Microorganisms

Rev Cubana Estomatol, 1988 Sep-Dec, 25(3), 65 - 72
{Microbiology of samples from patients with periodontal pockets}; Ortiz Moncada C et al.; A microbiologic study was carried out in 39 patients with periodontal affections, who were surgically treated . A formulary was drawn up for the collection of the following data: age, sex, criteria of Russell periodontal index and microbiologic results . The contents of the periodontal pocket was collected at the time of the surgical procedure, and settled in assay tubes with culture medium to provide bacterial growth . The highest percentage of microorganisms were those of genus Peptostreptococci, and most common severity was caused by parodontitis.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1988 Sep, 73(3), 348 - 54
Abnormal monocyte chemotaxis in patients with chronic purulent rhinosinusitis: an effect of retroviral p15E-related factors in serum; van de Plassche-Boers EM et al.; Earlier we reported that about 60% of patients suffering from unexplained relapsing of chronic purulent rhinosinusitis show a defective T cell-mediated immunity to commensal microorganisms of the upper respiratory tract . The monocyte chemotactic responsiveness was assessed in 40 of these patients by means of the polarization assay . Impaired FMLP-induced monocyte polarization was found in 26 of the 40 patients tested . The defective chemotactic responsiveness could be explained by a p15E-related factor detectable in the serum of the patients: addition of serum fractions less than 25 kD to healthy donor monocytes resulted in an inhibition of polarization; a monoclonal antibody directed against p15E neutralized this inhibitory effect . In individual patients, a decreased monocyte polarization correlated well with the presence of this p15E-related factor in serum, as well as with defective T cell reactivity.

Biofizika, 1988 Sep-Oct, 33(5), 841 - 4
{Effect of electromagnetic fields on movement of microorganisms}; Zel'nichenko AT et al.; Relationships between the motor activity and orientation of microorganisms and parameters of the electromagnetic field and of the microorganisms themselves were investigated . It has been shown that the type of microorganism and field amplitude produces the strongest influence on the behaviour of microorganisms in the fields . Theoretical relationships of the value of rotating moment and the field parameters, microorganism and environment were obtained . The results of the experiments well agree with the theory.

J Pharmacobiodyn, 1988 Sep, 11(9), 625 - 9
Hydrolysis of salicyluric acid in intestinal microorganisms and prolonged blood concentration of salicylic acid following rectal administration of salicyluric acid in rats; Nakamura J et al.; The blood concentrations of salicyluric acid and salicylic acid following oral, intravenous, intracecal and rectal administration of salicyluric acid were determined in rats . After oral administration of salicyluric acid, salicyluric acid was rapidly absorbed . Salicylic acid was detected at low concentration . Following intravenous administration of salicyluric acid, salicyluric acid was detected in the blood and was rapidly eliminated . A trace amount of salicylic acid was detected, suggesting that systemic deconjugation of glycine was involved . Furthermore, in vitro incubation of salicyluric acid with contents of the gut showed that the major source of the hydrolysis was the hind gut . Immediate and very extensive salicylic acid formation in the cecum was found following intracecal administration of salicyluric acid . The blood concentration of salicylic acid was maintained at 2.6-4.0 micrograms/ml from 4 to 12 h following rectal administration of salicyluric acid (10 mg/kg: salicylic acid equivalent) . Species difference in the metabolic fate of salicyluric acid in rats and rabbits reported previously is discussed.

Mol Gen Mikrobiol Virusol, 1988 Sep, (9), 17 - 21
{Phospholipids of bacteria of Brucella genus}; Kulikov VI et al.; The phospholipid composition of 6 Brucella species (B . melitensis, B . abortus, B . suis, B . ovis . B . canis, B . neotomae) and Australian mouse-derived strains of Brucella N 4, 11, 12 were studied . Comparison of phospholipid composition of Brucella cells with that of serologically related microorganisms revealed that all Brucella biotypes contain phosphatidyl-(N-methyl)ethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine while Y . enterocolitica, Sh . disenteriae, E . coli cells do not contain these two substances . It is concluded that the specific phospholipid pattern of Brucella biotypes may be useful in typing of new Brucella strains.

Radiobiologiia, 1988 Sep-Oct, 28(5), 707 - 13
{Does a powerful electromagnetic field in the decimetric range possess genetic activity in relation to microorganisms?}; Panasenko VI; It was shown that mutants can occur in various microorganisms after a short-term exposure to electromagnetic field of 40 to 100 W/cm3 at 2375 MHz . Induction of mutants usually increases as the temperature rises and cell death rate grows to reach a maximum at a minimum survival rate . Colonial-morphological and biochemical phenotype changes are noted . Both specific and individual radiosensitivity are observed (from a 100 per cent loss of the studied character to the complete absence of the effect) . Changes occur more frequently in the parameters determined by plasmids . There is a possibility to select thermoresistant variants without changing the genotype.

Poult Sci, 1988 Sep, 67(9), 1314 - 21
Absorption of 14C-2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)butanoic acid (Alimet) from the hindgut of the broiler chick; Dibner JJ et al.; The purpose of these studies was to examine the role of the hindgut of the broiler chick in the absorption of 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)butanoic acid (HMB) . When 14C-HMB was delivered directly into the hindgut, the rate of absorption from this gastrointestinal site was about 40% of the administered dose per hour . Plasma radiolabel appearance indicated that the 14C-HMB lost from the hindgut was being absorbed into the bloodstream of the bird . Decarboxylation experiments using cecal microorganisms showed that the loss of 14C-HMB could not be accounted for by bacterial metabolism . When birds were dosed with radiolabelled HMB and tissue samples were tested, results showed that the 14C-HMB that was absorbed from the hindgut was incorporated into protein in a dose-related manner . In addition, an equimolar, equal specific activity intraperitoneal dose of HMB did not alter the rate of HMB adsorption from the hindgut . This indicates that HMB absorption from the gut is not limited by HMB already in the body tissues . This result confirmed that the rate of HMB diffusion into the blood and its conversion to methionine in body tissues were sufficient to maintain the concentration gradient required for the continued absorption of HMB . Finally, whole body autoradiography comparing 35S-HMB and 35S-DL-methionine showed no substantial differences in terms of label density or distribution . These studies demonstrate that 14C-HMB disappears from the lumen of the large intestine and ceca when it is administered directly into the hindgut . This research confirms that HMB is absorbed throughout the entire gastrointestinal system.

J Clin Microbiol, 1988 Sep, 26(9), 1757 - 62
Laboratory diagnosis of peritonitis in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis; Ludlam HA et al.; The clinical course and laboratory diagnosis of peritonitis in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis was studied in 32 consecutive episodes . Peritonitis was associated with a failure in aseptic technique in eight episodes and with an exit-site infection in four episodes . Intraperitoneal vancomycin and ceftazidime were safe, effective, and convenient . Most patients administered their antibiotics at home, and symptoms usually resolved by day 4 . Culture of the deposit obtained by centrifugation of 50 ml of effluent after leukocyte lysis provided the best rate of recovery (84% culture positive) but was technically demanding . Filtration of the same volume without leukocyte lysis was simple to perform and almost as effective . Enrichment was less satisfactory (65% culture positive) owing to the presence of antibiotic or infection with fastidious microorganisms . Culture of 50 ml of effluent after concentration by a commonly used laboratory technique, centrifugation without leukocyte lysis, performed poorly (59% culture positive at 48 h), as this method caused sequestration and death of microorganisms within the leukocytes . Culture of nearly 1 liter of effluent from 33 asymptomatic patients by the same techniques yielded no microorganisms.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Sep, 41(9), 1186 - 95
Metabolic products of microorganisms . 245 . Colabomycins, new antibiotics of the manumycin group from Streptomyces griseoflavus . II . Structure of colabomycin A; Grote R et al.; The structure of colabomycin A (1) was elucidated by a detailed spectroscopic analysis . Two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy experiments provided assignments of the proton and carbon resonances of the tetraene carboxamide chains occurring in 1 . The configurations of eight out of nine double bonds were determined by analysis of their coupling constants . The absolute configurations of C-4 (4S), C-5 (5R) and C-6 (6S) were established from the CD spectra of the parent compound and of 2-(6-oxo-2,4-hexadienoylamino)-5,6-epoxy-1,4-benzoquinone (2), which was obtained from 1 by mild chromic acid oxidation.

Microbiol Sci, 1988 Sep, 5(9), 280 - 4
Strategies for microbial growth at reduced water activities; Hocking AD; Microorganisms that are capable of growth at reduced water activities all rely on a common strategy for survival, i.e . the intracellular accumulation of a solute or solutes to balance the external water activity (aw), thus preventing the mass movement of water out of the cell . Understanding the physiological mechanisms that enable solutes to be accumulated and retained against strong concentration gradients, and the genetic controls on these processes may, in future, lead to the genetic manipulation of crop plants to increase their drought resistance.

Ukr Biokhim Zh, 1988 Sep-Oct, 60(5), 104 - 19
{Ubiquinone (Q) . Distribution, regulation of biosynthesis and methods of isolation}; Donchenko GV et al.; The data available in literature and results of own studies on distribution and localization of ubiquinone (Q), promising sources and methods of its isolation from tissues of animal and microorganisms are revised . Conditions of microorganism cultivation to intensity ubiquinone biosynthesis as well as methods of its production are revised.

Scanning Microsc, 1988 Sep, 2(3), 1535 - 40
Scanning electron microscope and intragingival microorganisms in periodontal diseases; Saglie FR; During the past two decades there has been an increased understanding of bacterial invasion as a pathogenic mechanism of periodontal diseases . Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) has played a key role in supporting the idea that bacterial invasion may be another pathogenic mechanism in periodontal disease . This has been due to the fact that SEM has a larger depth of focus and better resolving power than the Light Microscope (LM) and also allows for observation of rather large areas of tissue showing in depth the surface of the sample . This review deals with information obtained by using SEM as the fundamental method in studying and specifically identifying microorganisms within gingival tissues . New methodology using correlative microscopy for rapidly identifying invasive bacteria of periodontal tissues is discussed.

J Clin Periodontol, 1988 Sep, 15(8), 485 - 7
The role of dental plaque in gingivitis and periodontitis; Listgarten MA; A dynamic equilibrium between the periodontal microbiota and the host generally results in a clinical state of periodontal health, characterized by minimal inflammatory changes in the marginal gingival tissues . Maintenance of health is most easily achieved by controlling the resident mass of bacteria . In rare instances, control of specific microorganisms may be indicated . Lack of microbial control may lead to an imbalance between the microbiota and the host due to a markedly increased microbial mass and/or increased virulence of the micro-organisms present . Such alterations in the host-parasite equilibrium may result in transient episodes of tissue destruction and, in the long term, to cumulative damage to the periodontal tissues.

Am J Med, 1988 Sep, 85(3), 307 - 14
An attachable silver-impregnated cuff for prevention of infection with central venous catheters: a prospective randomized multicenter trial; Maki DG et al.; PURPOSE: Percutaneously inserted central venous catheters are widely used . Catheter-related bacteremia or fungemia is the most frequent serious complication of these catheters . In an attempt to reduce the frequency of such infections, a subcutaneous cuff constructed of a biodegradable collagen matrix impregnated with bactericidal silver was developed . Our goal was to assess, in a multicenter clinical trial, the effectiveness of this cuff in preventing catheter-related infection . MATERIALS AND METHODS: Central venous catheters needed for fluid or drug therapy, hemodynamic monitoring, or hyperalimentation in patients in three centers were randomly assigned to be inserted with or without the cuff . Patients and catheters in the two groups were comparable in terms of risk factors predisposing to infection, including colonization of skin about the insertion site . RESULTS: The results with 234 catheters inserted into a new site showed that catheters inserted with the cuff were threefold less likely to be colonized on removal (more than 15 colony-forming units) than were control catheters (28.9 percent versus 9.1 percent, p = 0.002) and were nearly fourfold less likely to produce bacteremia (3.7 percent versus 1.0 percent) . Adverse effects from the cuff were not seen . The cuff did not confer protection, however against infection with catheters inserted over a guidewire into old sites . Most of the catheter-related infections identified in this study, including four of the six bacteremias, appear to have been caused by microorganisms colonizing skin about the insertion site, affirming the pathogenetic basis for benefit seen with the cuff in this clinical trial; two may have derived from contamination of the catheter hub . CONCLUSION: This novel, silver-impregnated, attachable cuff can substantially reduce the incidence of catheter-related infection with most percutaneously inserted central venous catheters, can extend the time catheters can be left in place safely, and can prove cost-beneficial.

J Lab Clin Med, 1988 Sep, 112(3), 372 - 9
Platelet adherence to cardiac and noncardiac endothelial cells in culture: lack of a prostacyclin effect; Johnson CM et al.; Cardiac tissues show a propensity to develop nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis, a meshwork of platelets and fibrin . This lesion may cause a predisposition to subsequent colonization by circulating microorganisms, leading to infective endocarditis . We measured platelet adherence in vitro to cultured endothelial cells derived from the porcine aortic valve and ascending aorta . We found that valvular endothelial cells showed a twofold to threefold higher adherence than ascending aortic endothelial cells of chromium 51-labeled platelets in the presence of proteolytically active thrombin . This finding did not correlate with endothelial prostacyclin release: cardiac valve endothelial cells released more prostacyclin than did, ascending aortic cells, exogenous prostacyclin had no effect on thrombin-stimulated adherence, and aspirin inhibition of endothelial prostacyclin synthesis showed no effect on platelet adherence . Fixation of platelets abolished thrombin-stimulated adherence; fixation of endothelial cells had minimal effect . We suggest that these differences may contribute to the propensity of the cardiac valve to develop nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis.

Kosm Biol Aviakosm Med, 1988 Sep-Oct, 22(5), 68 - 71
{Condition of the human skin during a stay in a hermetically closed compartment}; Dubinin DM et al.; The skin of healthy men kept in an enclosed environment was examined . It was found that exposure resulted in increases of the secretions of the sebaceous glands and sebum cutaneum, number and size of comedones, lipolytic activity of microorganisms, concentration of comedonogenic acids and skin irritating acids . It also caused a greater risk of papular and pustular rashes . Changes in lipid metabolism were consistent with the skin clinical state as well as with the subjective sensations of dirty skin, desquamation and itching . The severity of the above changes was correlated with the pretest physiological and hygienic status of the subjects.

Immunobiology, 1988 Sep, 177(4-5), 363 - 70
Modulation of human neutrophil and monocyte chemotaxis and superoxide responses by recombinant TNF-alpha and GM-CSF; Kharazmi A et al.; The effects of recombinant TNF and GM-CSF on human peripheral blood neutrophil and monocyte chemotaxis and the superoxide response were studied . TNF exhibited a slight chemotactic activity for both cell types . Preincubation of neutrophils with as little as 40 units/ml strongly inhibited the neutrophil chemotaxis towards f-Met-Leu-Phe . The inhibition of monocyte chemotaxis required higher concentrations of TNF (greater than 400 units/ml) . TNF at concentrations higher than 500 units/ml enhanced the generation of superoxide anions by neutrophils stimulated with f-Met-Leu-Phe . In contrast, TNF even at 2,000 units/ml did not prime monocytes for enhanced superoxide response . GM-CSF alone did not exhibit any chemotactic activity for any of the cell types tested . Preincubation of cells with GM-CSF inhibited chemotaxis of neutrophils but not of monocytes . GM-CSF was as potent as TNF in enhancing the generation of superoxide response by neutrophils . However, GM-CSF did not have any effect on monocyte superoxide response . The priming ability of TNF and GM-CSF on neutrophils was heat-sensitive . We conclude that TNF and GM-CSF play a more pronounced regulatory role on neutrophils than on monocytes . Inhibition of neutrophil chemotaxis followed by enhancement of the superoxide response by TNF and GM-CSF may provide an attractive mechanism by which these cytokines assist in fighting invading microorganisms.

Nature, 1988 Aug 11, 334(6182), 519 - 22
Ribosomal RNA sequence shows Pneumocystis carinii to be a member of the fungi; Edman JC et al.; Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is the most common opportunistic infection in AIDS, and accounts for significant morbidity and mortality in these and other immunocompromised patients . P . carinii is a eukaryotic microorganism of uncertain taxonomy that can infect numerous mammalian hosts . Developing from a small, unicellular 'trophozoite' into a 'cyst' containing eight 'sporozoites', its life cycle superficially resembles those seen both in the Protozoa and Fungi . Morphological and ultrastructural observations have lead some investigators to conclude that the organism is a protozoan, while others have felt that it more closely resembles a fungus . Phylogenetic relationships can be inferred from comparisons of macromolecular sequences . Small subunit ribosomal RNAs (16S-like rRNAs) are well-suited for this purpose because they have the same function in all organisms and contain sufficient information to estimate both close and distant evolutionary relationships . Phylogenetic frameworks based upon such comparisons reveal that the plant, animal and fungal lineages are distinct from the diverse spectrum of protozoan lineages . In this letter, phylogenetic analysis of Pneumocystis 16S-like rRNA demonstrates it to be a member of the Fungi.

Endocrinol Jpn, 1988 Aug, 35(4), 607 - 16
A case of hypopituitarism due to granulomatous and lymphocytic adenohypophysitis with minimal pituitary enlargement: a possible variant of lymphocytic adenohypophysitis; Miyamoto M et al.; A 47-year-old woman complaining of cold intolerance, general weakness and amenorrhea of 10 months duration was diagnosed, by endocrine examinations, as having panhypopituitarism . Skull x-ray films revealed a slightly enlarged sella with double floor sign and MRI showed a low intensity mass in the pituitary . Transsphenoidal exploration disclosed a degenerated pituitary gland, the histology of which showed a granulomatous lesion with moderate lymphocytic infiltration but containing no multinuclear giant cells . No caseous necrosis, causative microorganisms, or BCG antigen were noted . The present case is considered a variant form of lymphocytic adenohypophysitis.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1988 Aug, (8), 13 - 6
{Populations of pathogenic Leptospira of varying virulence in nature}; Chernukha IuG et al.; The study of geographically remote populations of Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) revealed that in one of these populations a highly virulent population of Leptospira copenhageni, serogroup icterohaemorrhagiae, and in another population of rats a faintly virulent population of these microorganisms circulated simultaneously . At the same time in vitro experiments with Leptospira cultures showed the absence of the constant probability of sharp changes in the level of their virulence in time.

J Clin Microbiol, 1988 Aug, 26(8), 1609 - 13
Clinical evaluation of diagnostic hemoperfusion for in vivo enrichment of bacteria and fungi in comparison with a conventional blood culture technique; Kuhnen E et al.; The hemoperfusion module, a newly developed technique for recovering pathogenic microorganisms from patients suffering from septicemia, was compared with conventional blood cultures . The module was interconnected with the extracorporeal circulation of 92 predominantly hemodialyzed patients . Nearly 12 liters of flowing blood (up to 200 ml min-1; mean running time, 60 min) came in contact with the coated charcoal . Of 99 modules examined, 44 (44.7%) yielded positive cultures and contained 54 potentially pathogenic bacteria or fungi (22 species) . Only 32 of 190 (16.8%) conventional blood cultures were positive and contained 37 microorganisms (10 species) . Even when patients were receiving antibiotic treatment, the frequency of isolation was significantly higher in hemoperfusion (21 of 44 modules positive, 47.7%) than in conventional blood cultures (10 of 88 cultures positive, 11.4%) . In contrast, 23 of 55 modules (41.8%) and 22 of 102 conventional blood cultures (21.6%) were positive when patients were not treated with antibiotics prior to blood sampling . Altogether, hemoperfusion modules appeared to be superior to and more sensitive than the conventional blood cultures used and seemed to be a valuable tool for detecting septicemia.

Microbiol Sci, 1988 Aug, 5(8), 228 - 32
Invasion and intracellular growth of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi; Tamura A; Intracellular multiplication of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi, a causative agent of scrub typhus, was examined by electron microscopy of specimens prepared at various time intervals after infection of in vitro cultured cells . The sequential morphological growth cycle of the microorganism is presented diagrammatically.

Clin Nephrol, 1988 Aug, 30(2), 63 - 72
Alterations in chemotactic factor-induced responses of neutrophils and monocytes from chronic dialysis patients; Lewis SL et al.; Chronic renal failure patients on dialysis have an increased susceptibility to infection . Previous studies have demonstrated that these patients have a decreased in vitro neutrophil (PMN) chemotactic response and a reduction in C5a receptor availability on both PMN and monocytes . This study was designed to determine if other chemotactic factor-mediated responses of PMN and monocytes from hemodialysis (HD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients are abnormal . The responses investigated included in vitro chemotaxis, superoxide generation, H2O2 production, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) release . These studies showed that PMN from HD and CAPD patients are significantly decreased in their chemotactic response to both C5a and fMLP when compared to normal controls . The response of HD patient's PMN to C5a was decreased by an average of 55.1% (p less than 0.005) and for CAPD patients by 49.7% (p less than 0.01) . Similarly, chemotactic responses to fMLP were decreased by an average of 44.7% (p less than 0.005) for HD patients and 36.3% (p less than 0.02) for CAPD patients . Superoxide anion production by PMN and monocytes from HD and CAPD patients in response to C5a and fMLP was also significantly decreased compared to controls . PMN superoxide production in response to C5a was decreased by an average of 36.5% (p less than 0.001) for HD patients and 32.0% (p less than 0.001) for CAPD patients . fMLP-stimulated production of superoxide was also decreased but to a lesser degree with a mean decrease of 18.0% (p less than 0.01) for HD patients and 24.1% decrease (p less than 0.01) for CAPD patients . This decreased responsiveness was restricted to C5a- and fMLP-stimulated superoxide production since phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-stimulated responses were comparable to controls . A similar pattern of decreased superoxide production was found with monocytes from these patients . Comparable decreases in chemotactic factor-stimulated responses were also observed in a flow cytometric assay of H2O2 production in both PMN and monocytes and an in vitro assay of MPO release from PMN . Analysis of the binding of fluorescent C5a to PMN showed a direct correlation between decreased C5a binding and decreased O2- production and MPO release . Since all of these chemotactic factor-stimulated events are involved in the inflammatory process and the killing of microorganisms, alterations in these WBC functions in dialysis patients may contribute to their increased susceptibility to infection.

Pediatr Infect Dis J, 1988 Aug, 7(8), 547 - 51
Role of Ureaplasma urealyticum and other pathogens in the development of chronic lung disease of prematurity; Wang EE et al.; A prospective cohort study enrolling 107 infants weighing less than 1250 g was conducted between September 1, 1986, and November 15, 1987 in order to determine the role of microorganisms on the development of chronic lung disease (CLD) . Ureaplasma urealyticum was isolated significantly more frequently from gastric aspirates and nasopharyngeal or endotracheal aspirates from 43 infants developing CLD than from 56 who did not (51% vs . 16%; P less than 0.005) . Infants developing CLD, defined by radiographic and blood gas abnormalities, were significantly younger (26 vs . 29 weeks; P less than 0.0001), weighed significantly less (830 vs . 1050 g; P less than 0.0001) and required more ventilatory support (37 vs . 10 were being ventilated and 42 vs . 26 received oxygen supplementation on Day 7) compared with those who did not develop CLD . Viruses were isolated in association with U . urealyticum in two infants developing CLD and in one infant who did not develop CLD . Mycoplasma hominis was isolated from three infants who were colonized with U . urealyticum and developed CLD . Chlamydia trachomatis was not recovered from any patients . From a discriminant analysis it was found that U . urealyticum contributed to the development of CLD along with the effect of ventilatory support, gestational age and severity of initial respiratory disease . The effect of interventions directed against U . urealyticum on the development of CLD deserves further study.

J Hepatol, 1988 Aug, 7(1), 34 - 44
Primary culture of cryopreserved adult human hepatocytes on homologous extracellular matrix and the influence of monocytic products on albumin synthesis; Moshage HJ et al.; Cultured human hepatocytes provide a useful method for studies of specific metabolic functions, such as plasma protein synthesis or drug metabolism in man and specific interaction of microorganisms with the human liver cell . In vitro studies using human hepatocytes are seriously hampered by the limited availability of viable tissue and the lack of suitable methods for preservation of hepatocytes . In addition, normal adult human hepatocytes, under classical culture conditions, do not proliferate in vitro . Recently, we have reported a method for long-term storage of human hepatocytes, using a cryopreservation technique . However, after thawing, the efficiency of cell seeding onto tissue culture plastic and, accordingly, the survival of hepatocytes in primary cultures were decreased as compared to freshly prepared and cultured hepatocytes . In the present study, we report the effects of extracellular matrix (ECM) obtained from normal liver of kidney donors on the attachment efficiency, survival, some metabolic functions and fine structure of human hepatocytes . It was found that the deleterious effect of deep-freeze storage on attachment efficiency and survival of hepatocytes could be significantly reduced by using tissue culture plastic precoated with human liver ECM . Hepatocytes survived for more than 4-6 weeks, without evidence of fibroblast overgrowth . Using this in vitro experimental system, we have also shown that these hepatocytes synthesize several liver-specific acute phase proteins, and monocytic products were able to decrease the hepatocytic synthesis of albumin while total protein synthesis remained unchanged . These results support our previous observations in cultured rodent hepatocytes, indicating the important role of monocytic products in the regulation of liver synthesis of albumin in inflammatory diseases in man.

BMJ, 1988 Jul 16, 297(6642), 185 - 7
Infection control revisited: dilemma facing today's bronchoscopists; Hanson PJ et al.; The emergence of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome has provoked a widespread review of policies for infection control . Incomplete knowledge about the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus, and mycobacteria has until now been compensated for by adopting "overkill" precautions for patients who were thought to harbour these organisms . This policy is no longer tenable, given the difficulty in identifying infected patients . The control of infection in hospitals must instead be based on the routine use of high standards of hygiene that are adequate to contain all pathogens . Attempts by bronchoscopists to formulate such a policy have been frustrated by the lack of a suitable disinfectant and by ignorance of the susceptibility of microorganisms to cleaning and disinfection in a clinical environment.

JAMA, 1988 Jul 15, 260(3), 348 - 53
Empirical therapy for the management of acute proctitis in homosexual men; Rompalo AM et al.; An effective empirical treatment regimen would provide a more rapid and less expensive approach to the management of homosexual men with acute proctitis . We conducted a randomized trial in 129 homosexual men who presented with acute proctitis, comparing treatment with an empirical regimen (4.8 million U of aqueous penicillin G procaine intramuscularly and 1.0 g of probenecid orally, followed by 100 mg of oral doxycycline twice daily for seven days) with specific therapy for each infection as it was recognized . Therapy with the empirical regimen resulted in more rapid resolution of the symptoms of proctitis, the objective signs of proctitis, and the infecting microorganisms . However, nearly one fourth of the patients, primarily those with unrecognized herpes simplex virus proctitis, did not respond to empirical therapy . We recommend empirical therapy coupled with appropriate pretreatment diagnostic testing for the initial management of acute proctitis in homosexual men with no clinical evidence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or AIDS-related complex.

Radiat Res, 1988 Jul, 115(1), 124 - 40
Quantitative aspects of the interactive killing effects between X rays and other mutagens in microorganisms; Ager DD et al.; Recently we presented a mathematical description of the synergistic interaction which occurs when Escherichia coli B/r is exposed to both X rays and 254 nm ultraviolet light (D . D . Ager and R . H . Haynes, Radiat . Res . 110, 129-141 (1987} . Here we extend this approach to other bacteria and describe a graphical technique which can be used to determine the nature and relative importance of second and third degree terms in the function h(x, y), which describes the dose dependence of such effects . In most cases, interaction functions appear to be dominated, in the biologically interesting dose range, by a second degree term in the product, xy, of the doses of the two agents . We find that the magnitudes of these interactions vary among the organisms examined and can be surprisingly large . Finally, we show that the simple xy dependence observed for most interactions does not carry any unambiguous implications with respect to previous speculations on the mechanisms of these effects.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1988 Jul, 85(14), 5141 - 5
Comparative evolution: latent potentials for anagenetic advance; Stebbins GL et al.; One of the principles that has emerged from experimental evolutionary studies of microorganisms is that polymorphic alleles or new mutations can sometimes possess a latent potential to respond to selection in different environments, although the alleles may be functionally equivalent or disfavored under typical conditions . We suggest that such responses to selection in microorganisms serve as experimental models of evolutionary advances that occur over much longer periods of time in higher organisms . We propose as a general evolutionary principle that anagenic advances often come from capitalizing on preexisting latent selection potentials in the presence of novel ecological opportunity.

Infect Immun, 1988 Jul, 56(7), 1792 - 9
Histologic, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopic study of infectious process in mouse lung after intranasal challenge with Coxiella burnetii; Khavkin T et al.; A histologic, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopic study of the intracellular parasitism of Coxiella burnetii (the Q fever agent) in mouse lungs after intranasal challenge was undertaken . It was shown that this microorganism invades type I and, rarely, type II pneumocytes as well as pulmonary fibroblasts and histiocytes . The infectious process can be described as a focal intra-alveolar inflammation with the macrophages prevailing in the exudate . It is self-limited, with a complete resolution . The inflammation is associated with atelectases and with increased secretory activity by type II pneumocytes . Alveolar macrophages and granulocytes degrade C . burnetii . This degradation is followed by damage to and eventual disintegration of some macrophages and by damage to some bacterium-free pneumocytes and vascular endothelial cells in the vicinity of macrophages degrading organisms . The cell damage might be caused by lipopolysaccharide released from degraded organisms . The infectious process is also associated with the influx of T cells in the pneumonic foci, T-cell attachment to the macrophages degrading organisms, and fusion of some macrophages . These are considered a morphologic expression of cell-mediated immunity involved in the infectious process.

Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract, 1988 Jul, 18(4), 773 - 82
Cytologic evaluation of otic exudates; Chickering WR; The multifactorial nature of otitis externa requires accurate etiologic information to ensure therapeutic success . The collection and preparation of cytologic samples of otic exudates are simple to perform, and information of immediate diagnostic and therapeutic value can be attained . Evidence of epidermal hyperplasia and increased glandular secretory activity suggests a noninfectious cause . Large numbers of microorganisms and infiltrating leukocytes confirm the presence of infection . The presence of ear mites, particularly O . cynotis, is always significant . Abnormal epithelial cells that appear singly or in sheets and clusters support the diagnosis of neoplasia; the extent of cell differentiation determines malignancy . Inflammatory cells and acantholytic keratinocytes from vesicular otic lesions suggest autoimmune skin disease.

