IARC Sci Publ, 1990, (104), 101 - 6 Use of bacterial assay system for monitoring genotoxic complex mixtures in the occupational setting; Ong T et al.; Workplace environmental genotoxicity assessments, which may be carried out either by laboratory analysis or using an in-situ assay system, are potentially useful for health hazard evaluations, for industrial hygiene and biological (genetic) monitoring . Whenever possible, genotoxicity assays should be performed in conjunction with industrial hygiene studies to assess the biological activity of workplace contaminants . Efforts should continue to be made to establish a simple and reliable in-situ assay system for the detection and monitoring of genotoxic complex mixtures in the occupational setting. Reprod Nutr Dev, 1990, Suppl 2, 155s - 156s {In sacco degradability of grass silage and bacterial contamination of residues}; Teller E et al.; The in sacco degradability of wilted grass silage, harvested at 2 stages of maturity, and of direct cut silage was determined in 6 heifers . The date of cutting had a pronounced effect on ruminal degradation and bacterial contamination of the feed residues . On the contrary, wilting of the grass prior to ensiling did not influence these parameters. Microbios, 1990, 62(251), 83 - 92 Role of adenine nucleotides in the regulation of bacterial energy metabolism: theoretical problems and experimental pitfalls; Kahru A et al.; The effect of growth rate on ATP pool and adenylate energy charge (EC) value of Escherichia coli has been studied in batch culture on different media (mu max varying from 0.1 h-1 to 1.2 h-2) and in continuous culture at dilution rates (D = mu) from 0.045 h-1 to 0.310 h-1 . Within the limits of error both ATP pool and EC values did not change with alterations in the relative growth rate of E . coli . The effect of in vivo EC values on experimental errors in ATP, ADP and AMP measurements with the luciferin-luciferase method, and, subsequently, on measurements of different ratios between adenylates, as in the case of adenylate kinase in vivo equilibrium, is discussed. Mikrobiol Zh, 1990 Jan-Feb, 52(1), 34 - 8 {An evaluation of the DNA-damaging action of the metal carcinogen beryllium using a bacterial repair test}; Dylevoi MV; Using four strains of E . coli with different DNA repairing capacities it was established that beryllium efficacy in the DNA repair test (extension inhibition zone and the lowest concentration inhibiting bacterial growth) depended on pH of the medium and the cation, anion concentration and the metal acted bacteriostatically . A conclusion was made that in the given case the repair test detected the nonidentified membrane function of the DNA repair system, possibly associated with the usage of exogenous orthophosphate rather than the repair synthesis in response to DNA damage by beryllium. J Int Med Res, 1990 Jan-Feb, 18(1), 50 - 60 Recurrent respiratory infections in childhood: experience with a bacterial extract plus bacterial ribosomes (Immucytal); Fiocchi A et al.; A total of 60 children (mean age +/- SD 7.6 +/- 3.5 years, range 2 - 14.2 years) with recurrent respiratory infections were treated with bacterial wall extract plus bacterial ribosomes (Immucytal) or placebo sprayed into the nostrils and oropharynx three times a day for 1 or 2-week periods over 3.5 months . The treatment was completed by 58 subjects; two patients in the placebo-treated group were withdrawn, one for poor compliance and the other because of headaches . Respiratory symptoms improved from the first month in the Immucytal treated children, but not in the placebo group, with a reduction in the incidence of infections in the upper and lower airways . No changes were noted in respiratory function parameters . Treatment with Immucytal significantly increased serum immunoglobulin A (P less than 0.02) and immunoglobulin M (P less than 0.01) and enhanced skin response to the in vivo lymphocyte blastization test, but there was no significant change in the circulating lymphocyte subpopulations . Both physicians and the patients' parents judged the bacterial extract to be clinically better than the placebo . Immucytal, therefore, may provide a useful alternative therapy for recurrent respiratory infections in infancy. Res Exp Med (Berl), 1990, 190(1), 49 - 57 The role of neostigmine in development of acute gastric mucosal lesion in dogs with live bacterial flora-induced shock; Numata M et al.; The factors that frequently cause the development of acute gastric mucosal lesions (AGML) were studied in 37 mongrel dogs . Bacterial shock was induced by bolus injection of E . coli live bacterial flora (10(10) cells/kg body weight) under parietal cell-stimulated condition by intravenous administration of 0.008 mg/kg per hour of pentagastrin . In addition, 0.01 mg/kg per hour of neostigmine sulfate was administered intravenously during the experiment . Frequent development of AGML was observed in the neostigmine-administered canines without significant changes in the gastric corporal and antral tissue blood flow . In the neostigmine-administered group, AGML was observed in the antrum, although in the other group AGML was mostly observed in the corpus . These results suggest that a neostigmine-induced systemic vagostimulated condition by intravenous administration of neostigmine plays an important role in the development of AGML in dogs subjected to bacterial shock. Biopolymers, 1990, 30(3-4), 299 - 308 A hydrodynamic study with quasielastic light scattering and sedimentation of bacterial elongation factor EF-Tu.guanosine-5'-diphosphate complex under nonassociating conditions; Sam T et al.; The hydrodynamics of the bacterial elongation factor EF-Tu have been studied in the presence of its ligand guanosine-5'-diphosphate (GDP) by sedimentation in the ultracentrifuge and quasielastic light scattering . Sedimentation studies have made it possible to establish experimental conditions under which only negligible aggregation of the protein occurs (neutral pH, concentration less than 3 mg/mL) . Analysis of the light intensity autocorrelation functions under these conditions revealed two independent scattering species with diffusion coefficients of 0.71 X 10(-6) and 0.04 X 10(-6) cm2 s-1 . The material with the lower diffusion coefficient, i.e., the aggregates, represented less than 1% of the total number of EF-Tu particles . The other 99% diffused as monomeric molecules with a molar mass corresponding to the value calculated from the known primary structure of the protein . The hydrodynamic parameters derived from the experimental data suggest that EF-Tu.GDP in solution is close to a spherical particle. J Egypt Public Health Assoc, 1990, 65(5-6), 643 - 55 Study of cell mediated and humoral immunity in acute bacterial meningitis; Hassieb NM et al.; Twenty (20) patients suffering from acute bacterial meningitis and ten (10) normal individuals were included in this study . Patient's age ranged from 3-50 years; they were chosen from Abassia Fever Hospital . Serum as well as CSF immunoglobulin G and M were measured at admittance and 2 days later, E rosette test was done and compared with the control group . Significant increase in IgM in CSF was recorded in early acute cases . IgG was significantly increased in CSF in both early and late cases . The increase in serum immunoglobulins was insignificant in all cases . Using E rosette test no significant difference was detected in T-lymphocytes in patient groups as compared with normal controls . From this work we can conclude that the increase in the type of CSF immunoglobulin could differentiate acute (increase in IgM) from late cases (increase in IgG) . Also we can conclude that cell mediated immunity has no role in bacterial meningitis as the increase in T lymphocytes was insignificant. Sci Prog, 1990, 74(296 Pt 4), 425 - 41 Bacterial macrofibres: the morphogenesis of complex multicellular bacterial forms; Mendelson NH; Bacterial macrofibres are highly ordered multicellular, helically twisted structures that provide a unique opportunity for studying fundamental growth processes and morphogenesis in a procaryotic model . The complex fibres arise, starting either from a single spore or a vegetative cell by the deformation of individual cell shape from cylindrical to helical and the folding and plying of chains of cells into multicellular twisted structures . The dynamics of fibre morphogenesis can be traced to hierarchical interactions beginning with the assembly of cell-wall polymers . Both genetic and biomechanical factors govern the formation and heritability of macrofibre twist states, which can range over the entire spectrum from maximum left- to maximum right-handedness . Forces that arise during growth influence individual cells and their interactions with other cells . Morphogenesis results from the manner in which the cell-wall materials respond to these and other forces . Significant parameters governing response to force are cell wall geometry, visco-elasticity and anisotrophy. Agressologie, 1990, 31(8 Spec No), 495 - 6 {A prospective study of the efficacy of bacterial filters in preventing complications of central parenteral nutrition in the newborn infant}; Ginies JL et al.; To investigate the capacity of bacterial filters to prevent complications of the central venous nutrition in neonates, 100 percutaneous central catheters were placed in 94 neonates: 50 catheters was used with a bacterial filter and 50 without filter . No significant difference appeared between the 2 groups for the frequency of complications . Complications should be avoided with a rigorous technique in the maintenance. Mikrobiyol Bul, 1990 Jan, 24(1), 20 - 6 {Antigen detection for the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis using the latex agglutination test}; Ozturk S et al.; In this study, etiologic agents were investigated by using routine and latex agglutination test (LA) methods, in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples taken from 31 patients who were admitted to various Clinics of Ankara Numune Hospital with suspected meningitis . In the culture tests of 31 purulent CSF samples, 6 positive (19.4%) and 25 negative results were obtained . In 13 cases (41.9%) etiologic agents were observed by means of the gram-stained smear of the CSF sediments . LA test was applied to 25 purulent CSF samples of which culture test results were negative . By this method, in 19 cases (76%) positive and in 5 cases (20%) negative results were obtained . Non-specific reaction was only observed in one case (4%). Swed Dent J, 1990, 14(4), 185 - 92 Marginal bacterial leakage and pulp reactions in Class II composite resin restorations in vivo; Lundin SA et al.; The presence of stainable bacteria under restorations and pulp reactions in 36 teeth restored in vivo with a modified Class II composite resin restoration with two different dentine treatment techniques were studied on three separate follow-up occasions (1-3, 7-10 and 28-32 days) . Half of the cavities showed stainable bacteria at the cavity margins and bottoms . Teeth restored with method A (Gluma/Occlusin) showed significantly fewer restorations with stainable bacteria then teeth restored with method B (Life/Occlusin) (p less than 0.05) . Significantly more restorations with detectable bacteria were found after 28-32 days and restorative method B (p less than 0.05) . There were no differences in occurrence and grade of pulp inflammation for the different dentine treatment techniques and time periods. Lung, 1990, 168 Suppl, 732 - 6 Immunomodulation with bacterial extracts in respiratory diseases; Palma-Carlos AG et al.; A lyophilized bacterial extract (Broncho-Vaxom) has been studied in a large number of models and found to induce specific and nonspecific responses by oral administration . It stimulates the systemic and local immune response . It activates the macrophages that play a key part in the immune system, modulates the immunoglobulin level, and potentiates the lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and other mitogens . The effect of this bacterial extract on T-lymphocyte subpopulations is currently under study. Lung, 1990, 168 Suppl, 726 - 31 Effects of a bacterial extract on local immunity of the lung in patients with chronic bronchitis; Emmerich B et al.; Our findings demonstrate that Broncho-Vaxom (BV) displays possibly via the gut-associated immune system different effects on the lymphatic system of the lung: a positive influence on the helper/suppressor T-lymphocyte balance, an increase of gamma interferon, a stimulation of the reduced alveolar macrophage activity, and a regulation of BAL IgA to a distinct level whereby the serum IgE is reduced . By these effects BV is able to modulate impaired local and systemic immune function . The observed relationship between the inflammation score and the BAL fluid composition supports the view that the improvement of the mucosa lesion found in nearly all of our patients with chronic bronchitis occurs as the result of the pleiotropic immunomodulating effects of Broncho-Vaxom. Lung, 1990, 168 Suppl, 720 - 5 Activation of natural killer cells and cytokine production in humans by bacterial extracts (OM-85 BV); Wybran J et al.; The influence of Broncho-Vaxom (BV) on different immune parameters was investigated in vitro on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) . It was found that BV enhances the natural killer (NK) activity of PBMC and increases their spontaneous and phytohemagglutin (PHA)-induced production of tumor-necrosis factor--alpha and interleukin-2 as well as the PHA-stimulated production of interferon-gamma . These immunostimulating actions of BV on NK activity