Med Clin (Barc), 1980 Feb 10, 74(3), 89 - 91 {Tuberculous pleural effusion and pleural effusion secondary to non-specific bacterial infection: biochemical differential diagnosis (author's transl)}; Cabrer B et al.; The authors study 14 different analytical parameters in the pleural fluid in order to recognize differential biological criteria, helping to establish an etiologic diagnosis in patients with suggestive clinical symptoms and biological data of an infectious process . In a group of 38 patients with bacterial exudative pleural effusion (22 of tuberculous origin and 16 secondary to non-specific bacterial infection), the following parameters were analyzed: total proteins, acid glucoprotein, X1, antytripsin, CDH, acid phosphatase, amylase, cholinest, copper, iron, pCO2, pO2 pH, glucose, and cholesterol . The results of amylase, copper, pCO2, pO2 and pH determinations in the pleural fluid show statistical significant differences between the tuberculous cases and the patients with non-specific infections . Lastly, the authors mention the minimal biological criteria necessary to confirm the tuberculous or non-specific bacterial etiology of a pleural fluid, stressing the value of the levels of cholinesterase, copper, pO2 and pH as differential data. Arch Fr Pediatr, 1980 Feb, 37(2), 103 - 7 {Myelopathy complicating acute bacterial meningitis (author's transl)}; Bouygues D et al.; Four cases of acute bacterial meningitis complicated by medullary involvement are described . The complication presenting as a transverse myelitis occurred early and suddenly in the course of severe bacterial meningitis caused by different bacteria . Only two other comparable cases have been reported. Clin Exp Immunol, 1980 Feb, 39(2), 510 - 8 Isolation of human spontaneous killer lymphocytes by bacterial adherence; Kleinman R et al.; Human lymphocyte subpopulations (B, T1, T2, T3, and T4 our denomination) have been identified previously by bacterial adherence and differences between them in mitogen responses and specific cytotoxic activity have been found . In this study another aspect has been investigated in order to find functions associated with these subpopulations, namely the spontaneous killing (SK) ability . Freshly isolated human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were separated into adherent and non-adherent cells following centrifugation against various bact:rial monolayers . The PBL and the resulting subpopulations of PBL were tested alone or in combination as effector cells in a 4 hr cytotoxicity assay against human lymphoblastoid cel- lines of B or T cell origin . The T3 + T4 cells or T4 cells alone showed a significantly higher SK activity against both B and T target cell lines when compared with unseparated PBL, T1 + T2, or T3 cells alone . Whe Fc portion of IgG, contain the lymphocytes responsible for SK activity and that SK cells can be purified by negative selection using bacterial adherence. Biokhimiia, 1980 Feb, 45(2), 371 - 5 {Correlation between the distribution and inhibition constants of bacterial agmatinase inhibitors}; Khramov VA; A correlation between the distribution of chemical compounds in the water-non-polar solvent system and their inhibiting effect on bacterial agmatinase has been established . The correlation equation appears as lg(1/Ki)=algp0+C . The value of C is constant for homologous inhibitors but shows considerable variations upon a transition from the homologous row of alcohols to monoamines, diamines and guanidine alcanes . It is assumed that the value of C reflects the electrostatic interactions between the enzyme and ligand . Alternatively this value can be regarded as a factor of the ligand fitness into the enzyme active center . The correlation equations obtained for different homologous sequences allow to predict the inhibiting effect of still unknown homologues. Biokhimiia, 1980 Feb, 45(2), 317 - 24 {Role of amino acid arginine residues of bacterial formate dehydrogenase}; Tishkov VI et al.; Inactivation of NAD-dependent formate dehydrogenase by butandione-2,3 has been studied . The inactivation is shown to be due to specific modification of the arginine residues . The enzyme activity is completely abolished by modification of 17 arginine residues per enzyme molecule . Native formate dehydrogenase contains 50 arginine residues . The dependences of the enzyme inactivation rate on butandione and substrate concentrations and the pH profile of the inactivation have been investigated . Coenzymes (but not formate) protect the enzyme against inactivation . The enzyme activity is completely retained upon formation of a binary E-NAD complex and a ternary E-NAD-azide complex . Protection of one arginine residue per enzyme subunit is observed under formation of a ternary enzyme--inhibitor complex . The fole of the arginine residue in coenzyme binding is discussed. Gut, 1980 Feb, 21(2), 128 - 32 Ileal excretion and bacterial modification of bile acids and cholesterol in patients with continent ileostomy; Kay RM et al.; Bile acid (acidic sterol) and neutral steroid excretion were determined in 15 patients, five with conventional ileostomy, five with continent ileostomy, and five with continent ileostomy and an ileal resection . Acidic sterol losses were normal in conventional ileostomy patients and not significantly increased in those with continent ileostomy alone . Bile acid excretion rates were significantly increased in patients with a continent ileostomy and an ileal resection . Neutral steroid excretion was similar in all groups and not different from normal . Deoxycholic acid was not detected in ileal effluent of patients with conventional ileostomy and less than 2% of neutral steroid excreted was in the form of bacterial metabolites of cholesterol . The same was true of six of the 10 patients with continent ileostomies; in the other four patients at least 10% of acidic or neutral steroids were excreted as secondary bile acids or as a coprostanol . Modification of steroids was not related to ileal resection . Continent ileostomy was associated with a significant increase in percentage water content and a reduction in the pH of ileal effluent. J Immunol, 1980 Feb, 124(2), 708 - 12 Cytotoxicity of human macrophages for tumor cells: enhancement by bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS); Cameron DJ et al.; Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulates human macrophages derived from peripheral blood monocytes to kill tumor cells in vitro . Maximum cytotoxicity was observed after 8 to 24 hr of incubation with LPS . However, if the macrophages are activated with LPS for 8 hr and then maintained in medium for an additional 16 hr before assay, their cytotoxic capacity is lost . In comparison to normal macrophages, LPS-activated macrophages were cytotoxic to the three malignant cell lines tested but had no effect on the three nonmalignant cell lines . Human macrophages can be made tumoricidal by the addition of greater than or equal to 10 microgram/ml LPS, and the effect is abolished in the presence of polymyxin B. Can J Microbiol, 1980 Feb, 26(2), 175 - 8 Mechanisms of host defense and quantitative comparisons of bacterial populations in experimental peritonitis; Jennings MM et al.; A model for the quantitative study of bacterial levels in blood, ascitic fluid, and liver, induced by Escherichia coli in the rat, has been devised . Three experimental situations were then studied: non-fatal peritonitis, fatal peritonitis induced by bacteria rendered more virulent by serial passage through test animals, and fatal peritonitis using haemoglobin adjuvant with the more virulent strain . Results indicate that a variety of defense mechanisms are operant in the host animal . In the non-fatal peritonitis, clearance of free bacteria from the peritoneum is observed with a late rebound in local and systemic populations . These phenomena correlate well with in vitro studies of bacterial uptake by peritoneal macrophages . In fatal peritonitis without adjuvant, much larger numbers of bacteria seem to escape initial clearance in the peritoneum and proximal reticuloendothelial system with resultant overwhelming septicaemia . In fatal peritonitis with adjuvant, much less clearance of organisms from the peritoneum is observed, with resultant overgrowth of bacteria and host death . It thus seems that the initial host defenses center around peritoneal clearance of introduced organisms, and that processes which interfere with this clearance prove fatal. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1980 Feb, 39(2), 281 - 4 Semielectronic turbidimeter for automated monitoring of bacterial growth in test tubes; Marcelis JH et al.; An automated turbidimeter for measuring bacterial growth in ordinary test tubes is described . The device records and prints adsorbance, expressed as Klett units, of 60 cultures every 15 min . Provision is made for either aerobic or anaerobic incubation . The device is adaptable to modification, depending upon local requirements and availability of computation facilities. J Urol, 1980 Feb, 123(2), 184 - 7 In vitro bacterial adherence to vaginal cells of normal and cystitis-prone women; Parsons CL et al.; Using an in vitro assay system to quantitate the adherence of Escherichia coli to vaginal cells we found no statistically significant difference in mean bacterial adherence per cell in either infection-prone or normal women at either pH 6.4 or 4.0, which is that of the normal vaginal introitus . In addition, we found that the assay method used by previous investigators contained large sources of error, making it difficult to draw conclusions based upon the data obtained with this method. J Exp Med, 1980 Feb 1, 151(2), 418 - 28 Low molecular weight iron-binding factor from mammalian tissue that potentiates bacterial growth; Jones RL et al.; A low molecular weight, iron-binding factor was isolated from horse liver . This host-associated iron transfer factor (HAITF) is capable of binding iron and stimulating bacterial growth by promoting iron uptake into bacteria . Also, when injected into infected animals, HAITF increases the virulence of bacterial infections . HAITF bioactivity is ubiquitous in animal tissues and present in serum . It is proposed that HAITF is a factor that inadvertently plays a role in the host-parasite competition for iron. Blut, 1980 Feb, 40(2), 151 - 5 DNA-synthesizing T and non-T cells in bacterial infections; van der Woerd-de Lange JA et al.; The results of autoradiographic determination of DNA-synthesizing lymphocytes (3H-thymidine) in 10 patients with bacterial infections were compared with results in 10 normal patients and contrasted with 23 CLL patients in different stages {12} . In patients with infectious diseases the absolute number of T cells was lower and the mean values of S-phase T cells and S-phase non-T cells was higher than in normal persons . In contrast to the patients with infections, CLL patients in stage o--III have lower S-phase T cell values and higher S-phase non-T cell values . In stage IV, on the other hand, all DNA-synthesizing lymphocytes are increased. Transplantation, 1980 Feb, 29(2), 143 - 8 Cimetidine-induced augmentation of human lymphocyte blastogenesis by mitogen, bacterial antigen, and alloantigen; Gifford RR Sr et al.; The effect of Cimetidine, a histamine-type 2 receptor antagonist, was evaluated on the in vitro proliferative response of normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) . Cimetidine (10(-3) to 10(-8) M) increased mitogen-induced blastogenesis by 22% (phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and by 27% (pokeweed) over nondrug-treated control values (P less than 005 for PHA and pokeweed) . Preincubation of PBLs with Cimetidine further augmented blastogenesis as much as 2- to 3-fold (P less than 0.005 for both mitogens) . Multiple testing of the same normal subject demonstrated consistent reproducibility of increased proliferation by Cimetidine . Similar statistically significant