Chronobiologia, 1988 Jul-Sep, 15(3), 223 - 6
Evidence of an endogenous circannual rhythm in growth-rates in dinoflagellates; Costas E et al.; Prorocentrum micans and Gonyaulax excavata clonal cultures grown under constant laboratory environmental conditions (continuous light and 20 +/- 1 degree C), over a two-year period, exhibit significative changes in growth rate . When rhythmometrically analyzed by cosinor, a pattern resembling a circannual rhythm became apparent . Significant rhythmometric differences appeared between species . Endogenous rhythms of microorganisms may have ecological implications.

Sci Total Environ, 1988 Jul 1, 73(1-2), 127 - 33
Environmental methylation of tin: an assessment; Ashby JR et al.; The chemical and biological methylation of tin under environmental conditions is reviewed . The question of whether methyltin species form in situ in the environment is also considered . Analytical approaches using hydridization techniques give quite sensitive results . Incubation studies of environmental microorganisms and sediment have demonstrated the formation of methyltin species, and similar conversions have been observed with chemical methylating agents such as methyl cobalamin and methyl iodide.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1988 Jul, 22 Suppl A, 101 - 12
Effective use of the clinical microbiology laboratory; Washington JA 2nd; The clinician's expectations of the clinical microbiology laboratory, while valid, have not always been fulfilled . Major limitations in the accurate identification of an aetiological agent are imposed by cost considerations and poor communication between clinician and laboratory personnel . Other difficulties arise in the entire process of making use of a clinical microbiology laboratory, ranging from specimen collection to interpretation of results . These problems can be partially overcome by the use of guidelines for specimen collection which are designed to provide a sufficient amount of material and number of specimens for complete examination . Additional assistance to the clinician may be rendered by the current trends in clinical microbiology practice to limit the processing of inappropriate specimens and to develop rapid, economical procedures for the detection of pathogenic microorganisms . The clinician should not routinely request antibiotic susceptibility testing but rather base the decision to test on specimen source, type of organism isolated, whether the organisms was isolated in pure or mixed culture, and how predictable the susceptibility of the organism is to the drug of choice.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1988 Jul, 138(1), 117 - 20
Diagnostic value of telescoping plugged catheters in mechanically ventilated patients with bacterial pneumonia using the Metras catheter; Torres A et al.; A new guiding technique, Metras catheter (MC), for blindly introducing a telescoping plugged catheter (TPC) was applied to 25 mechanically ventilated patients with suspected bacterial pneumonia (BPN) . Results obtained with TPC-MC were compared with those obtained with TPC using a conventional fiberoptic bronchoscope (FB) in random order . The diagnosis of BPN was definitely confirmed in 18 patients . In 7 patients, all TPC samples (MC and FB) were sterile, and a diagnosis other than BPN was proved . In the former group, colony-forming units equal to or greater than 10(3)/ml of one or more microorganisms were obtained in 61% of TPC-MC and in 66% of TPC-FB samples . These percentages increased to 64 and 71%, respectively, when 4 patients with previous antibiotic treatment were excluded from the study group . Agreement was observed between microorganisms cultured from both TPC samples in 11 of 18 patients with proved BPN (61%) . Complete disparity was seen only in 2 patients (11%) . Two patients developed a self-limiting hemoptysis after the TPC procedure (MC and FB, respectively) . We conclude that TPC-MC is both a sensitive and specific technique for the diagnosis of BPN in mechanically ventilated patients . Because the diagnostic value of TPC-MC is similar to that of TPC-FB, we propose that the MC be used in patients receiving mechanical ventilation when the FB is not available . The simplicity and lower cost of this new system are important advantages to be considered over the fiberoptic bronchoscope.

Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract, 1988 Jul, 4(2), 317 - 29
Protein-energy malnutrition in ruminants; Oetzel GR; Protein-energy malnutrition occurs when feed is provided to ruminant livestock in insufficient quantity, quality, or both . The clinical syndrome that results from protein-energy malnutrition is not difficult to recognize, but it may be difficult to convince owners of the diagnosis . Development of clinical signs, such as recumbency and hypothermia, may occur rapidly owing to the sudden failure of homeostatic mechanisms that maintain the supply of cellular fuels . The ruminant is unique in its response to malnutrition because ruminal microorganisms become malnourished just as their host does . Ruminal maldigestion hastens the onset of clinical signs and makes recovery very difficult and prolonged . Clinical signs of PEM are similar in adult beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, and goats; however, the typical history of affected animals varies for each of these species . Neonatal ruminants may also be severely affected with PEM if they do not receive sufficient colostrum and milk . Definitive diagnosis of primary PEM requires necropsy of an affected animal . Diagnosis of PEM in an individual animal usually indicates a herd or flock problem that requires immediate attention . If the affected individual is already recumbent, then treatment will likely be difficult and unsuccessful . Changes in management of the herd or flock that involve ensuring adequate feed intake, minimizing cold and social stress, and meeting the animal's specific nutritional requirements will prevent PEM and maximize production.

Ukr Biokhim Zh, 1988 Jul-Aug, 60(4), 78 - 81
{Creation of a polyenzyme composition of proteases from Streptomyces griseus and Acremonium chrysogenum}; Mishunin IF et al.; Proteolytic enzymes of microorganisms have been studied for the possibility to create their polyenzymic composition in order to rise a degree of protein hydrolysis and to lower the process duration . Optimal action conditions are selected and a hydrolysis of a number of globular and fibrillar proteins is conducted by a polyenzymic system of Streptomyces griseus and Acremonium chrysogenum proteases.

Ann Inst Pasteur Microbiol, 1988 Jul-Aug, 139(4), 485 - 91
{Antifungigram of dermatophytes}; Steiman R et al.; The sensitivity of Microsporum gypseum to five antifungal agents was carried out by the disk diffusion method . The influence of the culture medium composition and physiological state of the microorganism was studied . The differed setting of antifungal disks enabled a comparative study of their action on spores and mycelium . Best results were obtained on a complex medium (Casitone) using spores as inoculum . The sensitivity of Microsporum canis, M . gypseum and Trichophyton interdigital to the five antifungal agents indicated the efficacy of imidazole compounds as compared to amphotericin B and nystatin .

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Jul, 54(7), 1864 - 7
Microbial degradation of xenobiotic, aromatic pollutants in humic water; Larsson P et al.; The microbial degradation of a number of 14C-labeled, recalcitrant, aromatic pollutants, including trichloroguaiacol and di-, tri-, and pentachlorophenol, was investigated in aquatic model systems in the laboratory . Natural, mixed cultures of microorganisms in the water from a brown-water lake with a high content of humic compounds mineralized all of the tested substances to a higher degree than did microorganisms in the water from a clear-water lake . Dichlorophenol was the most rapidly degraded pollutant.

Allergol Immunopathol (Madr), 1988 Jul-Aug, 16(4), 279 - 83
Leukocyte chemotaxis; Perez Castrillon JL et al.; Monocyte chemotaxis is a function of mononuclear phagocytic system cells that enables migration toward the focus of infection and inhibition of microorganism growth and proliferation . In this paper we review the chemotactic phenomena following Becker's scheme that distinguishes three phases: recognition, transduction and the effector phase . The recognition phase is comprised of the interaction of a chemotactic agent with a receptor located on the cell surface . We cite the multiple chemoattractant presently known, and the mechanisms that regulate this phase, "up-regulation" and "down-regulation" phenomena, and the presence of receptors in low and high-affinity states . The transduction phase comprises all biochemical events produced after internalization of the attractant-receptor complex, whose purpose is triggering the cell motor apparatus . The key event in beginning movement is the increase of cytosol calcium . Alterations in membrane phosphoinositols constitute the initial transductor mechanism in chemotaxis, inositol-triphosphate and diacylglycerol behaving as second messengers . We review the diverse functions of these phospholipids, as well as we do a graphic representation of these (fig 1) . Motor phase comprises the movement of the cell toward the chemotactic gradient through activation of the motor cell apparatus . We describe the intervening elements, actin and its regulatory proteins acumentin and gelsolin, actin-fixing protein, myosin and microtubuli, and the four phases of locomotion mechanism: reversible adherence, pseudopode emission, cell polarity and movement that results from an alternance between gel and sol states.

Rev Infect Dis, 1988 Jul-Aug, 10 Suppl 2, S274 - 6
Molecular Koch's postulates applied to microbial pathogenicity; Falkow S; Microbial genetics and molecular cloning now permit us to routinely isolate specific genes from a variety of microbial pathogens . Obviously not all genes from pathogenic microorganisms play a role in pathogenicity or virulence . Just as Koch's postulates were formulated to identify the causal relationship between an organism and a specific disease, the notion is presented here that a form of molecular Koch's postulates is needed when examining the potential role of genes and their products in the pathogenesis of infection and disease.

Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol, 1988 Jul-Aug, 24(4), 435 - 47
{Supersynthesis of flavins in microorganisms and its molecular mechanism (review of the literature)}; Shavlovskii GM et al.; The present review discusses the significance of fundamental research into regulation of flavin biosynthesis for development of the knowledge about mechanisms of overproduction of these compounds and their manufacturing . The pathways of riboflavin, FMN and FAD biosyntheses and their regulation in some bacteria, yeasts and fungi are considered, as well as the recent advances in flavin biotechnology . The modern trends in microbial and enzymatic production of flavins are discussed.

Genetika, 1988 Jul, 24(7), 1310 - 3
{Genomic fingerprinting of microorganisms: its use as a hybridization probe of phage M13 DNA}; Ryskov AP et al.; Hypervariable nucleotide sequences detected by hybridization with the phage M13 DNA probe were found in the chromosomal DNAs of certain pathogenic microbial species . DNA fingerprinting, based on hybridization of M13-probe with hypervariable chromosomal DNA sequences, opens new approaches to epidemiological analysis, epidemiological prognosis, taxonomy, and other theoretical and applied fields of bacteriology.

Parasite Immunol, 1988 Jul, 10(4), 353 - 68
Macrophage activation in vitro by lymphocytes from Leishmania major infected healer and non-healer mice; Pham TV et al.; Peritoneal macrophages from CBA/T6 (healer) and BALB/c (non-healer) mice were infected with Leishmania major (LV39) in vitro . The microorganism replicated at the same rate in macrophages from either strain . Exposure of infected cells to lymph node cells (LNC) from infected syngeneic animals led to intracellular killing of the parasite by macrophages from both strains, provided LPS was present in the incubation medium . In vitro-propagated L.major-specific T-cell blasts activated macrophages from either strain in the absence of LPS . On a per cell basis, lymphoid cells from BALB/c mice were less efficient, however, than cells from CBA/T6 mice . Lysis of parasitized macrophages was also more marked in CBA/T6 than in BALB/c cell mixtures . LNC exposed to parasite antigen or to infected macrophages secreted macrophage-activating factor (MAF); incubation with antigen also induced lymphocyte proliferation . MAF production and LNC proliferation decreased with progression of the infection of BALB/c mice, but always remained significant . The reduction in relative T-cell numbers in the lymph nodes of infected animals was moderate; the absolute number of T-cells increased markedly in the lymphoid organs of both strains, however . These results suggest that failure to heal may coexist together with active cell-mediated immune response in non-healer mice.

Infect Immun, 1988 Jul, 56(7), 1722 - 9
Inhibition of the inflammatory action of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor (alpha) on neutrophil function by pentoxifylline; Sullivan GW et al.; Inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor, are produced by monocytes and macrophages in response to microorganisms and microbial products such as endotoxins . The cytokines stimulate neutrophil adherence, degranulation, and superoxide production but inhibit neutrophil migration . We studied the modulation of cytokine-induced neutrophil activation by pentoxifylline and its principle metabolites . Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mononuclear-leukocyte-conditioned medium containing inflammatory cytokines, purified human interleukin-1, or recombinant human tumor necrosis factor increased neutrophil adherence to nylon fiber, primed neutrophils for increased superoxide production in response to N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (FMLP), increased neutrophil lysozyme release stimulated by FMLP, and decreased directed migration of neutrophils to FMLP . Pentoxifylline and its principle metabolites at or near therapeutically achievable levels were able to counteract these effects . Pentoxifylline inhibited the increase in free intracellular calcium in polymorphonuclear leukocytes stimulated by FMLP and increased binding of FMLP to neutrophils at 37 degrees C but not at 4 degrees C . By blocking the inflammatory action of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor on neutrophils, pentoxifylline may diminish the tissue damage caused by neutrophils in such conditions as septic shock, adult respiratory distress syndrome, cardiopulmonary bypass lung damage, and myocardial reperfusion injury.

FEBS Lett, 1988 Jun 20, 233(2), 388 - 92
M13 phage DNA as a universal marker for DNA fingerprinting of animals, plants and microorganisms; Ryskov AP et al.; Hypervariable polymorphic patterns were detected with M13 phage DNA as a probe in genomic DNA of organisms belonging to different taxonomic groups including animals (vertebrates and invertebrates), plants and microorganisms . Individual-specific restriction pattern analysis (DNA fingerprinting) with this probe proved to be useful for individual identification, analysis of somatic stability and paternity testing in man . The nuclear type of inheritance indicates that the hypervariable DNA regions in question are located in the chromosomes, not in the mitochondrial DNA . The data obtained also demonstrate a potential range of M13 DNA applications as a probe for DNA fingerprinting of animals, plants and microorganisms, particularly for the determination of inbred lines, identification of bacterial strains and establishing stock, variety and strain distinctions.

Z Hautkr, 1988 Jun 15, 63(6), 517 - 20
{Hairy tongue and hairy oral leukoplakia--a differential histopathologic diagnosis}; Winzer M et al.; 10 specimens taken from oral hairy leukoplakia were compared to 8 histological preparations from hairy tongue . We found 9 criteria helpful concerning the histopathologic differential diagnosis of these entities . Oral hairy leukoplakia shows a gently papillated surface, a prominent horny layer with confluent bacterial overgrowth, and ballooned epithelial cells with a distinct perinuclear halo in a bandlike arrangement . Hairy tongue, in contrast, grows exophytically with a digitiform surface, the horny layer is rather thin, and the microorganisms are confined to the ends of the digitations; the ballooned epithelial cells show pale cytoplasm . Considering the growing incidents of HIV infection, the dermatologist should be familiar with the characteristics of oral hairy leukoplakia and its histopathological differential diagnosis.

Nature, 1988 Jun 9, 333(6173), 565 - 7
The major Fc receptor in blood has a phosphatidylinositol anchor and is deficient in paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria; Selvaraj P et al.; Fc receptors on phagocytic cells in the blood mediate binding and clearance of immune complexes, phagocytosis of antibody-opsonized microorganisms, and potently trigger effector functions, including superoxide anion production and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity . The Fc receptor type III (Fc gamma R III, CD 16), present in 135,000 sites per cell 1 on neutrophils and accounting for most of FcR in blood, unexpectedly has a phosphatidylinositol glycan (PIG) membrane anchor . Deficiency of Fc gamma R III is observed in paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH), an acquired abnormality of haematopoietic cells affecting PIG tail biosynthesis or attachment, and is probably responsible for circulating immune complexes and susceptibility to bacterial infections associated with this disease . Although a growing number of eukaryotic cell-surface proteins with PIG-tails are being described, none has thus far been implicated in receptor-mediated endocytosis or in triggering of cell-mediated killing . Our findings on the Fc gamma R III raise the question of how a PIG-tailed protein important in immune complex clearance in vivo and in antibody-dependent killing mediates ligand internalization and cytotoxicity . Together with our results, previous functional studies on Fc gamma R III and Fc gamma R II suggest that these two receptors may cooperate and that the type of membrane anchor is an important mechanism whereby the functional capacity of surface receptors can be regulated.

Eur J Pediatr, 1988 Jun, 147(5), 520 - 2
Neonatal brucellosis; Lubani MM et al.; Three Arab children with neonatal brucellosis are described . The first presented with late neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia, the second with a septicoemia-like picture and the third was born prematurely and presented with respiratory distress . The diagnosis of brucellosis was based on a positive blood culture and on a high or rising titre of antibodies to the Brucella organism . All the three neonates responded well to antibiotic therapy as monitored by a Brucella titre of less than 1:40 and a negative blood culture 10 weeks after the onset of therapy . The three mothers had Brucella infections during pregnancy and the Brucella agglutination titre of the breast milk was high . No Brucella microorganism was isolated from the breast milk . The mode of transmission of brucellosis in neonates is discussed.

Am J Vet Res, 1988 Jun, 49(6), 766 - 9
Ecologic study of the risk factors for environmental mastitis in cows; Schukken YH et al.; An index was developed to measure the proportion of intramammary infections caused by environmental microorganisms on dairy farms . This environmental index can be interpreted as the probability that an intramammary infection was caused by an environmental pathogen, rather than by a contagious pathogen . Using the environmental index as the outcome variable, risk factors for environmental mastitis were studied on 10 dairy farms in New York . Turning the cows outside was associated with lower environmental index, and having cows drink from a stream increased the environmental index . Selective (rather than uniform) nonlactating cow intramammary treatment was related to a lower environmental index (apparently because the farms practicing selective nonlactating cow treatment suffered from epizootics of contagious mastitis).

J Trauma, 1988 Jun, 28(6), 866 - 7
Injury from silage wagon accident complicated by mucormycosis; Gordon G et al.; Infection due to farm machinery injuries may be caused by microorganisms found in soil or decaying vegetable material . A case of injury due to entrapment of a young boy in a silage wagon is reported here . His injuries were complicated by infection with Aspergillus species, Absidia species, Rhizopus species (the latter two are members of the Mucorales order), and Pseudomonas maltophilia . Successful treatment of his infection followed aggressive surgical debridement of the anterior abdominal wall, amphotericin B, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and surgical closure utilizing delayed placement of split-thickness skin grafts.

J Bacteriol, 1988 Jun, 170(6), 2790 - 5
A rapid population method for action spectra applied to Halobacterium halobium; Stoeckenius W et al.; We have developed a simple and rapid technique for measuring the action spectra for phototaxis of populations of microorganisms and applied it to halobacteria . A microscope with a dark-field condenser was used to illuminate the cell suspension in a sealed chamber with light of wavelength greater than 750 nm; in this region of the spectrum, the halobacteria show no phototactic response . A 150-micron spot of light from a xenon arc lamp, whose wavelength and intensity can be varied, was projected through the objective lens into the center of the dark field . The objective lens imaged this measuring spot through a 780-nm cut-off filter on an aperture in front of a photomultiplier . The intensity of the scattered 750-nm light, and therefore the photomultiplier current, is proportional to the number of cells in the measuring spot . A third lamp provided background light of variable wavelength and intensity through the dark-field condenser . To minimize secondary effects due to large changes in cell density, we recorded the initial changes in the photomultiplier current over 1 min after the actinic light had been switched on . By plotting the rate of change against wavelength, we obtained action spectra after the proper corrections for changes in light intensity with wavelength were applied and saturation effects were avoided.

Clin Lab Med, 1988 Jun, 8(2), 325 - 36
Autoreactivity and altered immune responses in inflammatory bowel disease; Keren DF; Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a poorly understood condition that is associated with a wide variety of immunologic alterations . Because its pathogenesis is unknown, these immunologic alterations have been investigated with an eye toward unraveling the complex mechanism of injury in the bowels of these patients . There are several lines of evidence suggesting that IBD is related to immunologic events . The histopathology of active disease resembles the Arthus reaction, whereas the presence of antiepithelial cell antibodies is reminiscent of Goodpasture's disease . Antibodies against many microorganisms and autoantibodies to mucosal components are commonly found in these patients . Further, there is a marked increase in plasma cells in the lamina propria of patients with active IBD . It is important to keep these findings in perspective . No studies to date have been able to determine whether the features are entirely primary events, that is, related to the initial damage to the intestinal mucosa . If the surface mucosa is injured by an as-yet-unidentified agent, the immunologic findings in IBD may be secondary events . Nonetheless, the similarity in histopathology of the experimental immunologic models of IBD to the human disease encourages investigators to pursue the etiology of this complex disease.

Int J Food Microbiol, 1988 Jun, 6(4), 281 - 6
The design and application of a model system to investigate physical factors affecting container leakage; Bankes P et al.; A model system was designed and constructed to investigate the mechanisms of food container leakage . Factors which were found to affect the leakage of microorganisms into the container, included the presence of a vacuum, the size and shape of the leakage channel and the volume of liquid passing through the channel . Differences were observed among the test organisms used.

Liver, 1988 Jun, 8(3), 167 - 71
Bacteriaemia after injection sclerotherapy of oesophageal varices; Hegnhoj J et al.; Thirty consecutive alcoholic patients with biopsy-proven cirrhosis of the liver and oesophageal varices underwent a total of 47 upper intestinal endoscopies . During 31 of the endoscopies paravariceal sclerotherapy of oesophageal varices was performed . Blood cultures were drawn before and after the procedures . Bacteriaemia after endoscopy was detected on seven occasions: six after sclerotherapy and one after endoscopy without sclerotherapy . This difference did not reach statistical significance . The microorganisms cultured belonged to the normal flora of the skin or the oropharynx . Bacteriaemia was transient and had no clinical consequences.

J Appl Toxicol, 1988 Jun, 8(3), 227 - 8
Instability and apparent lack of metabolism of phomopsin A during incubation with ovine rumen fluid; Vogel P; To investigate the stability and possible metabolism of phomopsin A in rumen fluid, phomopsin A was incubated in ovine rumen fluid - buffer mixtures for 24 h . High performance liquid chromatographic analysis of extracted incubation mixtures demonstrated that although phomopsin A was degraded, metabolism by rumen microorganisms appears not to be important during 24 h incubation.

Scand J Dent Res, 1988 Jun, 96(3), 275 - 8
Characterization of human salivary beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase); Fouda NE et al.; NAGase activity was studied in mixed whole, parotid, and submandibular saliva . The maximum activity of NAGase was found to be at pH 5.0 . NAGase activity varied considerably among the subjects . The data indicated that a large portion of NAGase activity originates from oral microorganisms . NAGase activity was greatly reduced after heating for 45 min at 50 degrees C . The residual activity after storage at -20 degrees C was higher than the original activity . The enzyme activity was markedly diminished after the addition of Sn++ and Ag+ ions, while no activity was detected after the addition of Hg+ ion.

Eur J Epidemiol, 1988 Jun, 4(2), 212 - 5
The Dienes effect as an epidemiological tool in a paraplegic unit; Herruzo-Cabrera R et al.; The authors study the Dienes effect in 136 P.mirabilis and 2 P.vulgaris strains, isolated from different infection or colonization sites, in 27 spinal cord injured patients, admitted to a Paraplegic Unit, during a 9 month period . It is shown that 7 cross-infection and 18 cross-contamination episodes occurred, affecting 13 of 27 patients, which indicates the great spreading capacity of these microorganisms; 97% of the results obtained were observed once again after 6 months' storage of strains . In addition, in 7 of these strains their resistance to several antibiotics was cured by treating them with acriflavine salts, demonstrating that the Dienes effect persists even when resistance to antibiotics is modified; the authors conclude that the Dienes effect is an accurate stable epidemiological tool to identify cross-infections and its origins, and to facilitate the interruption of the chain of infection.

Am J Reprod Immunol Microbiol, 1988 Jun, 17(2), 61 - 4
Mechanisms of active suppression of the immune response to spermatozoa; Witkin SS; The production of autoantibodies to spermatozoa in males and isoantibodies in females is inhibited both by the physical isolation of spermatozoa from the systemic immune system and by active immunosuppression mechanisms . Lymphoid cells present in the epithelial lining of the rete testis, epididymis, and vas deferens, as well as the human ejaculate, are predominantly T suppressor/cytotoxic cells . Mononuclear cells derived from semen inhibit the in vitro activation of peripheral blood lymphocytes . Soluble specific T suppressor/cytotoxic cell activators in semen or on the sperm surface may be responsible for the predominance of this T cell subset in the male reproductive tract . The activation of T suppressor/cytotoxic cells following coitus may also limit the immune response to spermatozoa in females . Spermatozoa can also initiate immunosuppression, either by selectively inducing T suppressor cells or through the generation of activated complement components that block antibody production . Antisperm antibodies in sera from females may be associated with either a deficiency in the ability of their T suppressor/cytotoxic cells to be induced by factors in semen or by the occurrence in their husbands' ejaculates of microorganisms, antibodies, or other factors that induce T helper lymphocytes . Activated T cells produce interferon gamma, which induces Ia antigen expression on macrophages and allows the female's T helper cells to recognize processed sperm antigens . Recognition of the role of cell-mediated immune functions in the male and female genital tract identifies possible new target sites for the development of contraceptive agents.

J Bacteriol, 1988 Jun, 170(6), 2467 - 71
Cloning and nucleotide sequence of the aroA gene of Bordetella pertussis; Maskell DJ et al.; The aroA locus of Bordetella pertussis, encoding 5-enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate synthase, has been cloned into Escherichia coli by using a cosmid vector . The gene is expressed in E . coli and complemented an E . coli aroA mutant . The nucleotide sequence of the B . pertussis aroA gene was determined and contains an open reading frame encoding 442 amino acids, with a calculated molecular weight for 5-enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate synthase of 46,688 . The amino acid sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence shows homology with the published amino acid sequences of aroA gene products of other microorganisms.

Genetics, 1988 Jun, 119(2), 227 - 36
Mapping of Escherichia coli chromosomal Tn5 and F insertions by pulsed field gel electrophoresis; Smith CL et al.; A low resolution Not I physical map of Escherichia coli was recently constructed . In this report we demonstrated that this map can be used to map Tn5 and F insertions physically . The transposon, Tn5, contains Not I recognition sequences in its IS50 sequences . F plasmid contains an unmapped Not I site . Hence, the location of Tn5 and F in the chromosome can be mapped by identifying the location of the introduced Not I sites using pulsed field gel electrophoresis . The physical mapping of genetically mapped Tn5 insertions confirm the previously constructed Not I map and helps align the E . coli physical and genetic maps . The use of Tn5 can assist the construction of both physical and genetic maps for microorganisms lacking such maps . Variations on this approach will facilitate physical mapping with a wide variety of organisms, enzymes, and genetic elements.

FASEB J, 1988 Jun, 2(9), 2474 - 8
DNA topoisomerases as targets for chemotherapy; Rose KM; DNA topoisomerases are ubiquitous enzymes that alter the configuration or topology of DNA . These enzymes play an important role in replicational, recombinational, and transcriptional events and are a key to cell growth processes . A number of therapeutically useful drugs apparently exert their effects by interfering with DNA topoisomerization reactions . Several inhibitors of bacterial DNA topoisomerase II (DNA gyrase) have been developed . Most of these possess a 4-quinolone nucleus and are highly bactericidal for a variety of microorganisms; at therapeutically effective levels, these compounds do not inhibit the human topoisomerases . Other drugs, structurally distinct from the DNA gyrase inhibitors, inhibit the human type II DNA topoisomerase . These drugs, including m-AMSA and VP16-23, are proving useful in the treatment of several neoplasms.

J Biol Chem, 1988 May 25, 263(15), 6953 - 5
Endotoxin stimulates glycogenolysis in the liver by means of intercellular communication; Casteleijn E et al.; Escherichia coli endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide) was shown to increase glycogenolysis in the perfused liver 2-3-fold . In isolated parenchymal liver cells, however, endotoxin did not influence glycogenolysis, whereas stimulation by endotoxin of glycogenolysis in the perfused liver could be blocked by aspirin . This suggests that the effect of endotoxin on liver glycogenolysis is mediated by eicosanoids . The amount of prostaglandin D2 (which is the major prostanoid formed by Kupffer cells) in the liver perfusates was increased 5-fold upon endotoxin addition, with a time course which preceded the increase in glucose output . It is concluded that endotoxin stimulates glycogenolysis in the liver by stimulating prostaglandin D2 release from Kupffer cells, with a subsequent activation of glycogenolysis in parenchymal liver cells . This mechanism of intercellular communication may be designed to provide the carbohydrate source of energy necessary for the effective destruction of invaded microorganisms, by phagocytic cells, including the Kupffer cells.

J Biol Chem, 1988 May 15, 263(14), 6588 - 91
Characterization of a nonspecific activator protein for the enzymatic hydrolysis of glycolipids; Li SC et al.; We have studied the substrate specificities of a non-specific activator protein on the enzymatic hydrolyses of the following compounds: GM1 and GM2, as well as several of their derivatives including oligosaccharides, GgOse3Cer-II3-sulfate and LacCer-II3-sulfate, Gb-Ose3Cer and GbOse4Cer, three neolacto-series glycosphingolipids, and two non-ceramide glycolipids . Our results show that this activator protein has a broad spectrum of activity and exhibits the properties of a nonspecific natural detergent . The evidence of non-specificity was the ability of this activator protein to stimulate the hydrolyses of glycolipids, regardless of glycosphingolipids or non-ceramide glycolipids, carried out by glycosidases from animals, plants, and microorganisms . Its activity was, however, limited to substrates that had a lipid moiety . The oligosaccharide of GM1 and deacetyl-fatty acid free GM1 (II3-NeuGg-Ose4-sphingosine) were hydrolyzed by beta-galactosidase in the absence of this activator protein.