and cytokine production can contribute to the understanding of the enhancement of the body's defense mechanisms against respiratory tract infections. Lung, 1990, 168 Suppl, 716 - 9 Influence of a bacterial extract on antigen presentation and protection against experimental infections; Fontanges R et al.; Although substances known as immunodulators are usually used to stimulate nonspecific immunity, their mode of action is not well understood . In an effort to clarify this mechanism, we investigated the effect of a lyophilized bacterial extract (Broncho-Vaxom) on experimental infections, on normal or irradiated mice, and on antigen processing. Z Naturforsch {C}, 1990 Jan-Feb, 45(1-2), 59 - 70 Properties of purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) of mammalian and bacterial origin; Bzowska A et al.; Purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP), from calf spleen, human erythrocytes and E . coli have been examined with regard to structural requirements of substrates and inhibitors . Kinetic parameters (Km, Vmax/Km) for a variety of N(1) and/or N(7)-methylated analogues of guanosine, inosine and adenosine have been evaluated for all three enzymes . The substrate and/or inhibitor properties of purine riboside, 1,6-dihydropurine riboside, some deazapurine nucleosides: 3-deaza- and 7-deazainosine, 1,3-dideazapurine riboside (ribobenzimidazole), and a variety of acyclonucleosides, have been determined with mammalian and bacterial enzymes . Overall results indicate distinct similarities of kinetic properties and structural requirements of the two mammalian enzymes, although there are some differences as well . The N(1) and O6 of the purine ring are necessary for substrate-inhibitor activity and constitute a binding site for the mammalian (but not the bacterial) enzymes . Moreover, nucleosides lacking the N(3) undergo phosphorolysis and those lacking N(7) are inhibitors (but not substrates) . Methylation of the ring N(7) leads to two overlapping effects: labilization of the glycosidic bond, and impediment to protonation at this site by the enzyme, a postulated prerequisite for enzymatic phosphorolysis . It is proposed that a histidine interacts with N(1) as a donor and O6 as an acceptor . Alternatively N(1)-H and C(2)-NH2 may serve as donors for hydrogen bonds with a glutamate residue . The less specific E . coli enzyme phosphorolyses all purine ring modified nucleosides but 7-deazainosine which is only an inhibitor . On the other hand, the bacterial enzyme exhibits decreased activity towards N(7)-methylated nucleosides and lack of affinity for a majority of the tested acyclonucleoside inhibitors of the mammalian enzymes . The foregoing results underline the fundamental differences between mammalian and bacterial enzymes, including variations in the binding sites for the purine ring. Mol Immunol, 1990 Jan, 27(1), 25 - 35 Bacterial expression of immunoglobulin VH proteins; Udaka K et al.; A bacterial expression system in Escherichia coli has been developed that produces as much as 10 mg/l of culture of the VH protein associated with monoclonal antibodies specific for the 5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-2-sulfonyl (Dns) group . This system has been applied to the expression of the VH genes derived from a low-affinity, IgM-producing hybridoma and from a high-affinity, IgG-producing cell line . The plasmid vectors (contributed by Dr William F . Studier) utilize a T7 expression cassette whose activity is initiated by infection with a lambda phage derivative carrying the T7 RNA polymerase gene . The VH proteins were extracted from the bacterial pellet in 8 M urea and purified by chromatography in 8 M urea . Recombinants with the homologous light (L) chains were prepared to yield VHL molecules . These were used to measure intrinsic affinity for Dns-lysine by resonance energy transfer . The association constants were 7 x 10(6) M-1 and 7 x 10(9) M-1 for the low- and high-affinity systems, respectively . These values are not significantly different from those observed with monoclonal antibodies secreted from the corresponding cell lines . This system lends itself to the quantitative evaluation of the binding properties of the VH protein itself as well as the modulation of affinity by site-directed mutagenesis. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr, 1990, 3(3), 200 - 5 Exacerbation of human immunodeficiency virus infection in promonocytic cells by bacterial immunomodulators; Masihi KN et al.; Common bacterial infections are increasingly being diagnosed in HIV-infected individuals . Cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage kill invading bacterial pathogens and subsequently release immunoadjuvant components from the degraded cell walls . Since monocytes can be infected with HIV, effects of bacterial immunomodulators on infected promonocytic U937 cells were investigated . Synthetic muramyl peptide, mycobacterial trehalose dimycolate, and detoxified endotoxin exhibited an initial reduction followed by a rapid increase in HIV p24 antigen production . The upregulation of virus expression was correlated with enhanced interleukin-1 beta levels and a decrease in TNF-alpha production. J Bacteriol, 1990 Jan, 172(1), 164 - 71 Sequence analysis and expression of the bacterial dichloromethane dehalogenase structural gene, a member of the glutathione S-transferase supergene family; La Roche SD et al.; The nucleotide sequence of a cloned 2.8-kilobase-pair BamHI-PstI fragment containing dcmA, the dichloromethane dehalogenase structural gene from Methylobacterium sp . strain DM4, was determined . An open reading frame with a coding capacity of 287 amino acids (molecular weight, 37,430) was identified as dcmA by its agreement with the N-terminal amino acid sequence, the total amino acid composition, and the subunit size of the purified enzyme . Alignment of the deduced dichloromethane dehalogenase amino acid sequence with amino acid sequences of the functionally related eucaryotic glutathione S-transferases revealed three regions containing highly conserved amino acid residues and indicated that dcmA is a member of the glutathione S-transferase supergene family . The 5' terminus of in vivo dcmA transcripts was determined by nuclease S1 mapping to be 82 base pairs upstream of the GTG initiation codon of dcmA . Despite a putative promoter sequence with high resemblance to the Escherichia coli -10 and -35 consensus sequences, located at an appropriate distance from the transcription start point, dcmA was only marginally expressed in E . coli . The strong induction of dichloromethane dehalogenase in Methylobacterium sp . by dichloromethane was abolished by deleting the 1.3-kilobase-pair upstream region of dcmA . Plasmid constructs devoid of this region directed expression of dichloromethane dehalogenase at a constitutively induced level. Acta Microbiol Hung, 1990, 37(3), 289 - 94 Bacterial translocation after cold stress in young and old mice; Anderlik P et al.; Spontaneous translocation of the normal intestinal flora was observed in higher rate in old mice being in a state of thymus involution than in young ones . The proportion of bacterial translocation 24 and 48 h after cold stress increased in both young and old mice, the increase of translocation as compared to controls was larger in case of young mice than in old ones . The distribution of isolated bacterial strains according to Gram stain also differed in young and old groups. Przegl Epidemiol, 1990, 44(4), 333 - 5 {Heat stability of potency of bacterial vaccines and the titer of tetanus antitoxin of Polish production}; Aleksandrowicz J et al.; Described the stability of potency vaccines (DTP, BCG) and immunoglobulins (human's and animal's) at storage and experimental temperatures . Thermal degradation rate and design of loss of potency in time have been determined by Arrhenius equation . Our results were similar to WHO data from preparations which have been made in another countries. Ter Arkh, 1990, 62(11), 19 - 22 {The prognosis of the outcome and the correction of the treatment in bacterial meningitis by using immunological monitoring}; Lutsik BD et al.; The clinico-etiological characteristics of bacterial meningitides and cellular immunity were studied over time . Measurements were made of the phagocytic index, the phagocytic number, phagocytosis completeness, E-RFC, complementary activity of blood serum (CABS), circulating immune complexes (CIC) and IgA, IgM and IgG . The low phagocytic activity of neutrophils, phagocytosis incompleteness, the high level of CIC, a considerable reduction on CABS were associated with a grave clinical course of bacterial meningitides . In fact, they served as indicators of the necessity of instituting intensive care (hemoperfusion, plasmapheresis, ultraviolet and laser blood radiation, the use of immunomodulators) . The combined administration of sodium nucleinate, levamisole and hemodez provided rapid and efficient recovery of the characteristics under study. Acta Med Iugosl, 1990, 44(4), 285 - 95 {Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis and "tense" ascites}; Rotkvic I et al.; In the study 52 patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis and "tense" ascites were included . According to the clinical picture, ascites cultures and the number of polymorphonuclears in cmm of the ascitic fluid, all patients were selected in one of the following groups: 1 . group of patients with sterile ascites (28), 2 . group of patients with spontaneous peritonitis (16), and 3 . group of patients with bacterascites (8) . The results have shown that the incidence of spontaneous peritonitis is much higher in the group of "tense" ascites patients than in the group of all patients with ascites, the ratio being 30.7% compared to 6% in all cirrhotic patients with ascites . Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis correlates with increased polymorphonuclears in the ascitic fluid (p less than 0.05), decreased pH values (p less than 0.0), and increased amounts of total proteins in the ascitic fluid (p less than 0.05) . The lethality rate in the group of spontaneous peritonitis and sterile ascites was 43.7% and 7.1% respectively . Early diagnosis and, of course, adequate therapy are the main points in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Med Dosw Mikrobiol, 1990, 42(1-2), 95 - 9 {Various immunochemical properties of nonspecific bacterial vaccines}; Aleksandrowicz J et al.; After critical evaluation of the composition and technology of preparation of nonspecific bacterial vaccines (nsb) some of them were withdrawn from the production (Neoflaminum, Neurovaccinum) and replaced with a new one (Polyvaccinum submite) . Part of them were modified (media) and modernised (Panodinum, vaccine according to Delbet) . Panodine produced at the present is free from bovine bile, which according to the results of the studies is strongly haemolytic for human and animal red blood cells . Thus it was justified to withdraw this component from Neoflaminum and Panodinum preparations . Purity and degree of lysis of these preparations were evaluated on the basis of ratio between nucleic acid absorbance and protein absorbance A260/A280 . This allowed to determine if nsb tested are partially lysed and if their production process is reproducible . Our pilot studies on five patients suffering from infectious asthma indicate that a restoration of phagocytic activity of granulocytes and an increase of leukocytes migration after subsequent Panodine injections take place. Acta Chir Hung, 1990, 31(2), 169 - 74 Effect of bacterial endotoxin on placentation of rats; Szocs G et al.; The effect of bacterial endotoxin on placentation in rats was studied on 160 CFY pregnant rats . Based on this experiment, it was concluded that (i) the endotoxin (1 mg/animal i.p.) inhibited placentation (in 90% of animal) . (ii) The endotoxin-induced fetopathy almost exclusively resulted in abortion . (iii) The fetuses reacted to endotoxin with relatively the same degrees of susceptibility . (iv) The growth of surviving fetuses seemed to be undisturbed . (v) Endotoxin-induced damages in mothers first of all depend on the individual susceptibility of these pregnant animals and (vi) the endotoxin tolerance induced by radio-detoxified endotoxin (TOLERIN) significantly protects both the mothers and the fetuses against endotoxin challenge. Vutr Boles, 1990, 29(5), 45 - 9 {Comparative echographic and computed tomographic studies of acute focal bacterial nephritis}; Dzherasi R et al.; The diagnostic potentialities of ultrasound and computed tomography for the early diagnosis of acute focal bacterial nephritis were studied in 12 patients . The echographic findings in all patients are similar: insular tumor-like zone, unclearly defined from the neighbouring parenchyma, hypo-, hyper- or isoechogenic, without liquefaction and lack of distant amplification . The computed tomographic image of 4 from 5 patients studied is as follows: perihilar defect with wedge-shaped form, hypodense structure, radially striated areas from the cavity system toward the parenchyma after applying of a contrast medium . The conclusion is that an early diagnosis of the acute focal bacterial nephritis could be achieved by ultrasound examination which is of high informativeness, harmless, with no radiation and should be basic diagnostic method for this kind of nephritis . The early diagnosis allows a more precise treatment. Infection, 1990, 18 Suppl 3, S115 - 8 {Treatment results using cefixime for bacterial respiratory tract infections}; Leonhardt L; In a prospective open clinical trial 20 patients with the diagnosis bacterial respiratory tract infection and underlying chronic obstructive lung disease were treated for 13 to 17 days with 200 mg cefixime b . i . d . 