three most commonly used procedures (dilution-heating, trifluoroacetic acid oxidation, and chloroform extraction) for treatment of plasma before its assay for endotoxin with the chromogenic Limulus test . Initially, conditions were optimized for treatment of plasma by each of these methods . Subsequently, a direct comparison of the three plasma treatment procedures was performed with plasma spiked with known concentrations of endotoxin . The optimized dilution-heating procedure resulted in the most sensitive detection of endotoxin, with sensitivity approximately 10 times greater than the optimized trifluoroacetic acid oxidation procedure and approximately 100 times greater than treatment of plasma by chloroform extraction . Maximal detection of low concentrations of endotoxin by the chromogenic Limulus test was obtained by dilution of plasma fourfold with 0.15 mol/L NaCl followed by heating at 60 degrees C for 30 minutes . This procedure was simple, rapid, and did not involve addition of any reagents to plasma that could potentially add contaminating endotoxin. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1990 Aug, 163(2), 515 - 20 Bacterial vaginosis: diagnostic and pathogenetic findings during topical clindamycin therapy; Livengood CH 3rd et al.; We examined subjective and objective correlates among 67 women with symptomatic bacterial vaginosis before and after treatment with intravaginal clindamycin or placebo . We found no preponderance of any sexual practices among these patients . Nine patients (13.4%) had had hysterectomy . Whereas odor and discharge were the most common symptoms, 30 patients (44.8%) also complained of vulvovaginal irritation . Symptoms correlated poorly with objective therapeutic outcome . On examination the diagnosis would have been missed in seven patients (10.4%) if the clinician relied on presence of an abnormal vaginal discharge to suggest bacterial vaginosis . Vaginal pH greater than 4.5 was found immediately after curative therapy in 59.6% of patients . Mobiluncus spp . morphotypes were 99.0% specific and 52.1% sensitive and proline aminopeptidase activity in vaginal fluid was 84.4% sensitive and 70.2% specific for diagnosis . Our Gram stain criteria yielded no false-negative results, 6.1% false-positive, and frequent indeterminate results after therapy . We found little evidence for sexual transmission of bacterial vaginosis . Recurrence after effective therapy was not predicted by vaginal pH elevation, positive or indeterminate Gram stain result, or positive proline aminopeptidase test. Arch Biochem Biophys, 1990 Aug 1, 280(2), 336 - 45 Escherichia coli beta-hydroxydecanoyl thioester dehydrase reacts with native C10 acyl-acyl-carrier proteins of plant and bacterial origin; Guerra DJ et al.; beta-Hydroxydecanoyl-{acyl-carrier-protein} dehydrase catalyzes the essential step in the formation of unsaturated fatty acids in Escherichia coli . This reaction was characterized with native C10 acyl-acyl-carrier protein (ACP) structures in both an aqueous phase system and a substrate immobilization assay system . The dehydrase is equally active with E . coli ACP, recombinant ACP-I derived from spinach, or protein A:ACP-I fusion (acyl-thioesters) . There were differences among the substrates in terms of the equilibrium product distribution . Both E . coli acyl-ACP and recombinant acyl-ACP-I as cosubstrates with beta-OH 10:0, trans-2 10:1, or cis-3 10:1 yielded about equal amounts (37 mol%) of the two monoenes regardless of the initial substrate . In contrast, the fusion acyl-ACP-I yielded only 17 mol% cis-3 10:1 with 49 mol% trans-2 10:1 present at equilibrium . These equilibrium values for native cis-3 10:1 are higher than those reported previously for the dehydrase using N-acetylcysteamine thioesters as substrates . The Km values for each beta-OH 10:0 ACP substrate were similar to each other and within the range of in vivo concentrations (5-10 microM) . Dehydrase reactivity depends more on acyl chain length than ACP structure or origin and is therefore different from other branch point ACP-utilizing enzymes (plant and bacterial) which discriminate according to ACP structure (D . J . Guerra, J . B . Ohlrogge, and M . Frentzen, 1986, Plant Physiol . 