J Morphol, 1988 May, 196(2), 187 - 93
Fine structure of larval malpighian tubules and rectal sac in the tick Ornithodoros (Pavlovskyella) erraticus (Ixodoidea: Argasidae); el Shoura SM; The fine structure of the Malpighian tubules (Mts) and rectal sac (rs) is described in the larval tick Ornithodoros (Pavlovskyella) erraticus before and after feeding up to molting . Mts consist of structurally different pyramidal and cuboidal cells along the entire length of the tubule . In unfed ticks, the two types of cell are characterized by apical microvilli and a few basal membrane infoldings . The abundant pyramidal cells contain glycogen particles, lipid droplets, lysosomelike structures, and rickettsialike microorganisms . After feeding but before molting, pyramidal cells loose glycogen particles and become very dense and dramatically reduced in size . These cells are possibly involved in the formation of guanine crystalloids as an excretory product . In contrast, cuboidal cells, filled with glycogen particles, free ribosomes, and mitochondria in unfed larvae, grow steadily after feeding; their cytoplasm becomes rich in lipid droplets in addition to showing an increase in glycogen particles . Lipid and glycogen could be the source of energy required for water and ion reabsorption in which cuboidal cells are probably involved . The paired-lobe rs consists of one type of cuboidal cells with basal membrane infoldings and a brush-border microvilli covered by a fuzzy coat of glycocalyx . These cells grow rapidly after feeding; they have functional features indicating extensive, selective reabsorption of essential components from excretory products.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 May, 41(5), 595 - 601
Metabolic products of microorganisms . 243 . Pyridazomycin, a new antifungal antibiotic produced by Streptomyces violaceoniger; Grote R et al.; Pyridazomycin, a new antifungal antibiotic produced by Streptomyces violaceoniger sp . griseofuscus (strain Tu 2557), was detected in a selective screening against Mucor hiemalis (Tu 179/180) . The amino acid side chain of 1 can be seen as L-ornithine, whose gamma-nitrogen atom is part of a pyridazine ring building a quaternary ammonium system . The structure of 1 was established by spectroscopic analysis of the parent compound and degradation products . The occurrence of a pyridazine ring in microbial secondary metabolites is unique.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 1988 May, 9(5), 194 - 9
Evaluation of two hot water washer disinfectors for medical instruments; Jette LP et al.; Two models of hot water washer disinfectors (Decomat 128 and Hospital A, Euroclean Canada Inc; Ontario, Canada) were evaluated by two methods for their efficacy in disinfecting anesthesia equipment . In the first method, three different microbial suspensions were each sealed into 30 capillary tubes . In the second method, corrugated anesthesia tubes were rinsed with suspensions of each of two bacterial strains . The tubes then underwent a standard cycle in the hot water washer disinfectors and were subsequently tested for growth of microorganisms . All experiments were repeated three times, and the temperature was registered in all cases . In the capillary test, growth was rarely detected (13/540 tubes) and the inactivation factor for both apparatus was greater than 5 log10 . In the rinse test, no growth was detected . The mean temperature for 15 disinfection cycles was 84.2 +/- 0.8 degrees C for Decomat 128 and 88.9 +/- 0.5 degrees C for Hospital A . However, for Decomat 128 we observed a variation of 3 degrees C from one disinfection cycle to another and a progressive reduction of 2.2 degrees C over a series of five consecutive complete cycles . Both methods gave reproducible results . Under our experimental conditions, both hot water washer disinfectors proved to be efficacious for the disinfection of reusable anesthesia equipment.

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 1988 May, 95(5), 908 - 11
Delayed infection of the automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator . Current recognition and management; Almassi GH et al.; Three cases of delayed infection of automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator devices without systemic manifestations are reported . Computed tomographic scan of the heart revealed fluid deep to the patch in each case . Sonication of explanted automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator patches facilitated the recovery of adherent microorganisms in one case . Management of this previously unrecognized problem is outlined.

Clin Geriatr Med, 1988 May, 4(2), 375 - 94
Joint infection, with consideration of underlying disease and sources of bacteremia in hematogenous infection; Klein RS; Joint infection commonly results from hematogenous spread of infection from a distant site . Pre-existing joint disease increases the risk of joint infection during bacteremia . Most patients present with pain, swelling, heat, and limitation of motion of the affected joint, often with fever, but presentation may be atypical, especially in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic corticosteroid therapy, or infected prosthetic joints . Diagnosis is best made by analysis and culture of synovial fluid . The infecting microorganism often provides a clue to remote infection or underlying disease, which may require special attention . Therapy consists of high-dose parenteral antibiotics and adequate drainage . Outcome depends on early diagnosis and appropriate therapy.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1988 May, 186(2), 138 - 52
{Methodologic problems in the bacteriological laboratory testing of disinfectants for surface disinfection in veterinary medicine}; Kleiner U et al.; The intention of investigations was to clear central problems of disinfecting testing in carrier model . Ways of practical and standardized evaluation should be found out . Concrete investigations were made to guarantee a highly and regularly initial bacterial count, practical germ carriers and organic matter as also detecting damaged bacteria . Investigations for resistance level of test organisms were made in suspension test with formaldehyde as reference disinfectant . It was obviously that test organisms used in disinfecting testing were after 8 weeks more sensitive against disinfectants . Therefore results of disinfecting testing are often no representative because those test organisms are not qualified for representative declaration of disinfectant efficiency . Animal passage in distance of 8 weeks is a possibility for guaranteeing highly and regularly resistance of microorganisms We recommend to use soft wood from the same origin, addition of 10% horse serum and 1% carboxymethylcellulose as organic matter for a model relating to practice . Buffered peptone water and nutrient agar are guarantee for detecting damaged bacteria after disinfecting.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1988 May, 186(2), 108 - 17
{Microbial contamination of water by pipe and hose material . 1 . Detection of colony count changes}; Schoenen D et al.; Materials may produce a growth of microorganisms by contact with water . Pipes and hoses with a narrow diameter have not yet been tested on their influence on the microbial colonization of the water . A harmful change has been discussed especially in dental treatment units . Pipes and hoses were tested in their influence on the microbial growth for half a year . Glass, high grade steel, copper and PTFE showed no increase in microorganisms or only a little in the beginning . The other tested materials, PVC, PE, PA, silicon and rubber, produced an intensive microbial growth.

J Anal Toxicol, 1988 May-Jun, 12(3), 126 - 31
Analysis of anatoxin-a by GC/ECD; Stevens DK et al.; Anatoxin-a (ANTX-a), a potent cholinergic alkaloid produced by some toxigenic strains of the cyanobacterium Anabaena flos-aquae, has been responsible for death of livestock, pets, and wildlife . An increase in the frequency of cyanobacterial blooms in fresh waters of temperate North America has produced a concomitant increase in the threat posed by toxic strains of some of these microorganisms . Presently, a mouse bioassay is the general procedure used for testing the toxicity of a bloom-approximately 5 micrograms/mL ANTX-a sensitivity . A method that is over three orders of magnitude more sensitive than that bioassay is described here . It is readily capable of detecting and quantitating sublethal levels of ANTX-a . ANTX-a is isolated via solid-phase extraction (SPE), derivatized with trichloracetic anhydride, isolated a second time via SPE, and analyzed by GC/ECD . Sensitivity to 5 ng is achieved . Sample size can be as large as 10 mL . "Nontoxic" samples are shown to contain ANTX-a.

Microbiol Sci, 1988 May, 5(5), 156 - 9
Microbial production and metabolism of epoxides; Weijers CA et al.; Epoxides are intermediates in the metabolism of many alkenes and aromatic compounds in higher organisms and in microorganisms . In microbial formation of epoxides, and further metabolism or excretion of these reactive compounds, many different enzymes are involved . Bacteria and fungi sometimes form optically active epoxides or are able to degrade epoxides enantioselectively, allowing the biotechnological production of these chiral building blocks in organic synthesis.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Apr, 54(4), 910 - 6
A model for analyzing growth kinetics of a slowly growing Mycobacterium sp; Lambrecht RS et al.; This report describes a simple method for quantifying viable mycobacteria and for determining generation time . We used statistical models and computer analysis of growth curves generated for the slowly growing mycobacterium Mycobacterium paratuberculosis under controlled conditions to derive a mathematical formula relating the dependent variable, growth, to the independent variables, log10 number of organisms in the inoculum (inoculum size) and incubation time . Growth was measured by a radiometric method which detects 14CO2 release during metabolism of a 14C-labeled substrate . The radiometric method allowed for early detection of growth and detected as few as three viable bacteria . The coefficient of variation between culture vials inoculated with the same number of M . paratuberculosis was 0.083 . Radiometric measurements were highly correlated to spectrophotometric and plate count methods for measuring growth (r = 0.962 and 0.992, respectively) . The proportion of the total variability explained by the model in a goodness of fit test was 0.9994 . Application of the model to broth cultures provided accurate estimates of the number of M . paratuberculosis (standard error = 0.21, log10 scale) and the growth rate (coefficient of variation, 0.03) . Generation time was observed to be dependent upon the number of organisms in the inoculum . The model accurately described all phases of growth of M . paratuberculosis and can likely be applied to other slowly growing microorganisms.

J Exp Med, 1988 Apr 1, 167(4), 1486 - 92
Extracellular killing of Leishmania promastigotes and amastigotes by macrophage precursors derived from bone marrow cultures; Baccarini M et al.; Flagellates of the genus Leishmania are obligate intracellular parasites of vertebrates including man . The microorganisms reside and multiply inside the phagolysosomes of cells of the mononuclear phagocyte lineage . We here report on the spontaneous leishmanicidal activity exerted extracellularly by immature cells of the mononuclear phagocyte lineage . Highly purified, bone marrow-derived macrophage precursor cells displayed a strong spontaneous leishmanicidal activity already at very low effector/target rations (3:1, 6:1) . This leishmanicidal activity was effective against both promastigotes and amastigotes as targets . The cytotoxic effect was evident within 4 h and maximal after 12 h of effector-target organism cocultivation, as determined by a radiolabel-release assay . An intimate cell-cell contact seemed necessary for the parasites to be killed.

Ann Allergy, 1988 Apr, 60(4), 293 - 300
Complement: function and clinical relevance; Williams LW et al.; There is a remarkable array of proteins participating in the complement cascade, regulating the activation of the system, or recognizing a fragment of a component as a biologic signal . The classical pathway of complement activation depends on antigen-antibody interaction and is important as an effector arm of acquired humoral immunity to microorganisms . The alternative pathway functions as a form of innate humoral immunity by attacking membranes not having the characteristics of self-membrane . In addition, the alternative path provides amplification after triggering by either path . Absence or dysfunction of many of the components is associated with autoimmune or immunodeficiency disease . Absence of the inhibitor C1INH is associated with the unique syndrome of hereditary angioedema.

Comput Appl Biosci, 1988 Apr, 4(2), 291 - 5
Detection and quantification of microorganisms in a heterogeneous foodstuff by image analysis; Fernandes MA et al.; A relatively inexpensive image analysis system has been developed to semi-automate the detection and quantification of microbial growth in sections of food . A system based on an IBM PC compatible, with a frame store card, was programmed to scan Gram-stained sections using a motorized stage . Each field of view was thresholded after subtraction of a background image and the area between two thresholds measured . In the food studied it was found that, by using a size limit, it was possible to reduce the number of fields that needed to be examined by a microscopist to approximately 3% of those scanned . Visual examination was still required to distinguish bacterial cells from other stained objects which occasionally occur.

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol, 1988 Apr, 65(4), 401 - 3
Needle tract infection . A case report; Connor JP et al.; When local anesthetic agents are injected through the integument of the body, surface microorganisms may be introduced into the underlying tissues . Pathogenic microorganisms of the oral cavity, for example, may be introduced by the injection needle into deeper tissue . A case of needle tract infection was documented and is presented in this article.

Pediatr Res, 1988 Apr, 23(4), 439 - 42
Development of the gastrointestinal mucosal barrier: changes in phospholipid head groups and fatty acid composition of intestinal microvillus membranes from newborn and adult rats; Chu SH et al.; Phospholipids in microvillus membrane (MVM) prepared from the proximal small intestine of newborn (less than 24 h of age) and adult rats were characterized to determine if differences in composition existed . Our hypothesis is that developmental differences in composition of the MVM may account for mucosal barrier differences to microorganisms and antigens during the perinatal period . Lipid analysis showed that both cholesterol and total phospholipids, per mg of membrane protein, were much higher in the newborn MVM than the adult, but the molar ratio of these two lipid classes remained unchanged . Increased phosphatidylcholine and decreased phosphatidylinositol levels were found in the newborn MVM compared to the adult . In addition, the major difference in fatty acid composition of total lipid extracts and three major membrane phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylinositol appeared to be an increased ratio of palmitate (16:0) to stearate (18:0) and of oleate (18:1) to linoleate (18:2) in the newborn . These data suggest that changes in the proportion of phospholipid polar head groups and fatty acyl groups as well as changes in the amount of total phospholipids and cholesterol exist in the newborn MVM . These observations are consistent with differences in MVM fluidity previously noted and may help explain the increased uptake of antigens and other mucosal barrier defects in the newborn intestine.

J Anim Sci, 1988 Apr, 66(4), 901 - 10
Effect of diet on composition of cecal contents and on excretion and composition of soft and hard feces of rabbits; Carabano R et al.; A total of 260 New Zealand White growing rabbits were used to study the effect of diet on chemical composition of cecal contents and on production and composition of soft and hard feces . Eight diets varying in their acid detergent fiber (9.8% to 32.7%) and starch (13% to 30%) levels were evaluated . The diet affected (P less than .01) all the variables studied, except dry matter (DM) and molar proportions of volatile fatty acids on cecal contents . An increase of dietary crude fiber increased crude fiber level in cecal contents (from 11.58% to 26.53%) . However, a relatively lower proportion of fibrous material was found in the cecal contents when rabbits were fed the more fibrous diets . This suggests that dietary fiber has a direct influence on the efficiency of particle separation in the digestive tract . Crude protein and volatile fatty acid concentrations of cecal contents decreased (from 30.14% to 19.65% and from 47.8 to 36.7 mmol/liter, respectively) when dietary crude fiber increased . This could be related to availability of energy to cecal microorganisms . Ammonia concentration of cecal contents was not affected by dietary crude fiber . Daily production of soft feces varied from 14.98 to 29.59 g DM/d, and the contribution of soft feces to total DM and to crude protein intake ranged from 10.6% to 15.0% and from 12.8% to 20.5%, respectively; these values were the smallest and the largest for the least and the most fibrous diets, respectively . From this study we conclude that dietary fiber has a major effect on the digestive processes in the rabbit and that dietary starch level has no influence on any of the variables studied.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1988 Mar, (3), 36 - 40
{Ecological and biological maintenance of sapronoses exemplified by melioidosis}; Larionov GM; The growth and death of Pseudomonas pseudomallei, the causative agent of melioidosis, in the soil and the antigenic properties of this microorganism in the soil, in culture media, and in the body of animals have been studied . As revealed in this study, P . pseudomallei can grow in nonsterile soil substrates without the loss of virulence and changes in its antigenic structure . In the body of animals this microorganism rapidly adapts its virulence to host species by the transformation of its antigenic structure . The pathogenicity factors of P . pseudomallei are mainly thermolabile antigens, probably exoenzymes . This microorganism has been shown to have close ecological relations with abiotic environmental objects . The author suggests that the type of relationship between saprophytic microorganisms acting as causative agents of diseases and warm-blooded hosts should be characterized as pseudoparasitic.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Mar, 54(3), 827 - 9
Microbial hydroxylation of quinoline in contaminated groundwater: evidence for incorporation of the oxygen atom of water; Pereira WE et al.; Studies conducted in an aquifer contaminated by creosote suggest that quinoline is converted to 2(1H)quinolinone by an indigenous consortium of microorganisms . Laboratory microbial experiments using H218O indicate that water is the source of the oxygen atom for this hydroxylation reaction under aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Mar, 41(3), 289 - 95
Metabolites of microorganisms . 242 pyridindolol glucosides from Streptomyces parvulus; Hagmann L et al.; From a new strain of Streptomyces, Streptomyces parvulus, strain Tu 2480 three glucosides of the alkaloid pyridindolol were isolated . The structure elucidation is based on spectroscopic investigations and degradation to pyridindolol and alpha,D-methyl glucoside.

Acta Cytol, 1988 Mar-Apr, 32(2), 240 - 6
Giant cell interstitial pneumonia in a hard-metal worker . Cytologic, histologic and analytical electron microscopic investigation; Tabatowski K et al.; A case of biopsy-proven giant cell interstitial pneumonia in a patient with occupational exposure to hard-metal dust is reported . Bronchial washings performed several days prior to open-lung biopsy yielded an almost exclusive population of nonpigmented alveolar macrophages and pleomorphic, phagocytic multinucleated giant cells . Microorganisms, viral inclusions in the giant cells, epithelioid histiocytes and well-formed granulomas were not seen . This cytologic picture strongly suggests the presence of giant cell interstitial pneumonia in a patient with restrictive lung disease, particularly when exposure to hard-metal dust is known or suspected . A specific diagnosis early in the course of the disease may facilitate removal of the individual from the workplace and forestall the development of end-stage interstitial fibrosis . Additionally, the working environment may be modified to minimize inhalational exposure . Recognition of this entity by the cytopathologist may direct diagnostic efforts toward accurate histologic evaluation and the identification of particulates by microprobe analysis of either cellular or biopsy material.

J Bacteriol, 1988 Mar, 170(3), 1227 - 34
A heat shock operon in Coxiella burnetti produces a major antigen homologous to a protein in both mycobacteria and Escherichia coli; Vodkin MH et al.; A gene library from the DNA of Coxiella burnetii has been constructed in the cosmid vector pHC79 . A particular clone, pJB196, reacted strongly with Coxiella-specific antibodies elicited in a number of different species of animals . This clone produced two abundant C . burnetii-specific polypeptides, a 14-kilodalton nonimmunoreactive protein and a 62-kilodalton immunoreactive protein . Sequencing identified two open reading frames, encoding polypeptides of 10.5 and 58.3 kilodaltons . The only transcriptional control element observed on the 5' side of the initiation codon resembled a heat shock promoter . This heat shock promoter was functionally regulated in Escherichia coli, since both proteins were produced by growth conditions at 37 degrees C and neither protein was detected at 23 degrees C . There were four sequences from the literature that were highly homologous (greater than 50%) to the 62-kilodalton protein from C . burnetii . Three were from Mycobacterium species and represent the immunodominant antigen of this genus . The other was from E . coli, detected as a gene that complements or suppresses a temperature-sensitive RNase activity . Since the recombinant protein was immunogenic, it may serve as an efficacious vaccine against C . burnetii and other pathogenic microorganisms that express the conserved antigen.

Gastroenterology, 1988 Mar, 94(3), 673 - 81
Intestinal microvascular exchange in the rat during luminal perfusion with formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine; Granger DN et al.; Formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), a peptide released from bacteria in the gut lumen, is known to both attract and activate neutrophils . The aim of this study was to determine whether luminal perfusion with 1 microM FMLP alters microvascular permeability, blood flow, and neutrophil migration in the small intestine of control rats and rats treated with antineutrophil serum . Microvascular permeability to total plasma proteins was determined from an analysis of lymphatic protein fluxes . Myeloperoxidase activity was used as an index of tissue neutrophil count . Intestinal blood flow was measured using radiolabeled microspheres and the reference blood sample method . In control rats, luminal perfusion with FMLP caused significant increases in blood flow, lymph flow, lymph protein clearance, and microvascular permeability, but it did not alter tissue myeloperoxidase activity . In rats treated with antineutrophil serum, tissue myeloperoxidase levels were reduced by approximately 55%, and the FMLP-induced changes in lymph flow, lymph protein clearance, and microvascular permeability were significantly attenuated . In vitro experiments with isolated rat neutrophils revealed that 1 microM FMLP elicits significant chemotaxis and degranulation yet minimally enhances superoxide production . The results of this study indicate that peptides produced by microorganisms in the gut lumen can increase intestinal microvascular permeability . The FMLP-induced alterations in microvascular exchange appear to be mediated by activated neutrophils.

Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol, 1988 Mar-Apr, 24(2), 147 - 63
{Biosynthesis of nicotinamide dinucleotide (NAD) in microorganisms (review of the literature)}; Bazdyreva NM; Data on the biosynthesis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and mechanisms of its regulation in microorganisms are reviewed, and the reasons and conditions of NAD overproduction are discussed.

Mol Cell Probes, 1988 Mar, 2(1), 47 - 57
Detection of toxigenic Escherichia coli using biotin-labelled DNA probes following enzymatic amplification of the heat labile toxin gene; Olive DM et al.; Several types of DNA probes labelled with biotin were compared for their sensitivity to detect the heat labile toxin (LT) gene in toxigenic Escherichia coli . In addition, a procedure was developed for enzymatically amplifying LT gene sequences in toxigenic E . coli . Probes were labelled with biotinylated nucleotides by either nick translation; 3' tailing; primer extension of probe DNA cloned into bacteriophage M13; sandwich hybridization; or oligolabelling of isolated DNA fragments . A single stranded probe consisting of a DNA fragment from the LT gene cloned into the bacteriophage M13mp18 and detected by hybridization to oligolabelled biotinylated M13mp18 RF DNA in a sandwich hybridization was able to detect as little as 10 pg of toxin gene DNA . Cloned LT gene DNA was serially diluted and amplified enzymatically using synthetic oligonucleotide primers . Amplified DNA was detected using biotin-labelled M13-based probes . As little as 1 fg of LT DNA could be amplified to detectable levels by this method . Experiments with LT+ bacteria resulted in the detection of as few as 1000 bacteria . The combination of enzymatic amplification coupled with M13-based DNA probes provides a highly sensitive tool for detecting pathogenic microorganisms.

Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1988 Mar, 158(3 Pt 2), 701 - 6
Results of a randomized, multicenter, comparative trial of a single dose of cefotetan versus multiple doses of cefoxitin as prophylaxis in cesarean section; McGregor JA et al.; In a multicenter, open, randomized, comparative trial, 308 women undergoing cesarean section were given a single 1 gm dose of cefotetan or three 2 gm doses of cefoxitin after cord clamping to reduce the incidence of postoperative infectious morbidity . Of the 286 evaluable patients, 195 received cefotetan and 91 received cefoxitin . Most patients were in active labor and one third had ruptured membranes . Microorganisms cultured from the endocervix or intraoperatively from the endometrium or abdominal wall operative sites were comparable for the two groups . In this multicenter study, the difference between the percentage of patients receiving cefotetan who did not develop clinical signs and symptoms of infection (93%) and the percentage of patients receiving cefoxitin (85%) considered clinical successes was statistically significant (p = 0.02, chi 2) . The bacteriologic response rate for patients taking cefotetan was also significantly higher than that for patients taking cefoxitin (93% versus 85%, p = 0.03) . Isolates recovered from the endocervix, endometrium, or operative site were comparable for the two groups . Both drugs were well tolerated . In this evaluation, cefotetan administered in a single dose of 1 gm was more effective as a prophylactic agent than multiple 2 gm doses of cefoxitin in the reduction of infectious morbidity in this large series of patients undergoing cesarean section.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1988 Mar, 186(1), 30 - 44
{The distribution of microorganisms in household kitchens . II . Evaluation of results and hygienic inferences}; Borneff J et al.; The very high morbidity rates of Enteritis infectiosa diseases demand improved prophylactic measures . An important indication of the source of these illnesses is the fact that infections in private households are about three times more frequent than in canteens . Indeed, the rise in morbidity is undoubtedly caused by inadequate treatment of raw products, of meal rests and by insufficient heating processes . Furthermore, in household kitchens no efforts are made to interrupt infection chains, and disinfections are considered as superfluous and housewives are content if their kitchens appear to be clean . The aim of our study performed in a normal household kitchen, was to investigate cross-contamination caused by pathogens, introduced into the kitchen from outdoors . A further aim was to establish the main sources of contamination in order to be able to recommend practical disinfection procedures . The main fields of contamination discovered when 55 meals prepared were: a) working surfaces (including boards of wood and plastics) b) kitchen- and cutting-machines . The amount of test organisms (Sarcinae), introduced into the kitchen (unbeknown to the housewives) by experimentally contaminated minced meat was only reduced by common cleaning procedures, in sofar as nearly half of the original contaminations could be demonstrated to be still present . However, when the normal cleanser was replaced by one containing hypochlorite, and with retention of the same working routines, about 90% bacteriologically clean surfaces were determined . In this way it could be demonstrated that infection chains can be interrupted . It is, however, not correct to compare the efficiency of these procedures with the efficiency of disinfection, according to the Federal Infectious Diseases Act (Bundesseuchengesetz) . On practical application of these experiences it must be borne in mind that housewives should not be forced to apply medical disinfection procedures: indeed, traditional and practised cleaning methods should be retained, as far as possible . We recommend therefore that manufacturers supply household cleansers with an anti-bacterial additive, after its application in the kitchens working surfaces and machines are bacteriologically clean . Additionally housewives should be appropriately informed about the necessity of these manipulations . We consider minimization of toxicity and a thorough environmental compatibility of formulations to be self-evident.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1988 Mar, 186(1), 1 - 29
{The distribution of microorganisms in household kitchens . I . Problems, experiments, results}; Borneff J et al.; Epidemiological investigations have demonstrated that insufficient hygiene in households results in increasing health hazards . In order to be able to recommend ways to disrupt infection chains it was necessary to explore the most important pathways of cross-contamination . Housewives without special training were instructed to prepare a complete meal, in the kitchen of a modern, vacant apartment . Among the raw products provided was minced meat, contaminated with Sarcinae (unbeknown to the housewives) in a quantitative manner . When cooking and cleaning procedures were completed we analysed household utensils and surfaces by Rodac impressions and swabs . The test organisms could be detected on all inspected surfaces and on the dining-table with albeit different frequencies . The following locations showed an especially high degree of cross-contamination: a) working-surfaces, especially boards of wood and plastics . b) cutting-machines, c) kitchen-machines . These results agree with literature data . By careful disinfection, i.e . by application of a 0.5% solution of hypochlorite, the contaminations could be removed . We assessed this when arranging the kitchen for the next test . Since it is impossible to practise disinfection procedures in a household kitchen on the same scale as in an operating room, we tried to achieve at least a limited disinfection by household cleansers with germicidal properties . In our opinion a minimum reduction of five log stages, demanded in the medical area, can not be achieved in a household kitchen and indeed it is not necessary . A reduction of the microbial counts to 10% of the original value would already be useful, as toxic levels of microbial counts will be reached later especially when there is simultaneous refrigeration . Correct dosage proved to be one of the main practical problems because a discrepancy exists between the low concentration of tensids, necessary for cleaning, and the relatively high dose necessary for germ-killing compounds . Diluted DOMESTOS proved to be a cleaning agent and germicide, but was, however, blamed for chlorine odour, especially when diluted with warm water . A greater acceptance level was reached with a peroxide-containing cleanser, which, however, was not sufficiently germicidal, when applied in diluted form . The concentrated formulation was more effective in everyday experience, but for this housewives had to wear rubber gloves . This was reported to be complicated and uncomfortable, and indeed the search for better formulations must be continued . (In communication II comparisons with the bibliography and hygienic consequences will be published.)

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1988 Mar, 185(6), 569 - 79
{Scanning electron microscopic studies of the microbial colonization of slow sand filters}; Esch P et al.; Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we studied the periphyton on the filter material of slow sand filters (SSF)--main basins--from the water-works in Geisecke/Ruhr . Table 1 presents information about the quantitative vertical distribution of the filter material with its size and shape, water-storage, nutrient content and the presence of bacteria . The proportion of microbial growth to microbial content was high with 80% found in the upper and about 70% in the lower part of the filter body . Larger sand particles supported proportionally higher populations than did small grains . Depressions were well populated . Heavier microbial concentrations resulted in attachment and colonization on exposed grain surfaces . Only some microorganisms adhered through slime-nets and stalks, and no sample showed any general or special mechanisms . The photographic reproduction of the effects was difficult, because of the amount of adherent organic and inorganic matter as well as the different topographic surfaces of the grains . Therefore we have not attempted a quantitative evaluation . 3 plates with SEM micrographs show the locations of colonizing bacteria on sand grains and organisms and their mode of attachment.

Am J Kidney Dis, 1988 Mar, 11(3), 225 - 30
Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) as in vitro enhancing factor of peritoneal macrophage defective bactericidal activity during continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD); Lamperi S et al.; Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) can be considered a primary factor required in vitro and in vivo for inducing endocellular lysis of microorganisms by peritoneal macrophages (PM luminal diameter), an essential activity in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients that prevents bacterial peritonitis . In 22 uremic patients treated with CAPD we analyzed: (1) the amount of IFN-gamma released by elicited peritoneal lymphocytes (PL); (2) oxidative metabolism and microbicidal activity by elicited PM luminal diameter; (3) immunoglobulin G (IgG) Fc-receptor expression on PM luminal diameter membrane; (4) the effect on PM luminal diameter hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generation, bactericidal activity, and IgG Fc-receptor expression exerted in vitro by human recombinant IFN-gamma (rIFN-gamma) . Results demonstrate that IFN-gamma release by elicited PL is lower in some CAPD patients with high peritonitis incidence (HPI) than in healthy donors or in CAPD patients with low peritonitis incidence (LPI) . Simultaneously, PM luminal diameter from CAPD patients with HPI are characterized by a decreased ability to generate oxygen metabolites, to kill bacteria, and by a lack in IgG Fc-receptor expression; these defects were completely cured after being treated with rIFN-gamma . These results show that the IFN-gamma treatment in vitro could strengthen PM luminal diameter phagocytosis, oxygen metabolite generation, and bacterial killing in CAPD patients with HPI, and suggest that IFN-gamma may be considered a possible therapy in vivo for these patients.

Infect Dis Clin North Am, 1988 Mar, 2(1), 99 - 116
The red eye . Infectious conjunctivitis, keratitis, endophthalmitis, and periocular cellulitis; Wilhelmus KR; Patients presenting with a red eye may have a minor, self-limited inflammation of the ocular surface or a vision-threatening infection such as endophthalmitis or orbital cellulitis . Careful evaluation of distinctive clinical signs is necessary to determine the level of ocular involvement . A knowledge of the common microorganisms causing various eye infections (Table 6) can provide the basis to guide appropriate laboratory investigation and initial therapy . Detailed reference textbooks on ocular infection should be available, and ophthalmologic consultation should be considered in these cases to assist in diagnostic investigations and to monitor potential ocular complications.

Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health, 1988 Mar, 19(1), 35 - 40
Application of biotechnology methods to the study of cestodes; Murrell KD et al.; The advent of biotechnology has invigorated research on the control of cestode diseases, especially cysticercosis infections in man and animals . The utilization of hybridoma technology to produce antigen-specific monoclonal antibodies has resulted in great strides towards obtaining pure antigens relevant for immunodiagnostic purposes and for research on vaccines . However, the isolation and identification of antigens is only the initial step in the development of such reagents . Production of antigens in quantities sufficient for research/development and commercialization is hampered by the scarcity of viable parasite material for extraction . Expectations are that this problem can be surmounted by application of recombinant DNA methods to produce cloned genes for antigen expression in cultured microorganisms or cells . Remarkable progress has been made recently in isolating and cloning genes from several important cestode species and antigens have been expressed in vitro with genes cloned from Taenia taeniaformis and T . hydatigena . Although these early efforts have not as yet resulted in practical antigen production, the prospects for doing so appear good . The complex epidemiology of cestode diseases is another research subject that has benefited from the successful application of the tools of biotechnology . For example, the greater precision in typing biological variants afforded by DNA analysis has led to important revisions of the understanding of hydatid disease . DNA probes are now available for Echinococcus spp, which are effective for typing isolates . These probes may also find use as reagents for distinguishing eggs of Echinococcus from other taeniid eggs, a serious difficulty for field investigations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Parazitologiia, 1988 Mar-Apr, 22(2), 149 - 53
{Possible entry of fragments of a bacterial genome into the trophozoite nucleus of the dysentery amoeba}; Chernov IuV et al.; The use of Folgen-like electron microscopy reaction has revealed particles in the cytoplasm and nucleus of the dysentery amoeba trophozoites which in their size and resistance to acidic hydrolysis and in their affinity for uranilacetate are similar to tightly packed elements of the bacterial genome . On this basis a conclusion was drawn that some fragments of genomes of phagocytic bacteria can be preserved in the amoebal cell . The community of microorganisms consisting of trophozoites of the dysentery amoeba and bacteria of the intestinal flora is supposed to be a suitable model for studying the possibility of penetration of transgenetic elements from procaryote to eucaryote.