amplifications of the proliferative res-ponse were observed when bacterial antigen (streptokinase-streptodornase) or alloantigen was used to induce blastogenesis . Optimally effective concentrations of Cimetidine ranged from 10(-5) to 10(-7) M, which corresponds to expected clinical serum levels . These observations suggest that a histamine-type 2 receptor antagonist is capable of modulating the proliferative response of PBLs in the absence of exogenously added histamine . The immunoregulatory implication of this Cimetidine-induced proliferative augmentation is discussed in relation to clinical transplantation and cancer immunotherapy. Scand J Rheumatol, 1980, 9(4), 216 - 20 Anaerobic bacterial coxitis and pseudocystic tumour in rheumatoid arthritis . A case report; Keller C et al.; When patients with rheumatoid arthritis develop rapidly growing tumours around the hip or elbow joint, the possibility should be considered that this condition could be pseudocystic with a low virulent infection . The present report describes such a case of anaerobic bacterial coxitis with rapidly growing tumour. Chemotherapy, 1980, 26(6), 446 - 51 Bacterial flora in acute small bowel obstruction; Gupta S et al.; The bacterial flora has been studied by direct sampling techniques at various levels in 25 cases of acute small bowel obstruction . The presence of coliform bacteria in the distal ileum below the level of obstruction and progressive increase of bacterial counts from the jejunum towards the distal ileum above the obstruction suggest that ingestion may not be the only factor of bacterial growth in the small bowel in acute intestinal obstruction . Moreover, indirect peritoneal contamination in 8 cases of long-standing acute small bowel obstruction indicates that possibly a combination of multiple factors like ingestion of food, retrograde spread from the large bowel, lymphatic and/or hematogenous spread are responsible for bacterial dissemination in and around the obstructed bowel. Eur J Cardiol, 1980, 11(4), 315 - 24 Echocardiographic diagnosis of subacute bacterial endocarditis; Perini GP et al.; The echocardiogram is able to diagnose on which valvular leaflet or cusp the bacterial vegetations are implanted; it is also able to recognize the type of lesion (destroying vegetations, prolapsing vegetations, etc.) . In our experience the echocardiographi findings were fully confirmed at surgical intervention in 12 of the 13 patients studied. Acta Med Scand, 1980, 207(4), 305 - 7 Failure of excessive doses of ampicillin to prevent bacterial relapse in the treatment of acute pyelonephritis; Ode B et al.; In order to evaluate whether very high doses of ampicillin might be more effective than conventional therapy in eradicating bacteria in patients with acute pyelonephritis, 34 affected patients were randomly assigned into two treatment groups . One group was given ampicillin in a daily dose of 30 g for three days and 20 g for four days without further treatment . The other group was given ampicillin in moderate doses for one month . Out of 13 patients treated with excessive doses for one week, only three were completely cured whereas conventional therapy cured 9 out of 21 . Thus, excessive doses of ampicillin given for one week were not more effective but more expensive and possibly less beneficial than conventional therapy. Jpn Heart J, 1980 Jan, 21(1), 141 - 8 Detection of flail aortic valve in bacterial endocarditis with real-time two-dimensional echocardiography . A case report; Orita Y et al.; This report describes a case with flail right and noncoronary cusps due to bacterial endocarditis, diagnosed with real-time two-dimensional echocardiography . Real-time two-dimensional phased array sector scanner demonstrated 2 cugdel-shaped lesions in the region of the left ventricular outflow tract through the aortic root, pendulating upward and downward floating along the blood stream . This study shows that the real-time two-dimensional echocardiography is a very useful noninvasive tool in the early diagnosis of flail aortic valve. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1980 Jan, 39(1), 233 - 41 Adherent bacterial populations on the bovine rumen wall: distribution patterns of adherent bacteria; McCowan RP et al.; Fourteen tissue sites from the bovine reticulo-rumen were examined by scanning electron microscopy to determine the distribution patterns of bacterial populations adhering to the epithelium . Although diet variations did not appear to influence the total number of tissue-adherent bacteria present in adult Herefords, diet affected their distribution . It appeared that the distribution of the bacterial populations may be directly affected by the physical state of the digesta . The digesta may be mechanically removing adherent bacteria from the tissue surface by abrasive action . The total adherent population consisted of subpopulations with separate distribution patterns, and macropopulations of morphologically similar bacteria were occasionally observed at specific sites on the epithelial surface . Ureolytic organisms on the epithelium followed a distribution pattern considerably different from the general bacterial distribution. Pediatrics, 1980 Jan, 65(1), 26 - 9 The association of kernicterus with bacterial infection in the newborn; Pearlman MA et al.; A total population of 29,395 neonates cared for in the six-year period from 1971 to 1976 was reviewed for evidence of autopsy-proven kernicterus . A total of 327 neonates died and 232 were autopsied . The only cases of kernicterus occurred in four near-term infants with antemortem proven sepsis . All four of these infants weighed more than 2,200 gm and were delivered after gestations of either 36 or 37 weeks . These cases of kernicterus occurred during a period when more aggressive management of hyperbilirubinemia in low-birth-weight infants had apparently eliminated immaturity as a predisposing factor in the development of kernicterus, uncovering bacterial infection as the major remaining etiologic co-factor. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol, 1980, 61(3), 321 - 8 Impaired neutrophil locomotion during acute bacterial infections; Althaus D et al.; Neutrophils from patients with acute bacterial infections show a marked decrease in random as well as directional locomotion in vitro . The further analysis of the data suggests that defective directional locomotion is due to impaired locomotion and not to impaired chemotaxis . The defect disappeared almost completely with clinical recovery . There was no direct correlation between impaired directional neutrophil locomotion and the proportion of band forms in the neutrophil population . Plasma obtained from patients with acute bacterial infections showed no 'spontaneous' chemotactic activity and immune complex-induced cytotaxin formation was normal in vitro . Neutrophils from 2 patients with viral pneumonia showed normal locomotion. Chemotherapy, 1980, 26(1), 72 - 9 Neomycin and the combination of neomycin and bacitracin in the prevention of bacterial infection in surgery of the colon and/or rectum; Montori A et al.; In two groups of patients submitted to surgery of the colon and/or rectum, treatment to prevent bacterial infections using a combination of 100 mg neomycin and 10,000 U bacitracin every 6 h for 48 h gave the same results as neomycin employed alone at a dosage of 500 mg every 6 h for 48 h . Results confirm the synergism of action between neomycin and bacitracin. Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 1980 Jan, 105(3), 91 - 5 {Echocardiographic diagnosis of bacterial endocarditis (authors' transl)}; Fischer W et al.; Five cases of bacterial endocarditis are reported to illustrate typical findings in the echo-cardiogram . Serial echocardiograms provide a non-invasive method of determining localisationand extent of vegetations or lesions, as well as haemodynamic changes . This facilitates early consideration of possible surgical valve replacement. Scott Med J, 1980 Jan, 25(1), 27 - 32 An evaluation of the 14C-glycocholic acid breath test in the diagnosis of bacterial colonisation of the jejunum; Watson WS et al.; In order to assess the performance of the 14C-glycocholic acid breath test as an indicator of bacterial colonisation of the jejunum, 145 combined breath tests and jejunal aspirate cultures were carried out on a total of 50 subjects who had an increased probability of being colonised . Ninety-one of the 145 cultures were positive while only 31 of the breath tests were positive . This poor performance of the breath test relative to the aspirate culture can be predicted with reasonable accuracy from known bile deconjugating capabilities of bacteria found in the small intestine. Ann Thorac Surg, 1980 Jan, 29(1), 1 - 7 Surgical management of left ventricular-aortic discontinuity complicating bacterial endocarditis; Frantz PT et al.; Successful hemodynamic repair of left ventricular-aortic discontinuity complicating bacterial endocarditis in 2 patients was achieved using a composite valve-woven Dacron tube graft . The prosthetic valve was sutured without tension into the remaining aortic annulus, ventricular muscle, and base of the aortic leaflet of the mitral valve . Use of the composite graft allows adequate debridement of the abscess, restores ventricular-aortic continuity, excludes the abscess wall from systemic pressure, and does not require saphenous vein coronary bypass . Total exclusion of the aortic root, as described, is a lifesaving alternative repair in the care of desperately ill patients with this condition. Environ Mutagen, 1980, 2(1), 75 - 83 I . Bacterial mutagenicity of particulates from Houston air; Preidecker BL; This study was designed to examine suspended air particulates from the Houston atmosphere, Airborne particulates were collected using either a hi-vol sampler (one stage from 0.01 to 25 micrometer) or an Anderson Cascade Impactor, the five stages of which roughly resemble the human respiratory tract . After organic extraction, the Ames assay was used to determine the mutagenic content of extracts, and the ability to induce prophage was assessed . Also DNA-repair-deficient cells were employed to see if the extracts caused DNA damage and what portion of the premutational lesions was repaired in normal cells . Results indicate that extracts of particulates from Houston air cause a significant number of mutations in bacteria and that the highest frequency of reversions is associated with the smallest particulates . An excision repair system is operative in bacteria which is able to assuage damage done to DNA by these extracts . The extracts did not cause prophage induction. Infection, 1980, 8(4), 142 - 6 The Significance of the nitroblue-tetrazolium test in cerebrospinal fluid granulocytes in bacterial and abacterial meningitis; Kolmel HW et al.; The reaction of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) granulocytes in the nitroblue-tetrazolium test (NBT test) was evaluated . In a previous study, methodological problems were resolved, and the method developed by Park et al, was modified to suit the special conditions of the CSF . Thirty-eight CSF specimens from 26 patients were analysed . It appears that NBT test results with CSF granulocytes are significantly positive--according to the criteria developed by Park for blood granulocytes--when bacterial meningitis is present . If the cause of the pleocytosis is not bacterial in nature, then the test results are negative in most cases, provided that the CSF sample contains little or no blood . The NBT test in bloody CSF may produce positive results no matter what the cause of the pleocytosis . Our results suggest that the NBT test is a general, non-specific indicator of granulocyte stimulation . It reflects the ability of granulocytes to react to a stress situation of the organism . Bacterial infection results in a conspicuously large number of stimulated (i.e . NBT positive) granulocytes. Langenbecks Arch Chir, 1980, 