14 of 16 evaluable patients were treated successfully . In one patient the clinical symptoms remained unchanged and in another patient cefixime treatment failed . Ten of the 16 evaluable patients showed a positive baseline culture . In nine of these patients the initially isolated pathogens could be eliminated . In one patient, in whom cefixime therapy failed, change of pathogens was noticed after the end of treatment . Four of the 20 patients treated with cefixime reported side effects (gastritis, three; fungal dermatitis, one) . In the patient with fungal dermatitis cefixime therapy was stopped. Biol Met, 1990, 3(3-4), 151 - 4 Bacterial interactions with silver; Slawson RM et al.; This review examines interactions between bacteria and the biologically non-essential metal, silver . Aspects of silver toxicity, tolerance and accumulation (possible binding and uptake as opposed to energy-dependent transport) in bacteria are discussed . In addition, plasmid biology is examined briefly since little information is available on the exact mechanism(s) of plasmid-endoced silver resistance in bacteria. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci, 1990, 28(2), 95 - 107 Association of transfusion with postoperative bacterial infection; Triulzi DJ et al.; Homologous blood transfusion has been implicated as a modulator of the host immune system in a number of clinical settings . Improved renal allograft survival is observed in patients receiving pretransplant transfusions . Decreased recurrence of active inflammatory bowel disease has been recently reported in transfused patients with Crohn's disease . Conversely, deleterious immunomodulatory effects of transfusion may explain the association between transfusion and increased susceptibility to cancer recurrence and bacterial and viral infection . Clinical studies regarding cancer recurrence and transfusion are retrospective and conflicting . There is epidemiologic evidence for more rapid progression of HIV-1 infection in heavily transfused patients . Studies on transfused surgical patients have shown transfusion to be associated with an increased frequency of postoperative bacterial infections . Some studies have come to different conclusions . These investigators have suggested that transfusion may represent a surrogate marker for other risk factors for infection . Animal models designed to control for confounding factors have supported an association between transfusion and bacterial infection severity in most, but not all, reports . Attempts to define the immunologic alterations associated with transfusion have revealed a generalized impairment of cellular immunity in both humans and animals . Although the preponderance of data supports an association between perioperative transfusion and increased susceptibility to postoperative bacterial infection, it is not certain to what extent this relationship constitutes cause and effect. Adv Perit Dial, 1990, 6, 106 - 9 Bacterial peritonitis and beta-2 microglobulin (B2M) production by peritoneal macrophages (PM0) in CAPD patients; Carozzi S et al.; To evaluate the role of bacterial peritonitis in peritoneal macrophage (PMO) Beta-2 Microglobulin (B2M) production and its relationship with PMO Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) release we analyzed in 20 CAPD patients (10 with peritonitis): 1 . in vivo plasma and peritoneal dialysis effluent (PDE) B2M, IL-1 and LTB4 levels; 2 . in vitro B2M, IL-1 and LTB4 release by PMO . Values were compared with those seen in the plasma or with peripheral blood monocytes of 30 hemodialysis (HD) patients (10 treated with Cuprophan-CU-, 10 with Polyacrylonitrile - PAN, and 10 with Cellulose Acetate - CA) . Results showed that in CAPD patients with bacterial peritonitis B2M, IL-1 and LTB4 concentrations in the PDE were significantly higher than those seen in CAPD patients without peritonitis or in the plasma of HD patients treated with PAN or CA, but were similar to those seen in HD patients treated with CU . At the same time, in vitro, PMO from CAPD patients with bacterial peritonitis produced more B2M, IL-1 and LTB4 than did PMO from CAPD patients without peritonitis or peripheral blood monocytes from HD patients treated with PAN or CA . We conclude that in CAPD patients bacterial peritonitis is able to induce PMO B2M production, probably via a cytokine-mediated process, which may be analogous to what occurs with peripheral blood monocytes of HD patients treated with CU. Arch Oral Biol, 1990, 35 Suppl, 131S - 135S Carbohydrates as recognition molecules for bacterial adhesins: methodology and characteristics; Stromberg N; Future attempts at developing inhibitors of dental plaque formation necessitate characterization of the bacterial-host, as well as the inter-bacterial recognition processes . Bacterial binding to a panel of solid-phase reference glycolipids was used to reveal the recognition of internal receptor sequences, low-affinity cooperative interactions, and adhesin variants with slightly shifted receptor epitopes . This epitopic variation may be a mechanism for shifting the host and tissue tropism of the bacteria, and may have evolved in response to the topography and expression of receptor epitopes at the host tissue surfaces. Acupunct Electrother Res, 1990, 15(2), 137 - 57 Storing of qi gong energy in various materials and drugs (qi gongnization): its clinical application for treatment of pain, circulatory disturbance, bacterial or viral infections, heavy metal deposits, and related intractable medical problems by selectively enhancing circulation and drug uptake; Omura Y; In the process of evaluating the effects of external Qi Gong on inanimate substances by the Bi-Digital O-Ring Test, Qi Gong energy was shown to have a polarity which the author designated for convenience sake (+) or (-), where (+) increases the strength of muscles and (-) weakens them . Depending upon how external Qi Gong is applied and from which part of the body it emanates, the polarity changes . In general, it was found that, when (+) polarity is applied to the painful area or spastic muscles or arteries in vaso-constriction it often reduced or eliminated the pain, spastic muscles or circulatory disturbances . The author succeeded in storing part of the Qi Gong energy in inanimate materials, such as papers, metals (such as a sheet of aluminum foil), glass, stone, band-aids, clothes, drugs, etc . in bi-polar (one end of the same material becomes (+) polarity and the other end of the same material becomes (-) polarity) form in one material or uni-polar, i.e., the entire material either has pure (+) polarity or (-) polarity . Water, EPA, vitamins, antibiotics and other drugs were also converted to (+) polarity . When the material has a bi-polar state, it becomes possible to eliminate one of the polarities by applying certain changing electrical fields . The effect of placing (+) polarity Qi Gong energy stored material was compared with direct application of the Qi Gong on pain, spastic muscle and spastic vertebral arteries . The therapeutic effects of these 2 methods were quite similar for the identical time duration but a more predictable effect was often obtained in the former . As our previous study indicates that acupuncture, electrical stimulation (1-3 pulses/sec.), as well as Qi Gong not only improved the microcirculatory disturbance and relaxed spastic muscles and vaso-constrictive arteries but also reduced or eliminated the pain and also selectively enhanced drug uptake to the area where drugs could not be delivered due to existing circulatory disturbances, by placing (+) Qi Gong stored material, such as a sheet of paper or aluminum foil, band-aid or clothes . Bi- Digital O-Ring Test evaluation indicated that not only did it produce all the beneficial effects of Qi Gong but also enhanced the drug uptake selectively in the area where it is necessary for the drug to be delivered for effective treatment, and reduced lead deposits in tissue.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) Virchows Arch B Cell Pathol Incl Mol Pathol, 1990, 59(2), 83 - 8 Demonstration of bacterial antigen in macrophages in experimental pyelonephritis; Ivanyi B et al.; The immunomorphological characteristics of interstitial macrophages with PAS-positive granules were studied in experimental Escherichia coli pyelonephritis in rats, using an anti-E . coli antibody . Immunohistochemical, immunoelectron microscopical, as well as light- and electron microscopical findings were compared at twelve time points between 2 days and 13 weeks after infection . Macrophages with PAS-positive granules were present in the inflammatory infiltrates from the 7th day . The granules were phagolysosomes, filled predominantly with myelin figures . The myelin figures originated mainly from the constituents of the bacterial wall and reacted with the anti-E . coli antibody even 13 weeks after infection . The storage of bacterial residues with preserved antigenic structures for several weeks after infection indicates disturbed phagolysosomal elimination of the bacterial substances in the PAS-positive macrophages . In the formation of macrophages with PAS-positive granules, lysosomal overloading with large amounts of bacteria and cell debris is assumed, leading to consumption of the lysosomal enzymes, consequent incomplete breakdown and retention of the bacterial residues. Biochem Int, 1990, 20(4), 833 - 41 Sequence and structural homology between a mouse T-complex protein TCP-1 and the 'chaperonin' family of bacterial (GroEL, 60-65 kDa heat shock antigen) and eukaryotic proteins; Gupta RS; A mammalian cytoplasmic protein TCP-1, encoded by a gene within the mouse t-complex, has been found to exhibit highly significant (p much less than 0.00001) sequence homology to the 'chaperonin' family of bacterial and eukaryotic proteins (viz . groEL protein of E . coli, rubisco subunit binding protein of plant chloroplasts, yeast hsp58 and mammalian P1 proteins and 60-65 kDa mycobacterial antigen) . With the introduction of few gaps, the amino acid sequence of TCP-1 shows between 60-63% similarity (17-20% identical residues and 42-45% conserved substitutions) throughout its length to various chaperonin proteins, indicating a common evolutionary origin . The sequence data also suggest that in contrast to the endosymbiotic origin of mitochondrial and chloroplast chaperonins, the cytoplasmic TCP-1 may have directly descended from the common universal ancestor via eukaryotic lineage . The observed similarity between TCP-1 and the 60-65 kDa bacterial 'common antigen' is also of importance from the viewpoint of immune/autoimmune response. Sb Ved Pr Lek Fak Karlovy Univerzity Hradci Kralove, 1990, 33(5), 565 - 77 The activation of macrophages in the immune response against the intracellular bacterial pathogen Francisella tularensis; Kovarova H et al.; The activation of peritoneal macrophages in the course of primary infection of mice with attenuated strain of Francisella tularensis is associated with 2.5 fold increase in spontaneous INT reductase activity on day 5 after the immunization . The splenic cells of immunized mice pulsed in vitro by specific antigen secrete lymphokine that is able to induce an increase in spontaneous INT reductase activity of resident peritoneal cells . The production of spontaneous superoxide anion by peritoneal phagocytes reaches the highest level on day 5 after the immunization . It does not correlate with the results of cytotoxic or phagocytic activities at this time interval . An enhanced superoxide dismutase activity precedes an increase of superoxide anion secretion . The production of hydrogen peroxide is rising till day 7 and is related to the cytotoxic activity of peritoneal phagocytes . Concerning the testing of F . tularensis antigen as immunization agent, no changes of oxidative metabolism were detected . This might be in connection with the insufficient protection effect of killed F . tularensis vaccine . The production of reactive oxygen metabolites, probably under the control of superoxide dismutase, together with secreted lymphokines during the first days after the infection may play a regulatory role in the induction of immune response against intracellular pathogen F . tularensis. Adv Exp Med Biol, 1990, 276, 291 - 9 Detection of mouse hepatitis virus nonstructural proteins using antisera directed against bacterial viral fusion proteins; Zoltick PW et al.; Mouse hepatitis virus, strain A59 cDNAs were inserted into the procaryotic fusion vector pGE374 . RecA/viral/LacZ tripartite fusion proteins were synthesized from these plasmids and purified from E . coli . Antisera were raised in rabbits against these fusion proteins . Viral nonstructural proteins were detected in infected murine fibroblasts and glial cells . The anti-gene B, ORF1 sera detect a 30K cytoplasmic protein while the anti-gene E, ORF2 sera detect a 9.6K protein . Sera raised against proteins encoded in cDNAs from 5' portions of gene A immunoprecipitate the 200-250K polypeptides synthesized in vitro from genome RNA . Antisera raised against proteins encoded in both 5' and 3' portions of gene A immunoprecipitate membrane associated polypeptides of 150K and greater than 600K from MHV infected cells. Eur Neurol, 1990, 30(5), 291 - 5 Quantitation of lymphocyte subsets in cerebrospinal fluid and blood during the clinical course of aseptic and bacterial meningitis; Bamborschke S et al.; Mononuclear cell subsets in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral blood (PB) were monitored during the clinical