Mikrobiologiia, 1988 Mar-Apr, 57(2), 262 - 7
{Clustering of oligotrophic microorganisms on the basis of their antibiotic resistance and dynamic membrane characteristics}; Nikitin DI et al.; Some oligotrophic microorganisms were characterised in terms of their resistance against a broad spectrum of antibiotics and certain dynamic parameters of membranes obtained by analysing the EPR and NMR spectra . The oligotrophic bacteria differed in these characteristics from eutrophic microorganisms . The oligotrophic bacteria were subdivided into 3-4 subgroups different in many of the studied parameters . A new chemotaxonomic approach was proposed for the oligotrophic bacteria basing on the analysis of antibioticograms.

J Leukoc Biol, 1988 Feb, 43(2), 104 - 16
Sources of extracellular lysosomal enzymes released in organ-culture by developing and healing inflammatory lesions; Kajiki A et al.; Developing and healing inflammatory lesions were topically produced in the skin of rabbits by sulfur mustard (SM) . After the rabbits were sacrificed, the various lesions were removed and organ-cultured . The organ-culture fluids extracted the extracellular lysosomal enzymes (acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase, beta-galactosidase, and lysozyme), so that they could be measured biochemically along with lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), an enzyme marker for cell death . In tissue sections, the number and types of cells were counted, and their lysosomal enzyme content evaluated histochemically . The culture fluids from peak lesions contained much lower levels of all five enzymes than did culture fluids from healing lesions . When histological-histochemical-biochemical correlations were made, serum, macrophages (MN), and activated fibroblasts (but not tissue PMN) appeared to be major sources of extracellular lysosomal enzymes in peak lesions; and the dead PMN in the crusts and the activated fibroblasts in the tissues appeared to be major sources in healing lesions . The high lysosomal enzyme content of the crusts covering the lesions suggests that this passive barrier may also play an active role in promoting healing and in protecting against invasion by microorganisms.

Anasth Intensivther Notfallmed, 1988 Feb, 23(1), 39 - 44
{Pathogen spectrum in suppurative meningitis with special reference to a patient sample}; Kuhnen E et al.; In a five years period (1982 till 1986) the spectrum of pathogenic bacteria and fungi in acute meningitis was analysed . The appearance, spreading and suspected spectrum of pathogens have to be followed by special aspects considering effective therapeutic proceedings . 361 out of 392 positive cerebrospinal fluids (92.1%) were derived from only 3 (neurosurgical, neurological and pediatric department) out of 14 possible departments . Whereas in the pediatric department the classical pathogens of acute meningitis predominated, the patients in the neurosurgical department mainly showed nosocomial infections . There has to be considered the accidental infection, especially in the severely ill patients of the neurosurgical intensive care unit, which favours highly resistant pathogens . Furthermore, to initiate an infection, the pathogenicity of nosocomial microorganisms is not required to be high . The correlation of clinical signs and the proof of pathogens showed that often so called contaminants could be of higher value to be the infectious agent as assumed . Nevertheless, there seemed to be a regression of acute meningitis due to better diagnostic and therapeutic proceedings.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1988 Feb, (2), 71 - 5
{Nature of the human immune response to exposure to protein-producing microorganisms}; Litovskaia AV; The influence of the live culture and dried biomass of yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida on the characteristics of immune response in 1094 persons exposed to different concentrations of these fungi was studied . The subjects developed sensitization, manifested by immediate and cellular hypersensitivity reactions, as well as by disturbances in T-dependent and humoral immunity . The pattern of the detected changes depended on the concentration of the active factors and on the systemic condition of the subjects . Live fungal cells showed higher antigenic potency and were conducive to the development of allergic symptoms.

J Rheumatol, 1988 Feb, 15(2), 372 - 4
Candida parapsilosis in a patient receiving chronic hemodialysis; De Clerck L et al.; A case of Candida parapsilosis involving the left wrist in an immunocompromised host is described . The arthritis followed an indolent course, present for about 1 year before specific treatment was started . There was no response to 2-month ketoconazole therapy, and an open drainage had to be performed . In addition to crystal arthropathies and the more common infectious arthritides, one should be aware of arthritides with opportunistic microorganisms in immune compromised hemodialysis patients.

Int J Food Microbiol, 1988 Feb, 6(1), 91 - 5
Proposed guidelines for maximum acceptable air-borne microorganism levels in dairy processing and packaging plants; Radmore K et al.; From the total number of air-borne microorganisms present per m3 of air, 1.5% were found to contaminate a dairy product while being packed into a container with an opening of 100 cm2 if it was exposed for 60 s . This value was used to compile a proposed guideline of maximum acceptable number of air-borne microorganisms per m3 which, if complied with, could ensure that no significant air-borne contamination of the product being packaged would take place.

Arch Dermatol, 1988 Feb, 124(2), 201 - 6
Potential roles of fibronectin in cutaneous wound repair; Clark RA; Fibronectin has many potential roles in wound repair, including chemotactic factor activity for monocytes, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells; opsonin activity and opsonin promoter activity for microorganism and tissue debris; substratum for cell migration and localization; and a scaffold for building extracellular matrix . Although fibronectin has been reported to have intrinsic growth-promoting ability, coisolation of authentic growth factors with fibronectin raises doubts about this observation . Whether the addition of exogenous fibronectin to wounds can augment healing is a question for future studies.

Blood, 1988 Feb, 71(2), 463 - 6
Plasmids in bacteria exposed to activated neutrophils mediate mutagenesis when transferred to new hosts; De Togni P et al.; The plasmid pUC18 contains a lacZ alpha-complementation gene that codes for a small peptide that can complement the delta M15 mutation of the Escherichia coli lacZ (beta-galactosidase) gene, converting bacteria carrying that mutated gene from the lacZ- to the lacZ+ phenotype . This plasmid was used in experiments designed to study mutagenesis by human neutrophils . E coli carrying pUC18 were incubated with neutrophils under conditions in which little ingestion of the bacteria took place; the plasmid was then isolated and transformed into an E coli strain (BOZO) that carries the lacZ delta M15 mutation . Of these transformants, 11 of 205,000 were lacZ, suggesting that in these 11, alpha-complementation had been lost through a mutation . No lac- colonies were detected among several hundred thousand BOZO transformed with plasmid isolated from incubations in which phagocytosis could take place, nor from incubations from which neutrophils were omitted . Despite the lac- phenotype of these 11 transformants, plasmids reisolated from nine of them showed normal alpha-complementing ability when transformed into fresh BOZO . These findings indicated that in these nine, the mutations were located in the chromosomes of the transformed BOZO . It thus appears that on exposure to activated neutrophils, a plasmid may acquire a lesion (? mutation) that can somehow be transferred to the genome of a recipient microorganism, resulting in repair of the damaged plasmid accompanied by mutation of the recipient's chromosome . Restriction mapping of the DNA from four of these nine chromosomal mutants suggested that the mutations did not represent major insertions or deletions in the portion of the bacterial chromosome corresponding to the pUC18 lac operon insert, nor in the remainder of the lacZ delta M15 gene . These results confirm previous work showing that exposure to activated neutrophils can induce mutations in biological systems, and provides an experimental model in which the mechanism of neutrophil-mediated mutagenesis may be examined.

Am J Surg, 1988 Feb, 155(2), 303 - 10
Splenic salvage quantified by uptake of heat-damaged radiolabeled red blood cells . Experimental and clinical studies; Witte CL et al.; We evaluated a noninvasive radionuclide technique to quantify splenic trapping function, which is a key step in the disposition of blood-borne particulates such as poorly opsonized encapsulated microorganisms implicated in hyposplenic fulminant sepsis . Using computerized external gamma imaging, the percentage of splenic uptake of heat-damaged radiolabeled red blood cells was determined in adult Sprague-Dawley rats with eutopic (partial splenectomy) or ectopic (single or multiple autotransplantation) remnants or whole spleens, and in 14 patients with either an intact spleen or splenic remnants after treatment for trauma or hypersplenism . The masses of both eutopic and ectopic remnants correlated directly with the percentage of heat-damaged red blood cell uptake, but the percentage of uptake per gram was higher in eutopic remnants, paralleling more vigorous compensatory growth . In patients, the percentage of heat-damaged red blood cell uptake by remnant spleens was similar to that seen in the rats and, in addition, was supernormal in those with congestive splenomegaly . This noninvasive technique both provides a vivid biplanar image and quantifies blood-borne particle trapping, which is a key splenic function . A heat-damaged red blood cell uptake of less than 15 percent after splenic salvage suggests marginal splenic performance and continued vulnerability to overwhelming sepsis.

Lab Invest, 1988 Feb, 58(2), 226 - 35
Reovirus type I infection of small intestinal epithelium in suckling mice and its effect on M cells; Bass DM et al.; In 10-day-old mice, reovirus serotype I (reo I) selectively adheres to the apical surface of M cells and penetrates the intestinal epithelium via M cells overlying Peyer's patches before causing disseminated infection . Recently, reo I enteritis has been described in adult mice . We wished to determine if reo I enteritis also occurs in suckling mice and, if so, to determine which major epithelial cell types become infected and where the virus enters epithelial cells other than M cells . Transmission electron microscopy revealed that after oral inoculation of 10-day-old mice, peak infection of M cells preceded that of absorptive and undifferentiated crypt cells . The percentage of M cells in the dome epithelial cell population was reduced more than 4-fold between 4 and 72 hours after reo I inoculation compared with saline-inoculated mice . By 6 days after inoculation, reo I replication was no longer observed and there was a more than 2-fold increase in M cells overlying Peyer's patches domes of reo I-inoculated mice compared with saline controls . By 13 days, control and infected mice had similar percentages of M cells . When incubated with isolated intestinal epithelial sheets, reo I adhered selectively to and was endocytosed via the basal plasma membrane of absorptive cells . Thus, reo I initially penetrates the intestinal epithelium via the apical surface of M cells which become infected . Virions subsequently enter absorptive and crypt cells via their basal surfaces . During the first 3 days of enteritis, the M cell population becomes markedly depleted which may affect the permeability of the mucosal barrier to microorganisms and other antigens as well as influence the host immune response.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1988 Feb, (2), 3 - 4
{Effect of a modification of the medium on the structure of bacterial cells based on electron microscopy data}; Sventitskii EN et al.; Electron microscopy was used to study the interactions between microorganisms and the culture medium in the presence of modifying agents . Temperature-dependent changes in the intensity of water-glycerin exchange between the cells and the medium are demonstrated, which is of interest for the optimization of the conditions of using protectors, as well as for the study of the permeability of cell membranes.

J Clin Microbiol, 1988 Feb, 26(2), 175 - 7
Simple method for rapid diagnosis of catheter-associated infection by direct acridine orange staining of catheter tips; Zufferey J et al.; Direct acridine orange (AO) staining was used to detect bacteria adherent to intravascular catheters (IVC) . Samples from 710 IVC tips were first cultured on blood agar plates by a semiquantitative technique and then independently colored with AO and screened dry at a magnification of x100 for 3 min . In the absence of fluorescence, they were considered negative . When fluorescence was present, they were further examined for the presence of microorganisms at x1,000 with immersion oil . Of 710 IVC tips, 37 (5.2%) were positive upon culture (greater than or equal to 15 colonies) and 673 were negative (640 were sterile and 33 {4.6%} had 1 to 14 colonies) . The AO sensitivity was 84%, and the AO specificity was 99% . When restricted to the 212 long IVC, AO sensitivity rose to 94% . AO staining was positive in all cases of catheter-associated bacteremia . The negative predictive value of the preliminary screening at x100 was 99.5% . The direct examination of IVC tips stained by AO appears to be a simple and rapid method for diagnosing IVC-associated infections . In addition, AO staining is easier to perform than Gram staining.

Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 1988 Jan 29, 113(4), 135 - 8
{Vasculitic neuropathy in the Garin-Bujadoux-Bannwarth syndrome . A contribution to the understanding of the pathology and pathogenesis of the neurological complications in Lyme borreliosis}; Meier C et al.; Clinical examinations and nerve biopsies were performed on four patients with meningoradiculoneuritis and positive serology for Borrelia (Garin-Bujadoux-Bannwarth syndrome) . Three patients had a painful multiplex mononeuropathy, while one presented with a picture resembling a Guillain-Barre syndrome . Nerve biopsy in two patients revealed marked perivasculitis, in part with thrombosis of the epineural vasa nervorum . In the other two patients there were small pericapillary infiltrates in the endoneurium with strikingly many plasma cells . These findings speak, on the one hand, for angiopathic-ischaemic nerve damage, but on the other for a local immune reaction to the causative microorganism, because of the plasma-rich endoneural infiltrates . The authors suggest that angiopathic-ischaemic tissue lesions and/or local immune reactions may play a role also in the pathogenesis of CNS complications of Lyme disease.

Med J Aust, 1988 Jan 4, 148(1), 44 - 6
Fulminant postsplenectomy sepsis; Perkins AC et al.; The vital role of a normally-functioning spleen in a host's defence against circulating microorganisms has been realized for many years . The fulminant clinical course that characterizes infection with encapsulated microorganisms in asplenic patients is highlighted in these cases of severe pneumococcal sepsis in two patients, 10 and 13 years after splenectomies for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura . Approaches to the acute management of septic episodes and preventive measures are discussed . Pneumococcal vaccination reduces the incidence of infection effectively in asplenic patients and has a low complication rate . Penicillin by mouth is also efficacious in this situation, but patient compliance is low . Our current practice is to offer pneumococcal vaccination to all patients who have undergone splenectomy in the past and to administer the vaccine two weeks before elective splenectomies . Asplenic patients should be educated about the potential dangers of a septic episode and should be urged to seek an early medical consultation when this occurs.

Lancet, 1988 Jan 2-9, 1(8575-6), 17 - 21
Chronic Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis infections of central nervous system in preterm infants; Waites KB et al.; In a prospective study of meningitis in 100 predominantly preterm infants, Ureaplasma urealyticum was isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 8 and Mycoplasma hominis from the CSF of 5 babies undergoing investigation of suspected sepsis or treatment of hydrocephalus . U urealyticum was isolated from 6 infants with severe intraventricular haemorrhage and from 3 with hydrocephalus . In 4 babies multiple isolations were made over several weeks . There were clinical features of congenital infection with major neurological impairment in 1 infant infected with M hominis . Diagnosis is difficult because these organisms cannot be seen on gram stain and cannot readily be cultivated on routine bacteriological media, and CSF pleocytosis may be absent . This study, which used appropriate mycoplasmal media, shows that U urealyticum and M hominis are the most common microorganisms isolated from the CSF of newborn infants in a high-risk population.

Acta Neurochir (Wien), 1988, 91(1-2), 47 - 9
Treatment of ventriculostomy-related infections; Gerner-Smidt P et al.; The results of the treatment of 15 cases of ventriculitis related to the use of external ventricular drainage are presented . A review of the literature on the treatment of cerebrospinal fluid shunt infections combined with our data suggest the following treatment of ventriculostomy-related ventriculitis: 1 . Antibiotic treatment according to the resistance pattern of the infecting microorganism and 2 . Removal or replacement of the ventricular drain . 3 . One should wait for bacteriological cure before implanting a permanent internal drainage system.

Physiol Behav, 1988, 42(4), 397 - 400
A method for tracking the locomotion of an isolated microorganism in real time; Hasegawa K et al.; An inexpensive, real-time recording system ("bug-tracker") for tracking the movements of an isolated microorganism was assembled using a close-up video system, a video memory card, and a personal computer . An isolated organism moving in an almost two-dimensional plane is viewed by the close-up video camera, and a selected video frame is digitized by the video memory card into 256 x 256 pixels (picture points) . The pixels of the ith frame are subtracted from those of the i-lth frame to delete images other than that of the image of the moving organism . Windows with an optimized size are generated commonly in the ith and i-lth frame to reduce the number of pixels directly accessed by the computer, and the address of the pixel with the largest value inside the windows identifies the coordinates of the organism on the X and Y axes . By optimizing the size of a window for a given organism, the sampling for the X and Y coordinates can be made at times separated by approximately 0.2 to 2.0 seconds . Data are automatically filed on a floppy disk.

J Pharmacobiodyn, 1988 Jan, 11(1), 53 - 7
Further studies on the hydrolysis of salicyluric acid in intestinal microorganisms and prolonged blood concentration of salicylic acid following rectal administration of salicyluric acid in rabbits; Nakamura J et al.; The blood concentrations of salicyluric acid and salicylic acid following intracecal and rectal administration of salicyluric acid were determined in rabbits . Immediate and very extensive salicylic acid formation in the cecum was found following intracecal administration . After rectal administration, a small amount of salicyluric acid was absorbed in intact form . The rest was rapidly hydrolyzed to salicylic acid, which was subsequently absorbed . The blood concentration of salicylic acid was maintained at 1.3-1.8 micrograms/ml from 2 to 12 h . Three doses of salicyluric acid were administered rectally . The peak level of salicyluric acid increased with dose . However, salicylic acid concentration in the blood following administration of salicyluric acid at 10.0 mg/kg (salicylic acid equivalent) was not double that observed following administration of salicyluric acid at 5.0 mg/kg (salicylic acid equivalent) . It appears that a larger amount of salicyluric acid in the rectal lumen may have saturated the glycine deconjugation system.

Int J Vitam Nutr Res, 1988, 58(1), 13 - 5
Effect of spermine on membranolytic effect of vitamin A in rats; Chandra R et al.; The effect of spermine on membranolytic effect of vitamin A has been studied on mitochondrial membrane integrity by examining phospholipase A2 activity and membrane phospholipids . Spermine arrest the vitamin A induced activity of mitochondrial phospholipase A2 . The function of vitamin A in vision is fairly well understood . Though the part that vitamin A plays in vision is of high significance; vitamin A deficient animal not only become blind but eventually die . This indicates that vitamin A plays an indispensable role in general metabolism . The mechanism of absorption, transport and storage of vitamin A have been intensively studied {1, 8, 9} . Administration of vitamin A in large doses for prolonged periods is found to be toxic . This toxicity is termed as hypervitaminosis A . Excess of vitamin A to animals have been found to cause membrane labilization of various cellular organelles, e.g . mitochondria, lysosomes and release their contents . Alternations in membrane functions of liver mitochondria have also been observed in rats given excess of vitamin A . Polyamines have been shown to stabilize membrane structure against lysis or swelling for several microorganism and mammalian subcellular fractions {2, 4, 5, 7} . The stability of mitochondrial and lysosomal membranes are in reciprocal relationship with the activity of endogenous phospholipases bound to these membranes {4, 11} . Polyamines were shown to inhibit phospholipase A2 activity of heart mitochondria {12} . Phospholipase A2 detaches the fatty acid from the position of phosphatidyl choline, and the lysolecithin formed has a detergent effect that can produce membrane destabilization . The mechanism of inhibition by polyamines appears to be related to the effect of basic proteins as phospholipase digestion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Intensive Care Med, 1988, 14(3), 227 - 31
Sepsis associated with central vein catheters in critically ill patients; Collignon P et al.; In 440 critically ill patients, the association between different central vein catheter insertion sites, the duration of catheter insertion and catheter-associated sepsis was examined . Of 780 catheter tips studied, 19% were colonized by microorganisms . The incidence of colonization varied with the different insertion sites . The lowest percentage of colonized catheters occurred with catheters inserted via the subclavian vein (15%) and the highest, at the femoral vein insertion site (34%, p less than 0.01) . The percentage of catheters colonized increased as the duration of insertion increased, at all insertion sites studied . Catheter colonization was closely related to the development of bacteraemia and was associated with approximately 10% of colonized catheters . Our results suggest that the subclavian site is associated with the lowest infective complication rate . To minimize catheter associated sepsis, catheters at all insertion sites should be used with parsimony and only kept in place for the minimum amount of time that their continuing use is necessary.

Pharmacology, 1988, 36 Suppl 1, 126 - 8
Metabolism of sennosides--an overview; Lemli J; The metabolism of sennosides is discussed in view of the results obtained during the last years . Rhein anthrone is to be considered as the ultimate active form produced by microorganisms in the colon . Several contributions of this senna symposium bring complementary information of utmost interest.

Vet Microbiol, 1988 Jan, 16(1), 41 - 66
Etiological agents of bovine mastitis; Watts JL; A total of 137 microbial species, subspecies and serovars have been isolated from the bovine mammary gland . Nucleic acid hybridization studies have restructured the classification of many mastitis pathogens . Availability of defined species descriptions has permitted greater insight into the distribution and pathogenicity of many previously unrecognized microorganisms associated with bovine mastitis . Precise epidemiological studies are needed to better delineate the role of some microorganisms in bovine mastitis and to aid development of improved control methods.

Intensive Care Med, 1988, 14(1), 30 - 3
Comparison of non-protected lower respiratory tract secretions and protected specimen brush samples in the diagnosis of pneumonia; Richard C et al.; The aim of this prospective study was to compare the results obtained with the non-protected lower respiratory tract secretions samples (LRS) with the protected specimen brushes (PSB) performed through a fiberoptic bronchoscope in mechanically ventilated patients, when pneumonia was suspected . The diagnosis of pneumonia was ultimately made at the end of the hospitalisation, in a double-blind manner by 2 members of the medical staff not aware of the bacteriologic results of LRS and PSB . LRS and PSB were performed in 24 patients . PSB culture was considered as positive at a level of 10(3) colony-forming units per milliliter (cfu/ml) microorganisms . Twenty-five samples from 24 patients were divided as follows: (1) LRS (-) and PSB (-) 5 samples: the clinical diagnosis of pneumonia was never established . (2) LRS (+) and PSB (+) 10 samples: the clinical diagnosis of pneumonia was always established, 2 microorganisms were involved 4 times and 1 microorganism 6 times . (3) LRS (+) and PSB (-) 10 samples: the clinical diagnosis pneumonia was retained in 3 with the possibility of false negative PSB . We conclude that (1) a negative LRS eliminated the diagnosis of pneumonia without PSB; (2) a positive LRS was not sufficient to diagnose pneumonia since PSB was negative in 50% of all LRS (+) cases; (3) the possibility of a false negative PSB must be kept in mind particularly in patients previously treated with antibiotics; (4) 2 microorganisms may be responsible for the pneumonia if the previously determined, as significant, bacteriological count (greater than or equal to 10(3) cfu/ml) appears to be accurate.

Crit Rev Microbiol, 1988, 15(3), 223 - 46
The cytology and biochemistry of pesticide microbiology; Tripathi AK; Widespread use of pesticides has no doubt benefited human beings in one way or another . However, their side effects on various organisms, including nontarget organisms, are largely overlooked . In the recent past, several studies have been done to assess the effects of pesticides on nontarget organisms, including microorganisms . Although pesticide effects on growth parameters of microorganisms have been extensively reviewed, little attention has been paid regarding their cytological and biochemical aspects . Therefore, the present work is mainly concerned with the cytological and biochemical aspects of pesticide microbiology . The effects of pesticides on photosynthesis, respiration, proteins, and nucleic acids are reviewed . Attention is also paid to their effects on cell morphology and morphogenesis and their effect on cell constituents.

Antibiot Khimioter, 1988 Jan, 33(1), 46 - 51
{Comparative study of apramycin-resistant microorganisms isolated from man and animals}; Tiagunenko IuV et al.; Apramycin-modifying strains isolated from pigs with coli bacteriosis, from humans and hospital environment were studied comparatively . Production of enzymes modifying the aminoglycoside was estimated with the radioactive cofactor procedure . E . coli isolates from the animals were phenotypically resistant to apramycin and a number of other aminoglycosides . They produced acetyltransferase AAC(3)IV, phosphotransferase APH(3')(5"), APH(3") and other enzymes . Resistance of the strains to gentamicin was also conditioned by AAC(3)IV since these strains did not produce AAD(2") and AAC(6') . In the resistant strains of E . coli and their transconjugates there were detected plasmids with a relative molecular weight of 60-80 MD . Some of the belonged to the compatibility group I1, the others belonged to the compatibility group H1 . Strains of S . marcescens, K . pneumoniae . K . oxytoca and S . aureus isolated from humans and hospital environment were sensitive to apramycin . Only isolates of P . aeruginosa were resistant to this antibiotic . However, all the isolates produced AAC(3)IV . Some of them additionally produced AAC(6'), an enzyme modifying amikacin, kanamycin and other antibiotics and not acetylating apramycin . Almost all the strains produced kanamycin- and streptomycin phosphotransferases . Possible coselection of strains resistant to apramycin and gentamicin using one of these aminoglycosides is discussed.

Antibiot Khimioter, 1988 Jan, 33(1), 26 - 30
{Conditions for immobilizing Streptomyces erythreus in a calcium alginate gel and the apparatus setup for the process}; Bryzgalova TE et al.; A laboratory unit for production of calcium alginate gel granules with immobilized microorganisms is described . It provides sterile production of particles from tens micrometers to 2 mm in diameter . Expediency of using biocatalysts in the form of fine granules is exemplified with a number of immobilized microorganisms . Conditions for immobilizing the erythromycin producing organism by its incorporation into the calcium alginate gel were studied . Viability of the actinomycete in the gel was shown by consumption of the nutrients and biosynthesis of the antibiotic.

Am J Surg Pathol, 1988, 12 Suppl 1, 100 - 5
Intestinal mucosal immune defense mechanisms; Keren DF; The intestinal mucosal immune defense mechanisms involve both humoral and cellular immunity . The prominence of suppressor/cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the epithelial layer suggests that these interepithelial lymphocytes play a role in defense against infections within this layer . Secretory IgA is overwhelmingly the major humoral immune response along the gastrointestinal tract and along other mucosal surfaces (respiratory tract, mammary glands, salivary glands, and lacrimal glands) . While the functions of secretory IgA are incompletely understood, it is clear that it prevents attachment of microorganisms and toxins (cholera toxin, shiga toxin, etc.) to the surface epithelial cells . Furthermore, secretory IgA may collaborate with eosinophils or killer lymphocytes to mediate cytotoxic reactions against enteropathogens . By learning more about the mucosal immune response, we should be able to understand the relationship between the lamina propria plasmacytosis in inflammatory bowel disease and the increased number of interepithelial lymphocytes that we see in gluten-sensitive enteropathy and the underlying pathogenic mechanisms.

Rev Infect Dis, 1988 Jan-Feb, 10(1), 92 - 102
Applications of computerized microscopic image analysis in infectious diseases; Goldstein E et al.; Advances in computerized microscopy have resulted in image analysis systems that rapidly and precisely measure various aspects of cellular morphology and physiology . These systems-composed of a microscope and attached photomultiplier tube or camera, an image processor, and a computer-have been used to measure lysosomal enzymes, pH, and calcium within phagocytes; to detect viral nucleic acids in in situ hybridization preparations; and to quantitate rates of cellular movement . These experiments have shown that (1) the intracellular proliferation of virulent microorganisms is associated with reductions in acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase, and lysozyme activity; (2) virulent Toxoplasma gondii, Legionella pneumophila, and Nocardia asteroides inhibit phagosomal acidification; and (3) changes in intracellular calcium movement affect phagocytic function . These methods have also been used to detect the AIDS virus within cultured lymphocytes and to measure cellular chemotaxis and chemokinesis . Further advances in technology should produce improved microscopic image analysis systems with wider applications for the investigation of infectious diseases.

Semin Nucl Med, 1988 Jan, 18(1), 36 - 45
Preservation of food products by irradiation; McGivney WT; The use of irradiation to preserve food has the potential to significantly enhance our capacity to maximize the quality and quantity of the food we consume . In a world in which distribution of food occurs across continents and in which malnourished populations are in dire need of basic food products, any safe, effective, and efficient means of preserving food is more than welcome . Irradiation, as a method for food preservation, has been studied for more than 30 years . This discussion focuses on this most recent method for the preservation of food with particular emphasis on its effects on the safety, nutritive, and aesthetic values of the food preserved by irradiation . The use of ionizing radiation as a method to preserve foods is one that has been demonstrated to be effective for a variety of food classes . Irradiation offers a means to decontaminate, disinfest, and retard the spoilage of the food supply . At the same time, it appears that the wholesomeness of these food products is maintained . Nutritive value can be sustained by use of effective doses of radiation . Concerns over the safety of irradiated food are rooted in questions regarding the potential induction of radioactivity, harmful radiolytic products, and pathogenic radiation-resistant or mutant strains of microorganisms . Research findings have allayed concerns over safety . However, more research is necessary to conclusively resolve these safety issues . Food irradiation is a promising technology that has and will contribute to our ability to feed the people of this world . This technology is but one of many available ways to preserve our greatest natural resource, the food supply . Enhancement of the ability to preserve food by irradiation will facilitate the distribution of food from fertile developed regions to the malnourished peoples of underdeveloped countries . It is in diminishing the problem of malnourishment and starvation that irradiation as a means to preserve food may find the greatest acceptance.

ASDC J Dent Child, 1988 Jan-Feb, 55(1), 47 - 55
Hygiene in dental practice--Part I: Potential pathogens and possibilities of contamination; van Amerongen WE et al.; In order to ensure adequate reduction of risks of contamination in dental practice, potential pathogens should be known and insight should be gained into possibilities of contamination . The first part of this article presents brief descriptions of the most relevant pathogenic microorganisms such as the causative agents of tuberculosis, gonorrhoea, syphilis, herpes simplex, hepatitis, AIDS and legionnaires' disease . Possibilities of contamination in dental practice are considered next, with special reference to various ways in which microorganisms can be transmitted: Hand instruments . Rotating instruments, multiple-function syringe and ultrasonic scaler . Instruments used in endodontics . Hands and face . Clothing . Treatment unit . Measures that can be taken in order to minimize the risk of contamination will be discussed in Part II.