353(2), 121 - 7 {Route of infection of the biliary tract: experimental evidence for an enterohepaticobiliary bacterial cycle (author's transl)}; Hancke E et al.; Suspensions of Escherichia coli bacteria were injected into the colon of ten mongrel dogs . Primarily, the cystic duct and the distal choledochal duct had been ligated . Choledochal bile was continuously collected with a ductal catheter . The bacteria could be cultured from the portal vein blood, the liver, and the gallbladder wall 5 h after injection, but not from choledochal or gallbladder bile . Suspensions of tritiated Escherichia coli bacteria were injected into the portal vein of another 20 mongrel dogs . Now the bacteria could be cultured from the liver, the gallbladder wall, the choledochal and the gallbladder bile 10 min after injection . Elevated radioactivity counts could be found in the tissue and bile samples . In the liver and gallbladder wall, the tritiated bacteria could be seen in phagocytes and capillary ducts by autoradiography . We conclude that there is an enterohepaticobiliary bacterial cycle which could explain the pathogenesis of infections in biliary tract diseases. J Supramol Struct, 1980, 14(3), 281 - 94 Catalytic activities associated with the enzymes II of the bacterial phosphotransferase system; Saier MH Jr; The phosphotransferase system (PTS) in Escherichia coli is a multifunctional, multicomponent enzyme system . Its primary functions deal with carbon source acquisition, while its secondary functions are concerned with the regulation of bacterial physiology . The primary functions of the system include 1) extracellular detection, 2) unidirectional and exchange transmembrane transport, and 3) phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent and sugar phosphate-dependent phosphorylation of the sugar substrates of the system . The secondary functions include 1) regulation of the activities of adenylate cyclase and various non-PTS permeases and 2) regulation of the induced synthesis of several PTS enzymes . Both the primary and secondary functions appear to be elicited by the binding of a sugar substrate to an Enzyme II complex . One of these integral transmembrane enzymes, the mannitol Enzyme II (IImtl), has been solubilized with detergent, purified to homogeneity, and reconstituted in an artificial membrane system . The molecular weight of this protein, IImtl, is 60,000 daltons . It possesses an extracellular sugar binding site and distinct intracellular combining sites for sugar phosphate and phospho-HPr . An essential sulfhydryl group and an antibody combining site are localized to the cytoplasmic surface of the enzyme, while a dextran combining site is localized to the external surface . Preliminary experiments suggest that the different functions of the Enzyme IImtl can be dissected by genetic and biochemical techniques . These studies emphasize the functional complexity of the PTS and its integral membrane protein constituents. Arch Otorhinolaryngol, 1980, 229(3-4), 209 - 20 Inner ear damage induced by bacterial endotoxin; Nakai Y et al.; Repeated i.d . injection doses of endotoxin lipopolysaccharide of E . coli at certain time intervals were found to give rise to the following changes in the inner ear in mice: In the organ of Corti of the cochlea, there were noted degeneration and disappearance of the inner and outer hair cells of the lower turn, partly with a partial disappearance of nerve fibers in the osseous spiral lamina . Degenerative changes seen in the upper turn were of milder degree . The stria vascularis exhibited enlarged intercellular spaces, the appearance of lysosomes in the constituent cells, and degeneration thereof . Changes observed in the vestibular organ were varying degrees of degeneration of types I and II sensory cells of the crista ampullaris and macula as well as a partial disappearance of these cells . The dark cells were found to have undergone such changes as the formation of vacuoles of varying size and widened interspaces between infoldings, thus providing presumptive evidence of a change in the composition of the endolymph . These observations suggest the possibility that Shwartzman reaction might be another probable cause of inner ear deafness or equilibrium disturbances in actual clinical cases which are at present claimed to be of unknown etiology. Arch Sci Med (Torino), 1980 Jan-Mar, 137(1), 23 - 8 {Experimental analysis of the immunizing and protective action of an association of total bacterial antigens}; Lampa E et al.; The A . by a series of experimental works have shown that an association of total bacteria antigens (SPRE) administered in the rabbit vai intramuscular route or by inhalation is able to cause the appearance of serum specific antibodies and to have a significant protective action. Minerva Stomatol, 1980 Jan-Feb, 29(1), 39 - 44 {Protective effect against bacterial plaque accumulation of a mouthwash containing cetylpyridinium}; Gargiulo V et al.; A mouthwash containing 0.05% cetylpyridium led to a marked reduction in the accumulation of bacterial plaque in a double-blind cross-over trial on 40 subjects . The preparation is thus a sound mean for the prevention of caries and periodontal disease . Its tolerance and subjective satisfaction were excellent. Respiration, 1980, 40(3), 142 - 9 Immunoglobulin production in man stimulated by an orally administered bacterial lysate; Puigdollers JM et al.; The concentrations of secretory immunoglobulins in the saliva, and of immunoglobulin in the serum, have been measured by the radial immunodiffusion method in 12 healthy volunteers, before and after oral administration of Broncho-Vaxom which is a lysate of bacteria that usually cause infection in the upper respiratory tract . The mean concentration of secretory IgA in the saliva was increased by over 100% after the 10-day administration of the product . This increase was statistically significant between the 20th and 33rd day after the beginning of the treatment (p < 0.05) . It fell to a normal level after a month in 4 subjects who received one treatment course only . In 8 subjects who received a second treatment course beginning 1 month after termination of the first course, the high concentration of IgAs in the saliva persisted for at least 3 months . A significant increase in the serum concentrations of IgG of about 50% and of IgM of at least 100% above the initial level was observed in the treated subjects in the time between day 35 and 5 months after the beginning of the experiment (p < 0.05). Genetika, 1980, 16(5), 921 - 3 {New class of bacterial translation mutants}; Pozdniakov VN et al.; Two suppressor mutations of phage T4, which specifically suppress different opal mutations in the same phage T4 genome, have been obtained . One of these mutations possessed suppressor activity at 27 degrees C but not at 42 degrees C . It is shown that these suppressor mutations operate on the level of translation and probably localize in one of the genes determining the synthesis of phage T4 tRNA . Two strains of Escherichia coli B which were able to restrict this opal suppressor and did not affect amber or ochra suppressor activity of phage T4, were obtained . Possible mechanism of phage T4 opal suppressor activity and the nature of their restriction in bacterial mutants are discussed. Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1980, 25(5), 381 - 7 Effective of Bacterial repair systems in near UV radiation-induced damage; Janovska E et al.; Inactivation of seven strains derived from Escherichia coli B differing in their capacity to repair damage to their DNA (exc, pol, rec) after irradiation with far (254 nm) and middle and near (300 to 380 and 320--400 nm) UV light was investigated . The same bacterial strains were also used as hosts for the UV-irradiated phage T7 . The damage induced in bacteria and the phage by the near UV radiation was repaired only to a lesser extent by the investigated repair mechanisms or was not repaired at all. Dermatologica, 1980, 161(3), 187 - 90 Cutaneous pigmentation: a probable sign of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis; Pollack S et al.; A cirrhotic patient with ascites was apparently well managed with diuretics and salt and water restriction for 9 months . A spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) developed and the patient finally died following septic shock . There were enough findings indicating that SBP in this case had been existing silently for some time . During this period the only apparent manifestation of this complication was a cutaneous pigmentation on the abdomen . It is suggested that pigmentation may be incuded among other presentations of this frequently silent process. Pediatrics, 1980 Jan, 65(1), 94 - 7 Bacterial colonization of radial artery catheters; Adams JM et al.; In 147 radial artery catheterizations performed, blanching or embolization was noted in 10.8% of the patients . Only a single episode of catheter-related septicemia was observed (0.6%) Mean duration of catheterization was 48 +/- 6 hours . Of 110 catheters cultured 25.4% grew bacteria; most organisms cultured were nonpathogenic . Duration of catheterization and intravascular infusion did not alter the incidence of catheter colonization. Exp Hematol, 1980 Jan, 8(1), 120 - 33 Diminished response of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in mice after sensitisation with bacterial cell-wall components; Staber FG; The secondary induction of serum granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) by structurally unrelated and chemically highly purified bacterial cell-wall components (BCWC) was studied . Homologous challenge of mice 7 days after treatment with lipid A, lipoprotein or murein failed to increase serum GM-CSF levels and the extent of the decreased responsiveness was dependent upon the dose used for the initial injection . Lipid A-induced decreased responsiveness took 48 hours to develop and remained fully expressed approximately up to day 7 following injection . Then responsiveness reappeared gradually and was virtually normal 4 weeks after injection . Lipoprotein-induced decreased responsiveness developed in a similar manner but peristed maximally over the whole 8 week period studied . The decreased responsiveness induced by the injection, 7 days previously of either lipid A or lipoprotein was not specific as cross-challenge also failed to elevated GM-CSF to normal levels . On the other hand, 7 weeks after priming the lipoprotein induced decreased responsiveness was found to be specific . Mixing experiments failed to show increased levels of GM-CSF inhibitors in the serum from mice injected 7 days previously with lipid A and decreased responsiveness could not be transferred with serum to normal recipients . Similarly the lowered GM-CSF response to lipoprotein could not be transferred wth serum collected 7 weeks after primary injection . Medium conditioned by spleens from mice injected with lipid A contained less detectable GM-CSF than medium conditioned by normal spleens, but a variety of other organs did not show this difference . Mixing experiments failed to show significant differences in GM-CSF inhibitory activity between the two types of spleen conditioned media. Acta Chir Scand Suppl, 1980, 500, 19 - 21 Granulocyte-function in pancreatitis . Nitroblue tetrazolium-test related to clinical signs of bacterial infection and to hypertriglyceridemia; Broden G et al.; Out of 26 patients with acute pancreatitis, 8 had several signs of bacterial infection such as high nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction of granulocytes, fever, elevated ESR and leukocytosis with granulocytosis . 