course in 23 patients with acute meningitis using 6 monoclonal antibodies . Significant differences between aseptic and bacterial meningitis mainly consisted of a higher percentage of OKT4-positive cells in PB in the acute phase of bacterial meningitis . Significant differences between CSF and PB are found in the amount of most cell subtypes at all times except the acute phase of bacterial meningitis . The OKT4/OKT8 ratio was always significantly higher in CSF and correlated with the acuity of inflammation in bacterial meningitis. Chem Biol Interact, 1990, 76(2), 193 - 209 Covalent binding studies on the 14C-labeled antitumor compound 2,5-bis(1-aziridinyl)-1,4-benzoquinone . Involvement of semiquinone radical in binding to DNA, and binding to proteins and bacterial macromolecules in situ; Lusthof KJ et al.; 2,5-Bis(1-aziridinyl)-1,4-benzoquinone (BABQ) is a compound from which several antitumour drugs are derived, such as Trenimone, Carboquone and Diaziquone (AZQ) . The mechanism of DNA binding of BABQ was studied using 14C-labeled BABQ and is in agreement with reduction of the quinone moiety and protonation of the aziridine ring, followed by ring opening and alkylation . The one-electron reduced (semiquinone) form of BABQ alkylates DNA more efficiently than two-electron reduced or non reduced BABQ . Covalent binding to polynucleotides did not unambiguously reveal preference for binding to specific DNA bases . Attempts to elucidate further the molecular structure of DNA adducts by isolation of modified nucleosides from enzymatic digests of reacted DNA failed because of instability of the DNA adducts . The mechanism of covalent binding to protein (bovine serum albumin, BSA) appeared to be completely different from that of covalent binding to DNA . Binding of BABQ to BSA was not enhanced by reduction of the compound and was pH dependent in a way that is opposite to that of DNA alkylation . Glutathione inhibits binding of BABQ to BSA and forms adducts with BABQ in a similar pH dependence as the protein binding . The aziridine group therefore does not seem to be involved in the alkylation of BSA . Incubation of intact E . coli cells, which endogenously reduce BABQ, resulted in binding to both DNA and RNA, but also appreciable protein binding was observed. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1990 Jan, 162(1), 155 - 60 Statistical evaluation of diagnostic criteria for bacterial vaginosis; Thomason JL et al.; Bacterial vaginosis is the most common cause of vaginitis in women of reproductive age . In an attempt to clarify diagnosis of this condition, various parameters of signs and symptoms and groups of parameters were compared with classical diagnostic criteria in 310 patients . There was no significant difference in positive diagnosis rates between the Amsel et al . criteria and those of Thomason et al . (p = 0.25) . The single most reliable indicator of bacterial vaginosis was the presence of clue cells on wet mount examination of vaginal secretions (sensitivity 98.2%, specificity 94.3%, positive predictive value 89.9%, negative predictive value 99.0%) . The best two combinations of parameters for rapid accurate clinical diagnosis were clue cells and odor on alkalinization (sensitivity 99.5%) positive predictive value 98.8%, negative predictive value 92.1%) . Gram stain criteria (bacterial morphologic types) were less accurate predictors of the disease (sensitivity 97.0%, specificity 66.2%, positive value 57.2%, negative predictive value 97.9%) . Even when the bacterial morphologic type criteria were combined with presence of clue cells, predictive accuracy did not exceed that of clue cells on wet mount examination alone (sensitivity 93.9%, specificity 84.7%, positive predictive value 74.2%, negative predictive value 96.8%) . Homogeneous discharge was found to be of little diagnostic value. Biotechnol Prog, 1990 Jan-Feb, 6(1), 48 - 50 Effect of inclusion body production on culture turbidity and cell dry weight in growing bacterial cultures; Hwang SO et al.; An approach to the optimization of product yield in an inducible inclusion body-producing system is presented . Following induction by indoleacrylic acid (IAA) of a trpLE-HIVgp41 fusion protein, we found a large increase in culture turbidity and single-cell dry weight . After an initial transition phase, new and constant values for specific growth rate, single-cell light turbidity, and single cell dry weight were achieved, allowing for the determination of optimal conditions for product formation. Ann Cardiol Angeiol (Paris), 1989 Dec 30, 38(10), 627 - 30 {Anatomic lesions in bacterial endocarditis of the aortic valves . Practical implications}; Penther P et al.; Bacterial infection of aortic valves remains frequent and worrying . The virulence of the pathogen in question, the history of the infection and the topography of valvular involvement account for certain lesional features, notably cardiac abscess and contiguous lesions, which are seen in 50% of cases with autopsy material . Clinically suspected cardiac abscesses can be detected by echocardiography when their size reaches or exceeds 4 mm . Their active nature is such that emergency surgery is an additional indication to be added to conventional ones such as uncontrolled infection, heart failure refractory to treatment, and repeated systemic embolism. J Biol Chem, 1989 Dec 25, 264(36), 21907 - 14 Mutations of GS alpha designed to alter the reactivity of the protein with bacterial toxins . Substitutions at ARG187 result in loss of GTPase activity; Freissmuth M et al.; We have introduced two types of mutations into cDNAs that encode the alpha subunit of Gs, the guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein that stimulates adenylyl cyclase . The arginine residue (Arg187) that is the presumed site of ADP-ribosylation of Gs alpha by cholera toxin has been changed to Ala, Glu, or Lys . The rate constant for hydrolysis of GTP by all of these mutants is reduced approximately 100-fold compared with the wild-type protein . As predicted from this change, these proteins activate adenylyl cyclase constitutively in the presence of GTP . Despite these substitutions, cholera toxin still catalyzes the incorporation of 0.2-0.3 mol of ADP-ribose/mol of mutant alpha subunit . The sequence near the carboxyl terminus of Gs alpha was altered to resemble those in Gi alpha polypeptides, which are substrates for pertussis toxin . Despite this change, the mutant protein is a poor substrate for pertussis toxin . Although this protein has unaltered rates of GDP dissociation and GTP hydrolysis, its ability to activate adenylyl cyclase in the presence of GTP is enhanced by 3-fold when compared with the wild-type protein but only when these assays are performed after reconstitution of Gs alpha into cyc- (Gs alpha-deficient) S49 cell membranes. Nature, 1989 Dec 7, 342(6250), 648 - 54 Structure of the core and central channel of bacterial flagella; Namba K et al.; X-ray fibre diffraction analysis of bacterial flagellar filaments has allowed the subunit packing and secondary structure arrangement in the filament core to be determined . The central hole, presumably a channel for flagellin transport, is large enough to accommodate the folded elongated flagellin molecules during their transport to the distal end for filament growth. J Theor Biol, 1989 Dec 7, 141(3), 325 - 62 Model for the feedback control system of bacterial growth . II . Growth in continuous culture; Bleecken S; A mathematical model is developed that describes substrate limited bacterial growth in a continuous culture and that is based upon the conceptual framework elaborated in a previous paper for describing the feedback control system of cell growth {S . Bleecken, (1988) . J . theor . Biol . 133, 37.} Central to the theory are the ideas that the limiting substrate is converted into low molecular weight building blocks of macromolecular synthesis which again are converted into biomass (RNA and protein) and that the rates of RNA and protein synthesis are controlled by the intracellular concentration of building blocks . It is shown that a continuous culture can be simulated by two interconnected feedback control systems the actuating signals of which are limiting substrate concentration and the intracellular concentration of building blocks, respectively . Three types of steady-states are found to appear in a continuous culture, besides the well-known stable steady-state of the whole culture there exist two batchlike steady-states of the biotic part of the culture which are metastable . The model is used to analyse the steady-states and their stability properties as well as the dynamic responses of biomass, RNA, protein, building block and substrate concentrations to changes in environmental conditions . Especially the inoculation of a continuous culture and the effects of step changes in dilution rate, inlet substrate concentration and growth temperature are studied in detail . Relations between the growth behaviour of a single cell and that of a continuous culture are derived . The RNA to protein ratio is introduced as a rough measure of the physiological state of cells and it is shown that a cell reacts to environmental changes with a simple pattern of basic responses in growth rate and physiological state . There are reasons to assume that the model presented is the minimal version of a structured model of bacterial growth and represents an optimum compromise between biological relevance and mathematical practicability. J Biol Chem, 1989 Dec 5, 264(34), 20664 - 75 Identification, characterization, and purification of two mammalian stress proteins present in mitochondria, grp 75, a member of the hsp 70 family and hsp 58, a homolog of the bacterial groEL protein; Mizzen LA et al.; We describe the identification, characterization, and purification of two members of the mammalian stress protein family, both of which are shown to be components of the mitochondria . The first, with an apparent mass of 58,000 daltons, is a constitutive protein whose synthesis increases in cells exposed to elevated temperatures and/or amino acid analogs and is therefore referred to as heat shock protein hsp 58 (hsp 58) . The second, with an apparent mass of 75,000 daltons, is also a constitutive protein whose synthesis is increased in cells following glucose deprivation or exposure to either a calcium ionophore or 2-deoxyglucose and therefore represents a member of the so-called glucose-regulated proteins (grp 75) . In cells treated with the potassium ionophore, nonactin, both hsp 58 and grp 75 were observed to accumulate in precursor form . Since nonactin has been reported to specifically inhibit the processing of cytoplasmic precursor proteins destined for the mitochondria, we investigated whether mature hsp 58 and grp 75 were components of the mitochondria . Mitochondria were isolated from rat liver and shown to contain both hsp 58 and grp 75 . Indirect immunofluorescence using antibodies specific to either hsp 58 or grp 75 confirmed their presence within mitochondria . Proteolytic digestion experiments with intact mitochondria indicated that both proteins were not accessible to external proteolytic attack, suggesting that they are not exposed on the cytoplasmic face of the outer membrane . Based on a variety of biochemical and immunological criteria, grp 75 is shown to be a member of the hsp 70 family of stress proteins, while hsp 58 represents the mammalian equivalent of the bacterial groEL protein . Procedures for the purification of both hsp 58 and grp 75 are presented . The possible biochemical role of these two mitochondrial stress proteins is discussed in relation to the known biochemical function of their related stress protein counterparts. Mol Microbiol, 1989 Dec, 3(12), 1819 - 23 Bacterial polysaccharide capsule synthesis, export and evolution of structural diversity; Boulnois GJ et al.; Elaboration of a capsule composed of one of a range of acidic polysaccharides is a common feature of many bacteria, particularly those capable of causing serious infections in humans . Biochemical and genetical analyses of capsule biogenesis in Escherichia coli are beginning to reveal new aspects of polysaccharide biosynthesis . Genes have been identified which are thought to encode products responsible for the translocation of these high molecular-weight polysaccharides across the cytoplasmic and outer membranes, and the organization of exported polysaccharide into a capsule . Their further analysis should provide new insights into membrane biology, particularly since the genes in question are absent from the often used laboratory strains of E . coli . Genetic analysis of capsule diversity is beginning to suggest possible mechanisms for the generation of the structural diversity of polysaccharides. Laryngorhinootologie, 1989 Dec, 68(12), 671 - 4 {Conservative treatment of chronic sinusitis . Success of oral bacterial lysate therapy}; Schlenter WW et al.; In a multicenter randomized double-blind study, 284 patients with chronic purulent sinusitis were treated with an oral immunostimulant or placebo in addition to standard therapy (antibiotics, mucolytics, inhalants) . Treatment lasted for three ten-day periods in three consecutive months . At the start and during the therapy as well as after six months, symptoms were assessed on the basis of a scoring system and the X-rays of the nasal sinuses evaluated . During the course of therapy and the follow-up period, improvement of the major symptoms headache, purulent nasal discharge, cough, and expectoration was statistically significant in the immunostimulant group as compared with the placebo group, objective evidence