G Batteriol Virol Immunol, 1988 Jan-Dec, 81(1-12), 32 - 9
{Effect of entomopathogenic fungus inoculum on the control of Corythycha ciliata Say adults, wintering on plane-trees of city groves}; Ozino OI et al.; Within a three years research program, infection tests were carried on adults of Corythucha ciliata wintering on the plane-trees of same city avenues, inoculating entomopathogenic deuteromycetes Beauveria bassiana, Verticillium lecanii, Paecilomyces farinsus, microorganisms which are known to be naturally present in such an environment . Inoculated fungi were able to settle only where the trees were free from any kind of disturbance, while this failed to occur in the areas of intense car traffic . Number of treatments efficiently affected pathogens diffusion in the trees . The persistency of the parasites on the insects, even one year after the treatment, seems to indicate the possibility of their use for the limitation of C . ciliata.

Mikrobiyol Bul, 1988 Jan, 22(1), 25 - 9
{The presence of Brucella antibodies in human sera and some milk samples}; Abbasoglu U; The brucella antibodies were investigated in 132 different milk samples and 150 human sera by the Ring Test . The guinea-pig tests were made to determine the antibody level and microorganism isolation using one seropositive milk sample . Increase of the antibody titre was observed . Brucella germs from blood, spleen and liver of guinea-pig didn't multiply.

Polim Med, 1988, 18(4), 197 - 210
{Experimental testing of the hydrogel dressing Geliperm}; Staniszewska-Kus J et al.; The dressing materials used in the local treatment for dressing large defects of skin, subcutaneous and muscular tissues do not have the optimum protective and therapeutic properties . We carry out experiments tending to achieve new kinds of dressing impermeable for microorganisms, free from toxic, allergic, action and acridity and not evoking pathological tissue reaction in a long-lasting contact with the wound . What is more, the new dressing should hasten the cicatrization process of a wound and enable its control as well as soothe the pain if it is possible . Some of these properties were achieved by the usage of cross-linked hydrophilic polymers with high ability of water absorption, creating elastic gels in its presence . The dressing of this type called Geliperm was produced by Geistlich Sons Ltd . and BYK Goldbin-Konstanz firms . The methods of evaluation of hydrogel dressing materials comprising a preliminary, standard and qualifying evaluation were worked out in the Department of Experimental Surgery and Biomaterials Research Medical Academy of Wroclaw . According to the worked out scheme of experiments the Geliperm dressing was evaluated . We have discovered on the basis of the carried out experiments that the new generation of gel dressing has, to a large extent, the properties of the so called "ideal dressing".

Metab Pediatr Syst Ophthalmol, 1988, 11(1-2), 53 - 7
New approach for early, simple, and rapid detection of acute eye infections; Romano A; Several methods are known for the diagnosis of infections all of which require the use of well equipped laboratories and skilled personnel . For example: 1 . Isolation and culturing of microorganisms from samples taken from body fluids . This method is complicated and time consuming . 2 . Detection of antibodies . The main disadvantage of this method is the fact that the change in the level of antibodies occurs only after a few days from the onset of the disease . In the course of our work we found that already in the early stages of acute external eye infections, mucopolysaccharide degrading enzymes (MPDE) appear in tear fluid, where they are normally not present . We also found a relationship between MPDE with different infectious diseases of the eye as well as their role in the progress and treatment of these diseases . As a result of these findings and numerous clinical and laboratory in vivo animal and in vitro experiments, we developed a new approach for early detection of acute ocular infections . Utilizing this approach based on tear samples from patients; eyes, we developed a method which enables quick and reliable detection of the presence of an infection in general, and for early diagnosis in particular . Testing MPDE in tears with this method revealed also a new phenomenon of specific geometric imprints, or orthographic signs, each of which may be indicative of a different type of acute infection, e.g . adenovirus, herpes simplex virus-1, or other acute viral and bacterial infections.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Zentralbl Neurochir, 1988, 49(3), 210 - 9
Clinical analysis of cerebral abscesses; Aydin IH et al.; 42 patients with cerebral abscesses were treated from 1979 until the end of the first six months of 1987 at the Neurosurgical Department of the Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey . The present study aims at studying these patients to determine the factors affecting on prognosis . The patients were studied for the duration of complaints, pre-operational condition, the location of the abscesses, the microorganisms responsible for them, and the techniques of operation applied, by taking their sex and age into consideration . All of the cases were treated operatively . Of these, 18 were treated by excision and 24 were applied drainage, whose percentage was 43 and 57 respectively, 85% of the cases were under 60 years of age . The rate of mortality of the cases with cerebral abscesses was 19% . This rate was between 15% and 37.5% in the cases of several age groups whose complaints lasted less than two months . This rate reached 100% with a sudden increase in the cases who had a duration of complaints over four months . The rate of mortality was 6.2% in the cases with a clear conscious and cooperative ability while it had a significant increase in the patients in pre-coma or coma to go up to 50% and 75% respectively . No correlation was observed between the rate of mortality and the age of the patients but the location and extension of the abscesses had an effect on this rate . The abscesses, covering more than one lobe, had a mortality rate of 31.2%, while the ones with parietal location caused no single death . To conclude, we can say, based on this study, that the age and sex of patients and the operative technique have no effect on the rate of mortality while it is obviously influenced by the duration of the complaints and the pre-operative condition . Consequently, we would like to stress up on early diagnosis and treatment of such cases.

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1988, 33(6), 458 - 61
Occurrence of collagen-degrading microorganisms in associations of mesophilic heterotrophic bacteria from various soils; Vrany B et al.; A total of 437 bacterial cultures was isolated from various soils and sewage water that were tested for the ability to decompose reconstituted collagen . This activity was found in 6.6% of the cultures isolated from sewage water, 15% of the cultures from organic horizons of the spruce growth soil, 30% of the cultures from the meadow soil, 29% of the cultures from the vegetable field soil and in 37% of those isolated from garden soil . The capability to produce collagenolytic enzymes does not appear to be rare among soil bacteria.

Ter Arkh, 1988, 60(11), 90 - 3
{Humidifier fever}; Lebedev SV et al.; Pollution of air ventilation and conditioning systems by microorganisms and products of their activity can lead to the development of infectious (legionnaires' disease) and allergic (humidifier fever) diseases . Clinical, immunological and hygienic investigations under natural conditions of 72 persons working in offices helped to study a respiratory disease which was similar to humidifier fever . The removal of dust and mud from the system and thorough cleaning of all conditioned rooms put an end to this disease.

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1988, 82(3), 428 - 32
Giardia-bile salt interactions in vitro and in vivo; Halliday CE et al.; Giardia lamblia predominantly colonizes the proximal small intestine where bile is plentiful . We have investigated interactions between bile and this parasite by (i) examining the specificity of the stimulatory effect of bile on parasite growth in vitro, (ii) studying the possible association between giardiasis and bile salt deconjugation in vivo, and (iii) quantifying bile salt uptake by Giardia and relating this to uptake by other microorganisms . Our findings indicate that the growth promoting effects of ox bile and pure bile salt (sodium glycocholate) are, as far as is known, specific for Giardia, since the growth of a related protozoon, Trichomonas vaginalis, and a variety of enteric bacteria was either unchanged or inhibited . We were unable to detect deconjugated ('free') bile salt in duodenal fluid from UK patients with giardiasis and found no evidence to suggest that Giardia deconjugated bile salts in vitro . However, Giardia avidly took up conjugated bile salt, apparently in a concentration-dependent manner and to a much greater degree than Trichomonas and enteric bacteria . Thus, bile specifically stimulates growth of Giardia, and bile salt is avidly consumed by the parasite . The mechanism by which bile stimulates parasite growth is unknown, but uptake of conjugated bile salt by Giardia could reduce intraluminal bile salt concentrations and possibly interfere with micellar solubilization of fat . This may contribute to the steatorrhoea which is well recognized in symptomatic patients with giardiasis.

Acta Otolaryngol Suppl, 1988, 454, 197 - 201
Chlamydia trachomatis: a currently recognized pathogen of tonsillitis; Ogawa H et al.; The authors investigated whether or not Chlamydia trachomatis could be isolated from tonsillar crypts in order to establish directly the relationship of the organism to the tonsillar infection . In 17 of 65 (26.2%) cases with tonsillitis, C . trachomatis was recovered from tonsillar crypts . Ten of the 17 Chlamydia-positive patients were attended for recurrent sore throat and 5 for lingering tonsillitis . Thirteen of the 17 cases had serum antibody to C . trachomatis . We also isolated this microorganism from one of 18 persons complaining of a lumpy throat . Eleven of the 18 Chlamydia-positive patients had pertinent histories of oro-genital sexual activity, and pharyngeal infection apparently resulted from direct inoculation . The available data suggest that tonsillitis, the most common problem in otorhinolaryngology, may be caused by C . trachomatis more often than has been suspected.

Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis, 1988, 11(3-4), 177 - 80
Affinity of microorganisms of the genus ureaplasma to the reproductive organs of cattle; Pilaszek J et al.; The purpose of this work was to define more precisely the role of Ureaplasma organisms in the aetiology of granular vulvovaginitis and balanoposthitis (GVVBP) of cattle . To contribute to this question the frequency and degree of infection with Ureaplasmas in two main groups of cattle was taken into account: (a) in cattle with symptoms of the mentioned disease, (b) in cattle without clinical symptoms . The samples of semen from 301 sires with symptoms of GVVBP and from 43 healthy sires as also vaginal mucus swabs from 96 cows with GVVBP and from 40 cows mated by the sire infected with Ureaplasma organisms and from 50 cows inseminated with semen which contained Ureaplasma organisms were taken for bacteriological examinations . The control group in relation to the above mentioned cows constituted of 22 heifers free from symptoms of GVVBP and neither inseminated nor mated naturally . It has been shown that on an average 78.1% of sires with pathological changes in the mucosa of the penis or prepuce and only 25.6% of healthy sires were infected with Ureaplasma organisms . The concentration of Ureaplasma organisms was also significantly higher in material obtained from sires with symptoms of the disease than in that from healthy animals . Ureaplasma organisms were demonstrated more frequently (72.7%) in cows with GVVBP than in cows without these symptoms (13.3%) . Similarly, as in the material obtained from sires, in the material taken from cows with symptoms of the disease the concentration of Ureaplasma organisms was significantly higher than that in the material originating from the healthy cows . The obtained findings may indicate that Ureaplasma organisms play a role in the aetiology of GVVBP.

Bull Soc Pathol Exot Filiales, 1988, 81(4), 721 - 5
{Bactericidal activity of disinfectants against certain bacterial strains of S . aureus}; Economou-Stamatelopoulou C et al.; The bactericidal activity of twenty disinfectants against S . aureus was evaluated by a suspension and capacity test . The effect of interfering substances (organic matter and hard water) on the activity of these disinfectants was investigated by a number of experimental trials . The sensibility of S . aureus to sodium laurylsulfate and zinc pyrithione was affected by proteins . The interference of proteins was not evident for the other disinfectants . The polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine 7% and the cresol saponatum tolerated the presence of proteins in distilled water, but they were influenced by them in hard water; on the contrary, the zinc pyrithione was more active in hard water than in distilled water . Generally, the second and third incremental addition of microorganisms did not practically alter the bactericidal effect of the majority of disinfectants.

Ann Clin Res, 1988, 20(4), 276 - 8
The sauna, skin and skin diseases; Hannuksela M et al.; The aesthetic pleasure of the Finnish sauna may be disturbed by an intense itch caused by sweating in a few people with atopic dermatitis . The heat of the sauna may also initiate cholinergic urticaria . The sauna itself does not cause drying of the skin although incorrect washing habits may lead to this . The use of soap is adviced especially in the anogenital region and armpits, but the use of a washing brush and sponge is not adviced . Sauna bathing facilitates the removal of hyperkeratotic scales in psoriasis, and the use of petrolatum, emollient creams or topical antipsoriatic regimens has been found to be beneficial for many patients . Dermatophytes and other infective microorganisms are easily killed by the heat of the sauna . The pleasing sensations in the skin after sauna bathing are thus only very seldom disturbed by itches or some other unpleasant consequence.

J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr, 1988, 1(4), 361 - 6
Oral defense mechanisms are impaired early in HIV-1 infected patients; Yeh CK et al.; We have examined the hypothesis that individuals infected with human immune deficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) experience significant, specific alterations in mechanisms protecting the oral cavity prior to the appearance of AIDS-related systemic opportunistic infections . In a study of 13 early-stage, stable anti-HIV antibody positive patients, parotid salivary function was found to be generally intact . In contrast, several indicators of submandibular gland dysfunction were detected . In particular, stimulated fluid output was decreased and salivary lysozyme levels were increased relative to controls by 50-60% for both resting (p less than 0.05) and stimulated (p less than 0.001) conditions . Also, the frequency of albumin detection in submandibular saliva samples was approximately 65% in HIV-1 infected patients vs . 0% in controls (p less than 0.05) . In addition, cytologic evaluation of oral mucosa revealed a fivefold increase in the prevalence of candidal hyphae in HIV-1 infected patients compared to controls (41% vs . 8%, p less than 0.05) . We conclude that normal oral defense mechanisms show signs of compromise in HIV-1 infected individuals . We suggest that (a) effects of HIV-1 infection are seen early in the oral cavity, (b) impairment of oral defense mechanisms may facilitate entry of microorganisms with an attendant increased risk of morbidity and mortality, and (c) intensive oral surveillance and prophylactic care should be part of the routine management afforded to AIDS patients soon after HIV-1 infection is recognized.

J Perinat Med, 1988, 16(3), 253 - 6
Erythromycin therapy for subclinical intrauterine infections in threatened preterm delivery--a preliminary report; Winkler M et al.; Evidence suggests that subclinical intrauterine infections which can be indicated by elevated maternal CRP-values may cause preterm labor and that Ureaplasma urealyticum might play a role in the pathogenesis of preterm delivery . Since these organisms are sensitive to erythromycin, 43 patients with threatened preterm labor were at the time of tocolysis treated with erythromycin, or placebo in a randomized study . Treatment with erythromycin resulted in a greater mean delay of delivery for 9 days than among the placebo-treated women . This effect is statistically significant in patients with intact membranes and cervical dilatation: in contrast to the placebo group these women achieved an increased delay of 23 days before delivering . Moreover, successful erythromycin treatment was significantly associated with the isolation of ureaplasmas from vaginal swabs . Our results emphasize that in cases with cervical dilatation, vaginal microorganisms, especially ureaplasmas, are more liely to ascend and might be involved in the initiation of preterm labor . Therefore, additional treatment with erythromycin was beneficial only in these women.

Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol, 1988, 87(2), 127 - 33
Exposure to microorganisms, airway inflammatory changes and immune reactions in asymptomatic dairy farmers . Bronchoalveolar lavage evidence of macrophage activation and permeability changes in the airways; Larsson K et al.; Lung function, bronchial reactivity, serum antibody levels, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and the magnitude of exposure to airborne microorganisms during farm work were studied in 10 healthy farmers with no respiratory symptoms . Lung function and bronchial reactivity were not altered . An increase in the amount of antibodies against several microorganisms could be demonstrated but precipitating antibodies were observed only in two subjects . In the BAL fluid the nonsmoking farmers had elevated proportion of lymphocytes and elevated levels of albumin, fibronectin and angiotensin-converting enzyme while the levels of hyaluronan and procollagen III N-terminal peptide were within normal limits . The lung function, bronchial reactivity, serum antibody levels and BAL findings were not correlated with the exposure to airborne microorganisms . We conclude that healthy farmers, exposed to mold dust, may exhibit signs of alveolitis including albumin leakage, accumulation of inflammatory cells and alveolar macrophage activation.

Acta Otolaryngol Suppl, 1988, 454, 70 - 4
Immunological aspects of tonsils and of tonsillitis; Zenner HP et al.; The human tonsils are responsible for the final antigen-induced differentiation of B-cells to plasma cells . Their main function could be the expansion of memory IgA-B-cells, allowing J-chain expression and final differentiation under secondary signals . IgA/J+-cells have been shown to migrate into mucosal membranes, allowing a protection against microorganisms . Recurrent tonsillitis obviously interferes with this complex immunological network, possibly resulting in a reduced mucosal protection by IgA . Furthermore, bacterial antigens can initiate the liberation of biochemical inflammatory mediators . Among these, arachidonic acid products can play a key role . They can induce epithelial damage and decreased ciliary function . Furthermore, they influence tonsillar immunological reactions.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1988 Jan, 185(4-5), 421 - 6
{The emission of toxic ingredients from disinfectant solutions into the air}; Harke HP et al.; The development of peracidous disinfectants allows a disinfection, inactivating an incomparable large spectrum of microorganisms and showing special advantages of toxicology . There is no release of evaporable toxic substances into the air after disinfection with the exception of products based on peracetic acid . In this paper cell cultures are chosen as indicator for the toxicity of evaporable substances . It is shown that the cells were able to propagate in the presence of active oxygen containing disinfectants as well as in the blanc test . However, there was no propagation of cells in presence of formaldehyde, glutardialdehyde and peracetic acid.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1988 Jan, 185(4-5), 411 - 20
{Rapid disinfection of surfaces with a chlorine-releasing scouring agent}; Koller W; Experiments using artificially contaminated tile-surfaces, broth as well as an artificial soil based on flavour and raw egg as suspension medium for the test-microorganisms (S . aureus, E . coli, P . aeruginosa and C . albicans) resulted in marked inoculum reductions by the following cleaning and disinfection method: a thick, fluid and Chlorine releasing scouring agent was spread onto wetted surface, the surface wiped clean and left for 10 min before being rinsed with tap water . This procedure lead within few minutes to germ reductions similar to those achieved within one or more hours by disinfections with aldehyde based compounds or other well established disinfectants . This fact should be kept in mind when discussing old and new procedures for disinfection of surfaces.

Sex Transm Dis, 1988 Jan-Mar, 15(1), 5 - 10
Prevalence of lower genital tract infections in pregnancy; Hill LV et al.; A descriptive profile of 106 pregnant women with various forms of cervicitis and vaginitis is provided . Fifty women attending individual physicians' private offices are compared with 56 clinic patients: 34 attending a university prenatal teaching clinic and 22 attending a pregnancy termination unit . Univariate analysis showed that single women were significantly more likely to be infected by mycoplasmas, yeasts, trichomonads, and Gardnerella vaginalis than were married women . Teenagers were more frequently infected by Mycoplasma hominis, yeasts, and Trichomonas vaginalis than were women older than 20 years . After stepwise logistic regression analysis, the most significant predictor of infection with M . hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, or yeasts was being a clinic patient; for G . vaginalis, the most significant variable was being unmarried . These data suggest that teenaged and single women who are pregnant will benefit most from routine screening for vaginitis/cervicitis-producing microorganisms.

Comput Biol Med, 1988, 18(2), 57 - 63
Microorganism track reconstruction: an image processing approach; Gualtieri P et al.; This paper presents an automatic system for the analysis of microorganism behaviour . The movements of free swimming microorganisms are videotaped by means of a television camera mounted on a microscope . The analysis is performed off-line by digitizing the video signal through the use of an image processor unit . Microorganism tracks are reconstructed spatially and chronologically by means of image processing techniques . From these tracks cell movement parameters are obtained . The results of our experiment in testing photoinduced movements follow.

Clin Ther, 1988, 10(4), 456 - 61
Medical management of osteomyelitis: considerations for home antibiotic chemotherapy; Saravolatz LD et al.; Osteomyelitis can result from hematogenous seeding or contiguous infection, especially in association with impaired vascularity . Appropriate antibiotic therapy requires identification of the pathogen or pathogens and confirmation that the pathogens are susceptible to the antibiotic selected . Because of the long duration of parenteral antibiotic therapy required, treatment of osteomyelitis is expensive when patients are kept in the hospital for this reason alone . The development of long-half-life antibiotics that can be administered intramuscularly once a day and that are well tolerated has made outpatient parenteral therapy possible for many such patients . Cefonicid is a long-acting second-generation cephalosporin with activity against many of the microorganisms involved in osteomyelitis . Clinical studies have shown that cefonicid is effective and safe when used in an outpatient treatment program . Such programs have realized considerable savings over the cost of inpatient therapy.

Immunodefic Rev, 1988, 1(1), 55 - 69
Molecular genetics of chronic granulomatous disease; Dinauer MC et al.; Chronic granulomatous disease is an inherited disorder characterized by the failure of phagocytic cells to produce superoxide upon the ingestion of microorganisms due to a lesion in a membrane-associated NADPH-oxidase . The components of the oxidase have been incompletely characterized by standard biochemical approaches . A genetic strategy has recently led to the identification of the gene affected in the common X-linked form of CGD without reference to its protein product . The X-CGD gene, assigned to chromosome position Xp21.1, encodes a phagocyte-specific RNA transcript that is mutated in patients with X-CGD . Antisera directed toward the predicted protein product of the X-CGD gene recognize a 90 kD membrane glycoprotein, which corresponds to the larger subunit of the phagocyte b-cytochrome heterodimer . The recent genetic and biochemical findings provide an explanation for the consistent absence of the b-cytochrome spectrum in X-CGD, and establish this cytochrome as an essential component of the phagocyte oxidase . The primary amino acid sequence of both the 90 kD b-cytochrome subunit and the 22 kD subunit (cloned as the cDNA using a specific antisera) have no significant similarity to other proteins, including previously studied cytochromes . As both subunits of the b-cytochrome heterodimer are absent in X-CGD, despite a genetic deficiency of only the larger polypeptide, a close interaction between the two subunits may be important for b-cytochrome stability and function . Expression of the b-cytochrome large subunit mRNA is increased by interferon-gamma, an important macrophage activator . Partial or complete restoration of oxidase activity in some X-CGD patients treated with interferon-gamma suggests new therapeutic approaches in the management of this disorder . Molecular reagents prepared from the cloned X-CGD cDNA or gene may prove to be clinically useful in prenatal diagnosis and may provide a basis for somatic gene therapy in future.

Biofactors, 1988 Jan, 1(1), 95 - 103
Methanopterin and methanogenic bacteria; Keltjens JT et al.; Methanogenic bacteria comprise a selected group of microorganisms that derive their energy for growth from the hydrogen-dependent reduction of CO2 to methane or the disproportionation of reduced one-carbon compounds and acetate to CO2 and methane . In the reduction and oxidation steps at the formyl, hydroxymethyl and methyl level the one-carbon unit remains bound to the reduced form of methanopterin, a pterin derivative typical of methanogenic bacteria . In addition, the reduced methanopterin, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydromethanopterin, is involved in a number of anabolic reactions . Methanopterin is structurally and functionally the counterpart of folic acid found in other organisms . In this review the occurrence and properties of methanopterin and its derivatives, as well as the biosynthesis and the role in the different catabolic and anabolic reactions are discussed against the background of folic acid biochemistry.

Ciba Found Symp, 1988, 140, 32 - 48
The industrial potential of microbial nitrile biochemistry; Wyatt JM et al.; Nitrile compounds are manufactured widely by man as well as in Nature . The industrial potential of using the microbial metabolism of nitriles and related compounds for the manufacture of a variety of chemicals has started to be realised . The microbial metabolism of nitrile-using microorganisms can also be harnessed to biodegrade toxic waste effluent streams that contain nitriles and are formed during the chemical synthesis of nitrile compounds.

Clin Microbiol Rev, 1988 Jan, 1(1), 82 - 101
Diagnostic deoxyribonucleic acid probes for infectious diseases; Tenover FC; Virtually all microorganisms contain some unique nucleotide sequences which can be the target of deoxyribonucleic acid probes . Probes have been used successfully to identify a wide variety of pathogens from the simple ribonucleic acid-containing polioviruses to the complex filarial worms Brugia malayi . Probe technology offers the clinical laboratory the potential both to extend the types of pathogens that can be readily identified and to reduce significantly the time associated with the identification of fastidious microorganisms . Over a dozen commercially prepared deoxyribonucleic acid probe tests are now available . This article explores the development of deoxyribonucleic acid probe tests and reviews the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of many of the diagnostic probes developed during the last several years . Prospects for newer, more sensitive detection systems for the products of hybridization reactions are also reviewed.

Clin Microbiol Rev, 1988 Jan, 1(1), 40 - 53
Pathogenicity and virulence: another view; Isenberg HD; The concepts of pathogenicity and virulence have governed our perception of microbial harmfulness since the time of Pasteur and Koch . These concepts resulted in the recognition and identification of numerous etiological agents and provided natural and synthetic agents effective in therapy and prevention of diseases . However, Koch's postulates--the premier product of this view--place the onus of harmfulness solely on the microbial world . Our recent experiences with polymicrobic and nosocomial infections, legionellosis, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome point to the host as the major determinant of disease . The principles of parasitism, enunciated by Theobold Smith, approximate more accurately the disturbances of the host-parasite equilibrium we designate as infection . Many complex attributes of microbial anatomy and physiology have been obscured by our dependency on the pure-culture technique . For example, bacterial attachment organelles and the production of exopolysaccharides enable microorganisms to interact with mammalian glycocalyces and specific receptors . In addition, selection, through the use of therapeutic agents, aids in the progression of environmental organisms to members of the intimate human biosphere, with the potential to complicate the recovery of patients . These factors emphasize further the pivotal significance of host reactions in infections . Parasitism, in its negative aspects, explains the emergence of "new" infections that involve harm to more than host organs and cells: we may encounter subtler infections that reveal parasitic and host cell nucleic acid interactions in a form of genomic parasitism.

Adv Biotechnol Processes, 1988, 8, 51 - 96
Disintegration of microorganisms; White MD et al.; The most common methods for the large-scale disintegration of microorganisms are high-pressure homogenization and wet milling . The most-used homogenizer is produced by Manton Gaulin and the common ball mill is the Dyno-Mill . Other manufacturers are now producing similar equipment (e.g., Rannie homogenizers and Netzsch ball mills) . However, only relatively limited information on these systems has been published so far . An additional system that might become available for large-scale disintegration is microfluidization . When coming to choose optimal equipment and conditions for cell disintegration, it might be useful to consider some relevant topics that were compiled by the Retsch company for particle disruption and are presented, with modification, in Table XIII . Obviously, the importance of the above points will vary in different processes, but all of them should be considered in any biotechnological large-scale application . It is important to realize that although the mechanical disintegration methods are of general use, it is essential to define the optimal disintegration conditions for each microorganism and/or product . As a starting point, the published data for a similar product should be consulted . This should be followed by laboratory-scale experiments carried out with equipment and conditions that can be easily scaled up.

Basic Life Sci, 1988, 45, 31 - 45
Tracking microorganisms and genes in the environment; Atlas RM et al.; Proposed intentional releases of GEMs into the environment necessitate the development of appropriate methodologies for tracing organisms and their genes in various environmental samples . Studies have been conducted to determine the sensitivities and limitations of various methods for determining the fate of GEMs and their genes in the environment . Selective viable plate count procedures can be designed to detect the introduced organisms with high sensitivity; but they are restricted by potential mutations affecting the expression of the selective characteristic in the introduced organism, the occurrence of the particular selective characteristic in the indigenous organisms, and the need to culture the organism . The accuracy of this approach is greatly improved by colony hybridization procedures that use a specific gene probe to detect the introduced genes, but this approach is still only as sensitive as the plating procedure . Direct extraction of DNA from environmental samples, coupled with dot blot hybridization with radiolabeled probe DNA or solution hybridization, gives a high degree of both sensitivity and precision . This approach does not require culturing of the organism; and even if an introduced gene moves into a new organism or if the introduced organism is viable but nonculturable, the gene probe methods will detect the persistence of the introduced genes in the environment . Efficient direct DNA extraction methods have been developed and tested following in vitro experimental additions of GEMs to sediment and water samples.

Zentralbl Mikrobiol, 1988, 143(3), 179 - 94
{Nitrogen regulation in microorganisms}; Huth J et al.; The central role of NH4+-assimilation in the microbial metabolization of several inorganic nitrogen sources and the regulation of its key enzymes--glutamate dehydrogenases (GDH--EC 1.4.1.2 . and EC 1.4.1.4.), glutamine synthetase (GS--EC 6.3.1.2.) and glutamate synthase (GOGAT--EC 1.4.1.3.)--are presented . In excess of ammonia gramnegative bacteria as well as yeasts assimilate this ion in a NADH + H+ or NADPH + H+ dependent reaction by GDH . Under NH4+-limitation--in natural environments rather the rule than the exception--the ammonia assimilation is ATP dependent and catalyzed via GS and GOGAT . Subsequently the connection between the nitrogen metabolization and the resulting changes in the extracellular pH of growing yeast cultures is discussed . The stoichiometric exchange between NH4+ and H+ led to the assumption that in the physiological pH-range an energy dependent NH4+/H+ transport is the preferred++ mechanism of ammonia uptake for NH4+ excess as well as for NH4+ shortage.

J Urol (Paris), 1988, 94(3), 153 - 7
{Role of Chlamydia trachomatis in male urethritis . Analysis of 2,000 cases of male urethritis}; Pastorini E et al.; A study involving of 2,000 cases of urethritis revealed the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis in 44% of patients . Following a pathophysiological review, the strongly suggestive clinical picture of infection by this microorganism is emphasized . This study stresses two precise points by dealing with: firstly, the importance of the choice of technique for demonstration of the presence of the bacteria, and its reliability; secondly, the value of bacteriological evidence of the infection in order to treat not only the patient but also the partner(s) and to subsequently confirm the treatment as being effective.

Med Prog Technol, 1988-89, 14(3-4), 205 - 24
Infections from biomaterials and implants: a race for the surface; Gristina AG et al.; Microorganisms in nature and disease are dependent on substratum attachment for optimal growth and development . Similarly, implanted biomaterials tend to potentiate bacteria on their surfaces so that normally friendly special or opportunistic organisms become virulent pathogens . Virulence is also enhanced because both bacteria and biomaterials interfere with host defense mechanisms . Infections centered on biomaterials are most difficult to eliminate and usually require removal of the device . The consequences of device failure are catastrophic and costly . It is the specific nature of the biomaterial surface, which is indirectly a reflection of bulk features, that causes and directs the changes in bacterial behavior which result in virulence . Features of organisms and materials and interactions responsible for these phenomena are reviewed.