2 patients had a high NBT-value without all other clinical signs of infection and 6 had such signs without a high NBT-value . --An NBT-value lower than normal was found in 6 patients, 3 of whom also had other signs of infection . The level of serum lipids, determined in only 3 of the 6, demonstrated concomitant hypertriglyceridemia . Hyperlipidemia is known to decrease granulocyte activity and might have prevented a stimulation to increased NBT-reduction otherwise brought about by bacterial infection . Further, 3 of the 6 patients with low NBT-reductions suffered from a very severe type of pancreatitis and two of them developed pneumonia . --Bacterial infection may thus contribute to a severe clinical course of pancreatitis, especially in patients with hypertriglyceridemia in whom the granulocyte function is depressed. Arch Exp Veterinarmed, 1980, 34(3), 317 - 24 {Lysozyme in sow's milk and its importance to bacterial population of the gastrointestinal tract in suckling piglets}; Schulze F et al.; The lysozyme level was found to reach its highest point on the second day from parturition, followed by strong decline to a much lower value which then remained constant up to the 30th day of lactation . The rise recorded from the period between farrowing and the second day after birth as well as the decline up to the fourth day and the constant level up to the 30th day from parturition were statistically secured . Lysozyme levels in the milk of sows with no previous lactation record was found to be lower with significance than those recordable from sows with something between six and nine previous lactations . The conclusion has been that lysozyme levels are strongly affected by both lactation time and number of lactations . Lysozyme concentrations in sow milk on the first and second days from parturition were betweeen 6.8 and 11.0 microgram/ml, depending on the number of previous lactations . Such high lysozyme levels in sow foremilk over the first three days of age as well as all findings so far gained on the structure of bacterial cell walls are likely to suggest that the above enzyme affects bacterial population of the gastro-intestinal tract of suckling. J Oral Pathol, 1980 Jan, 9(1), 1 - 15 Bacterial endotoxin: a role in chronic inflammatory periodontal disease? Daly CG, Seymour GJ, Kieser JB. A review of current information was undertaken examining suggested roles for bacterial endotoxin in periodontal disease . Evidence for the presence of endotoxin in plaque, gingival crevicular fluid and periodontally involved cementum is discussed . The biological effects of endotoxin are numerous, and its abilities to induce tissue inflammation, resorb rat foetal bone, activate the complement pathway, stimulate macrophages and activate immune responses are examined in relation to the suggestion that endotoxin is an important factor in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. Biokhimiia, 1980 Jan, 45(1), 124 - 9 {Proteins of bacterial membranes . Purification of soluble ATPase from Acholeplasma laidlawii}; Kapitanov AB et al.; A purified preparation of ATPase (factor F1) from the Acholeplasma laidlawii was obtained . The purification procedure included extraction of the enzyme complex from the isolated membranes by ultrasonication, chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and gel filtration on Sepharose 6B . The specific activity of the ATPase was increased 30-fold as compared to the original activity . The Km value for ATP hydrolysis was 7,4 . 10(-4) M . ADP competitively inhibited the enzyme (Ki = 2,0 . 10(-4) M) . Ouabain (2,5 . 10(-4) M) and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (1,0 . 10(-4) M) did not inhibit the ATPase activity . The enzyme was activated by Mg2+, but was inhibited by a combination of Na+ and K+ . The enzyme is cold-labile, but can be stabilized by storage in buffer solutions, containing methanol, glycerol or lecithin. Boll Ist Sieroter Milan, 1980, 59(6), 655 - 61 Bacterial toxins and glucagon in liver cAMP regulation: a physiopathological role in liver diseases? Scevola D, Barbarini G, Marone P, Casciarri I, Bernardi R, Magliulo E. Alterations of the specific enzymes located in the cell membranes might promote changes of the cyclic nucleotides ratio which is regulatory in growth stimulation of hepatocytes . Bacterial toxins, hormones and drugs affecting cyclic nucleotides system can interfere with this process in liver diseases . The Authors have determined hepatic cAMP concentrations by means of cAMP radioimmunoassay, in vivo, in rats treated with cholera toxin (CT), E . coli endotoxin (LPS) and glucagon . CT (0.15 mg i.v./rat/4th hr) and glucagon (0.8 mg/i.v./10') (significantly p less than 0.01) increase liver cAMP from 1.72 n mol/g wet wt (controls) to 2.62 and 4.13 n mol/g wet/wt respectively . Serum transaminases levels were unmodified . LPS (1.5 mg/hg/i.v./3th hr) significantly (p less than 0.01) raises serum transaminase activity while liver cAMP was not affected . Kinetics study however show that LPS, at lower dosage (0.5 mg/hg i.v.) enhances liver cAMP before cytotoxicity is observed. J Infect Dis, 1980 Jan, 141(1), 14 - 26 Chemiluminescence by polymorphonuclear leukocytes from patients with active bacterial infection; Barbour AG et al.; Polymorphonuclear leukocytes of 18 patients during 19 episodes of active bacterial infection produced increased chemiluminescence (mean +/- standard error {SE}, 56.3 +/- 4.4 X 10(3) cpm) when the production was compared to that of 29 uninfected controls (35.3 +/- 2.4 X 10(3) cpm; P less than 0.01) . Chemiluminescence production remained increased with persistent infection but fell to the levels of controls with appropriate therapy . Phagocytic uptake as determined with radiolabeled bacteria was increased, and chemotactic responsiveness was markedly enhanced in the patients (mean index +/- SE, 260 +/- 51) when these responses were compared with those of controls (77 +/- 18) . Chemiluminescence and chemotactic activity correlated in the patients with bacterial infection (r = 0.76), but one function did not appear to depend upon the intactness of the other . The ratio of cyclic guanosine 3',5'-phosphate to cyclic adenosine 3',5'-hosphate in the polymorphonuclear leukocytes of patients with infections (mean +/- SE, 0.102 +/- 0.0008) was also significantly higher than in controls (0.067 +/- 0.007) . These data indicate that the polymorphonuclear leukocytes of the majority of patients with active bacterial infection are in an activated state both functionally and metabolically. Adv Exp Med Biol, 1980, 125, 137 - 46 Hydrolysis of gangliosides in micellar and liposomal dispersion by bacterial neuraminidases; Gatt S et al.; Aqueous dispersions of pure gangliosides contain micelles of these compounds . In this dispersion state, the rates of hydrolysis of the neuraminyl residues by bacterial neuraminidases are slowest . Incorporation of gangliosides into mixed dispersion with other lipids or into mixed micelles with bile salts considerably increases the reaction rates . The greatest reaction rates are obtained when di- or trisialogangliosides are incorporated into unilamellar vesicles of lecithin or sphingomyelin. Microbiol Immunol, 1980, 24(11), 1043 - 51 Interferon and cytotoxic factor (cytotoxin) released in the blood of mice infected with Mycobacterium bovis BCG . III . Interferon and cytotoxin induced by the specific antigen as compared with those induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharide; Kato N et al.; The time course of development and decline of the ability of BCG-infected mice to produce interferon in the serum in response to the intravenous infection of purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD) was very similar to that of their systemic hypersensitivity to PPD . A cytotoxic factor (cytotoxin) was produced in parallel with interferon in the serum of BCG-infected mice after stimulation with PPD . The duration of the period in which cytotoxin-production responsiveness to PPD was definitely detectable was much shorter than that for interferon-production responsiveness although the periods for the maximum production of interferon and cytotoxin coincided . The kinetics of release of interferon in the serum of BCG-infected mice after stimulation with PPD did not parallel that of release of cytotoxin . The four kinds of activities, interferons and cytotoxins induced by PPD and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the serum of BCG-infected mice, were compared for their stability to heating at 56 C and to treatment at pH 2 . The kinetics of inactivation of these four activities differed significantly, when the serum was either heated at 56 C or treated at pH 2 . Interferon produced in response to LPS could be neutralized by anti-L cell(NDV) interferon rabbit serum as easily as L cell (NDV) interferon, 16 times as much antiserum was required to neutralize the same amount of interferon in response to PPD, but cytotoxins induced by PPD and LPS were not neutralized at all by the antiserum . From these findings it is thought likely that interferons and cytotoxins induced by PPD and LPS in the serum of BCG-infected mice are different substances, although the antigenic relationship between cytotoxins induced by PPD and LPS remains unknown. Vopr Virusol, 1980 Jan-Feb, (1), 63 - 7 {Antiviral activity of murine interferons produced by bacterial and animal cell translation of messenger RNA}; Mamontova TV et al.; Interferon was produced by E . Coli bacteria and animal cell messenger-RNA--interferon translation (mRNA--IF) . The activity of the interferon produced by simultaneous mRNA--IF translation in these two cellular systems was, approximately, similar . The interferons translated by bacteria and animal cells inhibited the cytopathic effect, reproduction and plaque-formation of vesicular stomatitis virus, and, to a greater extent, of mouse encephalomyocarditis virus . The virus titration was carried out by the dye-uptake method . The bacteria-translated interferon (BTIF) was more susceptible to the indicator-virus dose variation and had antiviral effect of shorter duration than the virus-induced and animal cell-translated interferon . The BTIF, probably, due to the action of bacterial proteolytic enzymes proved nonstable on storage. Chir Forum Exp Klin Forsch . 1980;:61-5. {Does i.v . gamma globulin counteract postoperative bacterial infections? (authors's transl)}; Duswald KH et al.; A prospective, randomized clinical study investigated the effectiveness of IV gamma-globulin (GG) against bacterial infections after surgical procedures . As a result of 20 g GG IV, given postoperatively, the average concentration decrease for IgG (25% - 30%) could be balanced as soon as the third postoperative day, the local infection rate was decreased in the low-risk group, and, with the occurrence of long-lasting local infections, the number of patients with simultaneous septic complications was lowered. Acta Microbiol Pol, 1980, 29(1), 69 - 73 Assay of bacterial copper leaching from covellin at alkaline initial pH; Lejczak A et al.; Copper sulphide CuS was leached by bacteria . Beginning with an initial pH of 9.1, the bacteria acidified the environment and at the same time leached up to 5 g copper per liter . It is characteristic that the pH may sometimes stabilize at 4.0--5.0 and not fall below this value. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1980 Jan, (1), 64 - 8 {Construction and study of mathematical models of the dynamics of bacterial biomass growth taking into account the effect of interchangeable metabolic links}; Zheleztsova EN et al.; Systemic approach was used as a basis for developing mathematical models for the dynamics of the growth of bacterial biomass with regard to the intracellular substrate pool in case of ramification of metabolic links . The results obtained by calculations with the use of such model were compared with the experimental results of the batch cultivation of E coli M 17 . The mathematical models were shown to give a qualitatively correct description characterizing process of the growth of bacterial biomass under conditions of the limited supply of inorganic phosphorus and magnesium. J Infect Dis, 1980 Jan, 141(1), 55 - 63 The primary role of lymphoreticular cells in the mediation of host responses to bacterial endotoxim; Michalek SM et al.; Mice that are unresponsive to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (strain C3H/HeJ) can be rendered LPS-sensitive by the adoptive transfer of bone marrow cells from LPS-sensitive mice (strain C3H/HeN) . This model of adoptive transfer was used to evaluate the contribution of lymphoreticular cells to five effects of endotoxin on the host: immunogenicity, adjuvanticity, lethality, induction of interferon, and induction of colony-stimulated factor . C3H//HeJ mice became sensitive to each of these effects after adoptive transfer of bone marrow cells from C3H/HeN mice . The efficacy of transfer was directly proportional to the dose of X-irradiation and inversely proportional to the number of surviving host stem cells . The most effective dose of radiation was 850 rad, and C3H/HeN leads to C3H/HeJx chimeras prepared at this dose were as sensitive to LPS for each parameter tested as were the C3H/HeN donors except for a threefold greater resistance to lethality than LPS-responsive C3H/HeN mice . C3H/HeN mice could also be rendered unresponsive to LPS by the adoptive transfer of C3H/HeJ bone marrow cells . C3H/HeN chimeras were resistant to all of the effects of LPS studied except for the induction of colony-stimulating factor . These results demonstrate that lymphocytes and/or macrophages play a primary role in mediating a number of diverse and seemingly unrelated host responses to endotoxin. Biochemistry, 1979 Dec 25, 18(26), 5940 - 5 Isolation and properties of bacterial luciferase-oxygenated flavin intermediate complexed with long-chain alcohols; Tu SC; Nonsubstrate long-chain aliphatic alcohols, carboxylic acids, and their methyl esters were found to complex reversibly with and stabilize an oxygenated flavin-luciferase intermediate, with alcohols being more effective in stabilizing the intermediate . Dissociation constants for the binding of alcohols to luciferase intermediate are in the order of K8 greater than K10 greater than K12 congruent to K14 where the subscripts represent the numbers of carbon atoms of various alcohols . Thermodynamic activation parameters for the decay of oxygenated flavin-luciferase intermediate complexed with alcohols or aldehydes were determined, and similarities were noted between alcohol and aldehyde complexes . Luciferase intermediate complexes formed with 1-decanol and 1-tetradecanol were isolated at 0 degrees C in neutral phosphate buffer, and both showed absorption properties characteristic of 4a-substituted dihydroflavins . The 1-tetradecanol-intermediate species contained one favin per luciferase molecule . Initially this complex was weakly fluorescent, but upon exposure to 370-nm light it was transformed to a highly fluorescent species . The latter shows a fluorescence excitation peak at 370 nm, and its fluorescence emission (lambda max 505 nm) and quantum yield (0.17) closely correspond to that of bioluminescence in vitro . Both the weakly and the highly fluorescent species exhibit full bioluminescence activities when reacted with decanal. Nature, 1979 Dec 20-27, 282(5741), 875 - 8 X-ray crystallography of the binding of the bacterial cell wall trisaccharide NAM-NAG-NAM to lysozyme; Kelly JA et al.; Hen egg white lysozyme was the first enzyme whose structure was determined by X-ray crystallography . The proposed mechanism based on this structure involves the distortion of the saccharide residue (2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-muramic acid, NAM) in the natural substrate (an alternating beta (1 leads to 4) linked oligomer of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose (NAG) and NAM residues) bound to site D in the binding cleft . The importance of substrate distortion has prompted numerous enzymatic, chemical, theoretical, and physical studies, but there is little direct crystallographic evidence on the conformation of a NAM residue bound at site D . We now present the X-ray structure of the non-hydrolysed trisaccharide NAM-NAG-NAM bound in subsites B, C, D . Our interpretation of the 2.5-A resolution difference map does not involve distortion of this residue in site D . Comparison with the structure of the delta-lactone derived from tetra N-acetylchitotetraose (NAG)3NAL) bound to lysozyme suggests we may be looking at a Michaelis complex. Aust Vet J, 1979 Dec, 55(12), 592 - 3 Bacterial penetration in floor and nest box eggs from meat and layer birds; Smeltzer TI et al.; A method similar to that used by Board and Board (1967) was used to determine the numbers of eggs penetrated by bacteria on 3 poultry farms in south-east Queensland . Significant differences in the percentages of penetrated eggs between the eggs of layer birds (9.7%) and the eggs of meat birds (16.1%) and between nest eggs (10.5%) and floor eggs (15.3%) were detected . The distribution of the numbers of penetration points was similar for nest and floor eggs for both types of bird and was independent of shell surface area or thickness. Arch Inst Pasteur Tunis, 1979 Dec, 56(4), 371 - 402 {Bacterial pollution in the coastal waters of the suburbs north and south of Tunis}; Chadli A et al.; The inshore waters of Northern and Southern suburbs of Tunis are chiefly polluted aroud urban cities . The pollution increases with temperature, men (touristes and bathers), the actions of wind and currentology. P N G Med J, 1979 Dec, 22(4), 59 - 64 Studies of bacterial populations in the kitchens of the University of Papua New Guinea; Price TV; Washed cups, plates, forks, knives, spoons, utensils and table surfaces in the kitchens of the University of Papua New Guinea were assayed for total and coliform bacteria in 1976 and 1977 . The total bacterial count per item for crockery and cutlery exceeded the desired limit by five to 6400 times, whilst the count for utensils was also exceeded by over 100 times in both years . Coliform and E . coli . were detected in all samples . Improper hygiene by kitchen staff and a lack of sufficient hot water were mainly responsible for the high counts . Recommendations are given for catering establishments. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1979 Dec, 76(12), 6115 - 9 DNA-directed in vitro synthesis of proteins involved in bacterial transcription and translation; Zarucki-Schulz T et al.; The in vitro synthesis of elongation factor (EF)-Tu (tufB), the beta beta' subunits of RNA polymerase, ribosomal proteins L10 and L12 directed by DNA from the transducing phage lambda rifd 18, EF-Tu (tufA), EF-G, and the alpha subunit of RNA polymerase directed by DNA from the transducing phage lambda fus3 has been investigated in a crude and a partially defined protein-synthesizing system . Proteins L10 and L12 are synthesized in the partially defined system almost as well as in the crude system . However, the synthesis of EF-Tu, EF-G, and the alpha and beta beta' subunits of RNA polymerase is far less efficient in the partially defined system . An active fraction that stimulates the synthesis of these latter proteins has been obtained by fractionation of a high-speed supernatant on DEAE-cellulose . Because previous studies showed that this fraction (1 M DEAE salt eluate) contains a protein, called L factor, that stimulates beta-galactosidase synthesis in vitro, L factor was tested for activity . Although L factor stimulates the synthesis of the beta beta' subunits, it has little or no effect on the in vitro synthesis of the other products studied . In the present experiments, the ratio of L12/L10 and of EF-Tu (tufA)/EF-G formed is 4-6 . These values are consistent with in vivo results. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1979 Nov 8, 548(2), 309 - 27 Electron acceptors of bacterial photosynthetic reaction centers . II . H+ binding coupled to secondary electron transfer in the quinone acceptor complex; Wraight CA; The photoreduction of ubiquinone in the electron acceptor complex (QIQII) of photosynthetic reaction centers from Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides, R26, was studied in a series of short, saturating flashes . The specific involvement of H+ in the reduction was revealed by the pH dependence of the electron transfer events and by net H+ binding during the formation of ubiquinol, which requires two turnovers of the photochemical act . On the first flash QII receives an electron via QI to form a stable ubisemiquinone anion (QII-); the second flash generates QI- . At low pH the two semiquinones rapidly disproportionate with the uptake of 2 H+, to produce QIIH2 . This yields out-of-phase binary oscillations for the formation of anionic semiquinone and for H+ uptake . Above pH 6 there is a progressive increase in H+ binding on the first flash and an equivalent decrease in binding on the second flash until, at about pH 9.5, the extent of H+ binding is the same on all flashes . The semiquinone oscillations, however, are undiminished up to pH 9 . It is suggested that a non-chromophoric, acid-base group undergoes a pK shift in response to the appearance of the anionic semiquinone and that this group is the site of protonation on the first flash . The acid-base group, which may be in the reaction center protein, appears to be subsequently involved in the protonation events leading to fully reduced ubiquinol . The other proton in the two electron reduction of ubiquinone is always taken up on the second flash and is bound directly to QII- . At pH values above 8.0, it is rate limiting for the disproportionation and the kinetics, which are diffusion controlled, are properly responsive to the prevailing pH . Below pH 8, however, a further step in the reaction mechanism was shown to be rate limiting for both H+ binding electron transfer following the second flash. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1979 Nov, (11), 33 - 8 {Effect of bacterial polysaccharide on the primary and secondary immunologic response following immunization with sheep erythrocytes}; Tumanian MA et al.; The effect of typhoid bacterial polysaccharide on the primary and secondary immune response to SRBS was studied . The polysaccharide was shown to have both stimulating and depressive effect on the population of antibody-producing cells . This effect depended on the time and the number of polysaccharide injections . Thus, a single polysaccharide injection made on the day preceding immunization resulted in the maximum stimulation in the system of IgM- and IgG-producing cells, while the maximum depression of these cells could be observed after 2 polysaccharide injections: on the day preceding immunization and on the day of immunization . In the secondary immune response considerable stimulation of the populations of antibody-producing cells was observed after polysaccharide injections made on days 2 and 3 after reimmunization. J Clin Microbiol, 1979 Nov, 10(5), 650 - 6 Destruction of bacterial viruses in serum by heat and radiation under conditions that sustain the ability of serum to support growth of cells in suspended culture; Ward RL; Methods for inactivating bacterial viruses in serum were developed through the use of heat and ionizing radiation, and the effects of these treatments on the growth rates of cultured cells were tested . Viruses chosen for this study were the radiation-resistant bacteriphage f2 and heat-resistant phage T4 . The viabilities of these phages were reduced more than 2 and 4 orders of magnitude, respectively, by a treatment at 60 degrees C for 30 min followed by 420 krads of ionizing radiation . Simultaneous application of heat and radiation caused a considerably greater reduction in viability of both phages in serum, but also caused a significant decrease in the growth rates of L cells in medium supplemented with serum treated in this manner . Treatment of serum with these same doses but given in the sequential fashion of heat followed by radiation caused little or no change in the growth rates of L cells . Finally, it was found that simultaneous treatment of serum with these doses of heat