being provided by the X-ray examinations and the number of reinfections during the period of observation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1989 Dec, 86(24), 9966 - 70 An experimental approach to testing modular evolution: directed replacement of alpha-helices in a bacterial protein; DuBose RF et al.; We have used oligonucleotide site-directed mutagenesis to ask whether certain structural motifs in proteins are determined mainly by local interactions among amino acids . Multiple consecutive amino acids in three alpha-helices in the alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) of Escherichia coli have been replaced with helical sequences from four other sources . Altogether, 12 distinct helical replacements were created, 9 of which retain enzymatic activity . Most short stretches of helical sequence can be replaced with unrelated helical sequences without eliminating enzyme activity . Replacements of the carboxyl half of an alpha-helix are less harmful than those of the amino half, and the two together are synergistic rather than additive . These results are consistent with the hypothesis that proteins originally evolved by the assembly of small functional folding units. J Trauma, 1989 Dec, 29(12), 1679 - 83 Endotoxin induces bacterial translocation and increases xanthine oxidase activity; Deitch EA et al.; Previously, we documented that endotoxin induces bacterial translocation from the gut and that inhibition or inactivation of xanthine oxidase activity reduces endotoxin-induced bacterial translocation . Consequently, experiments were performed to correlate endotoxin-induced bacterial translocation with changes in intestinal mucosal structure and xanthine dehydrogenase and oxidase activity . Segments of the jejunum, ileum, cecum, proximal colon, distal colon, and liver were harvested from ICR mice 24 hr after IP administration of E . coli 0111:B4 endotoxin (0.1 mg) . Xanthine dehydrogenase and oxidase activities were measured in these samples and correlated with intestinal morphology . Bacteria translocated from the intestines to extraintestinal organs in 70% of the mice receiving endotoxin, while the organs of control mice were sterile (p less than 0.01) . Endotoxin injured primarily the ileal and cecal mucosa and increased ileal and hepatic xanthine dehydrogenase and cecal oxidase activities (p less than 0.05) . These results suggest that xanthine oxidase-induced mucosal damage plays a role in endotoxin-induced bacterial translocation. Zhonghua Wai Ke Za Zhi, 1989 Dec, 27(12), 760 - 4, 782-3 {Influence of subtotal gastrectomy on bile acid concentration, total bacterial counts in the gastric juice, and histologic changes in the gastric mucosa}; Zhang C; The concentrations of bile acids, PH and total bacterial counts in the gastric juice were measured among 44 patients with peptic ulcer before and after subtotal gastrectomy (Billroth II in 14 cases, Billroth I in 10 cases, and PAFPG in 20 cases) . Thirty three patients were studied by endoscopy and gastric mucosa biopsy one year after the surgery . The results showed that the fasting gastric bile acids concentrations in both B-II and B-I groups were significantly higher than in PAFPG group, when examined 3 weeks and 1 year postoperatively . The PH and total bacterial counts in gastric juice were increased significantly after B-II and B-I reconstruction compared with PAFPG . The abnormal histology of gastric remnant mucosa was more common in B-II or B-I groups than in PAFPG (P less than 0.05) . Our data demonstrated that B-II and B-I gastrectomy caused considerably enterogastric reflux, while PAFPG prevented it effectively by keeping the gastric physiology in a relatively stable status . It is the authors' belief that the results provide objective basis for selecting surgical procedure and evaluating operative effects. Stroke, 1989 Dec, 20(12), 1751 - 4 Bacterial cavernous sinus aneurysm treated by detachable balloon technique; Micheli F et al.; We describe a patient who developed bilateral cavernous sinus septic thrombosis secondary to a suppurative lesion on the left cheek . Despite clinical improvement, left oculomotor symptoms recurred suddenly . A carotid artery aneurysm within the cavernous sinus was diagnosed by means of magnetic resonance imaging and confirmed by digital angiography . Follow-up angiograms showed an initial decrease in the aneurysm size, with subsequent enlargement . A latex contrast-filled balloon was successfully placed within the aneurysm, preserving the carotid parent artery blood flow . Our case illustrates the usefulness of the detachable balloon technique in the treatment of bacterial aneurysms of the cavernous sinus as an alternative treatment to carotid artery ligation. J Lab Clin Med, 1989 Dec, 114(6), 708 - 16 Bacterial lipopolysaccharide acts on human endothelial cells to enhance the adherence of peripheral blood monocytes; Whisler RL et al.; The effects of bacterial lipopolysaccharide on the adherence of human peripheral blood monocytes (M0) to endothelial cells (ECs) were investigated in a quantitative adherence assay as an in vitro model of M0-EC interactions . ECs exposed for 2 hours or longer to 0.10 to 10 micrograms/ml lipopolysaccharide demonstrated significant increases in the levels of M0 adherence compared to control cells . By contrast, lipopolysaccharide added directly to adherence assays or preincubated with M0 did not increase M0 adherence to ECs . The effects of interleukin-1 (IL-1) were similar to the effects of lipopolysaccharide in that they acted solely on ECs to enhance M0 adherence and accelerated the rate of EC adherence to M0 . Lipopolysaccharide did not increase EC adherence of M0 by causing damage or extracellular release of soluble mediators . The increase in M0-EC adherence by the chemotactic peptide formyl-methionyl-leucylphenylalanine (FMLP) was quite different from that by lipopolysaccharide and IL-1 . FMLP rapidly induced M0 to become more adherent to ECs and plastic surfaces but was unable to act on ECs and enhance M0 binding . Thus M0-EC interactions are enhanced by the direct effects of FMLP on M0, whereas the actions of lipopolysaccharide and IL-1 are entirely focused on ECs and can be distinguished by differing characteristics and cellular targets. Biochem J, 1989 Dec 1, 264(2), 389 - 96 Role of guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins in insulin stimulation of glucose transport in rat adipocytes . Influence of bacterial toxins; Ciaraldi TP et al.; The potential role of guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins (G-proteins) in acute insulin regulation of glucose transport was investigated by using bacterial toxins which are known to modify these proteins . Cholera-toxin treatment of isolated rat adipocytes had no effect on either 2-deoxyglucose transport or insulin binding . Pertussis-toxin treatment resulted in an inhibition of both insulin binding and glucose transport . Insulin binding was decreased in pertussis-toxin-treated cells by up to 40%, owing to a lowering of the affinity of the receptor for hormone, with no change in hormone internalization . The dose-response curve for insulin stimulation of glucose transport was strongly shifted to the right by pertussis-toxin treatment {EC50 (half-maximally effective insulin concn.) = 0.31 +/- 0.04 ng/ml in control cells; 2.29 +/- 1.0 in treated cells), whereas cholera toxin had only a small effect (EC50 = 0.47 +/- 0.02 ng/ml) . Correcting for the change in hormone binding, pertussis toxin was found to decrease the coupling efficiency of occupied receptors (50% of maximal insulin effect with 928 molecules bound/cell in control and 3418 in treated cells) . Pertussis-toxin inhibition of insulin sensitivity was slow in onset, requiring 2-3 h for completion . Under conditions where pertussis-toxin inhibition of insulin sensitivity was maximal, a 41,000 Da protein similar to the alpha subunit of Gi (the inhibitory G-protein) was found to be fully ribosylated . These results are consistent with the concept that pertussis-toxin-sensitive G-protein(s) can modify the insulin-receptor/glucose-transport coupling system. Inflammation, 1989 Dec, 13(6), 681 - 92 Role of intracellular calcium in priming of human peripheral blood monocytes by bacterial lipopolysaccharide; McLeish KR et al.; To determine the role of intracellular calcium ({Ca2+}i) in the priming of monocytes (M phi) by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the membrane expression of two functional proteins and phagocytosis and respiratory burst were examined by microfluorimetry . LPS induced a significant increase in HLA-DR and C3bi receptor (CR3) expression within 2 h of its addition to whole blood . The enhanced expression of both antigens by LPS was dose-dependent, with concentrations as low as 0.1 ng/ml producing a response . The involvement of {Ca2+}i was demonstrated by loading isolated M phi with the intracellular calcium chelator quin-2 or the inhibitor of intracellular calcium redistribution TMB-8 prior to addition of LPS . Both compounds inhibited the LPS-induced increase in HLA-DR and CR3 expression . No role for extracellular calcium, for calcium slow channel flux, or for the calcium-calmodulin complex in LPS priming was demonstrated when LPS was added in the presence of EGTA, trifluperazine (TFP), or verapamil . The addition of the calcium ionophores A23187 or ionomycin failed to increase expression of either antigen . Prior exposure to LPS primed M phi for enhanced phagocytosis and respiratory burst activity . These functions were inhibited by TMB-8, but not by TFP or verapamil . Addition of LPS to isolated M phi increased {Ca2+}i by 23% at 30 sec and 42% at 5 min, as measured by the calcium-sensitive, intracellular probe indo-1 . These results suggest that intracellular Ca2+ mobilization is necessary, but not sufficient, for LPS-induced priming of human peripheral blood monocytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1989 Dec, 86(24), 9951 - 5 Cytochemical observation of regulated bacterial beta-galactosidase gene expression in mammalian cells; Liu HS et al.; Bacterial beta-galactosidase, encoded by the lacZ gene, serves as a sensitive cytochemical marker in eukaryotic cells and tissues . In transient expression experiments, human and simian cells stain blue 48 hr after transfection with a plasmid containing a lacZ gene, whose expression is directed by a simian virus 40 promoter containing a synthetic lactose operator sequence . Transfection efficiency was about 0.6% . Incorporation of an operator sequence within the promoter permits regulation of beta-galactosidase gene expression by the lacI gene product, the lac repressor . When cells were cotransfected with the lacZ plasmid and a second plasmid containing the lacI gene, beta-galactosidase activity was extinguished . Its activity could be reestablished to original levels upon application of isopropyl beta-D-thiogalactoside to transfected cells . A cell line that stably carries both the lacI and lacZ genes was efficiently induced to synthesize beta-galactosidase after isopropyl beta-D-thiogalactoside administration . In transient expression experiments and in stably transfected lines, repression and induction of beta-galactosidase activity were predominantly at the transcriptional level. Wiad Lek, 1989 Nov 15-Dec 15, 42(22-24), 1104 - 9 {Bacterial endocarditis in clinical and echocardiographic observations}; Trzesicka M et al.; Twenty-one patients with infectious endocarditis are reported . The diagnosis was based on finding of at least three clinical symptoms and signs, including systemic manifestations, cardiovascular signs such as the appearance of a new or changing symptoms of cardiac failure, episodes of embolism and abnormalities in laboratory investigations and features of valvular involvement by the inflammatory process, principal changing endocardium image was evidence of an active inflammatory process . The aetiological factors, diagnostic difficulties, therapeutic results and the usefulness of echocardiography in the diagnosis of infectious endocarditis are discussed. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1989 Nov 15, 164(3), 1137 - 42 Proposed mechanism for the bacterial bioluminescence reaction involving a dioxirane intermediate; Raushel FM et al.; We propose here a verifiable mechanism for the bacterial bioluminescence reaction involving a dioxirane intermediate . Participation of the dioxirane predicts either formation of an excited carbonyl, rather than the flavin, as the primary excited state in the reaction, or, through a CIEEL mechanism, the C4a hydroxyflavin or the chromophore of a secondary emitter protein could become excited . We propose energy transfer from the primary excited state to the C4a hydroxyflavin in the absence of the lumazine protein or the yellow fluorescence protein, while in the presence of either of the secondary emitter proteins, excitation energy would be transferred to the second protein-bound chromophore . The mechanism is similar to other currently discussed mechanisms, except in the final steps leading to the primary excited state . The mechanism is consistent with the known details of the reactions of dioxiranes and of flavins and with recent studies of the secondary emitter proteins and bacterial luciferases. FEBS Lett, 1989 Nov 6, 257(2), 203 - 7 Participation of acid phospholipids in protein translocation across the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane; Nesmeyanova MA et al.; Recent observations confirm the participation of acid phospholipids in protein translocation . The hypothesis proposed coupled protein translocation with transmembrane movement of acid phospholipids, their metabolism as a precursor of cell envelope components and recycling . These factors ensure the unidirectional vector value of the secretion, restoration of the membrane site competent for protein translocation and its self-organization. J Biol Chem, 1989 Nov 5, 264(31), 18506 - 11 Structural features that underlie the use of bacterial Met-tRNAfMet primarily as an elongator in eukaryotic protein synthesis; Wagner T et al.; Met-tRNAfMet from Escherichia coli is utilized efficiently as an elongator tRNA during protein synthesis in the rabbit reticulocyte lysate since it rapidly incorporates its methionyl residue into the same tryptic peptides of rabbit globin as the endogenous Met-tRNAmMet . Therefore, it must lack the structural characteristics that prevent the eukaryotic initiator tRNA from entering elongation . In contrast, E . coli Met-tRNAfMet appears to initiate very poorly since, unlike reticulocyte Met-tRNAiMet, it forms no detectable 43 S preinitiation complexes, and only a very small fraction of the methionine it contributes to polyribosomal peptidyl-tRNA is found at the N terminus . The bacterial fMet-tRNAfMet, which cannot elongate, is utilized for polypeptide chain initiation at a much lower level than the formylated Met-tRNAiMet from eukaryotes . The ability of E . coli Met-tRNAfMet to be used as an elongator and fMet-tRNAfMet as an initiator in the reticulocyte lysate may be considerably underestimated because of the rapid enzymatic hydrolysis of these initiator tRNAs in the lysate . The enzyme hydrolyzes fMet-tRNAfMet and Met-tRNAfMet from E . coli in a strictly Mg2+-dependent manner but not the corresponding species from yeast or rabbit reticulocytes . It also hydrolyzes yeast N-acetyl-Phe-tRNAPhe and reticulocyte peptidyl-tRNA, showing that this enzyme--like the eukaryotic protein synthetic machinery--does not readily distinguish the bacterial tRNAfMet from eukaryotic elongator tRNA. Lab Invest, 1989 Nov, 61(5), 504 - 8 Defective disposal of immune complexes and polyclonal B cell activation persist long after exposure to bacterial lipopolysaccharide in mice; Granholm NA et al.; Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus experience clinical exacerbation during superimposed bacterial infection . Previous studies in mice indicated that heightened immune phenomena during exposure to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) appear to be related, in part, to polyclonal B cell activation, to abnormal disposal of immune complexes (IC), and to increased localization of IC in tissues . To investigate whether such effects were reversible, we administered bacterial LPS to C57BL/6 mice for 5 weeks . Control mice received vehicle alone . We then discontinued LPS, and 6 weeks later LPS and control mice were challenged with a subsaturating dose of radiolabeled IC; the removal of IC from the circulation, their localization in the liver, spleen, and kidney were determined . In comparison to values in control mice, in mice previously exposed to LPS, serologic features of polyclonal B cell activation persisted; liver uptake of pathogenic IC (greater than Ag2Ab2) was normal, but removal of small size IC (less than or equal to Ag2Ab2) from the circulation was delayed; localization of IC in the kidneys was enhanced, and pathologic proteinuria developed . The effects of repeated exposure to bacterial LPS are partially reversible, but they last long after LPS is discontinued and may contribute to altered disposal of IC, enhanced organ localization of IC, and organ dysfunction. Infect Immun, 1989 Nov, 57(11), 3576 - 80 An orally administered bacterial immunomodulator primes rabbit neutrophils for increased oxidative burst in response to opsonized zymosan; Helmberg A et al.; To assess the potential effect of an orally administered immunomodulator, consisting of a lysate of seven different bacteria, on polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) function, rabbits were fed this preparation for five consecutive days via a gastric tube . On day 6, PMN were separated from peripheral blood and oxidative burst was triggered by opsonized zymosan or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate and quantitated on a single-cell basis . This study presents the extension of an existing flow cytometric method, leading to the possibility of quantitating single-cell oxidative burst triggered by particulate (instead of only soluble) stimuli . By this means, treated animals showed statistically significant increased oxidative burst reactions compared with the control group . The data provide evidence that oral application of a bacterial immunomodulator leads to a primed state in PMN for increased oxidative activity in response to a particulate stimulus . This offers the possibility that the beneficial effect of similar treatment in humans may in part be due to comparable mechanisms. J Rheumatol Suppl, 1989 Nov, 19, 52 - 7 Bacterial products, cytokines and sleep; Krueger JM et al.; Sleep deprivation, infection and administration of muramyl peptides or certain other immune response modifiers all alter sleep . Sleep, temperature and hematologic effects observed after bacterial infection are also elicited after administration of isolated bacterial cell walls . Macrophages have the capability to digest bacterial peptidoglycan and in the process produce pyrogenic and somnogenic substances of low molecular weight . Activated macrophages also produce cytokines and some of these, e.g., interleukin-1 (IL-1), are somnogenic . Our results emphasize the close connection of the infection process, fever and sleep . Muramyl peptides and/or IL-1 may also be involved in daily regulation of sleep. J Laryngol Otol, 1989 Nov, 103(11), 1059 - 62 Bacterial tracheitis; Rabie I et al.; Bacterial tracheitis is the term used to describe a severe infraglottic infection characterized by toxicity, brassy cough, inspiratory stridor, subglottic oedema and the presence of copious mucopurulent secretions in the trachea . It is an uncommon condition that requires prompt diagnosis and intensive medical therapy if significant morbidity and mortality are to be avoided . Since the condition was first described in 1979 approximately one hundred cases have been reported . In this paper we present four children with bacterial tracheitis to add to the current literature . Interestingly, one child was admitted on two separate occasions with the disease, an event not previously recorded . All patients underwent endoscopy which revealed findings typical of bacterial tracheitis in each case . None required tracheostomy though three required nasotracheal intubation . Post-endoscopy all were managed in the Intensive Care Unit . There were no fatalities or significant morbidity . The average duration of hospitalization was seven days. Rev Infect Dis, 1989 Nov-Dec, 11(6), 853 - 77 Vaccination against enteric bacterial diseases; Hone D et al.; We review evidence that the systemic and mucosal immune systems of the body are compartmentalized . The development of immunity against an antigen at one mucosal surface may lead to the appearance of that immunity at other mucosal surfaces . In order to attain good protective immunity against a bacterial enteropathogen, it may be necessary to induce such immunity through the mucosal immune system of the gut . Earlier attempts to elicit protective immunity against bacterial enteropathogens by parenteral vaccination are reviewed . The modern approach involves oral administration of antigen . Such antigen may consist of killed bacteria or--more effectively--live, attenuated bacteria bearing antigens of interest . Such bacteria may be enteropathogens attenuated by mutation, either general or site-directed, or hybrid strains in which a bacterial carrier expresses an antigenic determinant of interest from cloned DNA . While good progress has been made in the comprehension of the requirements for effective vaccination against enteropathogenic bacteria, future work will produce more effective carrier strains than are currently available. Mol Cell Biol, 1989 Nov, 9(11), 4759 - 66 The rat albumin promoter: cooperation with upstream elements is required when binding of APF/HNF1 to the proximal element is partially impaired by mutation or bacterial methylation; Tronche F et al.; We have characterized in the accompanying paper (P . Herbomel, A . Rollier, F . Tronche, M.-O . Ott, M . Yaniv, and M . C . Weiss, Mol . Cell . Biol . 9:4750-4758, 1989) six different elements in the albumin promoter . One of them, the proximal element (PE), is the binding site for a strictly liver specific factor, APF/HNF1 . This binding site contains a bacterial DAM DNA methylase methylation target sequence which, when methylated, decreases the affinity of the protein for this element . When the different albumin promoter constructions were prepared in an Escherichia coli deoxyadenosine methylase-negative strain, the respective contributions of the elements to the overall promoter activity were strikingly different . An intact proximal element plus the TATA box gave almost full transcriptional activity in transient transfection experiments and only in differentiated hepatoma cells of line H4II, whereas the distal elements (distal element III {DEIII}, the NF1-binding site DEII, and the E/CBP-binding site DEI) had become essentially dispensable . Mutations affecting the CCAAT box showed only a two- to threefold decrease . When PE was methylated, mutated, or replaced by the homologous element from the alpha-fetoprotein gene, activity in the context of the short promoter (PE plus the TATA box) was abolished . However, activity was restored in the presence of the upstream elements, showing that cooperation with factors binding to the CCAAT box and distal elements favors the functional interaction of the liver-specific APF/HNF1 factor with lower-affinity binding sites. Ann Emerg Med, 1989 Nov, 18(11), 1191 - 8 The leukocyte esterase test for detection of cerebrospinal fluid leukocytosis and bacterial meningitis; DeLozier JS et al.; We conducted a study to assess the efficacy of the dipstick leukocyte esterase test (LET) in the detection of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leukocytosis as a quick screen for bacterial meningitis . Nine hundred forty-two CSF samples were collected from 800 patients . The LET was compared in a double-blinded fashion with routine cell count determinations and cultures . We reviewed the clinical courses of all patients with positive cultures to assess the significance of culture isolates . Statistical analysis revealed LET sensitivity of 84.4% and specificity of 98.1% for clinical presentations of bacterial meningitis for which initiation of therapy is currently recommended . The LET identified culture-proven cases of meningitis with sensitivity of 73% and specificity of 95% . We propose the LET as an adjunct to, but not a replacement for, CSF cell count and chemistry determination in the initial laboratory assessment of bacterial meningitis . It is a reasonable screen that allows rapid initiation of treatment and directs the laboratory technician to devote extra attention to examination of a CSF specimen with a higher likelihood of pathology. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1989 Nov, 86(22), 8703 - 7 Role of CheW protein in coupling membrane receptors to the intracellular signaling system of bacterial chemotaxis; Liu JD et al.; Chemotactic behavior in Escherichia coli is mediated by membrane-associated chemoreceptors that transmit sensory signals to the flagellar motors through an intracellular signaling system, which appears to involve a protein phosphorylation cascade . This study concerns the role of CheW, a cytoplasmic protein, in coupling methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs), the major class of membrane receptors, to the intracellular signaling system . Steady-state flagellar rotation behavior was examined in a series of strains with different combinations and relative amounts of CheW, MCPs, and other signaling components . At normal expression levels, CheW stimulated clockwise rotation, and receptors appeared to enhance this stimulatory effect . At high expression levels, MCPs inhibited clockwise rotation, and CheW appeared to augment this inhibitory effect . Since overexpression of CheW or MCP molecules had the same behavioral effect as their absence, chemoreceptors probably use CheW to modulate two distinct signals, one that stimulates and one that inhibits the intracellular phosphorylation cascade. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1989 Nov, 86(22), 8635 - 9 Structure of a bacterial enzyme regulated by phosphorylation, isocitrate dehydrogenase; Hurley JH et al.; The structure of isocitrate dehydrogenase {threo-DS-isocitrate: NADP+ oxidoreductase (decarboxylating), EC 1.1.1.42} from Escherichia coli has been solved and refined at 2.5 A resolution and is topologically different from that of any other dehydrogenase . This enzyme, a dimer of identical 416-residue subunits, is inactivated by phosphorylation at Ser-113, which lies at the edge of an interdomain pocket that also contains many residues conserved between isocitrate dehydrogenase and isopropylmalate dehydrogenase . Isocitrate dehydrogenase contains an unusual clasp-like domain in which both polypeptide chains in the dimer interlock . Based on the structure of isocitrate dehydrogenase and conservation with isopropylmalate dehydrogenase, we suggest that the active site lies in an interdomain pocket close to the phosphorylation site. ASDC J Dent Child, 1989 Nov-Dec, 56(6), 442 - 4 The efficacy of rubber dam isolation in reducing atmospheric bacterial contamination; Samaranayake LP et al.; A study was made to ascertain the efficacy of rubber dam isolation in controlling atmospheric bacterial contamination, when conservative pedodontic procedures are performed . There was a highly significant (p less than 0.001) reduction in bacterial contamination of the atmosphere, perioperatively, when rubber dam isolation was used . As the reduction in bacterial aerosols was greatest at 1 m from the headrest, the use of rubber dam would minimize significantly the inhalation of infective aerosols by dental personnel. J Bacteriol, 1989 Nov, 171(11), 6271 - 8 Role of the CheW protein in bacterial chemotaxis: overexpression is equivalent to absence; Sanders DA et al.; The cheW gene from Escherichia coli has been cloned an inducible promoter, and the effects of the overproduction of the CheW protein on chemotactic behavior and receptor covalent modification have been examined . Plasmids that contain the cheW gene behind a regulatable promoter complement a cheW mutation when the CheW protein is produced at low levels . However, when the CheW protein is greatly overproduced in either a wild-type strain or a cheW mutant, chemotaxis is greatly inhibited, cheW null mutant cells swim smoothly as if they were constantly responding to an attractant . Surprisingly, cells in which the CheW protein is overproduced also swim smoothly . The behavioral defect produced by overproduction of the CheW protein does not require the presence of the cheR, cheB, or cheZ gene . Receptor demethylation is also inhibited by overproduction of the CheW protein, as it is by a mutation in the cheW gene or a response to an attractant . In all respects, therefore, overproduction of the CheW protein has the same consequences as does a mutation in the cheW gene or a response to an attractant . A model involving two states of the CheW protein is proposed to explain its role in bacterial chemotaxis. Infect Immun, 1989 Nov, 57(11), 3434 - 7 Bacterial endotoxin both enhances and inhibits the toxicity of Shiga-like toxin II in rabbits and mice; Barrett TJ et al.; The ability of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to enhance the toxicity of Shiga-like toxin II (SLT-II) was investigated in rabbits and mice . Rabbits were continuously infused with 0.5 50% lethal dose (LD50) of SLT-II per day . Rabbits that received a 30-micrograms/kg dose of LPS (0.02 LD50) on day 3 of infusion were significantly more likely to die than were rabbits receiving SLT-II only . Rabbits receiving SLT-II and a lower dose of LPS (3 micrograms/kg) did not die but lost an average 3.3% +/- 1.0% of initial body weight during the first 5 days of infusion, compared with weight gains of 4.2% +/- 0.6% and 17.1% +/- 0.9% for rabbits receiving only SLT-II or LPS, respectively . Rabbits that were pretreated with LPS 20 h before challenge with a single dose of SLT-II showed highly significant protection from both the diarrheagenic and lethal effects of SLT-II . Pretreatment of endotoxin-responsive C3H/HeN mice protected the animals from challenge with an LD50 but not an LD100 of SLT-II . LPS enhanced the lethal toxicity of SLT-II for C3H/HeN mice when it was given at 8 or 24 h but not 0 or 72 h after SLT-II challenge . LPS did not affect the lethal toxicity of SLT-II for endotoxin-resistant C3H/HeJ mice . These results suggest that LPS enhances the effects of SLT-II in vivo . Since cecal changes that increase mucosal permeability occur in response to SLT in rabbits, this synergy may be directly relevant to disease processes. Cancer Res, 1989 Nov 1, 49(21), 6044 - 51 Increase in nitrosourea resistance in mammalian cells by retrovirally mediated gene transfer of bacterial O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase; Dumenco LL et al.; Maloney murine leukemia virus-based, replication-defective retroviral vectors containing the neomycin resistance gene (neo) were developed to transfer the Escherichia coli ada gene coding for O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase, into mammalian cells . To optimize gene transfer and expression, the following promoters were linked to ada: the Maloney murine leukemia virus promoter within the long-terminal repeat, the Rous sarcoma virus promoter, the thymidine kinase promoter, or the human phosphoglycerate kinase promoter . Sequences were transfected into the helper virus-free retroviral packaging psi-2 cell line . Recombinant retroviruses were tested in CCL-1 cells, which, like most murine tissues, have low levels of alkyltransferase and are sensitive to 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)nitrosourea (BCNU), and in NIH-3T3 cells, which are BCNU resistant and have high levels of alkyltransferase . Lines infected with each of the four retroviruses were selected for neo expression and found to have intact proviral integration and ada gene expression . Alkyltransferase activity was greatest with retrovirus containing the Rous sarcoma virus-ada gene; infected NIH-3T3 cells had up to 2300 units of alkyltransferase/mg of protein compared with 151 units/mg of protein in control cells, and infected CCL-1 cells had up to 1231 units/mg of protein compared with 33 units/mg of protein in control cells . CCL-1 cells expressing ada were more resistant to BCNU cytotoxicity than were controls . However, NIH-3T3 cells expressing ada were only slightly more resistant to BCNU than controls, possibly because most of the ada protein was cytoplasmic rather than nuclear as suggested by immunohistochemical stain . These studies establish a series of retroviruses containing the bacterial ada gene, which efficiently infect mammalian cells . ada expression increases nitrosourea resistance in cells with low mammalian alkyltransferase activity. J Am Soc Echocardiogr, 1989 Nov-Dec, 2(6), 386 - 9 Use of transesophageal echocardiography for improving detection of valvular vegetations in subacute bacterial endocarditis; Klodas E et al.; Subacute bacterial endocarditis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality . Valvular destruction, congestive heart failure, embolic phenomena, failure of medical therapy, and death are all more common in patients with echocardiographically discernible valvular lesions . Transthoracic echocardiography is often unsatisfactory for evaluation of vegetations in patients with chest wall deformities, lung disease, obesity, or prosthetic valves . The transesophageal approach affords uniformly high-quality images with excellent structural resolution . We present a case of suspected subacute bacterial endocarditis in a patient with equivocal diagnoses of vegetations on three separate transthoracic echocardiograms in whom transesophageal evaluation revealed obvious large vegetations that involved the aortic and mitral valves . Subsequent autopsy confirmed this diagnosis . The case illustrates the utility of a new imaging method for the detection of valvular vegetations . In view of the prognostic implications of detected vegetations, transesophageal echocardiography probably should be performed on all patients with suspected subacute bacterial endocarditis and equivocal results by transthoracic study. Immunobiology, 1989 Nov, 180(1), 93 - 100 Interaction of the lymphoid cell line BCL1 with lipopeptide analogues of bacterial lipoprotein: electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) as a novel method to detect the distribution of the activator within the cells; Wolf B et al.; The lipopeptide Pam3Cys-Ser, a synthetic analogue of the N-terminal part of bacterial lipoprotein, constitutes a potent activator for B lymphocytes, monocytes/macrophages and several lymphoid cell lines . We applied the novel method of electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) to determine, after stimulation, the distribution of the activator within the cell compartments of the lipopeptide sensitive cell line BCL1 . Our results show that the lipopeptide, 20 min after the addition to the cell culture, was found at different locations within the cell: A major amount of the mitogen was found in the plasma membrane . Remarkably, considerable amounts of the activator were also found on the cytoplasm, the nuclear membrane, and the nucleus . After 24 h, a substantial amount of the lipopeptide was still present within the cells . These findings should help to elucidate the molecular mechanism of lymphocyte stimulation by lipopeptides . The novel method of EELS, which was demonstrated here using lipopeptides as examples, constitutes a valuable tool of localizing any given compounds such as growth factors or drugs within cells. Allerg Immunol (Paris), 1989 Nov, 21(9), 354 - 6 Effect of oral bacterial lysates on serum immunoglobulins; Palma-Carlos AG et al.; The level of serum immunoglobulins IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE has been studied before and after oral immunotherapy with a bacterial lysate in 88 patients with bronchial asthma, repeated respiratory infection and 12 cases of IgA deficiency . A significant increase in IgA has been observed in 9 patients presenting initially a decreased IgA serum level . In 3 patients without response to the standard treatment an increase in IgA was achieved increasing the dosage of oral bacterial lysate . Oral bacterial lysates could be an useful immunomodulating agent in repeated respiratory infections associated or not with IgA deficiency. J Hosp Infect, 1989 Nov, 14(4), 333 - 8 Air bacterial and particle counts in total hip replacement operations using non-woven and cotton gowns and drapes; Jalovaara P et al.; Air bacterial and particle counts were obtained in a conventionally ventilated operating theatre, during 8 operations for total hip replacement performed using synthetic non-woven fabrics as drapes for the patients and gowns for the staff (trousers and stockings were of conventional cotton material), ('non-woven' group), and in 8 corresponding operations using conventional cotton fabrics ('cotton' group) . No significant difference between the groups with regard to air bacterial counts was observed . The use of cotton fabrics was associated with substantially higher particle counts, probably due to particles from the cotton textiles themselves . No significant correlation was observed between the bacterial and particle counts, indicating that these came from different sources and that the particles were mainly of sterile origin . Thus, the benefit of the synthetic, non-woven fabrics in hip replacement surgery, when these fabrics are used to cover theatre staff only partially in the form of gowns, seems questionable with regard to the reduction of air bacterial counts . On the other hand, the surgical textiles of non-woven material improve the purity of the operating theatre since unlike cotton fabrics they do not produce and disperse particles in the air. J Clin Invest, 1989 Nov, 84(5), 1588 - 94 Bacterial cell surface hydrophobicity properties in the mediation of in vitro adhesion by the rabbit enteric pathogen Escherichia coli strain RDEC-1; Drumm B et al.; The role of hydrophobicity in the attachment of enteropathogens to gastrointestinal mucosa is controversial . In vitro binding of Escherichia coli RDEC-1 to rabbit intestine is dependent on the expression of pili . We examined in vitro adherence of piliated RDEC-1 after altering either the hydrophobicity of the organisms, the hydrophobicity of the substrate for attachment, or the surface tension of the suspending liquid . Hydrophobicity of RDEC-1 was determined using four complementary methods . In each assay piliated RDEC-1 demonstrated relatively more hydrophobic properties compared with both organisms grown to suppress pilus expression and a mutant that cannot express mannose-resistant pili . When piliated RDEC-1 were pretreated with tetramethyl urea to disrupt hydrophobic bonds surface hydrophobicity decreased . Concurrently, bacterial adherence to rabbit ileal microvillus membranes, mucus and mucin was reduced . Binding of piliated organisms to hydrophobic surfaces was significantly higher compared to both nonpiliated bacteria and the adherence of piliated RDEC-1 to relatively hydrophilic surfaces . Addition of propanol reduced the surface tension of the suspending liquid, and decreased adhesion of piliated RDEC-1 to polystyrene by 80% . Conversely, adherence of piliated organisms to a hydrophilic surface increased 12-fold after lowering the surface tension of the suspending liquid . We conclude that hydrophobic properties have a role in mediating in vitro adherence of this E . coli enteric pathogen. Mol Microbiol, 1989 Nov, 3(11), 1661 - 7 Families of bacterial signal-transducing proteins; Gross R et al.; Bacteria can respond to a variety of environmental stimuli by means of systems generally composed of two proteins . The first protein (sensor or transmitter) is usually a transmembrane protein with cytoplasmic and extracytoplasmic domains . The extracytoplasmic domain (sensor) senses the environment and transfers the signal through the transmembrane domain to the cytoplasmic domain (transmitter), which has kinase activity . The second protein is located in the cytoplasm and contains an amino-terminal domain (receiver), which can be phosphorylated by the transmitter, and a carboxy-terminal region (regulator), which regulates gene expression by binding to DNA . The transmitter and receiver modules (the kinase and its target) are conserved in all signal-transducing systems and are the 'core structure' of this two-component system . The sensors and the regulators vary according to the stimuli they respond to and the DNA structure they interact with . On the basis of their sequence homology, the proteins belonging to such two-component systems can be classified into different families, which are summarized in this review. Genes Dev, 1989 Nov, 3(11), 1725 - 34 Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of a bacterial transcriptional activator by a transmembrane receptor; Igo MM et al.; Signal transduction in the bacterial Omp, Che, and Ntr systems involves the phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of response regulators (OmpR, CheY and CheB, NRI) that share a homologous domain . We show that in the Omp system, the transmembrane sensor EnvZ, catalyzes both the phosphorylation of OmpR and the dephosphorylation of OmpR-P . The phosphorylation reaction proceeds by a mechanism shared with the Ntr and Che kinases, NRII, and CheA . EnvZ can phosphorylate NRI and can stimulate transcription from the glnAp2 promoter, and similarly, CheA can phosphorylate OmpR and can stimulate transcription from the ompF promoter . OmpR-P formed by either CheA or EnvZ is much more stable than CheY-P and NRI-P, but is rapidly hydrolyzed to OmpR and Pi by EnvZ in the presence of ATP, ADP, or nonhydrolyzable analogs of ATP . Because EnvZ is normally a transmembrane receptor with a periplasmic sensory domain, our results suggest that the role of EnvZ may be to control the intracellular concentration of OmpR-P in response to environmental signals. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1989 Nov, 86(22), 8673 - 7 Detergent disruption of bacterial inner membranes and recovery of protein translocation activity; Cunningham K et al.; Isolation of the integral membrane components of protein translocation requires methods for fractionation and functional reconstitution . We treated inner-membrane vesicles of Escherichia coli with mixtures of octyl beta-D-glucoside, phospholipids, and an integral membrane carrier protein under conditions that extract most of the membrane proteins into micellar solution . Upon dialysis, proteoliposomes were reconstituted that supported translocation of radiochemically pure {35S}pro-OmpA (the precursor of outer membrane protein A) . Translocation into these proteoliposomes required ATP hydrolysis and membrane proteins, indicating that the reaction is that of the inner membrane . The suspension of membranes in detergent was separated into supernatant and pellet fractions by ultracentrifugation . After reconstitution, translocation activity was observed in both fractions, but processing by leader peptidase of translocated pro-OmpA to OmpA was not detectable in the reconstituted pellet fraction . Processing activity was restored by addition of pure leader peptidase as long as this enzyme was added before detergent removal, indicating that the translocation activity is not associated with detergent-resistant membrane vesicles . These results show that protein translocation activity can be recovered from detergent-disrupted membrane vesicles, providing a first step towards the goal of isolating the solubilized components. Mutat Res, 1989 Nov, 218(3), 179 - 88 Beta-galactosidase overexpression in SV40-transformed Chinese hamster fibroblasts exposed to mutagens as a result of amplification of transfected bacterial lacZ DNA sequences; Clement JM et al.; Genetic constructions in which the bacterial lacZ gene, encoding the enzyme beta-galactosidase, is fused to a viral (SV40) origin of replication have been introduced in an SV40-transformed hamster cell line (C1102) . We have studied in detail 3 clones in which beta-galactosidase-specific activity increases after treatment with genotoxic agents . We show that this increase is dependent on the activity of the viral T protein and correlates with an amplification of lac sequences . This system provides a basis for the study of the induction of gene amplification by genotoxic agents in mammalian cells. Arch Biochem Biophys, 1989 Nov 1, 274(2), 394 - 403 Site-directed mutagenesis of the GDP binding domain of bacterial elongation factor Tu; Hwang YW et al.; The tertiary structure model of EF-Tu predicts that the amino acid sequence Val-Asp-His-Gly-Lys-Thr-Thr-Leu (residues 20-27) forms a pocket that binds the pyrophosphate group . To test this model we used site-directed mutagenesis to produce forms of EF-Tu altered in this region . The following mutations were constructed: Gly-20, Val-23, Glu-24, Ile-25, and Pro-27 . Each protein was labeled with {35S}Met and was tested for its ability to interact with guanosine nucleotides and EF-Ts . The in vivo activity of each altered protein was tested by determining its ability to confer aurodox sensitivity to a resistant host . Mutations at residues 23, 24, 25, and 27 eliminated the ability of EF-Tu to interact with either guanosine nucleotides or EF-Ts in vitro, and these forms were also inactive in vivo . In contrast, the Gly-20 form was nearly as active as wild-type EF-Tu in vitro and in vivo . This mutation is theoretically equivalent to reversion of the Gly to Val transforming mutation of the cellular form of the ras gene product p21, a protein proposed to be structurally similar to EF-Tu in the GDP binding domain . In contrast to its effect in the ras gene, the Val to Gly conversion did not affect the endogenous GTPase of EF-Tu . We conclude that the tertiary structure model is correct in its assignment of the pyrophosphate binding site to residues 23-27; however, there are likely to be some significant differences between the configurations of the GTPases of EF-Tu and p21. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1989 Nov, 53(1-2), 171 - 6 Rapid determination of bacterial ribosomal RNA sequences by direct sequencing of enzymatically amplified DNA; Bottger EC; Ribosomal RNA sequences are an appealing target for bacterial classification as well as for development of group- or species-specific DNA probes . Using the polymerase chain reaction and synthetic primers, the feasibility of this gene amplification technique for rapid sequence determination of the major 16S ribosomal RNA domains from small amounts of input DNA is demonstrated . Information useful for phylogenetic classification as well as for construction of specific DNA probes may be obtained by comparison with known sequences. J Immunol, 1989 Nov 1, 143(9), 2955 - 60 The bacterial outer membrane protein that reacts with anti-HLA-B27 antibodies is the OmpA protein; Zhang JJ et al.; A bacterial outer membrane protein of 35-kDa Mr has been reported to react with several anti-HLA-B27 mAb . Here, we demonstrated that this protein showed the heat-modifiability of the OmpA protein during SDS-PAGE . Further, the protein was not detected in mutants of Escherichia coli in which the expression of the OmpA protein has been suppressed . The protein would be reexpressed when one of the mutants was transformed with an expression vector carrying the OmpA gene . Finally, the identity of the reactive protein to OmpA protein was verified by homology in amino acid sequences . An NH2-terminal fragment of this protein was generated by tryptic digestion . Inasmuch as this was unreactive with the anti-HLA-B27 antibody, we concluded that the carboxyl-terminus contributed directly or indirectly to the reactive domain. J Clin Microbiol, 1989 Nov, 27(11), 2612 - 5 Staining bacterial flagella easily; Heimbrook ME et al.; A wet-mount technique for staining bacterial flagella is highly successful when a stable stain and regular slides and cover slips are used . Although not producing a permanent mount, the technique is simple for routine use when the number and arrangement of flagella are critical in identifying species of motile bacteria. Clin Chim Acta, 1989 Oct 31, 185(1), 17 - 24 Bioluminescent assay for serum adenosine deaminase with immobilized bacterial luciferase; Oda K et al.; We describe a bioluminescence method for measuring adenosine deaminase activity in serum . The method involves use of batchwise enzyme reaction containing adenosine, alpha-ketoglutarate, glutamic dehydrogenase and NADH . The resulting solution is injected to the continuous-flow bioluminescence system . In the system, a bacterial luciferase and NAD(P)H:FMN oxidoreductase are covalently co-immobilized on Sepharose 4B . Carrier solution (pH 6.8) for bioluminescence reaction contains FMN and decanal . The continuous-flow light-emitting system, in which the reactor (flow cell packed with immobilized enzyme) is placed in front of a photomultiplier tube inside a photon counter, is versatile and simple . Concentration and response are linearly related from 1.2 to 92.5 pmol per injection of ammonia . The precision of the method is satisfactory (coefficient of variation 3.9-6.8%) . We validated the technique by comparing results with conventional assay method (UV method) . Normal values for adenosine deaminase activity of serum ranged from 7.0 to 22.0 U/l in agreement with those obtained by other method . The Sepharose 4B-immobilized enzymes are stable for more than one year . This assay system could be used as a routine clinical laboratory test in the diagnosis of liver damage. Biochemistry, 1989 Oct 31, 28(22), 8798 - 803 Effects of D-serine on bacterial D-amino acid transaminase: accumulation of an intermediate and inactivation of the enzyme; Martinez del Pozo A et al.; Incubation of pure bacterial D-amino acid transaminase with D-serine or erythro-beta-hydroxy-DL-aspartic acid, which are relatively poor substrates, leads to generation of a new absorbance band at 493 nm that is probably the quinonoid intermediate . The 420-nm absorbance band (due to the pyridoxal phosphate coenzyme) decreases, and the 338-nm absorbance band (due to the pyridoxamine phosphate or some other form of the coenzyme) increases . A negative Cotton effect at 493 nm in the circular dichroism spectra is also generated . Closely related D amino acids do not lead to generation of this new absorption band, which has a half-life of the order of several hours . Treatment of the enzyme with the good substrate D-alanine leads to a small but detectable amount of the same absorbance band . D-Serine but not erythro-beta-hydroxyaspartate leads to inactivation of D-amino acid transaminase, and D-alanine affords partial protection . The results indicate that D-serine is a unique type of inhibitor in which the initial steps of the half-reaction of transamination are so slow that a quinonoid intermediate with a 493-nm absorption band accumulates . A derivative formed from this intermediate inactivates the enzyme. J Biol Chem, 1989 Oct 25, 264(30), 17784 - 9 Stereospecificity of reactions catalyzed by bacterial D-amino acid transaminase; Martinez del Pozo A et al.; The spectral shift from 420 to 338 nm when pure bacterial D-amino acid transaminase binds D-amino acid substrates is also exhibited in part by high concentrations of L-amino acids (L-alanine and L-glutamate) but not by simple dicarboxylic acids or monoamines . Slow processing of L-alanine to D-alanine was observed both by coupled enzymatic assays using D-amino acid oxidase and by high pressure liquid chromatography analysis employing an optically active chromophore (Marfey's reagent) . When the acceptor for L-alanine was alpha-ketoglutarate, D-glutamate was also formed . This minor activity of the transaminase involved both homologous (L-alanine and D-alanine) and heterologous (L-alanine and D-glutamate) substrate pairs and was a function of the nature of the keto acid acceptor . In the presence of alpha-ketoisovalerate, DL-alanine was almost completely processed to D-valine; within the limits of the assay no L-valine was detected . With alpha-ketoisocaproate, 90% of the DL-alanine was converted to D-leucine . In the mechanism of this transaminase reaction, there may be more stereoselective constraints for the protonation of the quinonoid intermediate during the second half-reaction of the transamination reaction, i.e . the donation of the amino group from the pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate coenzyme to a second keto acid acceptor, than during removal of the alpha proton in the initial steps of the reaction pathway . Thus, with this D-amino acid transaminase, the discrete steps of transamination ensure fidelity of the stereospecificity of reaction pathway. J Biol Chem, 1989 Oct 15, 264(29), 17337 - 42 Phosphorylation of an N-terminal regulatory domain activates the CheB methylesterase in bacterial chemotaxis; Lupas A et al.; Two types of reversible protein modification reactions have been identified in bacterial chemotaxis, methylation of membrane receptor-transducer proteins at glutamate side chains and phosphorylation of cytoplasmic signal transduction proteins at histidine and aspartate side chains . CheB is a bifunctional enzyme that is involved in both these modification processes . Its C-terminal domain is a methylesterase that catalyzes the hydrolysis of gamma-carboxyl glutamyl methyl esters in the cytoplasmic domain of chemoreceptor proteins . Its N-terminal domain is a phosphatase that catalyzes the hydrolysis of phospho-CheA, the central response regulator of bacterial chemotaxis . Phospho-CheB, produced as an intermediate in the phosphatase reaction, has dramatically increased methylesterase activity . The interplay between the methylesterase and phosphatase activities of CheB may provide a crucial link between adaptation and excitation in stimulus-response coupling. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1989 Oct 15, 52(3), 257 - 60 Bacterial colony screening with a Streptomyces DNA probe; Kuczek K et al.; Restriction fragments of 1.5 kb-3.5 kb length were selected from a SalI digest of Streptomyces coriofaciens ISP5485 DNA . After radiolabelling, these fragments were used as a molecular probe . A number of actinomycetes was screened in colony h