Proteins, 1988, 3(4), 252 - 5
Preliminary X-ray diffraction studies and biochemical characterization of the antitumor protein mitomalcin indicate close similarity to neocarzinostatin; Sieker LC et al.; The antitumor antibiotic protein mitomalcin, from the microorganism Streptomyces malayensis, has been purified to apparent homogeneity and crystallized . The crystals belong to space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) and have the following cell parameters: a = 27.2 A, b = 34.1 A, c = 101.7 A, and alpha = beta = gamma = 90 degrees . These crystal properties are extremely similar to crystals of the antitumor protein neocarzinostatin (11.7 kilodaltons {kDa}) from Streptomyces carzinostaticus in spite of differing pH conditions for crystallizing the two proteins and an apparent difference in molecular weight . Gel electrophoresis shows the molecular weight is similar to that of neocarzinostatin . An amino acid composition analysis of mitomalcin indicates that some differences may exist between the two molecules, but a preliminary amino acid sequence analysis of the first 37 residues found no difference in the N-terminal region of the molecule.

Vopr Pitan, 1988 Jan-Feb, (1), 60 - 4
{Improved sanitary bacteriological control of dairy production}; Kalamkarova LI et al.; Investigation of bacterial contamination in curds and sour cream, and experimental studies on survival rate of a number of pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms in these products have permitted standardization of the products with respect to coliform bacteria . A permissible level has been determined for bacterial contamination of curds and sour cream.

Tokai J Exp Clin Med, 1988, 13 Suppl, 235 - 8
Bordetella pertussis pilin and pilin-like genes; de Ferra F et al.; Bordetella pertussis fimbriae, which mediate the adherence of the microorganism to the epithelium of the respiratory tract, elicit a protective immunogenic response which could be taken advantage of for the creation of an acellular vaccine against pertussis . A few of the fimbrial proteins have been partially characterized by immunological means which recently the cloning and characterization of pilin and pilin-like genes are allowing us to study their structure, regulation of expression during the infectious cycle of Bordetella pertussis, and the basis for antigenic variation . In this communication we will review recent data on Bordetella pertussis pilin and pilin-like genes and their products, with particular emphasis on data most relevant to the design of an acellular vaccine.

Microbiol Immunol, 1988, 32(12), 1235 - 44
Depression of T cell-mediated immunity and enhancement of autoantibody production by natural infection with microorganisms in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR); Takeichi N et al.; We studied the effects of breeding conditions on the development of immunological abnormalities in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with congenital T cell depression . The depression of T cell functions, the production of natural thymocytotoxic autoantibody (NTA), and the development of polyarteritis nodosa were more evident in SHR reared under a conventional (CV) environment than in specific-pathogen-free (SPF) SHR bred in a semi-barrier system . Enhancement of these immunologic abnormalities was also observed by the conventionalization of SPF-SHR . A high frequency of antibodies to mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), Sendai virus, and Mycoplasma pulmonis was detected in CV rat sera, whereas no antibodies were detected in SPF-SHR . The experimental infection of Sendai virus induced the enhancement of T cell depression and of NTA production in SPF-SHR . We interpret these results to mean that the natural infection of microorganisms causes an acceleration of immunologic abnormalities in SHR reared in a CV environment.

Nat Immun Cell Growth Regul, 1988, 7(5-6), 316 - 27
Macrophage precursors as natural killer cells against tumor cells and microorganisms; Baccarini M et al.; Macrophage precursors cells have been isolated from spleen and liver of mice and have characterized using F4/80 antibody, their proliferative response to CSF-1 and their maturation to macrophages . These nonadherent and nonphagocytic cells exert strong killing of Yac-1 tumor cells and of various microorganisms . Transplantation of these macrophage precursors into lethally irradiated allogenic hosts restores natural killer (NK) activity within 14 days . Macrophage precursors show enhanced NK activity when activated with interleukin 2 . FACS analysis of F 4/80 presorted macrophage precursors reveals about 30% of the cells coexpressing NK 1.1 . and F 4/80 . These data support the assumption that at least a part of the NK cell compartment is derived from the myeloid lineage.

Biofactors, 1988 Jan, 1(1), 51 - 3
Pyrroloquinoline quinone: excretion by methylotrophs and growth stimulation for microorganisms; Ameyama M et al.; A marked excretion of pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) by methylotrophs into the culture medium was observed when incubation was prolonged to the late stationary phase . When the organisms were growing vigorously in the early exponential phase, accumulation of PQQ was repressed at a low level . Some evidence was obtained that the excretion of PQQ is related to turnover of quinoproteins of the organisms . The growth stimulation of microorganisms by PQQ was demonstrated using Acetobacter aceti . The presence of PQQ even at the pg/ml level in the culture medium stimulated the bacterial growth by reducing the lag time . The growth stimulating effect of PQQ was observed only by the reduction of the lag time but not by increase in either the subsequent growth rate or the total cell yield . The results indicated that PQQ must have an important role in the initiation of cell reproduction.

Caries Res, 1988, 22(5), 269 - 75
Comparison of Lycasin versus sucrose sweets in demineralization studies of human enamel and hydroxylapatite; Grenby TH et al.; Boiled sweets formulated with Lycasin were compared with conventional sugar-base sweets . Incubated in media containing solutions of the sweets, mixed cultures of oral microorganisms produced less polysaccharide and acid, with significantly less demineralizing action on dental enamel and hydroxylapatite, from the Lycasin than from the sugar-base products . In comparison with these differences, the effects of changing the flavouring acid combination in the sweets were minor, but levels of citric and malic acids as high as 1.00% showed some inhibition of the activity of the oral microorganisms.

Adv Biochem Psychopharmacol, 1988, 44, 125 - 37
Drugs of abuse and virus susceptibility; Friedman H et al.; It is widely recognized that various microorganisms including viruses have immunomodulatory effects and, under appropriate circumstances, may markedly suppress the immune response mechanisms . Cannabinoids present in marijuana also have immunomodulatory effects . In the present studies THC as well as its metabolic product 11-OH THC were studied in regard to their effects in vivo and in vitro on selected parameters of the immune response system known to be important in antiviral resistance, including immunity to retroviruses . Cannabinoids markedly suppressed the ability of murine macrophages to spread on glass (an important functional marker of macrophages) as well as to phagocytize yeast particles . Splenic macrophage cultures treated with the cannabinoids also were deficient in their ability to produce interleukin 1 on appropriate stimulation with bacterial LPS . Spleen cells capable of producing antibody to sheep erythrocytes when stimulated with this antigen in vitro were markedly affected when treated with graded doses of THC or 11-OH THC . Furthermore, the blastogenic responsiveness of normal mouse splenocytes to the T-cell mitogens Con A and PHA as well as the B-cell mitogen E . coli LPS was markedly suppressed by graded concentrations of the cannabinoids in doses that did not affect the viability of the cells . Natural killer cell activity of normal mouse spleen cells was also markedly inhibited by THC and 11-OH THC . Similarly, these cannabinoids suppressed the blastogenic responsiveness and NK activity of human peripheral blood leukocytes from normal individuals . The ability of mouse spleen cells to produce interferon on in vitro stimulation was also suppressed by THC . In addition, injection of THC into mice suppressed blastogenic responsiveness of spleen cells, NK activity, and the production of interferon by lymphoid cells . Thus, it was apparent that these cannabinoids had immunomodulatory effects, both in vivo and in vitro, at noncytotoxic small doses and impaired the ability of the lymphoid cells to express immune function necessary for antiviral resistance.

Acta Derm Venereol, 1988, 68(6), 535 - 7
The hair follicle mites (Demodex spp.) . Could they be vectors of pathogenic microorganisms?
Wolf R, Ophir J, Avigad J, Lengy J, Krakowski A.
The hair follicle mites Demodex folliculorum and D . brevis are the most common permanent ectoparasites of Man . Ordinarily they are harmless to their human host and appear to be of no medical significance . We present, however, an unusual finding regarding this mite, namely, that in a potassium hydroxide mount of a skin scraping from a mycotic plaque we found numerous Demodex mites containing inside them spores of Microsporum canis . This could mean that the putatively inoffensive Demodex has the potential to ingest various microorganisms that are found in its niche and transport them to other areas of the skin or possibly to other individuals.

Stain Technol, 1988 Jan, 63(1), 53 - 7
A simple and highly reproducible staining method for fungi and other polysaccharide-rich microorganisms in animal tissues; Tome Y et al.; A newly devised, simple and highly reproducible method for fungal staining is reported . Grocott's method, in which methenamine-silver nitrate solution is employed, has been widely used for the staining of fungi in tissue sections, but it frequently produces heavy background staining because of sudden and progressive reaction in the methenamine-silver nitrate solution . We therefore replace the latter solution with an ammoniacal silver nitrate solution . This new method yields more consistent results in fungal staining without background staining, since the reaction time in the ammoniacal silver nitrate solution is prolonged . The present method is considered superior to Grocott's method with regard to its simplicity and reproducibility.

Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol, 1988, 85(1), 82 - 6
Dissection of adjuvant and suppressive effects of mycobacteria in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis production; Mostarica-Stojkovic M et al.; Dark August rats exhibit clinically and histologically verified experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) when immunized with appropriate antigen (nervous tissue, myelin basic protein) emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) . We provide evidence that 6,6'-trechalose dymicolate (TDM) incorporated in incomplete Freund's adjuvant replaces CFA in EAE induction . The animals that recovered from EAE were resistant to the reinduction of the disease irrespectively whether Mycobacterium tuberculosis or TDM was used as an adjuvant . Finally, pretreatment with CFA alone was sufficient for prevention of disease elicited by challenge with encephalitogen + CFA . However, TDM, despite its adjuvant capacity when applied prior to the induction of the disease with encephalitogen + CFA, did not exhibit any protective effect . Thus, our study implicates that adjuvant and suppressive capacities of M . tuberculosis may be related to the different determinants of the microorganisms, TDM possessing the adjuvanticity only.

J Biol Chem, 1987 Dec 15, 262(35), 16816 - 21
Redox-dependent subunit dissociation of Azotobacter vinelandii hydrogenase in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate; Seefeldt LC et al.; Hydrogenases catalyze the reversible activation of dihydrogen . We have previously demonstrated that the purified hydrogenase from the nitrogen-fixing microorganism Azotobacter vinelandii is an alpha beta dimer (98,000 Da) with subunits of 67,000 (alpha) and 31,000 (beta) daltons and that this enzyme contains iron and nickel . The enzyme can be purified anaerobically in the presence of dithionite in a fully active state that is irreversibly inactivated by exposure to O2 . Analysis of this hydrogenase by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) following boiling in SDS yields two protein staining bands corresponding to the alpha and beta subunits . However, when this enzyme was treated with SDS (25-65 degrees C) for up to 30 min under anaerobic/reductive conditions and then analyzed by anaerobic SDS-PAGE, a protein staining band corresponding to an apparent molecular mass of 58,000 Da was observed that stained for hydrogenase activity . Analysis of the 58,000-Da activity staining band by a Western immunoblot or a second aerobic SDS-polyacrylamide gel revealed that this protein actually consisted of both the alpha and beta subunits . Thus, the activity staining band (apparent 58,000 Da) represents the 98,000-Da dimer migrating abnormally on SDS-PAGE . Treatment of the anaerobically purified hydrogenase with SDS under aerobic conditions or under anaerobic conditions with electron acceptors prior to electrophoresis resulted in no activity staining band and the separated alpha and beta subunits . A . vinelandii hydrogenase was also purified under aerobic conditions in an inactive O2 stable form that can be activated by removal of oxygen followed by addition of reductant . This enzyme (as isolated), the activated form, and the reoxidized form were analyzed for their stability toward denaturation by SDS . We conclude that the dissociation of the A . vinelandii hydrogenase subunits in SDS is controlled by the redox state of the enzyme suggesting an important role of one or more redox sites in controlling the structure of this enzyme.

Science, 1987 Dec 4, 238(4832), 1395 - 8
Assemblage of ortho cleavage route for simultaneous degradation of chloro- and methylaromatics; Rojo F et al.; Genetic engineering is a powerful means of accelerating the evolution of new biological activities and has considerable potential for constructing microorganisms that can degrade environmental pollutants . Critical enzymes from five different catabolic pathways of three distinct soil bacteria have been combined in patchwork fashion into a functional ortho cleavage route for the degradation of methylphenols and methylbenzoates . The new bacterium thereby evolved was able to degrade and grow on mixtures of chloro- and methylaromatics that were toxic even for the bacteria that could degrade the individual components of the mixtures . Except for one enzymatic step, the pathway was fully regulated and its component enzymes were only synthesized in response to the presence of pathway substrates.

J Environ Sci Health B, 1987 Dec, 22(6), 663 - 90
Anaerobic microbial dechlorination: an approach to on-site treatment of toxaphene-contaminated soil; Mirsatari SG et al.; Enhanced microbial degradation of toxaphene by natural microorganisms occurred in soil and sediment amended with organic matter kept under anaerobic (flooded) conditions . Laboratory experiments yielded a dissipation half-life of approximately 3 and 1 week for soil and sediment, respectively, containing 10 ppm of technical toxaphene and a 1% alfalfa meal amendment . Dissipation was accompanied by an increase in early eluting gas chromatographic peaks and a decrease in later eluting peaks, indicating that dechlorination had occurred . Enhanced anaerobic dissipation also took place in soil containing 500 ppm of toxaphene, although at a lesser rate than at 10 ppm, and when cotton gin waste was used as amendment in place of alfalfa meal . Sediment in a toxaphene-contaminated pesticide waste disposal ditch was amended with 10% steer manure and flooded to ascertain field utility of the technique for on-site decontamination . Toxaphene residues were reduced from 63 to 23 ppm in 120 days, and some degradation activity still occurred up to 8 months after this single treatment.

Semin Respir Infect, 1987 Dec, 2(4), 206 - 21
The epidemiology of Legionella pneumophila infections; Doebbeling BN et al.; The study of outbreaks of Legionella pneumophila has been essential in understanding the organism, the disease, and its pathogenesis . Early epidemics defined the clinical spectrum: Pontiac fever is an acute, self-limited, febrile illness with an attack rate of 95% to 100% and an incubation period of 36 hours . In contrast, legionnaires' disease is a life-threatening bronchopneumonia with an attack rate of 2% to 7% and an incubation period of two to ten days . Three times as many males as females are affected with legionnaires' disease, and age, cigarette smoking, and chronic medical disease (particularly immunosuppression) appear to be separate risk factors . Furthermore, L pneumophila is responsible for approximately 1% to 3% of community-acquired pneumonias, 13% of those acquired in the hospital and as many as 26% of atypical pneumonias . Diverse environmental reservoirs have been identified, including cooling systems, potable or domestic water systems, respiratory therapy devices, industrial coolants, and whirlpool spas . Hot water temperature, stagnant water, sediment, and the presence of other microorganisms are important factors in the amplification of the Legionellaceae . Although airborne transmission has been widely suggested, aspiration may be an important mode in certain patients . Regional and national surveillance may identify common sources and allow the introduction of early control measures . The latter have included primarily pulse and continuous hyperchlorination and super-heating hot water systems to 50 to 60 degrees C . Experimental data suggest that ozone and UV light may be useful in the future . Additionally, cooling towers and evaporative condensers have been decontaminated and maintained with a variety of biocides . The prevention of outbreaks requires thoughtful planning, redesign, and good engineering practices.

J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Dec, 25(12), 2355 - 8
Multicenter comparison of MicroScan and BACTEC blood culture systems; Wasilauskas B et al.; Recently, MicroScan (Baxter MicroScan Div., W . Sacramento, Calif.) introduced a radiolabeled-blood-culture system that is compatible with the BACTEC 460 (Johnston Laboratories, Inc., Towson, Md.) . A multicenter blood culture study was initiated to evaluate this new system . Approximately 20 ml of blood was obtained from each patient and divided equally between BACTEC and MicroScan bottles which were incubated and processed identically . Aerobic bottles were examined twice on days 1 and 2 and once on days 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 . Anaerobic bottles were examined once a day for 7 days . There were 3,451 cultures evaluated, and 414 of these subsequently grew microorganisms . Of these positive cultures, 64 were judged to be contaminated . Of the remaining 350 positive cultures, 253 grew in both systems, 54 grew in BACTEC bottles only, and 43 grew in MicroScan bottles only . The average times to detect positive cultures were 1.8 and 2.1 days by the BACTEC and the MicroScan systems, respectively . No significant difference in the number or kind of organisms recovered or in the detection times for positive cultures was observed between the two blood-culturing systems.

Scand J Dent Res, 1987 Dec, 95(6), 475 - 82
Influence of oral hygiene on the mucosal conditions beneath bridge pontics; Tolboe H et al.; The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the relationship between the oral hygiene at the bridge pontic and the inflammatory changes in the adjacent mucosa . The study consisted of three 4-wk periods with different hygienic measures: 1) no oral hygiene around and beneath the pontic, 2) thorough hygiene using toothbrush and toothpicks and 3) thorough hygiene using a toothbrush and dental floss every day . The amount of accumulated bacterial deposits on the pontic and the inflammation in the pontic area were estimated using quantitative microbiologic tests, and clinical and histologic examinations . When dental floss had been used the mucosa was healthy while it showed mild or moderate inflammation after the other experimental periods . There was a high correlation between the amount of mucosal exudate and the inflammation in the mucosa as measured by a modified Gingival Index . Daily use of dental floss resulted in a significantly lower number of microorganisms per mm2 compared with the other hygienic measures . Histologic sections of the biopsies showed changes in form of parakeratosis with thinning or loss of stratum corneum . The investigations have demonstrated that insufficient oral hygiene is an important factor in the development of inflammatory changes in the oral mucosa beneath bridge pontics . Regular use of dental floss ought to be a part of the oral hygiene regimen in patients wearing fixed bridges.

Am J Kidney Dis, 1987 Dec, 10(6), 401 - 7
Prevention of peritoneal dialysis catheter-related infections; Copley JB; There is a significant correlation between patient morbidity and peritoneal dialysis-associated catheter-related infections . Infection occurs when barriers to microorganism invasion are disrupted . To establish and maintain strong barriers against this invasion, care must be taken with placement of the catheter and with short- and long-term maintenance . There must be particular emphasis on planning placement of the catheter . Exit-site selection, type and configuration of the catheter, whether the catheter will contain one or two cuffs, and whether placement will be midline or lateral are all important factors to be considered . Tips are offered to enhance barrier establishment as the catheter is placed, as is a discussion of postplacement exit-site and wound care, and exit-site care after healing has occurred . Finally, the importance of recognizing catheter-related infections is emphasized and four types of infection are defined . Given the anecdotal nature of much of the material presented and the lack of well-defined clinical research on the subject, carefully designed randomized prospective studies are needed to determine the best method for both catheter placement and maintenance.

Pediatr Clin North Am, 1987 Dec, 34(6), 1467 - 85
Uveitis; Knox DL; Diagnosis and management of the child with an ocular inflammation demands that all of the standard tools of medicine be employed: family and individual history, particularly of allergy, social and diet history, system review, physical examination, and basic laboratory testing with special tests for certain microorganisms and allergies . Close cooperation among pediatrician, ophthalmologist, and family is important . Cases are rare, and management often requires special experience.

Microbiol Sci, 1987 Dec, 4(12), 357 - 61
Plastics and synthetic fibres from microorganisms: a dream or a potential reality?
Griffin M, Magor AM.
Potential microbial routes to the production of plastics and synthetic fibres can be divided into three categories . These are: (i) the production of biopolymers possessing the properties of plastics, (ii) the use of microorganisms as biocatalysts to produce specialized chemical intermediates or monomers, and (iii) the release of usable chemicals from renewable carbon sources such as lignin.

Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 1987 Dec, 17(1-4), 153 - 9
Potentiation of the immune response by immunization with antigens in defined multimeric physical forms; Morein B; Conventional vaccines consisting of whole microorganisms have in many cases proven ineffective . This has led to the development of subunit vaccines which contain defined protective antigens . However, subunit vaccines are frequently poorly immunogenic, requiring the addition of adjuvants and/or their formation into forms such as micelles or virosomes . Ideally a vaccine should be limited to the desired antigens, incorporated in a multimeric physically defined form into which the adjuvant is built . This is possible through use of the ISCOM (immuno-stimulating complex), a matrix of the glycoside Quil A, onto which antigens are attached by hydrophobic interaction . Experiments involving ISCOMs prepared using membrane proteins from several viruses are described . The ISCOM system can be used to enhance immune response to antigens prepared from microorganisms and cells as well as peptides and other small molecules.

J Theor Biol, 1987 Nov 21, 129(2), 219 - 30
A mathematical model for determining minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) via diffusion assays; Awerbuch TE et al.; A mathematical model is presented for the description of inhibition zones in a diffusion bioassay . In such an experiment the drug is placed at the center of a Petri dish containing a bacterial lawn in an agar gel and after a certain incubation period one observes a concentric ring around the center marking the toxic area . From the knowledge of the radius rtox of the toxic zone, the lower limit ctox at which the inhibitory response is observed can be readily calculated . This quantity is very important in evaluating the sensitivity of microorganisms to toxic substances . The mathematical model of the assay is given by a two-dimensional diffusion equation describing the changes in drug concentration due to diffusion, decay of the chemical and consumption by bacteria . The diffusion equation being mildly non-linear is solved numerically with the aid of a computer . For this purpose a numerical solver was developed as well as a "best-fit" simulation program that fits the parameters for which experimental values could not be obtained . The method was tested with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and ethylmethanesulfonate and was seen to be fast, efficient, and inexpensive . In principle it could be used for routine quantitative screening for toxicity of chemicals.

J Occup Med, 1987 Nov, 29(11), 904 - 7
Occupational exposure and lung function measurements among workers in swine confinement buildings; Haglind P et al.; Previous studies have demonstrated that air in swine confinement buildings contains large amounts of dusts, highly contaminated with microorganisms and bacterial endotoxin . A study was undertaken to investigate the respiratory function of workers before and after the work shift in swine confinement buildings . Questionnaires were mailed to workers on swine farms . Dust levels were measured by personal sampling, and the micro-flora in the dust was determined . Work-related symptoms from the lung were frequent . Several workers who were smokers had forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) values lower than expected when they started work . Among a group of life-long nonsmoking workers the baseline forced vital capacity and FEV1 were not decreased . Changes in the FEV1 over the working shift were generally not found . It is suggested that exposure to dust in swine confinement buildings may lead to respiratory impairment but further studies on larger population samples and different exposure conditions are required.

Andrologia, 1987 Nov-Dec, 19(6), 620 - 4
{Norfloxacin treatment of asymptomatic bacteriospermia in male subfertility}; Pusch HH et al.; 20 patients with pathospermia and asymptomatic bacteriospermia of more than 10(5) bacteria/ml received an oral treatment with 800 mg Norfloxacin daily for ten days . An complete spermiogram including motility assessments with laser-Doppler-spectroscopy, round-cell counts, evaluation of number and types of microorganisms was performed before treatment and within one week after treatment . As results, a statistically significant decrease of number of bacteria and round-cells was observed in the ejaculates, whereas the other spermiogram-parameters remained unchanged.

J Reprod Fertil, 1987 Nov, 81(2), 427 - 31
Factors affecting the pheromone composition of voided boar saliva; Booth WD; The pheromone binding protein 'pheromaxein' which binds the pheromonal 16-androstene steroids in the saliva of the male pig (boar), was degraded and lost its binding activity in saliva incubated in air for 72 h at 21 degrees C and 37 degrees C . However, pheromaxein and its binding activity were retained in saliva incubated for 168 h at 4 degrees C . When the 3H-labelled pheromones 5 alpha-androst-16-en-3 alpha-ol (3 alpha-androstenol), 5 alpha-androst-16-en-3-one (5 alpha-androstenone) and 5 alpha-androst-16-en-3 beta-ol (3 beta-androstenol) were incubated with boar saliva for 168 h at 21 degrees C, 3 alpha-androstenol was primarily converted to 5 alpha-androstenone and 5 alpha-androstenone to 3 beta-androstenol; 3 beta-androstenol was unchanged . Evidence was obtained for microorganisms being responsible for these steroid transformations.

Rev Rhum Mal Osteoartic, 1987 Nov, 54(11), 711 - 5
{Value of discography in disk punctures in bacterial spondylodiscitis}; Eschard JP et al.; 26 discographic examinations were performed during puncture of 28 intervertebral disks for septic spondylitis . Discography assures the operator that the diagnostic needle is correctly inserted in the intervertebral disk, without destroying the causative microorganisms . But, in particular, this examination reveals the presence of lesions which often are not suspected within the vertebra or the adjacent soft tissue, and notably the presence of large and frequently occurring pyogenic abscesses . Because of this capacity, this test has a certain diagnostic value in case of recent spondylitis and with erosive disk disease . This simple and safe procedure, in our opinion, justifies its routine utilization at the same time as disk puncture is performed for bacteriological assessment of infectious spondylitis.

Lipids, 1987 Nov, 22(11), 789 - 99
Biosynthesis and biotransformation of ether lipids; Mangold HK et al.; Some naturally occurring as well as synthetic ether lipids are biologically active . In certain cases, the effects of these substances are enhanced, in others, they are inhibited by compounds that were isolated from natural sources or prepared by chemical synthesis . The biotransformation of natural or "unnatural" ether lipids in microorganisms, plant or animal tissue also can lead to substances that elicit biological effects . The production of such compounds through various biotechnological techniques is a field wide open for future exploration . In addition to animal cell cultures, plant cell cultures may become useful tools in biomedical studies concerned with ether lipids.

Microbiol Sci, 1987 Nov, 4(11), 344 - 7
Pathogenesis of human mycoses: role of adhesion to host surfaces; Segal E; Adhesion of microorganisms to various mucosal surfaces appears to be essential for initiating infection . The role of adhesion to host surfaces in pathogenesis of human mycoses, particularly the various manifestations of candidiasis, has been shown experimentally and correlated with epidemiological data.

Mycopathologia, 1987 Nov, 100(2), 85 - 9
The effect of salinity and osmotic pressure of the medium on the growth, sporulation and changes in the total organic acid content of Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium chrysogenum; Mert HH et al.; Extreme conditions of a medium effects the growth of microorganisms . The effect of salinity (NaCl) and osmotic pressure on the vegetative and reproductive growth as well as on changes in the amount of total organic acid of Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium chrysogenum; isolated from the soil; have been studied in this investigation . The vegetative growth of both species increased with an increase in the NaCl content of the nutrient medium . The maximum increase was observed in A . flavus in the nutrient medium containing 9% NaCl, as compared to the control . On the other hand the salinity and the osmotic pressure values, depending on the changes in the salinity; had inhibitive effects on the production of conidia of A . flavus and stimulative effects on those of Penicillium chrysogenum . P . chrysogenum for maximum production of conidia was observed in the nutrient medium containing 1% NaCl whereas maximum vegetative growth was recorded in the nutrient medium containing 9% NaCl . However, no definite results were obtained concerning a parallelity between the increase in vegetative and reproductive growth . In view of these observations, for a production of total organic acid incubation medium of the fungal species, each species must reach a particular conidia production, and salinity and osmotic pressure of the medium effects their production differently depending on the species.

Am J Med, 1987 Nov, 83(5), 833 - 40
Defatting catheter insertion sites in total parenteral nutrition is of no value as an infection control measure . Controlled clinical trial; Maki DG et al.; Defatting the skin with acetone or ether is widely used in the regimen for disinfection of insertion sites of central venous catheters in total parenteral nutrition . The fatty acids secreted by normal skin play an important role in regulation of the cutaneous microbial ecosystem, and it can be questioned whether application of a solvent might paradoxically promote colonization by pathogenic microorganisms . The clinical value of defatting catheter insertion sites was prospectively studied in a controlled, randomized trial: 100 subclavian catheters inserted for total parenteral nutrition were given identical site care except that with one half of the catheters, the site was defatted with acetone prior to catheter insertion and as part of the every-other-day site care regimen . Cutaneous colonization was found in only 130 (24.5 percent) of 531 site cultures in both groups, but was strongly predictive of concordant colonization of the catheter (relative risk, 22.1, p less than 0.001) and catheter-related septicemia (all four cases) . No significant differences were observed between the two groups in cutaneous colonization of sites (22.7 percent and 27.0 percent), in colonization of catheters on removal (four catheters {8 percent} in each group) or in catheter-related septicemia (two catheters {4 percent} in each group) . However, pain or inflammation of the insertion site was twice as frequent in the acetone group (80 percent versus 35 percent, p less than 0.001) . Defatting with acetone as part of the regimen for cutaneous disinfection does not improve microbial removal or reduce the incidence of catheter-related infection, but increases cutaneous inflammation and patient discomfort.

Vet Rec, 1987 Oct 17, 121(16), 372 - 6
Protection against respiratory disease in calves induced by vaccines containing respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza type 3 virus, Mycoplasma bovis and M dispar; Howard CJ et al.; A field trial to assess the ability of two vaccines to protect calves against respiratory disease was carried out on a large beef rearing unit in southern England over the two winters of 1983 to 1984 and 1984 to 1985 . A quadrivalent vaccine containing the killed antigens of respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus type 3, Mycoplasma bovis and M dispar or a vaccine containing only the respiratory syncytial virus component were inoculated into 246 and 245 calves, respectively; 245 calves remained as unvaccinated controls . The calves were reared in seven batches and outbreaks of disease occurred in five; significant protection was achieved in the four batches in which disease was associated with respiratory syncytial virus and M bovis infection, together or independently . The death rate from pneumonia was 9 per cent in the control group, 2 per cent in the calves inoculated with the quadrivalent vaccine (P less than 0.001), a protection rate of 77 per cent, and 3 per cent in the calves inoculated with the respiratory syncytial virus vaccine (P less than 0.01), a protection rate of 68 per cent . The proportion of calves receiving treatment for respiratory disease was 38 per cent in the control group, 25 per cent in the calves inoculated with the quadrivalent vaccine (P less than 0.001) and 27 per cent in the calves inoculated with the respiratory syncytial virus vaccine (P less than 0.01) . The results show that protection against respiratory disease can be achieved by parenteral vaccination of calves with the appropriate inactivated microorganisms.

Epidemiol Infect, 1987 Oct, 99(2), 361 - 72
The isolation of fusobacteria from tropical ulcers; Adriaans B et al.; Tropical ulcer is a disease found most commonly in the tropics, although the disease is not confined to those areas . Young children are affected most frequently and the disease is thought to be a polymicrobial infection with fusobacteria, aerobic microorganisms and spirochaetes each playing a role . The fusobacteria have been reported on smears but have not been cultured thus far . We report the isolation and culture of these organisms from 46 ulcers and have also demonstrated the same organisms in skin biopsies from these lesions.