and radiation had little effect on the growth rates of either HeLa or Chinese hamster cells. Carbohydr Res, 1979 Nov, 76, 189 - 96 Conformational investigation on the bacterial polysaccharide xanthan; Milas M et al.; The conformation of xanthan has been investigated as a function of temperature, ionic strength, and polymer concentration . A reversible transition induced by temperature is demonstrated; the melting temperature (TM) is directly correlated to the total ionic-strength and is independent of the polymer concentration . Measurements of circular dichroism show that the polysaccharide exists in a combination of only two characteristic conformations (random and ordered), regardless of the temperature and the concentrations of salt and polymer . Hydrodynamic measurements show that the hydrodynamic volume of both conformations is almost constant over the range of temperature investigated . The mechanism proposed by Morris for melting is confirmed, and a multichain process is excluded . The birefringence stability of the concentrated solutions is discussed. J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino), 1979 Nov-Dec, 20(6), 587 - 90 Acute bacterial endocarditis requiring emergency triple valve replacement and pace-maker implant; Bortolotti U et al.; A case of triple valve involvement in acute bacterial endocarditis is reported . Replacement of aortic, mitral, and tricuspid valves and permanent epicardial pacing were successfully accomplished. Laryngoscope, 1979 Nov, 89(11), 1839 - 41 The effect of irradiation upon the bacterial flora in patients with head and neck cancer; Rice DH et al.; Twenty-two consecutive patients with cancer of the head and neck, who were to receive a full tumoricidal dose of irradiation to a field that included the oral cavity and pharynx, were studied to determine the effect of the irradiation on their local bacterial flora . Aerobic cultures were taken prior to, at the completion of, and one month after the completion of their irradiation . The percentage of patients with potentially pathogenic organisms increased dramatically as the effect of the irradiation increased . This change in the local flora has obvious implications concerning the increased incidence of postoperative wound infections in patients who have received prior irradiation. Cancer, 1979 Nov, 44(5), 1665 - 70 Relationship between bacterial binding to lymphocytes and clinical features in chronic lymphocytic leukemia; Nelson R et al.; In previous studies we showed that spontaneous bacterial adherence can be used to identify human lymphocyte subpopulations and to demonstrate variable binding patterns in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) . In this study, 10 strains of bacteria of different genera and species were used in blood smears from 24 CLL patients to determine the percentages of lymphocytes that bind bacteria . From these percentages, binding indices were calculated . The symptoms and other laboratory tests were independently recorded and the stages determined . When the two sets of data were compared, relatively low binding indices were found in symptomatic patients or in Stages III and IV; relatively high binding indices were found in asymptomatic patients or in Stages I and II . We suggest that with progression of leukemia, lymphocytes with less "lectin" recognition potential are selected and escape any control mechanism of proliferation. Immunology, 1979 Nov, 38(3), 497 - 502 The immune response of mice to bacterial antigens given by mouth; Stokes CR et al.; The secretory and systemic antibody responses to oral dead Escherichia coli were examined in A strain mice . The best responses were obtained in mice dosed with 1 x 10(10) bacteria . Orally immunized animals showed an enhanced response to subsequent parenteral immunization with somatic antigens . This effect could be passively transferred with serum . In contrast, the response to the capsular antigen K88 was reduced in the same animals. Am J Surg, 1979 Nov, 138(5), 695 - 7 Burn wound biopsy bacterial quantitation: a statistical analysis; Volenec FJ et al.; Sequential paired punch biopsy samples were taken from three separate locations on each of four burn patients and were quantitated for the number of viable bacteria per gram of tissue . The range (log10 0.02 to log10 1.51) and the standard deviation (log10 0.67) were determined for each pair . The 95 per cent confidence interval based on any single observation, x, was determined to be x +/- 1.31 . It is concluded that the burn wound biopsy is a reliable procedure for quantitating organisms in a burn wound and that changes in sequential samples give an indication of the dynamics of infection in the burn patients. J Prosthet Dent, 1979 Nov, 42(5), 521 - 6 Clinical progress of sealed and unsealed caries . Part I: Depth changes and bacterial counts; Mertz-Fairhurst EJ et al.; 1 . A method for measuring depth changes in carious lesions has been developed . 2 . A method for estimating bacterial viability in the study lesions has been developed . 3 . Sealed cavities showed little or no change in depth over a 1-year period . 4 . Open lesions showed a significant increase in depth as compared to sealed lesions . 5 . Elimination or marked decrease in viable organisms under the sealant occurred. J Immunol, 1979 Nov, 123(5), 2304 - 10 Macrophage stimulation by bacterial lipopolysaccharides . III . Selective unresponsiveness of C3H/HeJ macrophages to the lipid A differentiation signal; Doe WF et al.; Peritoneal macrophages from the endotoxin-unresponsive C3H/HeJ substrain of mice were entirely refractory to activation in vitro by protein-free LPS, a defect that was not overcome by co-culture of spleen cells from the responder C3H/St substrain with LPS resistant C3H/HeJ macrophages . The defect in responsiveness appears confined to the lipid A activation signal since C3H/HeJ macrophages were fully activated after in vitro treatment by lipid A protein (LAP)--LPS complex, isolated LAP, and BCG . Moreover, after exposure to allogeneic tumor cells in vivo, C3H/HeJ macrophages were cytotoxic for tumor target cells in vitro . By contrast, macrophages from the responder C3H/St strain were fully activated by protein-free LPS to become cytolytic for tumor cells in vitro . C3H/HeJ macrophages, therefore, exhibit a highly selective defect characterized by unresponsiveness to the lipid A activation signal of protein-free LPS and resistance to the toxic effects of high concentrations of LPS that were lethal to the responder C3H/St strain. Ann Immunol (Paris), 1979 Nov-Dec, 130(6), 901 - 17 {Increased catabolism of antigen and enhanced recruitment of antigen-sensitive cells by activation of macrophages with a bacterial phospholipid extract (EBP) (author's transl)}; Marchal G; Intravenous (IV) infection of a bacterial phospholipid extract (EBP) 24 H before IV immunization of mice with sheep red blood cells has modified the specific immune response . A decrease of the response evaluated by the number of rosette-forming cells was observed after the larger doses of EBP . This effect appeared secondarily to an increased catabolism of antigen . Infection of a medium sized dose of EBP directly into the portal vein induced a decreased response by enhancing antigen phogocytosis by liver macrophages . The same amount of EBP injected IV into a systemic vein increased the immune response . An enhanced phagocytosis by macrophages which do not act in the immune response appeared likely after the larger stimulation . Irradiated spleen cells when transferred into naive recipients showed a decreased immunogenicity when obtained from mice injected with antigen and previously treated by the larger doses of EBP . On the other hand, after treatment of mice with low of medium sized doses of EBP, the immune response was increased . Twice the number of rosette-forming cells was observed in treated mice on days 3, 4 and 5 after immunization . The number of B rosette-forming cells appeared higher than the T rosettes following this treatment . This effect appeared secondarily to an increased recruitment of precursor cells . Transfer into naive irradiated recipients of treated spleen cells mixed with antigen was without effect . On the contrary, an enhanced number of rosette-forming cells was detected after transfer of normal spleen cells into irradiated and EBP-treated recipients . This enhancement of response appeared to be produced by more efficient recruitment of precursor cells as demonstrated by an increased frequency of antibody-forming cells in an in vivo limiting dilution technique. Vopr Virusol, 1979 Nov-Dec, (6), 638 - 42 {Physicochemical characteristics of the Penicillium-bacterial virus type 5 and its nucleic acid}; Gupalo ID et al.; Physico-chemical characteristics of PBV-5 virus and its nucleic acid were studied . Morphologically, the virus is a rectilinear polyhedron 270 A in diameter, without a process . The sedimentation constant of a virus particle is 117S, the buoyant density of the virus in cesium chloride density is 1.437 g/cm3 . As shown by qualitative reactions with orcinol and diphenylamine, the virus contains DNA . The viral DNA preparation in CsCl gradient solution showed the buoyant density 1.719 g/cm3 . Electron microscope examination of a PBV-5 DNA preparation showed the nucleic acid molecules to be single-stranded rings. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 1979 Nov-Dec, 87(6), 859 - 70 The role of bacterial enzymes in inducing inflammation in the middle ear cavity; Lowell SH et al.; Current knowledge of the pathophysiology of bacterial infections is elementary . Thie initial events leading to the invasion of host tissues are a matter of conjecture for many bacterial organisms . This is particularly true for pneumococci, the most frequent causative organisms of acute otitis media . Bacterial enzymes may account for the initial disruption of host tissues, and this study explored their role in the infectious process . As first step, pneumococcal cultures were analyzed, and significant levels of the enzymes lipase and hyaluronidase were demonstrated . Secondly, the presence of these enzymes in middle ear effusions was explored in an animal model of acute otitis media . The enzymes reached peak levels at seven days . The third and most important portion of the study examined the significance of these enzymes in producing inflammation and alterations in the middle ear cavity of normal experimental animals . This portion was a histologic comparison of temporal bone specimens and demonstrated that marked acute and chronic changes can be induced by placing solutions of these enzymes in the middle ear cavity . This study concludes that bacterial enzymes play an important role in the induction of acute otitis media. Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper, 1979 Oct 30, 55(20), 2111 - 7 {Intestinal secretory IgA and bacterial antigens in oral administration}; Pitzurra L et al.; The proposed technique for purification and concentration of secretory IgA has been applied to intestinal wash fluids obtained by clisma from 15 patients under bacterial extracts treated (COLOPTENE-DEBAT) . The collected data show that the technique is suitable for routinary use and the bacterial extracts do increase the amount of IgA in the intestinal contents. Biochemistry, 1979 Oct 16, 18(21), 4690 - 701 Suicide inactivation of bacterial cystathionine gamma-synthase and methionine gamma-lyase during processing of L-propargylglycine; Johnston M et al.; L-Propargylglycine, a naturally occurring gamma, delta-acetylenic alpha-amino acid, induces mechanism-based inactivation of two pyridoxal phosphate dependent enzymes of methionine metabolism: (1) cystathionine gamma-synthease, which catalyzes a gamma-replacement reaction in methionine biosynthesis, and (2) methionine gamma-lyase, which catalyzes a gamma-elimination reaction in methionine breakdown . Biphasic pseudo-first-order inactivation kinetics were observed for both enzymes . Complete inactivation is achieved with a minimum molar ratio ({propargylglycine}/{enzyme monomer}) of 4:1 for cystathionine gamma-synthase and of 8:1 for methionine gamma-lyase, consistent with a small number of turnovers per inactivation event . Partitioning ratios were determined directly from observed primary kinetic isotope effects . {alpha-2H}Propargylglycine displays kH/kD values of about 3 on inactivation half-times . {alpha-3H}-Propargylglycine gives release of tritium to solvent nominally stoichiometric with inactivation but, on correction for the calculated tritium isotope discrimination, partition ratios of four and six turnovers per monomer inactivated are indicated for cystathionine gamma-synthase and methionine gamma-lyase, respectively . The inactivation stoichiometry, using {alpha-14C}-propargylglycine, is four labels per tetramer of cystathionine gamma-synthase but usually only two labels per tetramer of methionine gamma-lyase (half-of-the-sites reactivity) . Two-dimensional urea isoelectrofocusing/NaDodSO4 electrophoresis suggests (1) that both native enzymes are alpha 2 beta 2 tetramers where the subunits are distinguishable by charge but not by size and (2) that, while each subunit of a cystathionine gamma-synthase tetramer becomes modified by propargylglycine, only one alpha and one beta subunit may be labeled in an inactive alpha 2 beta 2 tetramer of methionine gamma-lyase . Steady-state spectroscopic analyses during inactivation indicated that modified cystathionine gamma-synthase may reprotonate C2 of the enzyme--inactivator adduct, so that the cofactor is still in the pyridoxaldimine oxidation state . Fully inactivated methionine gamma-lyase has lambda max values at 460 and 495 nm, which may represent conjugated pyridoximine paraquinoid that does not reprotonate at C2 of the bound adduct . Either species could arise from Michael-type addition of an enzymic nucleophile to an electrophilic 3,4-allenic paraquinoid intermediate, generated initially by propargylic rearrangement upon a 4,5-acetylenic pyridoximine structure, as originally proposed for propargylglycine inactivation of gamma-cystathionase {Abeles, R., & Walsh, C . (1973) J . Am . Chem . Soc . 95, 6124} . It is reasonable that cystathionine gamma-synthase is the major in vivo target for this natural acetylenic toxin, the growth-inhibitory effects of which are reversed by methionine. Arch Sci Med (Torino), 1979 Oct-Dec, 136(4), 571 - 6 {Methodological indications for the experimental study of the action of disinfectants on bacterial strains}; Finzi G et al.; The most commonly used techniques for the experimental study of the action of disinfectants with respect to bacterial strains (M.I.C . and B.M.C . determination, phenol coefficient, well test, agar diffusion through plates test, transporter test, contact by suspension test) are reviewed . The methods used personally in numerous experiments, the modified contact test, is then described in detail. Clin Plast Surg, 1979 Oct, 6(4), 515 - 22 Bacterial control in the burn wound; Robson MC; The goal in the treatment of septic burn wounds, as in any infection, is to reestablish the normal balance between the bacteria and the host defense . This is readily done by controlling the numerical level of bacteria while expending all efforts to remove irreversibly damaged tissue and obtaining a closed wound by autograft with the patient's own skin as rapidly as possible. Pediatr Radiol, 1979 Oct, 8(4), 223 - 4 99mTc-pyrophosphate imaging: bacterial endocarditis; Sty JR et al.; The authors describe a positive 99mTc-Pyrophosphate (99mTc-PYP) myocardial scan in a child with congenital cyanotic heart disease who developed bacterial endocarditis. J Infect Dis, 1979 Oct, 140(4), 517 - 26 Altered neutrophil migration during bacterial infection associated with a serum modulator of cellular motility; Link AS Jr et al.; The motility of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) from 25 patients with bacterial infection was assessed by using the migration-under-agarose assay . A spectrum of responses was observed . Random and directional motility stimulated by C5a or pressed in parallel . These responses contrasted with those of normal PMNLs preincubated with either FMLP or C5a; preincubation with one chemotaxin inhibited a subsequent response to the same stimulus but did not inhibit the response to the other . The parallel responses of patient PMNLs to C5a and FMLP suggest that the altered motility reflects a perturbation independent of a specific chemotactic receptor . Heat-inactivated serum from patients with bacterial infection, when preincubated with normal PMNLs, resulted in significant enhancement of both random and directional migration . The data indicate that bacterial infection is associated with appearance of a modulator of neutrophil motility. J Hyg (Lond), 1979 Oct, 83(2), 199 - 206 Studies on the effects of ionization on bacterial aerosols in a burns and plastic surgery unit; Makela P et al.; The effect of the ionization of the air on the decay of bacterial aerosols was studied in a Burns and Plastic Surgery Unit . Ions were generated by free corona needles . The air content of bacteria measured by settle plates was found to be smaller during the ionization period than during the controls period . The number of individual phage typed Staph . aureus strains was especially found to be lower during ionization . The opposite potential increased the disappearance of bacteria from the air . The size of skin particles carrying bacteria is not optimum, but the results obtained show that the ionization may have applications in controlling airborne infection. AJR Am J Roentgenol, 1979 Oct, 133(4), 655 - 9 Epinephrine renal venography in acute bacterial infection of the kidney; Pingoud EG et al.; Epinephrine renal venography was performed in four cases of acute bacterial infection of the kidney . Selective renal arteriography was relatively nonspecific, while venography proved to be more helpful in excluding a malignancy . In cases of renal infection where the venous system of the kidney has not been occluded, epinephrine renal venography delineates the extent and nature of the process better than arteriography . Diffuse attenuation or smooth segmental narrowing of intrarenal veins, absence of irregularly encased veins, and veins draped around, as well as perforating, the abnormal region differentiated tumor from infection . An accurate diagnosis is important in view of the different therapeutic approach to these two entities. J Clin Microbiol, 1979 Oct, 10(4), 519 - 24 Practical considerations in using counterimmunoelectrophoresis to identify the principal causative agents of bacterial meningitis; Finch CA et al.; Many clinical laboratories are currently using counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) as an aid in the rapid diagnosis of bacterial meningitis . Because cross-reactions among causative agents have been reported, the present study was undertaken to explore the problems that might occur when reference and commercial antisera are used in CIE . Broth cultures of 35 bacterial strains were tested with 76 reference and commercial antisera by CIE . Some of the antisera tested failed to react with their homologous strains . Furthermore, several cross-reactions between genera, as well as within species, were noted . These findings suggest that precautions must be taken to insure that all materials used in CIE tests are of high quality . If properly performed and interpreted, CIE may be a valuable adjunct in the identification of organisms causing bacterial meningitis, but it is, nevertheless, a presumptive test and should not be used to replace the Gram stain and culture techniques. Nature, 1979 Sep 20, 281(5728), 232 - 4 Macromolecular structural transitions in Pf1 filamentous bacterial virus; Nave C et al.; The filamentous bacterial virus Pf1 is a simple model for biological filaments . We have studied the structure of the virion and report here that the helix parameters of Pf1 change sharply with temperature at about 8 degrees C . Local interactions between protein subunits change by only a few tenths of an angstrom, but the changes are amplified between one end and the other of the virion to a rotation of 15 turns and a translation of 1,000 A . The limited nature of the phase transition is probably due to the constraints of 'knobs-into-holes' interaction between side chains of adjacent alpha-helical protein subunits . Treatment of the virion with ether causes a rearrangement of protein subunits into sheets, with the alpha-helices normal to the plane of the sheet . This phase transition suggests a model for virion assembly in the bacterial membrane. Lancet, 1979 Sep 15, 2(8142), 559 - 60 Improving the long-term outlook in bacterial meningitis; Menkes JH; In bacterial and tuberculous meningitis the supply of glucose to the brain seems to be inadequate for its demands which are increased as a consequence of increased cerebral glycolysis . Treatment of patients with glucose infusions to restore cerebrospinal-fluid glucose to normal is therefore indicated. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1979 Sep 11, 547(3), 484 - 501 The orientation of the primary donor in bacterial photosynthesis; Frank HA et al.; The triplet state EPR spectra of magnetically aligned whole cells of Rhodopseudomonas viridis and Rhodopseudomonas palustris display a marked dependence on the orientation of the static EPR field with respect to the alignment field direction . This observation implies that the primary donor species on which the triplets are localized are ordered within the membranes . We have developed a theoretical model for the system to enable calculation of the orientation of the magnetic axes of the primary donor species with respect to the membranes in which they reside . The triplet state spectra are generated by an ensemble of partially ordered magnetic systems and a computer simulation of the experimental results . The triplet orientation is very similar for the two organisms studied, where one axis lies predominantly in the plane of the membrane and the other two axes have approximately equal projections onto the normal to the membrane. J Biol Chem, 1979 Sep 10, 254(17), 8308 - 17 Contribution of cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate to the regulation of bacterial glycogen synthesis in vivo . Effect of carbon source and cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate on the quantitative relationship between the rate of glycogen synthesis and the cellular concentrations of glucose 6-phosphate and fructose 1,6-diphosphate in Escherichia coli; Dietzler DN et al.; When either fructose, glycerol, or succinate served as a sole source of carbon and energy in nitrogen-starved cultures of Escherichia coli W4597(K) the values of the kinetic constants of the equation that expresses the relationship between glycogen synthesis and hexose phosphates were different from the values observed when glucose was the sole source of carbon and energy . Addition of glucose during either exponential growth or nitrogen starvation to a culture using one of the other carbon sources slowed the rate of glycogen synthesis and shifted the values of the constants toward the values observed in cultures using glucose alone . Addition of cyclic AMP (cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate) during exponential growth of a culture using glucose caused the values of the constants to be shifted toward the values observed in cultures using a carbon source other than glucose . In all of the metabolic conditions studied in this report the adenylate energy charge ((ATP + 1/2 ADP)/(ATP + ADP + AMP)) and the level of the rate-limiting enzyme of glycogen synthesis, ADP-glucose synthetase (glucose 1-phosphate adenylyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.27), were the same . The data presented here indicate that the difference we observed in the quantitative relationship for