82, 448-453). Biotechnol Appl Biochem, 1990 Aug, 12(4), 436 - 49 Bacterial production and purification of recombinant human prolactin; Paris N et al.; Escherichia coli cells transformed with a recombinant plasmid (pT7L) containing the coding sequence of human prolactin (hPrl) expressed a new protein . This protein, comigrating with human Prl on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gels, represented 50% of the total bacterial extract . Immunoprecipitation of {35S}methionine-labeled bacterial lysate with a rabbit antiserum to hPrl followed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) analysis showed that the major component had a Mr identical to that of standard hPrl . The majority of the recombinant hPrl (r-hPrl) accumulated in inclusion bodies . Analysis of these inclusion bodies by SDS-PAGE under nonreducing conditions showed that they are composed mostly of fully reduced monomers . Solubilization of the inclusion bodies and protein denaturation were performed in 8 M urea . Refolding during the renaturation procedure was confirmed by SDS-PAGE under nonreducing conditions . r-hPrl was further purified by gel permeation chromatography on a fast protein liquid chromatography column . More than 95% of the molecules were recovered as oxidized monomeric forms . The refolded molecule was tested for its bioactivity in the Nb2 lymphoma mitogenic assay . The dose-response curves obtained with either r-hPrl or pituitary-derived hPrl showed a complete parallelism . Furthermore, Nb2 cell proliferation was completely blocked by addition of hPrl antiserum to both preparations . Recombinant hPrl is identical to natural hPrl except for an additional methionine group at the amino terminal end. J Trauma, 1990 Aug, 30(8), 942 - 51; discussion 951-2 Hemorrhagic shock-induced bacterial translocation: the role of neutrophils and hydroxyl radicals; Deitch EA et al.; We previously documented a relationship between xanthine oxidase activation, intestinal injury, and bacterial translocation (BT) in rats subjected to hemorrhagic shock . The current experiments were performed to determine the relative roles of hydroxyl radicals and neutrophils in the pathogenesis of shock-induced mucosal injury and BT . The incidence of BT was higher in the shocked rats (30 mm Hg for 30 min) than the sham-shock controls (87% vs 12.5%; p less than 0.01) . Administration of the hydroxyl radical scavenger, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), or the iron chelator, deferoxamine, reduced the incidence of BT from 87% to 20% and 40%, respectively (p less than 0.05) . DMSO and deferoxamine appear to prevent shock-induced BT by blunting the magnitude of shock-induced mucosal injury . In contrast, neutrophil depletion did not prevent BT or protect the intestinal mucosa in shocked rats . Instead, the incidence of systemic spread of translocating bacteria past the mesenteric lymph nodes to the livers and spleens of the shocked rats was higher in the neutrophil-depleted rats (56%) than in any other group (p less than 0.01) . Thus, shock-induced BT and intestinal injury appear to be mediated by oxidants (.OH) derived from xanthine oxidase, rather than granulocytes. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1990 Aug, 163(2), 510 - 4 A follow-up study of methods of contraception, sexual activity, and rates of trichomoniasis, candidiasis, and bacterial vaginosis; Barbone F et al.; A randomized, clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the spermicidal agent nonoxynol 9 as prophylaxis for sexually transmitted diseases . Eight hundred eighteen women using birth control who attended a sexually transmitted disease clinic were evaluated monthly for trichomoniasis, candidiasis, and bacterial vaginosis for 6 months . Women using the active spermicide experienced a somewhat lower incidence rate of trichomoniasis (relative rate 0.83; 95% confidence interval 0.61 to 1.12) and bacterial vaginosis (relative rate 0.86; 95% confidence interval 0.69 to 1.12) as compared with placebo users . The rate of candidiasis was nearly identical for spermicide and placebo users (relative rate 1.02; 95% confidence interval 0.77 to 1.35) . The number of sexual partners during the preceding month was related directly to the occurrence of trichomoniasis (p = 0.047) and bacterial vaginosis (p = 0.009) but not candidiasis (p = 0.99) . Subjects using oral contraceptives experienced a statistically significant lower rate of trichomoniasis than did women using an intrauterine contraceptive device or who had had a tubal ligation (relative rate 0.56; 95% confidence interval 0.39 to 0.81). Surgery, 1990 Aug, 108(2), 240 - 6; discussion 246-7 Food without fiber promotes bacterial translocation from the gut; Spaeth G et al.; To determine whether the route and/or composition of nutritional support alters intestinal barrier function (measured as bacterial translocation), rats were divided into three groups: food (controls), intravenous total parenteral nutrition (IV-TPN) fed, and oral total parenteral nutrition (ORAL-TPN) fed . Bacterial translocation did not occur in the rats that were fed normally, but did occur in 60% of the rats fed the IV-TPN or the ORAL-TPN diets for 7 days (p less than 0.05) . Since both the IV-TPN and ORAL-TPN diets induced bacterial translocation and the TPN solution (28% glucose and 4.5% amino acids) lacks fiber, two additional groups of rats were fed orally 2.5 gm cellulose powder/day plus TPN solution by either the intravenous or the oral route . The addition of cellulose powder decreased the incidence of bacterial translocation to 8% in the group fed the ORAL-TPN diet and to 0% in the group fed the IV-TPN diet . Cellulose improved intestinal