J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Oct, 25(10), 1907 - 10
Relationship of CDC group EO-2 and psychrobacter immobilis; Hudson MJ et al.; Thirty strains of microorganisms previously classified in the CDC group EO-2 were studied to determine the relationship of this group and the recently proposed Psychrobacter immobilis . Results of transformation studies indicated that 9 of the 30 studied strains should be reclassified as P . immobilis . While transformation studies should be used to identify the Psychrobacter genus definitively, some presumptive characteristics useful in differentiating the CDC group EO-2 and P . immobilis were observed . The Psychrobacter genus, compared with the CDC group EO-2, grew well at 25 degrees C, lightly or not at all at 35 degrees C, and not at all at 42 degrees C, grew in nutrient broth without NaCl and with only one exception grew in 6% NaCl, usually did not produce acid from adonitol, dextrin, fructose, or D-mannitol, did not demonstrate the O-shaped cellular morphology, and usually possessed an odor resembling that noted from a phenylethyl alcohol blood agar plate.

J Anim Sci, 1987 Oct, 65(4), 1042 - 8
Post-prandial compositional changes of fluid- and particle-associated ruminal microorganisms; Craig WM et al.; Two ruminally cannulated cows were fed a diet containing 65% alfalfa haylage and 35% concentrate every 12 h . During two collection periods, whole ruminal contents were sampled before feeding, when feed not eaten was removed (1 h after initiation of feeding) and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 h after removal . At each sampling, fluid-associated microorganisms were obtained by straining whole ruminal contents through eight layers of cheesecloth . A portion of the particle-associated population was obtained by chilling squeezed particles before seven successive extractions with saline solution . Microbial ash concentrations ranged from 9.9 to 16.6% of dry matter, with differences due to population (P less than .01) and to time after feeding for both fluid- (P less than .05) and particle-associated (P less than .01) microorganisms . Within 1 h after initiation of feeding, N decreased (P less than .05) from a pre-feeding concentration of 9.5% of organic matter to 7.7% for fluid-associated microorganisms, and from 9.2 to 6.7% for particle-associated microorganisms . Both populations did not return to pre-feeding concentrations until 6 h after feed removal . Nucleic acid concentrations decreased (P less than .05) in both populations after feeding, and did not return to pre-feeding concentrations until 6 h for fluid-associated and 4 h for particle-associated microorganisms . Nucleic acid-to-N ratios were higher (P less than .01) in the fluid- than particle-associated organisms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

J Immunol, 1987 Oct 1, 139(7), 2250 - 4
Products of activated lymphocytes and macrophages inhibit mouse embryo development in vitro; Hill JA et al.; The effects of activated leukocyte products on embryonic development were assessed by adding mouse and human leukocyte culture supernatants and purified murine and human lymphokines and monokines to mouse embryos in tissue culture . Supernatants from mitogen-stimulated and mixed lymphocyte cultures arrested embryonic development at the two-cell to morula stage . Of a panel of six individual lymphokines and monokines tested for effects in this system, both murine and human forms of the lymphokines colony-stimulating factor, interferon-gamma, and human B cell growth factor significantly arrested embryonic development over a wide concentration range . The monokines, interleukin 1 and tumor necrosis factor, also had significant effects but only at high doses . These results indicate that products of activated lymphocytes and macrophages can have detrimental effects on preimplantation embryos . Early abortion could result from local (intrauterine) production of such embryotoxic factors by activated lymphocytes and macrophages in response to stimulation by microorganisms or reproductive tissue antigens.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1987 Oct, 84(19), 6619 - 23
Poly(gamma-glutamylcysteinyl)glycine: its role in cadmium resistance in plant cells; Jackson PJ et al.; Angiosperms can be selected for the ability to grow in the presence of normally toxic concentrations of certain trace metal ions . Addition of Cd and Cu to Cd-resistant Datura innoxia cell cultures results in the rapid synthesis and accumulation of sulfur-rich, metal-binding polypeptides . The structure of these compounds was determined using amino acid analysis, 13C NMR, and site-specific enzymic digestion . These compounds are poly(gamma-glutamylcysteinyl)glycines . Greater than 80% of the cellular Cd is bound to the bis and tris forms in Cd-resistant cells . There is a direct correlation between the maximum accumulation of the metal-binding polypeptides and the concentration of toxic ions to which the cells are resistant . In the presence of metal ions, the polypeptides form multimeric aggregates that can be resolved by gel chromatography . Cd binds to both the high and low molecular weight aggregates, whereas Cu preferentially binds to the higher molecular weight forms . The presence of gamma-carboxamide linkages between glutamyl and adjacent cysteinyl residues indicates that these polypeptides are products of biosynthetic pathways . Poly(gamma-glutamylcysteinyl)glycines bind metals and, in this respect, appear to be functional analogs of the protein metallothionein . However, in the absence of supraoptimal concentrations of trace metal ions, the functions of metallothionein in animals and microorganisms and poly(gamma-glutamylcysteinyl)glycines in plants may differ.

J Rheumatol, 1987 Oct, 14(5), 1052 - 4
High levels of fibronectin fragments in the plasma of a patient with active systemic lupus erythematosus; Carsons S; Elevated levels of plasma fibronectin have been described in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) . We demonstrated the presence of high levels of fibronectin fragments in the plasma of a patient during the terminal episode of active SLE . The potential consequences of circulating fibronectin fragments on clearance of immune complexes and microorganisms are discussed.

J Am Optom Assoc, 1987 Oct, 58(10), 812 - 8
Histopathological analysis of the corneal epithelium after contact lens wear; Bergmanson JP; Complications from contact lens wear are seldom examined histopathologically . Understanding of the epithelial reactions in response to contact lens wear would help early diagnosis and direct treatment action . Therefore, this study examines the histopathology of abrasion, epithelial edema, epithelial thinning and superficial punctate staining . Important factors in the etiology of these conditions are various definable lens and tear characteristics as well as mechanical effects from the lens . Observations on corneal innervation that have not been previously reported are used to help explain the reduced corneal sensitivity in the contact lens wearer . It is concluded that the breakdown of the epithelial surface prevents the epithelium from fulfilling its fluid and microorganism barrier functions . In addition, disturbance of the normal epithelial structure interferes with its ability to withstand further trauma and to convey the injury to the brain via the neural pathways.

J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Oct, 25(10), 1934 - 7
Detection of Gardnerella vaginalis in vaginal specimens by direct immunofluorescence; Hansen W et al.; The preparation of a fluorescein-labeled Gardnerella vaginalis polyclonal antibody is described, and its usefulness is assessed for the detection of this microorganism in vaginal samples obtained from 263 women attending the gynecological department of a general hospital, 66 of whom harbored an intrauterine device . The direct immunofluorescence technique was positive for G . vaginalis in 21% of the specimens, whereas only 12.5% of the total bacteriological cultures were positive . The frequency was higher in patients harboring intrauterine devices since 34.8% exhibited positive immunofluorescence and 30.3% exhibited positive cultures.

Microbiol Sci, 1987 Oct, 4(10), 300 - 3
Microbial degradation of chlorinated aromatic compounds; Sahasrabudhe SR et al.; Many microorganisms are capable of utilizing anthropogenic chloroaromatics as the sole source of carbon and energy . Techniques of co-cultivation, conjugation, and in vitro cloning have been used to extend the range of haloaromatic degradation in bacteria . Employment of suitable 'degrader' strains may contribute significantly towards the removal of these compounds from the environment.

Appl Biochem Biotechnol, 1987 Oct, 15(3), 201 - 12
Dye-ligand chromatography for the resolution and purification of restriction endonucleases; Vlatakis G et al.; The resolution of restriction endonucleases from the same microorganism is conventionally achieved by lengthy fractionation protocols . We now report effective single-step procedures that exploit dye-ligand chromatography for the resolution and purification of restriction enzymes . After suitable initial screening, we demonstrated that resolution of two restriction activities can be achieved in one chromatographic step, and further purification can subsequently be effected using selected dye-adsorbents . Accordingly, we resolved in one step, Hpa I from Hpa II, Hind II from Hind III, and Sac I from Sac II . Furthermore, a three-step chromatographic procedure has been developed to purify EcoRV suitable for commercial exploitation, as judged by the "overdigestion" and "cut-ligate-recut" quality control tests.

Blood, 1987 Oct, 70(4), 1143 - 50
Posttranslational processing of a human myeloid lysosomal protein, myeloperoxidase; Nauseef WM; Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a lysosomal enzyme present in the azurophilic granules of human neutrophils and monocytes and is important for optimal oxygen-dependent killing of microorganisms . The native molecule is a heterodimer composed of a pair of heavy-light protomers, each containing a 59-kDa and 13.5-kDa subunit . The intracellular processing during biosynthesis of MPO was examined in the human promyelocytic cell line HL-60 . Endoglycosidase H and F digestion of immunoprecipitated pro-MPO demonstrated the presence of five N-linked--high-mannose oligosaccharide side chains and no complex mannose units . Incorporation of the threonine analogue beta-hydroxynorvaline produced species approximately 2.5 kDa and approximately 5 kDa smaller than the fully glycosylated pro-MPO, suggesting that two of the glycans were in the asparagine-X-threonine tripeptide sequence . Processing of pro-MPO occurred very rapidly, within approximately five minutes, and was best identified using glucosidase inhibitors . The presence of such inhibitors resulted in synthesis of a 92-kDa glycoprotein rather than the usually identified 89-kDa peptide . Swainsonine, a Golgi mannosidase inhibitor, did not alter the size of the earliest synthesized protein, suggesting that pro-MPO exited the endoplasmic reticulum or cis-Golgi proximal to the site of mannosidases . Intracellular transport and proteolytic maturation of MPO was retarded by weak bases (NH4Cl, chloroquine) or monensin at concentrations shown to raise intralysosomal pH . However, these agents did not qualitatively alter transport nor increase secretion . Thus, although MPO biosynthesis resembled that of other lysosomal enzymes, significant differences exist, including only limited oligosaccharide processing and intracellular transport and proteolytic maturation of pro-MPO that was only retarded by alkalinizing lysosomes without affecting the products or the fraction of pro-MPO secreted . Characterization of the determinants for targeting and of the regulatory factors in processing lysosomal enzymes in myeloid cells will provide insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying common disorders such as myeloperoxidase deficiency.

J Child Neurol, 1987 Oct, 2(4), 313 - 21
The multiple causes of multiple sclerosis: the importance of age of infections in childhood; Alvord EC Jr et al.; The geographic distribution of multiple sclerosis (MS) may relate to the age of initial exposure and degree of sensitization to common viruses or bacteria which have proteins with epitopes (antigenic determinants) which are homologous with potentially encephalitogenic peptides in central myelin proteins, such as basic protein and proteolipid protein . Comparable homologies may exist for the as-yet-undefined nonencephalitogenic myelin antigen(s) which evoke demyelinating factors (probably complement-fixing antibodies) . Many of these homologous epitopes occur in microorganisms that also possess adjuvant activity for evoking not only the sensitized T-cells but also the antibodies that cross-react with the target antigens in central myelin . If sufficient sensitization to myelin basic protein or proteolipid protein occurs, especially in infections of young adults, the individual develops acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, exactly comparable to ordinary acute experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) . If very young children are infected, however, practically complete resistance develops, and neither acute disseminated encephalomyelitis nor MS follows . In between these two extremes, especially in slightly older children in whom insufficient sensitization occurs to induce acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, the individual may become resistant to acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, but susceptible to chronic relapsing or progressive disseminated encephalomyelitis, otherwise generally recognized as MS . This is exactly comparable to a recently described variant of chronic EAE in which demyelinating antibodies and large subpial plaques of demyelination occur . The similarity of this form of chronic EAE or chronic disseminated encephalomyelitis to one form of MS is emphasized.

J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Sep, 25(9), 1766 - 8
Determination of hippurate hydrolysis by gas-liquid chromatography; Wallace PL et al.; A rapid gas-liquid chromatographic procedure was developed to determine hippurate hydrolysis by microorganisms . Bacterial cells were inoculated into 0.4 ml of 1% sodium hippurate and incubated for 2 h at 37 degrees C . Cells were removed by centrifugation, and the benzoate released by enzyme activity was converted to methyl benzoate and analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography . This procedure is sensitive, and its specificity provides a high degree of reliability for organisms with weak hippuricase activity.

Quad Sclavo Diagn, 1987 Sep, 23(3), 262 - 73
{Muco-purulent cervicitis: a frequent but little-known pathology . Clinical and laboratory considerations}; Cristiano L et al.; In order to assess the frequency of cervicitis, to investigate its aetiological causes and to open the debate upon this subject, the authors examined 144 not hospitalized women aging between 18 and 47 . They were all in their fertile period and not pregnant . The diagnosis of MPC was given on the basis of the evaluation of the number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PNL) found on the endocervical smears, which had been previously coloured by the Gram method: the patients with an average number of PNL greater than 10 per microscopical field at a magnification of 1,000 were considered suffering from MPC, while those with a number of PNL less than 10 formed a group of control . Statistical methods were applied to the two different groups to verify the existence of any relationship between clinical, anamnestic and microbiologic features and MPC . The two groups were compared even after excluding those patients with a presence of Trichomonas vaginalis or yeasts and those suffering from bacterial vaginosis (BV) . No significant relationship was found between the isolated microorganisms and MPC, while BV turned out to be related negatively . The objective signs of ectopia and erythema and the pH of the vaginal secretion turned out to be related significantly only after excluding from the selection those patients with a vaginal pathology, while including them, the association turned out to be significant only as to ectopia . The authors point out that: a) MPC represents the most frequent clinical condition; b) the greater part of MPC appears to have an unknown aetiology.

Ann Inst Pasteur Immunol, 1987 Sep-Oct, 138(5), 693 - 705
The Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae plasma membrane as a vaccine against porcine enzootic pneumonia; Kobisch M et al.; From an economical standpoint, the colonization of the respiratory epithelium by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, the mollicute responsible for enzootic pneumonia in pigs which leads to a reduction in the weight gain/feed ratio, has serious consequences in very young animals; we show here that its is possible to efficiently protect these animals with the colostral antibodies raised in sows immunized during their gestation with M . hyopneumoniae BQ14 membranes . In an experiments using 9 sows and 75 piglets, the vaccinal preparation was found to protect 70 to 100% of the piglets (depending upon the presentation of the immunogen) as well as being totally innocuous . The best results were obtained with an adjuvant made of hydroxide aluminium gel . Of the piglets born to non-immunized sows, 8.3% exhibited typical pneumonic lesions . The vaccination procedure was found to enhance the elimination of M . hyopneumoniae from the respiratory tract of the piglets, as in 95% of the protected animals, the microorganisms could no longer be isolated . Conversely, M . hyopneumoniae was isolated from 89% of the piglets born to unvaccinated sows . A correlation was found between the protective effect and the rise in the titre of circulating antibodies directed against M . hyopneumoniae surface antigens . These results show that the plasma membrane of M . hyopneumoniae is a potential vaccine against porcine enzootic pneumonia . In particular, passively transmitted immunity via the colostrum provides the most precocious means of protection for the animals.

Infect Dis Clin North Am, 1987 Sep, 1(3), 615 - 33
New causes of pneumonia, meningitis, and disseminated infections associated with immersion; Dworzack DL et al.; Immersion in water increases the risk of infection by certain microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and parasites . Physicians should be aware of this relationship because many of these infections are not normally encountered except in association with water exposure . The morbidity and mortality associated with these infections may be substantial . Clinical features of pneumonia, disseminated infection, and central nervous system infections are detailed.

Mol Gen Mikrobiol Virusol, 1987 Sep, (9), 30 - 5
{Effect of exogenous DNAses on various stages of DNA replication in microorganisms}; Kupriianova FG et al.; Effect of DNAase 1 on DNA synthesis and cell division was studied in microorganisms deficient in some stages of DNA replication initiation . The DNA synthesis induced by exogenous DNAase was found to be a replicative origin since it was registered from the "origin" of chromosomal replication under the conditions of initiation of proteins functioning . Stimulation of DNA synthesis in bacterial cells having mutations in DNA B and DNA G genes by DNAase 1 indicates that exogenous DNAases participate in replicative fork during the DNA synthesis.

Int Dent J, 1987 Sep, 37(3), 185 - 91
Total sugar consumption and dental caries in Europe--an overview; Honkala E et al.; Sugar is the principal substrate for microorganisms causing dental caries . Positive correlations between caries prevalence and total sugar consumption in cross-sectional comparisons between different countries have been shown . This overview aims to relate caries prevalence at the age of 12 years to the total sugar consumption/person in 1970 and 1980 in European countries and also to give information about the trends in the two variables . Nationally representative oral health surveys have been quite rare and only a few studies on sugar consumption were identified . Nevertheless, there seemed to be a clear general trend of decreasing dental caries with only a minor decrease in total sugar consumption in the European countries studied.

Am J Forensic Med Pathol, 1987 Sep, 8(3), 239 - 44
Ultrastructural and immunofluorescent detection of herpes simplex virus after embalming and burial; Sperry K et al.; The practice of embalming preserves body tissues, and embalmed bodies may resist decay processes for many decades with relatively little change . As the chemicals used for embalming are poisonous to microorganisms, bacterial and viral cultures are futile after such funerary procedures are performed . However, embalming may act as a virtual tissue fixative, especially with arterial perfusion, and identification methods other than culture may be used to detect and identify pathogenic organisms . In the case presented here, a death from a fulminating, but unidentified, illness in a young girl was successfully diagnosed as herpes hepatitis by immunofluorescent and electron-microscopic studies of tissue obtained 3 weeks after she was embalmed and interred . Routine embalming and burial should not eliminate these diagnostic procedures from consideration in specific situations where potentially useful information may be realized.

Clin Chest Med, 1987 Sep, 8(3), 513 - 27
Diagnosis of pneumonia: techniques and problems; Tobin MJ; All diagnostic strategies in patients suspected of having pneumonia have considerable limitations . While the diagnostic strategy varies from patient to patient, an overview of one possible approach is summarized in Figures 2 and 3 . The diagnosis and management of pneumonia usually poses little difficulty in the community setting, but the value of various diagnostic approaches in patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia is a subject of considerable controversy . Clinical criteria of pneumonia, including fever, purulent tracheobronchial secretions, leukocytosis, and a new infiltrate on chest radiograph are hampered by the high frequency with which these findings are observed in patients without pneumonia . Since tracheobronchial secretions are commonly contaminated by microorganisms colonizing the upper airways, routine culture of expectorated sputum, with the inevitable recovery of a potpourri of potential pathogens, can hardly be regarded as a meaningful exercise for the physician . Such cultures with subsequent extensive susceptibility testing form one of the largest workloads and expenses in microbiology laboratories . Clinical decisions based on such information may result in serious patient mismanagement with antibiotics, with the potential of superinfection and drug complication, which further add to hospital expenditures . Blood cultures are valuable when positive, but negative results are more common even in severe pneumonia . Transtracheal aspiration of tracheobronchial secretions is satisfactory in the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia in patients without pre-existing lung disease, but its value in the diagnosis of hospital-acquired pneumonia needs further evaluation . Transthoracic aspiration, especially with the newer finer needles, holds considerable promise but the significant risk of barotrauma deters most physicians from employing this procedure in patients requiring mechanical ventilation . Immunologic techniques of detecting microbial antigens, like countercurrentimmunoelectrophoresis and ELISA, are promising but presently inadequate to screen for a wide variety of organisms . Although it also has its limitations, fiberoptic bronchoscopy appears to be the most satisfactory technique if an invasive approach is being considered in a patient suspected of pneumonia . Samples taken with the plugged telescoping catheter technique, when properly performed, combined with quantitative cultures (and possibly antibody coating of bacteria) probably provide the least misleading information when a bacterial pathogen is being considered.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Clin Chest Med, 1987 Sep, 8(3), 419 - 39
Legionnaires' disease: respiratory infections caused by Legionella bacteria; Davis GS et al.; This article provides a review of Legionnaire's Disease, a bacterial pneumonia caused by Legionella species, and of Pontiac Fever, the flu-like illness caused by these microorganisms . The authors draw on their personal experience with major human outbreaks of Legionnaire's Disease and with animal models of Legionella pneumonia . Emphasis is placed on the sources in nature from which legionellosis is acquired, the means of dissemination of bacteria, the epidemiology of human infections, the pathogenetic mechanisms of disease and host defense, the clinical manifestations, and the treatment.

Z Naturforsch {C}, 1987 Sep-Oct, 42(9-10), 1082 - 8
{A new procedure for the direct demonstration of microbial aminoacylase on agar plates with o-phthalaldehyde}; Yamazaki Y et al.; Not less than 1 nmol of methionine and phenylalanine were detected as fluorescent spots on agar plates with o-phthalaldehyde reagent under UV light . Microorganisms were grown on thin-agar-layer coated filter papers placed on nutrient agar plates, and then transferred onto new plates lacking nutrients by moving the papers . After the background amino compounds were removed by the diffusion to the bottom plates, the paper cultures were moved and incubated on assay plates containing N-acetylmethionine or N-acetylphenylalanine . The amino acids formed around the colonies were visualized by the o-phthaladehyde procedure to indicate aminoacylase activity of microorganisms . The substrate-and stereospecificity of the enzyme was shown for some strains on the agar plates by this procedure.

Diabet Med, 1987 Sep-Oct, 4(5), 475 - 9
A clinico-pathological study of diabetic foot ulcers; Jones EW et al.; During a 32-month period 94 foot ulcers in 54 diabetic patients aged 38-90 years (mean 64 years) were managed in a specialist foot clinic . Fifty-six percent were men, and they were significantly younger than women; 46% were taking insulin . Mean duration of diabetes was 13.4 years . Comparison with controls revealed a higher prevalence (p less than 0.01) of retinopathy (60% vs 23%), neuropathy (89% vs 31%), vasculopathy (71% vs 34%), arterial calcification (31% vs 20%) and previous lesions (54% vs 4%) . There was no difference in quality of diabetic control, or smoking habit . A simple classification of lesions was used . All types yielded mixed cultures of microorganisms (average 2.1 per swab); the flora obtained was affected by systemic antibiotics . Abnormal pressure was judged to have contributed to all lesions occurring in areas of callus . In addition definable trauma precipitated the event in up to 60% of all other types . Lesions in areas of callus were more likely to have healed by the end of the study period, but average time to healing was significantly longer than other lesions . Despite intensive outpatient support, 33 patients spent a total of 1188 days in hospital during the 974 day period, an average of 36 days per patient and 1.2 beds per day . Further research is urgently required to define optimal methods of prevention and treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.

J Biol Chem, 1987 Aug 15, 262(23), 11128 - 33
Synthesis of dolichol derivatives in trypanosomatids . Characterization of enzymatic patterns; de la Canal L et al.; We have previously described that in certain parasitic protozoa, namely the trypanosomatids, the dolichol-P-P-linked oligosaccharides synthesized in vivo and transferred to protein are devoid of glucose residues and contain 6, 7, or 9 mannose units depending on the species . We have now conducted a cell-free characterization of the enzymatic patterns responsible for these phenotypes . Microsomes from Trypanosoma cruzi, Crithidia fasciculata, Leishmania enriettii, and Blastocrithidia culicis were found to synthesize dolichol-P-{14C}Man but not dolichol-P-{14C}Glc when incubated with rat liver dolichol-P and GDP-{14C}Man or UDP-{14C}Glc, thus providing for an explanation to the absence of glucosylated dolichol-P-P derivatives . Formation of dolichol-P-P-oligosaccharides was assayed in incubation mixtures containing rat liver dolichol-P, GDP-{14C}Man, microsomes, and unlabeled Man5-8GlcNAc2-P-P-dolichol from bovine liver . Membranes from species synthesizing dolichol-P-P-linked Man6GlcNAc2 or Man7GlcNAc2 in vivo were found to synthesize the same compounds but not the higher homologues in the cell-free assay . Species forming Man9GlcNAc2-P-P-dolichol in vivo were found to synthesize lipid-linked Man7GlcNAc2, Man8GlcNAc2, and Man9GlcNAc2 in vitro . It is concluded that there are at least three and probably four different dolichol-P-Man-dependent enzymatic activities involved in the synthesis of dolichol-P-P-linked Man9GlcNAc2 and that microorganisms not forming that compound are devoid of all mannosyltransferases responsible for the addition of the missing residues and not only of the enzyme involved in the synthesis of the homologue higher than the oligosaccharide occurring in vivo by a single mannose unit.

Anal Biochem, 1987 Aug 15, 165(1), 70 - 4
The isolation of high-molecular-weight DNA from plants; Hattori J et al.; A procedure to isolate high-molecular-weight DNA from plant materials has been devised . With this procedure, high-molecular-weight DNA suitable for Southern transfer experiments has been isolated from over 30 plant species including angiosperms (both dicots and monocots), a gymnosperm, members of other divisions, and two microorganisms.

Mol Gen Mikrobiol Virusol, 1987 Aug, (8), 16 - 8
{Characteristics of dissociation in cultures of Aspergillus brasilense Sp7}; Matveev VIu et al.; Peculiarities of dissociation in the cultures of nitrogen-fixating soil microorganism Azospirillum brasilense have been studied . The possible transfer among colony-morphology variants is established . The relations between variants are described by the following scheme: R in equilibrium with SR----S Electrophoretic analysis of plasmid contents in different variants of Azospirillum brasilense supposes the possible participation of plasmid DNA in the dissociation process in this microorganism.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Aug, 53(8), 1827 - 32
Correlation of in vitro challenge testing with consumer use testing for cosmetic products; Brannan DK et al.; An in vitro microbial challenge test has been developed to predict the likelihood of consumer contamination of cosmetic products . The challenge test involved inoculating product at four concentrations (30, 50, 70, and 100%) with microorganisms known to contaminate cosmetics . Elimination of these microorganisms at each concentration was followed over a 28-day period . The test was used to classify products as poorly preserved, marginally preserved, or well preserved . Consumer use testing was then used to determine whether the test predicted the risk of actual consumer contamination . Products classified by the challenge test as poorly preserved returned 46 to 90% contaminated after use . Products classified by the challenge test as well preserved returned with no contamination . Marginally preserved products returned with 0 to 21% of the used units contaminated . As a result, the challenge test described can be accurately used to predict the risk of consumer contamination of cosmetic products.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1987 Aug, 136(2), 478 - 80
Antioxidant activity in cells and organs; Sies H; Antioxidant activity in cells occurs at several levels . The present work focuses on some aspects of enzymatic antioxidant defense . In particular, the so-called ancillary enzymes and transport systems are presented . Recent aspects on the control of the levels of antioxidant enzymes include the oxyR regulon in microorganisms as well as the response to DNA hypomethylation in livers of mice . Ebselen is a novel selenoorganic compound with antioxidant activity capable of conferring protection against oxidative challenge . Its activity to catalyse the GSH-peroxidase reaction is thought to mediate the effect in intact cells . The nonenzymatic antioxidant defense (e.g., vitamins E and C and other natural or chemically synthesized compounds) form an important complementary part of cellular antioxidant defense.

Scand J Dent Res, 1987 Aug, 95(4), 287 - 96
Scanning electron microscopy of early microbial colonization of human enamel and root surfaces in vivo; Nyvad B et al.; This study describes the pattern of microbial colonization in six dental students, who carried test pieces of enamel and root surface in intraoral acrylic appliances for 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 h, respectively . Oral hygiene was discontinued during the experimental periods . The results showed that oral microorganisms colonized enamel and root surfaces individually . The pattern of colonization mimicked the surface structure of the tooth; on enamel surfaces the first bacteria appeared in pits and surface irregularities followed by proliferation along the perikymata, while on root surfaces bacterial colonization was characterized by a haphazard distribution . Within the initial 24-h period root surfaces were more heavily colonized than were enamel surfaces . This pattern was characteristic irrespective of differences in the intra- and interindividual rates of bacterial coverage . It is concluded that early microbial colonization in vivo is determined by the surface structure of the tooth . Consequently, natural tooth surfaces should not be replaced by artificial surfaces in structural studies of microbial deposits in the oral cavity.

Rheum Dis Clin North Am, 1987 Aug, 13(2), 339 - 52
Molecular mimicry in the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases; Zwillich SH et al.; Evidence has been presented to support the conclusion that epitope-specific cross-reactive autoimmunity generated in response to a microorganism can result in an inflammatory sequela . The role of this mechanism in the pathogenesis of the experimental disease, adjuvant arthritis, appears clear . In the case of human rheumatic conditions, such as rheumatic fever and the HLA-B27-associated reactive arthritides, the role is not yet established, but clinical evidence suggests that the hypothesis is an attractive one.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {B}, 1987 Aug, 95(4), 219 - 25
In vitro cytotoxic effect of alpha-hemolytic and nonhemolytic Escherichia coli on human blood granulocytes and monocytes; Gadeberg OV; The in vitro cytotoxic effect of Escherichia coli on human phagocytic blood cells in the presence of fresh autologous plasma was assessed using (i) a technique by which cell damage was quantified by measuring the release of chromium 51 from labelled granulocytes and (ii) a technique based on the degree of morphological cell damage induced in monocytes . All of 109 alpha-hemolytic strains were cytotoxic, the cytotoxic effect ranging from very weak to strong . Log-phase cultures had the strongest cytotoxic effect, the individual microorganisms being most cytotoxic in the early log-phase . Plateau-phase cultures progressively lost their cytotoxic ability and 24 h old cultures were almost noncytotoxic . Strongly cytotoxic strains induced high degrees of cell injury, caused an abrupt damage during the first 20 min of incubation and were able to induce injury with few bacteria present . Weakly cytotoxic strains induced only low degrees of cell injury, caused a more gradually developing damage, and were able to induce injury with only high numbers of bacteria present . All of 75 nonhemolytic and 3 beta-hemolytic strains were noncytotoxic.

Br J Cancer, 1987 Aug, 56(2), 91 - 5
The 1987 Walter Hubert lecture . Regulation and deficiencies in DNA repair; Lindahl T; A number of rare human inherited syndromes are associated with apparent defects in DNA repair and a greatly increased frequency of cancer . Cell lines derived from such individuals phenotypically resemble certain bacterial mutant strains that have increased sensitivity to radiation or chemical agents and well characterised repair defects . This analogy provides leads for unravelling the molecular alterations in such cancer-prone human cells . The inducibility of DNA repair enzymes is also reviewed . Exposure of bacteria to alkylating agents, or oxygen radicals, causes the overproduction of several novel and interesting repair activities, and the induced bacteria provide an abundant source of these proteins for purification and biological characterisation . Enzymes with the same defined specificities are often present in human cells, presumably serving the same functions as in microorganisms, but these activities are only constitutively expressed at low levels.

Aviat Space Environ Med, 1987 Aug, 58(8), 742 - 6
Lack of bubble formation in hypobarically decompressed cells; Hemmingsen EA et al.; Suspensions of human erythrocytes or of unicellular microorganisms (Tetrahymena pyriformis, Euglena gracilis, Escherichia coli, and Microcyclus aquaticus) were equilibrated with nitrogen gas pressures up to 200 atm and rapidly decompressed to hypobaric pressures below the vapor point of water . The intracellular environments proved to be very tolerant to the gas supersaturations induced . None or only a few cells were damaged in each case, and bubbles were never observed intracellularly after decompression . In view of such extreme tolerances, it is doubtful that bubbles originate intracellularly during decompression of multicellular organisms, in which bubbles occur with far lower gas supersaturations, unless the tolerances are greatly affected by extensive mechanical deformations of the cells or by the presence of internalized particles with bubble-promoting properties.

Exp Mol Pathol, 1987 Aug, 47(1), 13 - 25
Ultrastructural analysis of the anti-chlamydial activity of recombinant murine interferon-gamma; de la Maza LM et al.; The effect of murine interferon-gamma (MuIFN-gamma) on the developmental cycle of Chlamydia trachomatis in McCoy cells was analyzed by light and electron microscopy . Addition to the culture media of 10 ng/ml of MuIFN-gamma, either 24 hr before or immediately after Chlamydia infection, resulted in a significant inhibition of the growth of this organism . Microscopic analysis showed that with both treatments the majority of microorganisms were arrested at the elementary body stage . Only a few small chlamydial inclusions were detected at 48 hr postinfection and contained predominately reticulate bodies . Furthermore, the growth of Chlamydia was arrested in cells that were treated with MuIFN-gamma at various intervals following infection . Addition of MuIFN-gamma at 8 or 12 hr after infection resulted in the arrest of chlamydial growth before initiation of reticulate body fission . When the MuIFN-gamma was added 24 hr postinfection, we could detect, by electron microscopy, inhibition at the stage of reticulate body replication.

Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1987 Jul 18, 117(29), 1087 - 91
{Local immune reaction in human intestinal spirochetosis}; Gebbers JO et al.; The pathogenetic and clinical importance of intestinal spirochaetes in man is still unresolved . In 12 patients mainly presenting with mild diarrhoea, light and electron microscopy demonstrated massive spirochaetal infestation of the colonic mucosa (spirochaetosis) . There were several hitherto unreported features: spirochaetes adhered not only to the surface epithelium of the intestine but were also present within epithelial cells and subepithelial macrophages; many partially degranulated mast cells were noted within the epithelium; there was a marked increase of IgE plasma cells within the lamina propria . In control biopsies intraepithelial mast cells were absent and IgE cells occurred only sporadically . Penetration of the microorganisms into the intestinal mucosa may be responsible for this unusual immune response . Spirochaetes, symptoms and findings disappeared after antibiotic therapy . The authors therefore suggest that intestinal spirochaetosis can cause clinical symptoms in man, and that spirochaetes should not invariably be considered harmless commensals.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1987 Jul 15, 146(1), 232 - 8
High-pressure infrared spectroscopic study of human proinsulin gene expression in live Escherichia coli cells; Wong PT et al.; Infrared spectra of E . coli strain JM103 and transformants which overproduced recombinant proinsulin have been measured as a function of pressure up to 38 kbar . It is the first time that high-pressure infrared spectra of live bacteria have been successfully measured . In ambient conditions, spectra of the host strain JM103 and the transformants are generally identical . However, under pressure, distinct shifting pattern can be observed in specific spectral parameters of transformants, presumably due to accumulation of proinsulin in form of cytoplasmic inclusion bodies . In particular, the pressure-induced frequency shift of the amide III band (1235 cm-1) in the proinsulin-producing transformants is much smaller than in the host JM103 . This pressure effect can potentially be an efficient approach to monitor maximum gene expression in microorganisms . Contrary to predictions based on model system, the pressure-induced denaturation and the sharp transition from disordered liquid crystalline state to the ordered gel state commonly observed in the aqueous solution of protein and aqueous bilayer dispersion of lipids, respectively, do not occur in the bacterial proteins and cell membrane of E . coli.

Biomaterials, 1987 Jul, 8(4), 315 - 9
The use of nylon pouches to prevent cellular attachment to implanted materials; Chegini N et al.; A nylon pouch system has been developed to permit the in vivo exposure of implantable materials to tissue fluids without complications arising from cellular attachment or from the bacterial attack . SEM observations have indicated that the pouches were effective in reducing the ingress of bacteria as well as reducing, and in some cases eliminating, cell infiltration through their mesh structure . Over a 7 d implantation period, the exterior surfaces of the nylon pouches were heavily infested with microorganisms but there was minimal growth of bacteria within the pouches . Non-infected pouches that were implanted for up to 25 wk showed heavy deposits of cellular matter on the external surfaces of the pouches and minimal deposits within the pouches.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Jul, 53(7), 1580 - 3
Estimating downwind concentrations of viable airborne microorganisms in dynamic atmospheric conditions; Lighthart B et al.; A Gaussian plume model has been modified to include an airborne microbial survival term that is a best-fit function of laboratory experimental data of weather variables . The model has been included in an algorithm using microbial source strength and local hourly mean weather data to drive the model through a summer- and winter-day cycle . For illustrative purposes, a composite airborne "virus" (developed using actual characteristics from two viruses) was used to show how wind speed could have a major modulating effect on near-source viable concentrations . For example, at high wind speeds such as those occurring during the day, or with short travel times, near-source locations experience high viable concentrations because the microorganisms have not had time to become inactivated . As the travel time increases, because of slow wind speed or longer distances, die-off modulation by sunshine, relative humidity, temperature, etc., potentially becomes increasingly predominant.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Jul, 53(7), 1448 - 53
Inactivation of Giardia muris cysts by free chlorine; Leahy JG et al.; The chlorine resistance of cysts of the flagellate protozoan Giardia muris was examined . This organism, which is pathogenic to mice, is being considered as a model for the inactivation of the human pathogen Giardia lamblia . Excystation was used as the criterion for cyst viability . Experiments were performed at pH 5, 7, and 9 at 25 degrees C and pH 7 at 5 degrees C . Survival curves were "stepladder"-shaped, but concentration-time data generally conformed to Watson's Law . Chlorine was most effective at neutral pH and was only slightly less so in acidic solutions . Comparison of inactivation data based on equivalent hypochlorous acid concentrations, which corrects for chlorine ionization, showed that the cysts have a pH-dependent resistance to inactivation . Concentration-time (C X t') products for free chlorine obtained at 25 degrees C ranged from a low of 50 mg min/liter at pH 5 to a high of 218 mg min/liter at pH 9 and were as high as 1,000 mg min/liter at 5 degrees C . It appears that G . muris cysts are somewhat more resistant to inactivation than G . lamblia cysts and rank among the microorganisms that are most resistant to inactivation by free chlorine.

J Dairy Sci, 1987 Jul, 70(7), 1404 - 10
Effect of inoculum preparation and dietary energy on microbial numbers and rumen protein degradation activity; Furchtenicht JE et al.; Chilling of whole rumen contents prior to preparation of strained rumen fluid enriched with particle-associated microorganisms resulted in rumen inoculum with the highest microbial dry weight, total bacterial counts, and degradation rates for casein and soybean meal . Strained rumen fluid, whole rumen contents blended with strained rumen fluid, chilled strained rumen fluid, and strained rumen fluid plus particle-associated microorganisms were lower in bacterial counts and microbial dry weight . Except for strained rumen fluid plus particle-associated microorganisms, protein degradation rates were also lower . Three ruminally cannulated cows were used in a 3 X 3 Latin square experiment to determine the effect of diet on rumen microbial numbers and protein degradation rates . Cows were fed the following diets ad libitum: 1) 100% alfalfa hay (20.7% crude protein); 2) 63% alfalfa hay and 37% corn-soybean meal concentrate (18.2% crude protein); and 3) 37% alfalfa hay and 63% corn-soybean meal concentrate (15.1% crude protein) . Diet 3 yielded rumen contents with the highest concentration of microbial dry weight, total and viable bacterial counts, total protozoal counts, and fractional degradation rates for casein and bovine serum albumin . However, degradation rate per unit microbial dry matter was not altered by diet.

Mutat Res, 1987 Jul, 186(1), 35 - 42
Mutagenicity, carcinogenicity and teratogenicity of beryllium; Leonard A et al.; The carcinogenicity of a number of beryllium compounds has been confirmed in experiments on laboratory animals and this metal has to be treated as a possible carcinogenic threat to man . These carcinogenic properties are associated with mutagenic activity as shown by the results of short-term tests performed in vitro with beryllium chloride and beryllium sulfate . These soluble beryllium compounds can produce some infidelity of in vitro synthesis, forward gene mutations in microorganisms and in mammalian cells . They are also able to induce cell transformation . In addition to the positive results obtained in several short-term assays beryllium compounds have been found to bind to nucleoproteins, to inhibit certain enzymes needed for DNA synthesis, to bind nucleic acids to cell membranes and to inhibit microtubule polymerization . The teratogenicity of beryllium salts is relatively unknown and needs additional investigation.

Mikrobiyol Bul, 1987 Jul, 21(3), 212 - 22
{Actinomyces and other bacteria isolated from cervical cultures of women using IUDs}; Gulec N et al.; In this study we performed endocervical cultures from 517 patients with infection . In 75 of these 517 cultures (14.5%) Actinomyces has been grown . The incidence of Actinomyces has increased in correlation with IUD period, but the type of IUD has not affected the incidence of Actinomyces . Actinomycosis of uterus is usually superficial . It rarely spreads and causes pelvic actinomycosis . Even it can change to systemic infection . For this reason, in women who have used IUDs for long period Actinomyces infection should be kept in mind . Clinicians should be in corporation with the laboratories, this is important for identification of the microorganism and for the right therapy.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1987 Jul, 265(3-4), 462 - 71
Induction of interleukin 1 by Legionella pneumophila antigens in mouse macrophage and human mononuclear leukocyte cultures; Klein TW et al.; Exposure to Legionella pneumophila antigens has been reported to result in both an adjuvant effect and pathophysiological changes such as fever, headache, myalgia and arthralgias . Immunoenhancement and inflammatory changes have been associated with the production of interleukin 1, and we, therefore, sought an involvement of interleukin production in the alteration of biological responsiveness following exposure to Legionella pneumophila antigens . Killed Legionella pneumophila cells, incubated with mouse splenocytes, induced the formation of a soluble substance which enhanced splenocyte antibody production to heterologous antigen . The immunoenhancing substance was also produced by mouse peritoneal macrophages and supernatants from these cultures were demonstrated to also contain thymocyte co-mitogenic activity . Following gel filtration, this co-mitogenic activity eluted in the 15,000 molecular weight range suggesting an involvement of interleukin 1 . Experiments with Legionella pneumophila cells, and cell extracts containing endotoxin, and purified endotoxin suggested that the interleukin 1 activity was induced by both endotoxin and non-endotoxin antigens . The Legionella pneumophila antigens were also found to be potent inducers of interleukin 1 activity in human peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures . These results suggest that Legionella pneumophila antigens are potent inducers of interleukin 1 in both mouse and human cells . The induction of this monokine may partially account for both the immunoenhancing property of this bacterial species and the associated pathophysiological changes following infection with this microorganism.

Arch Ophthalmol, 1987 Jul, 105(7), 974 - 7
Carbohydrate deposits on the surfaces of worn extended-wear soft contact lenses; Klotz SA et al.; Three different commercial extended-wear soft contact lenses worn continuously by patients for at least 28 days were stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled lectins . These lectins detected the presence of alpha-linked or beta-linked D-mannose, D-glucose, D-galactose, L-fucose, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, and N-acetyl neuraminic acid (sialic acid) on the surfaces of the contact lenses . These saccharides are bound to other sugars that likely account for an integral part of glycoprotein and/or glycolipid deposits on lens surfaces . These tear deposits may contribute to the chemical spoilage of the lens and, furthermore, may serve as specific receptors for pathogenic microorganisms commonly implicated in extended-wear soft contact lens-associated infectious keratitis.

Am J Med Sci, 1987 Jul, 294(1), 45 - 64
Pneumonias in adults due to mycoplasma, chlamydiae, and viruses; Luby JP; Pneumonias in adults due to mycoplasma, chlamydiae, and viruses are a common clinical problem . These microorganisms contribute to the etiologies in 6-35% of all cases of pneumonia and are the sole pathogens in 1-17% of hospitalized cases . Important trends and developments in the field include the emergence of a Chlamydia psittaci strain (TWAR) that is passaged from human to human, causes a mycoplasma-like illness, and that is relatively resistant to erythromycin, the recognition of respiratory syncytial virus as a pathogen in nursing home outbreaks and in immunosuppressed adults, the continuing high lethality of fully developed influenza pneumonia, the efficacy of acyclovir and adenine arabinoside in limiting the complications of varicella-zoster virus infections, and the increasing frequency of pneumonia caused by cytomegalovirus and the severity of this disorder in highly immunosuppressed patients . Developments in the rapid diagnosis and therapy of respiratory syncytial virus infections with an aerosolized antiviral drug in children may pave the way for comparable advances in difficult pneumonias in adult patients.

Presse Med, 1987 Jun 27, 16(25), 1223 - 5
{Cerebral abscesses . Therapeutic attitude}; Fevrier MJ et al.; The surgical treatment of cerebral abscesses has changed over recent years and consists, in most cases, of aspiration based on the data supplied by computerized tomography . The purpose of aspiration is threefold: to avoid a major surgical operation, to empty the abscess and thereby reduce its size, and to identify the responsible germ(s) . A retrospective study of 35 cases shows that abscess of the brain remains a serious disease that jeopardizes the patient's vital and functional prognosis . Despite improvements in sample collection and isolation techniques, no microorganism is found in 30% of the cases . Therapeutic success therefore is dependent upon the effectiveness of emergency chemotherapy using combinations of two or three antibiotics . Monitoring with computerized tomography avoids unnecessarily prolonged treatments.

J Immunol Methods, 1987 Jun 26, 100(1-2), 41 - 6
Immunoblot analysis: a new method for fingerprinting hospital pathogens; Burnie J et al.; Immunoblotting has recently become popular as a way of fingerprinting those hospital pathogens where other more conventional typing systems are deficient . Extracts of microorganisms are prepared by chemical or enzymic means, run on a standard SDS-PAGE gel and transferred onto nitrocellulose membrane . They are then probed either by a hyperimmune antiserum raised in a rabbit or by serum from a patient who has been previously infected by the organism . The pattern of antigenic bands which stain forms the basis of the method . This article discusses the limitations of the system, makes recommendations for further systems and outlines a typical fingerprinting protocol.

Isr J Med Sci, 1987 Jun, 23(6), 561 - 4
Animal models of Mycoplasma genitalium urogenital infection; Taylor-Robinson D et al.; Male and female animals were inoculated urogenitally with Mycoplasma genitalium, recovered originally from men with nongonococcal urethritis . Mice, hamsters and male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were resistant . Male cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) were not as sensitive as male chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): 9 of 11 developed an obvious genital tract infection, some shedding organisms for more than 18 weeks . M . genitalium was recovered from the blood of two of them when large numbers of organisms were in the urethra . Most of the chimpanzees colonized with the organisms had increased numbers of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the genital tract and developed a fourfold or greater antibody response . Female squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) and female tamarins (Saguinus mystar) exhibited low-level genital tract infections following intravaginal inoculation, whereas marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) and chimpanzees developed prolonged infections after similar inoculation; thus, female chimpanzees shed organisms for 12 to 15 weeks . Marmosets and grivet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) developed salpingitis with antibody responses after intraoviduct inoculation, and baboons (Papio anubis) developed parametritis after intracervical inoculation . The results offer substantial evidence for the pathogenicity of M . genitalium for the urogenital tract of subhuman primates, and suggest that the microorganism may have a role in human genital tract infections.

Agents Actions, 1987 Jun, 21(1-2), 145 - 8
Preliminary studies on the inflammatory stimulus induced proteins in mouse resident peritoneal macrophages; Lokesh BR et al.; Chemotaxis, release of lysosomal enzymes, synthesis of eicosanoids and phagocytosis are some of the important functions mediated by macrophages . Active protein synthesis have been implicated as an essential step in the mediation of these vital physiological functions . The proteins synthesized during the inflammation with microbial agents have not been identified . In the current investigation, we report the synthesis of five proteins of molecular weights 72,000; 70,000; 40,000; 34,000; and 32,000 in mouse peritoneal macrophages after incubation with inflammatory stimuli derived from microorganisms . A possible role for these proteins in phagocytosis was suggested.

J Rheumatol, 1987 Jun, 14(3), 426 - 8
Autoantibodies and antibodies to microorganisms in rheumatoid arthritis: comparison of histocompatible siblings; Walker DJ et al.; A selection of antibodies to microorganisms were assayed on sera from a group of 12 pairs of HLA identical rheumatoid arthritis (RA) discordant siblings . Our results did not show any consistent quantitative or qualitative differences between RA and non-RA . However, autoantibodies were commoner and of higher titer in the subjects with RA . There was a difference in the antibodies to intrinsic antigens in RA which was not reflected in the antibodies to extrinsic antigens.

J Dairy Sci, 1987 Jun, 70(6), 1211 - 9
A procedure for measuring peptides in rumen fluid and evidence that peptide uptake can be a rate-limiting step in ruminal protein degradation; Chen G et al.; A relatively simple and sensitive procedure was developed to measure the concentration of peptides in rumen fluid . Feed particles and microorganisms were removed by centrifugation, and the supernatant was treated with perchloric acid (5% final concentration) . Perchloric acid precipitated macromolecules that included protein, RNA, and DNA . Perchlorate was subsequently removed by precipitation with an excess of potassium carbonate . Ammonia was removed by boiling the alkaline sample . Supernatant samples were then analyzed for ninhydrin reactive material before and after HCl hydrolysis . Because ninhydrin reaction was 3 to 7.5 times greater after HCl hydrolysis, peptides rather than amino acids were the primary source of nonprotein, nonammonia nitrogen . Rumen fluid from a cow fed timothy hay and concentrate supplement (16% crude protein) contained more than 1200 mg peptides/L (192 mg N/L), 1 h after feeding, and this value declined the prefeeding value of 400 mg/L (64 mg N/L) by 8 h after feeding . Comparison of ninhydrin reactivity with and without HCl hydrolysis indicated that peptides present before feeding contained more peptide bonds than the peptides soon after feeding . High pressure liquid chromatography revealed a variety of peaks soon after feeding and fewer dominant peaks 8 h later . The data suggest that peptide uptake into rumen microorganisms can be a rate-limiting step in ruminal protein degradation.

Radiol Med (Torino), 1987 Jun, 73(6), 551 - 6
{Risks from magnetic fields and radiowaves in equipment for magnetic resonance tomography}; De Crescenzo S et al.; The use of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging for diagnostic purposes requires a careful analysis of potential risks for workers, patients and public . Aim of this work is a review of the most important biological effects produced by static magnetic fields, radiofrequency fields and field gradients . It's common opinion in fact that the use of magnetic and radiofrequency fields instead of ionizing radiations fields is a safety warranty for patients and workers . Biological experiments in small animals and microorganisms show that also in this case some risks may be expected, due to the trend to employ as much high as possible magnetic fields (and therefore radiofrequency fields) . The available data show that the normally used magnetic and radiofrequency fields are below the threshold for somatic effects but denote the necessity of a careful risks/benefit analysis for some patients groups (pacemakers and small surgical metallic implants carriers) and the need of extended and deep studies to specify a possible synergy of different physical agents and incidental oncogenic and teratogenic consequence on the patient.

J Infect Dis, 1987 Jun, 155(6), 1292 - 9
Distal tubal obstruction induced by repeated Chlamydia trachomatis salpingeal infections in pig-tailed macaques; Patton DL et al.; The effects of repeated infections with Chlamydia trachomatis, serovars F, D, and J, were examined in pig-tailed macaques . The fallopian tubes of three experimental monkeys were inoculated at the middle of the menstrual cycle on three consecutive months . Monkey 1 received homologous F; monkey 2 received heterologous F, D, and J; and monkey 3 received homologous inoculations in the right and heterologous inoculations in the left fallopian tubes . One control monkey (4) received repeated inoculations of HeLa cell materials only and remained normal throughout the experiment . Infection was confirmed by isolating the microorganism from both the endosalpinx and endocervix . Antibody to the infecting strains was demonstrated in sera, tears, and cervical secretions by using microimmunofluorescence . Mild chronic salpingitis developed in monkeys 1 and 3, and chronic follicular salpingitis developed in monkey 2 . Peritubal and periadnexal scarring and endosalpingeal adhesion formation were produced after reinfection . The right fallopian tube of monkey 3 was distally obstructed (confirmed by hysterosalpingography) . Systemic complications, including perihepatitis and conjunctivitis, were also documented in these monkeys . We conclude that repeated infections produced extensive tubal scarring, chronic salpingitis, and distal tubal obstruction, findings not apparent in primary infection.

Gan No Rinsho, 1987 Jun, 33(6), 703 - 13
{An autopsy case of severe miliary tuberculosis in a patient with acute lymphatic leukemia (ALL)}; Misonou J et al.; A 58-year-old Japanese man being diagnosed as having ALL suffered from continuous fever and dysfunction of the liver and kidneys despite being in a state of haematological remission . Further clinical investigations, however had not been able to find the causes of his condition before his death . The autopsy revealed severe miliary tuberculosis affecting many organs including the heart, lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys, thyroid gland, pancreas, bone marrow, and central nervous system, which is compatible with multiple organ failures . Recent pharmacological advances have increased the usage of many kinds of antineoplastic drugs, and this has resulted in increased chances of opportunistic infections by various microorganisms in the course of treatment . The present case implies the significance of the reactivation of tuberculosis in the secondary immunodeficient syndrome (SIDS).

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1987 Jun, 184(3-4), 206 - 13
Resistotype heterogeneity of Escherichia coli strains isolated from humans, animals and sewage waters; Caldini G et al.; The tests commonly used for bacterial identification, especially in the field of microbial environmental analyses frequently do not provide a sufficient strain differentiation . Considering the importance that accurate characterization of bacterial pollution indicators could have as epidemiological tools, this study used a resistogram subtyping method for Escherichia coli as a tentative method of effecting a good monitoring of the environmental spread of this microorganism . The resistance of 313 E . coli strains of different origin (human, animal, sewage), previously identified by standard biochemical reactions, to 8 chemical compounds (inorganic, organic and dyes) and to 7 antibiotics was tested . The results indicated this method has a higher discriminatory power for chemicals than for drugs . Some typical resistotype patterns for E . coli from various sources are described.

Vet Med (Praha), 1987 Jun, 32(6), 337 - 42
{Determination of the inhibitory effect of a biologically active preparation on the reproduction of micro-organisms from the intestines of ruminants}; Novak S et al.; A procedure for the production of biologically active substances from pine and spruce needles was worked out within the research project Utilization of Tree Verdure . The product was referred to as a biologically active preparation . The fields of its possible uses include agriculture (animal production-feeding), cosmetics (production of pastes, soaps, etc.), pharmaceutical industry (after additional conditioning the product can be used for manufacturing medicinal drugs for the control of inflammatory diseases and the like) . The biologically active preparation, i . e . the pine needle extract, was studied as to its effect on some of the most numerous microorganisms in the intestines of ruminants . As found, this preparation has a partial inhibitive action on the growth and reproduction of microorganisms . The biologically active preparation is an extract isolated from the needles by means of 0.3% sodium hydroxide . Besides extractive substances it also contains the residues of organellae of cellular nature (which got into the extract through the filter during the process of preparation) and a small amount of fibre (0.33%) . The chemical composition of the biologically active preparation is varied: until now about 220 substances, many of which are biologically active, have been found to be present in the product.

Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Jun, 6(3), 245 - 61
Perinatal viral infections; Prober CG et al.; In comparison to older children and adults, neonates are immunologically incompetent . They are susceptible to infections caused by a variety of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi and viruses . These infectious agents may be acquired by neonates either prenatally, during the intrapartum period or postnatally . The purpose of this review is to emphasize the potential impact of viral infections contracted by neonates at the time of delivery or within the neonatal period . The viruses reviewed include the herpes group of viruses (cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex viruses and varicella-zoster virus), type B hepatitis virus, human immunodeficiency virus, respiratory viruses, enteroviruses, rotavirus and human papilloma virus . For each virus the potential sources and incidence of the infection, the common manifestations of the illness, and possible means of prevention and therapy are discussed . Although infections caused by bacteria tend to be more clinically dramatic and more immediately life-threatening, it is emphasized that infections caused by viruses are common and associated with substantial long-term morbidity . Perinatal viral infections need to be recognized as early in life as possible so that their natural history can be more completely defined and any possible intervention made.

Am J Infect Control, 1987 Jun, 15(3), 101 - 6
Radiation sterilization of surgical instruments with a consideration of metal shielding on sterilization efficiency; Grecz N et al.; The feasibility of the use of radiation for sterilization of surgical instruments was evaluated . Two aspects were considered: radiation biology of relevant microorganisms, that is, bacterial spores and viruses, and shielding and radiation protection by the metal of the instruments . After proper cleaning and hot water machine washing, surgical instruments carry few, if any contaminants; however, subsequent handling increases the contamination load . Although large instruments may attenuate as much as 30% of the incident radiation, spores dried on the metal are sensitized to irradiation by some 40% . A dose of 25 kGy (2.5 Mrad) is adequate to inactivate a potential contamination load of approximately 10(7) bacterial spores or approximately 10(4) viruses . Therefore, 25 kGy will provide a high sterility assurance level, and can be recommended with a considerable degree of confidence for hospital-based sterilization of surgical instruments.

Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am, 1987 Jun, 14(2), 397 - 406
Tissue effects of and host response to human papillomavirus infection; Jenson AB et al.; Human papillomaviruses are a heterogeneous group of DNA tumor viruses associated with hyperplastic (warts, condylomas), dysplastic (CIN and VIN), and malignant lesions (carcinomas) of squamous epithelium . Each HPV type is preferentially associated with specific clinical lesions and has an anatomic site preference for either cutaneous or mucosal squamous epithelium . Infection appears to begin in the basal cells . Early gene expression is associated with acanthosis, and late gene expression is associated with appearance of structural antigens and virions in nuclei of cells of the granular layer, usually koilocytotic cells . Malignant transformation of warts and papillomas appears to be related to a variety of factors: (1) infection by certain HPV types (HPV-5, HPV-8, HPV-16, HPV-18, HPV-31); (2) decreased cellular immunity to HPV-associated antigens; and (3) interaction with cofactors, such as other microorganisms or sunlight (see also the article by Kashima and Shah) . Spontaneous regression or successful treatment of the benign lesions appears to depend on either naturally acquired or iatrogenically related stimulation of HPV type-specific immunity . The humoral antibody response to HPV particles may be important in preventing infection . In contrast, the local events surrounding regression of warts and condylomas are primarily associated with specific cell-mediated immunity . Local cell-mediated immune responses, particularly cell-associated soluble mediators and stationary macrophage-like cells, may be especially important in the host's immune response to mucosal infections.

Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 1987 May 22, 230(1261), 389 - 423
The Wellcome Foundation lecture, 1986 . The molecular control of normal and leukaemic granulocytes and macrophages; Metcalf D; The development of semisolid culture methods supporting the clonal proliferation and maturation of granulocytes and macrophages led to the discovery of a group of specific glycoproteins, the colony-stimulating factors (CSFs), whose function it is to control the proliferation and functional activity of granulocytes, macrophages and associated blood cells . The four known CSFs in the mouse and man have been purified and complementary DNAs (cDNAs) for each have been cloned . The injection of bacterially synthesized recombinant CSF into mice has demonstrated that these CSFs can function in vivo to regulate granulocyte and macrophage formation . A major physiological role played by these CSFs is to control resistance to invading microorganisms through mechanisms capable of extremely rapid activation . Because the CSFs are the only known proliferative factors for these cells, the CSFs are involved in the initiation and the emergence of myeloid leukaemia but, conversely, at least one of the CSFs, G-CSF, is able to suppress myeloid leukaemic populations because of the ability of the CSFs to initiate differentiation commitment in responding granulocytic and macrophage populations . The CSFs are promising agents for clinical use in the treatment of infections in patients with depressed granulocyte-macrophage formation and possibly in the management of some types of myeloid leukaemia.

Fed Proc, 1987 May 15, 46(7), 2402 - 6
Oxygen-derived radicals: a link between reperfusion injury and inflammation; McCord JM; Oxygen-derived free radicals (superoxide and hydroxyl) and related species (hydrogen peroxide and hypohalous acids) have well-defined roles in the inflammatory process . Their actions include the killing of microorganisms as well as participation in cell-to-cell communication among phagocytes via the activation of a superoxide-dependent chemoattractant . The active oxygen species also have roles in postischemic injury brought about by the conversion during ischemia of the enzyme xanthine dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.204) to the radical-producing xanthine oxidase (EC 1.1.3.22) . Although the enzymes responsible for producing superoxide in inflammation and ischemia are quite distinct, and are triggered by very different events, there are points of interplay in the two mechanisms whereby an ischemia/reperfusion-induced injury would lead to inflammation, and conversely whereby inflammation could lead to impairment of the circulation and hence to ischemic injury.

Zhonghua Min Guo Wei Sheng Wu Ji Mian Yi Xue Za Zhi, 1987 May, 20(2), 163 - 77
{Interepithelial lymphocytes of small intestine}; Chu RM; The small intestine is a tissue which maintains contact with the external environment constantly . It receives antigenic stimulation and is attacked by various microorganisms at day and day base . The animals are then in danger without an efficient immune system of the gastrointestinal tract . The evidence described by this paper in the areas of morphology, position, structure, physiological phenomenon and immunologic functions, indicates strongly that IEL is a group of cells with important immunologic activities . In the last decade, technology to purify IEL has been improved, thereby enhancing immunologic research on this cell dramatically . Results disclose that immunologic activities such as ADCC, SCMC, NK, NC and CC are present in the IEL population . The surface maker studies on IEL in addition to the discovery of GML subpopulation further prove the immunologic importance of IEL . It is therefore believed at the present time that IEL is a combination of cells gathered at the intestinal mucosa in order to fulfill various local immunologic activities.

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