barrier function, even though it did not prevent bacterial overgrowth or the loss of mucosal mass in the rats fed the IV-TPN or ORAL-TPN diets . Cellulose powder appears to have prevented bacterial translocation primarily by preventing IV-TPN- or ORAL-TPN-induced alterations in mucosal structure . Thus the oral administration of this fiber maintains intestinal barrier function and prevents bacterial translocation even in the absence of oral nutrients. Am J Dis Child, 1990 Aug, 144(8), 883 - 7 Cerebrospinal fluid prostaglandins, interleukin 1 beta, and tumor necrosis factor in bacterial meningitis . Clinical and laboratory correlations in placebo-treated and dexamethasone-treated patients; Mustafa MM et al.; Prostaglandins (PGs), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) are likely mediators of local inflammatory reactions . We measured PGE2, PGI2, IL-1 beta, and TNF concentrations in paired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples (on admission, CSF1, and 18 to 30 hours later, CSF2) from 80 infants and children with bacterial meningitis . Forty patients received dexamethasone sodium (0.6 mg/kg per day in four intravenous doses) and 40 received an intravenous saline placebo . In CSF1, PGE2, PGI2, IL-1 beta, and TNF were detected in 90%, 56%, 98%, and 71% of specimens with mean (+/- SEM) concentrations of 462 +/- 65, 377 +/- 62, 1266 +/- 242, and 799 +/- 227 pg/mL, respectively . Concentrations of PGE2 correlated significantly with PGI2, IL-1 beta, TNF, and lactate and inversely correlated with glucose concentrations in the first CSF specimens . The PGE2, PGI2, IL-1 beta, and TNF were still detected in 40%, 18%, 97%, and 60%, respectively, of second CSF specimens obtained from placebo-treated patients . Compared with patients who had detectable PGI2 or TNF alpha concentrations in CSF2 specimens, those placebo-treated patients with no detectable PGI2 or TNF alpha activity in CSF2 had a lower incidence of neurological sequelae . Dexamethasone-treated patients had significantly lower PGE2, IL-1 beta, and lactate concentrations and higher glucose concentrations in CSF 18 to 30 hours later, shorter duration of fever, and a lower incidence of neurological sequelae than did placebo-treated patients. Agents Actions, 1990 Aug, 31(1-2), 143 - 7 Effect of bacterial endotoxin on plasma concentration of haptoglobin and fibrinogen in rats treated with metopyrone; Silveira VL et al.; During the acute phase of the inflammatory process there is a characteristic increase in some plasma proteins called collectively acute phase reactants (APR) as well as in the levels of corticosteroids . A bacterial endotoxin (LPS) that induces a strong acute phase response, indicated by high levels of fibrinogen and haptoglobin, did not show this effect when administered to rats treated previously with metopyrone, a specific inhibitor of corticosteroid hormone synthesis . These results suggest that adequate levels of these hormones are important for the production of acute phase reactants. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1990 Jul 25, 1018(2-3), 248 - 51 Evolution of permease diversity and energy-coupling mechanisms with special reference to the bacterial phosphotransferase system; Saier MH Jr et al.; Different classes of apparently unrelated permeases couple different forms of energy to solute transport . While the energy coupling mechanisms utilized by the different permease classes are clearly distinct, it is proposed, based on structural comparisons, that many of these permeases possess transmembrane, hydrophobic domains which are evolutionarily related . Carriers may have arisen from transmembrane pore-forming proteins, and the protein constituents or domains which are specifically responsible for energy coupling may have had distinct origins . Thus, complex permeases may possess mosaic structures . This suggestion is substantiated by recent findings regarding the evolutionary origins of the bacterial phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS) . Mechanistic implications of this proposal are presented. Biochemistry, 1990 Jul 24, 29(29), 6892 - 6 Stereochemical course of the reactions catalyzed by the bacterial phosphoenolpyruvate:mannitol phosphotransferase system; Mueller EG et al.; We have determined the overall stereochemical course of the reactions leading to the phosphorylation of D-mannitol by mannitol-specific enzyme II (EIIMtl) of the Escherichia coli phosphoenolpyruvate- (PEP) dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS) . In the presence of enzyme I and HPr of the PTS, and of membranes containing EIIMtl, the phospho group from {(R)-16O,17O,18O}PEP was transferred to D-mannitol to form mannitol 1-phosphate with overall inversion of the configuration at phosphorus with respect to that of PEP . Since in the course of these reactions enzyme I and HPr are each covalently phosphorylated at a single site and inversion of the chiral phospho group from PEP indica