glycogen synthesis is the result of the different cellular levels of cyclic AMP in the cells using glucose and the cells using one of the other carbon sources . Since cyclic AMP does not affect the velocity of ADP-glucose synthetase in vitro, apparently a change in the cellular level of cyclic AMP causes a shift in the cellular level of a presently unknown (and previously undetected) effector of this enzyme . The shift in the level of this effector evidently alters the response of the enzyme in vivo to the substrate glucose 1-phosphate and the activator fructose 1,6-diphosphate. Orig Life, 1979 Sep, 9(4), 299 - 311 Antiquity and evolutionary status of bacterial sulfate reduction: sulfur isotope evidence; Schidlowski M; The presently available sedimentary sulfur isotope record for the Precambrian seems to allow the following conclusions: (1) In the Early Archaean, sedimentary delta 34S patterns attributable to bacteriogenic sulfate reduction are generally absent . In particular, the delta 34S spread observed in the Isua banded iron formation (3.7 x 10(9) yr) is extremely narrow and coincides completely with the respective spreads yielded by contemporaneous rocks of assumed mantle derivation . Incipient minor differentiation of the isotope pattersn notably of Archaean sulfates may be accounted for by photosynthetic sulfur bacteria rather than by sulfate reducers . (2) Isotopic evidence of dissimilatory sulfate reduction is first observed in the upper Archaean of the Aldan Shield, Siberia (approximately 3.0 x 10(9) yr) and in the Michipicoten and Woman River banded iron formations of Canada (2.75 x 10(9) yr) . This narrows down the possible time of appearance of sulfate respirers to the interval 2.8--3.1 x 10(9) yr . (3) Various lines of evidence indicate that photosynthesis is older than sulfate respiration, the SO4(2-) Utilized by the first sulfate reducers deriving most probably from oxidation of reduced sulfur compounds by photosynthetic sulfur bacteria . Sulfate respiration must, in turn, have antedated oxygen respiration as O2-respiring multicellular eucaryotes appear late in the Precambrian . (4) With the bulk of sulfate in the Archaean oceans probably produced by photosynthetic sulfur bacteria, the accumulation of SO4(2-) in the ancient seas must have preceded the buildup of appreciable steady state levels of free oxygen . Hence, the occurrence of sulfate evaporites in Archaean sediments does not necessarily provide testimony of oxidation weathering on the ancient continents and, consequently, of the existence of an atmospheric oxygen reservoir. Int J Dermatol, 1979 Sep, 18(7), 571 - 4 Effect of frequent sun exposure on bacterial colonization of skin; Gerber D et al.; The bacteria colonizing the surface of the skin of a group of frequent sunbathers and a group of infrequent sunbathers were surveyed . Frequent sunbathing does not greatly affect the total number of organisms on the skin, but does tend to increase the proportion of bacteria containing carotenoid pigments. Chest, 1979 Sep, 76(3), 331 - 3 Echocardiographic features of mitral obstruction due to bacterial endocarditis; Alam M et al.; We describe a patient with mitral valvular obstruction due to vegetative endocarditis . The diagnosis was made before surgery by M-mode and two-dimensional echo-cardiograms, which revealed a mass of echoes obstructing the mitral orifice . This was confirmed subsequently at surgery . Both modes of echocardiography are of value in the noninvasive diagnosis of mitral valvular obstruction due to vegetative endocarditis, a condition which may be amenable to surgery for valvular replacement. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1979 Sep, 32(9), 935 - 42 Mechanism of action of monoketo-organomycin, cystaurimycin and their performic acid-oxidized modifications . I . Effects on bacterial growth and ribosomal peptidyl transferase activity; Imam GM et al.; The response of 15 bacterial cultures to the inhibitory effects of the above mentioned compounds was investigated . These varied considerably . Escherichia coli cultures resistant to the compounds tested showed that monoketo-organomycin and cystaurimycin inhibit bacterial growth by what appears to be the one and same mechanism which is not the same as that exhibited by their performic acid-oxidized modifications . This was confirmed by using cell free extracts of E . coli . In light of the puromycin reaction, using chloramphenicol and chlorotetracycline as control inhibitors, monoketo-organomycin and cystaurimycin were found to inhibit protein synthesis in vitro by inhibiting peptidyl transferase of ribosomes . In marked contrast, this enzyme was activated, as also was protein synthesis, by their performic acid-oxidized modifications . It was thus suggested that the growth inhibitory effects of the latter compounds might be due to their interference in other metabolic activities of the above test organism . The results obtained are discussed in light of the chemical similarities or differences existing between the compounds investigated. Can Anaesth Soc J, 1979 Sep, 26(5), 415 - 9 Bacterial filters - are they necessary on anaesthetic machines? Ping FC, Oulton JL, Smith JA, Skidmore AG, Jenkins LC. At the Vancouver General Hospital the effectiveness of the system for decontamination of anaesthetic equipment was evaluated to determine the need for bacterial filters on anaesthetic machines . Two groups of patients were studied . Group I consisted of 33 patients, none of whom had clinical symptoms of respiratory tract disease . Group II consisted of 17 patients who had lower respiratory tract secretions . In the latter group 16 had chronic bronchitis and had cystic fibrosis . Of 550 bacterial cultures taken from the anaesthetic equipment immediately before and after anaesthesia in our 50 patients, only five yielded a growth of non-pathogenic bacteria . The results of this study indicate that bacterial colonization of anaesthetic equipment is of a low order and is adequately controlled by pasteurization even after use in patients with chronic lower respiratory tract disease . The use of bacterial filters does not appear justified if a strict regimen of cleaning and pasteurization is followed. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1979 Sep 1, 135(1), 14 - 21 Bacterial growth inhibition by amniotic fluid . VIII . Evaluation of a radiometric bioassay for rapid, in vitro demonstration of phosphate-sensitive bacterial growth inhibitor in amniotic fluid; Larsen B et al.; A radiometric bioassay based on the continuous monitoring of 14CO2 released from labeled glucose in the presence of amniotic fluid or amniotic fluid with added phosphate has been employed to detect the presence of a phosphate-sensitive bacterial inhibitor in amniotic fluid near term . The time required for detection of the inhibitory activity is approximately 12 hours, in contrast to approximately 36 hours required for a previously reported technique . Application of this radiometric bioassay to demonstrate bacterial growth inhibition by amniotic fluid and physicochemical properties of the inhibitory activity yielded results comparable to those obtained with the older method of plate counts of viable bacteria . By the new technique it was possible to demonstrate that the inhibitory activity was phosephate sensitive, heat stable, inactivated by metal chelation, removed by bentonite, and present in a low-molecular-weight fraction of amniotic fluid. Radiology, 1979 Sep, 132(3), 553 - 61 Acute focal bacterial nephritis (acute lobar nephronia); Rosenfield AT et al.; Acute lobar nephronia (ALN) refers to a renal mass caused by acute focal infection without liquefaction . The radiological findings in 12 patients with 13 episodes of ALN are described . A characteristic combination of uroradiological findings is (a) a relatively sonolucent mass which disrupts corticomedullary definition on ultrasonography; (b) a solid-appearing mass on other uroradiological studies; and (c) a positive gallium image in the region of the mass, which may be associated with increased activity elsewhere in the same or opposite kidney . The angiographic finding of significant venous narrowing within the mass associated with only minor arteriographic abnormalities is characteristic of ALN as well. Tsitol Genet, 1979 Sep-Oct, 13(5), 361 - 5 {Cytogenetic changes in the peripheral lymphocytes and immunity of typhoid fever patients and in chronic bacterial carriers}; Frolov AK; A study of the frequency of acrocentric chromosomes associations and chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes together with the immunologic indices permits a separate estimation of functional activity for the T- and B-lymphoid systems in patients with abdominal typhoid and in carriers. Arthritis Rheum, 1979 Sep, 22(9), 969 - 77 Antigenic bacterial polysaccharide in rheumatoid synovial effusions; Bartholomew LE et al.; Phenol-water extracted rheumatoid synovial fluids and synovial fluid leukocytes contain an antigen immunologically identical to the Proprionibacterium group bacteria . The antigen was identified by counter-immunoelectrophoresis in 70% of rheumatoid synovial fluid leukocyte pellets and in 60% of rheumatoid synovial fluids . It was also present in 6% of nonrheumatoid fluids and in 22% of nonrheumatoid inflammatory fluid leukocytes . Antigen was not detectable in synovial samples before extraction . Synovial and bacterial antigens were further purified by proteolytic digestion and Sepharose 4B column chromatography . Biochemical and enzymatic studies of bacterial and synovial antigens were similar and consistent with a high molecular weight polysaccharide . Serum antibody to bacterial and synovial antigens was significantly less frequent in rheumatoid sera than in normal controls . The significance of demonstrating a bacterial polysaccharide primarily in rheumatoid synovial effusions is discussed. Infect Immun, 1979 Sep, 25(3), 820 - 27 Inhibition of translocation of viable Escherichia coli from the gastrointestinal tract of mice by bacterial antagonism; Berg RD et al.; The incidence of translocation of viable Escherichia coli C25 from the gastrointestinal tract to the mesenteric lymph nodes was compared in gnotobiotic mice colonized with only E . coli C25 and in gnotobiotic mice colonized with E . coli C25 plus the whole cecal flora from specific pathogen-free mice . The population levels of E . coli C25 in the ilea and ceca of these mice also were compared . E . coli C25 maintained high population levels in the gastrointestinal tracts of the monoassociated gnotobiotes, and the incidence of translocation to the mesenteric lymph nodes was 100% . The gastrointestinal population levels of E . coli C25 were reduced drastically in the gnotobiotes associated with both E . coli C25 and a cecal flora with concomitant reduction in the incidence of translocation of E . coli C25 from 100 to 0% . A decrease in the numbers of viable E . coli C25 per mesenteric lymph node also accompanied the decrease in C . coli C25 population levels in the gastrointestinal tracts of these mice . Thus, high population levels of E . coli C25 in the gastrointestinal tracts of monoassociated gnotobiotic mice appear to promote translocation of viable E . coli C25 to the mesenteric lymph nodes . Bacterial antagonism of E . coli population levels in conventional mice, therefore, could be one mechanism whereby viable E . coli are confined to the gastrointestinal tract. Nucleic Acids Res, 1979 Aug 10, 6(11), 3505 - 17 Construction of a recombinant bacterial plasmid containing DNA sequences for a mouse embryonic globin chain; Fantoni A et al.; Messenger RNAs for mouse embryonic globins were purified from yolk sac derived eyrthroid cells in mouse fetuses . Double stranded DNAs complementary to these messengers were synthesized and blunt end ligated to a EcoRI digested and DNA polymerase I repaired pBR322 plasmid . Of the ampicillin resistant transformants, one contained a plasmid with globin-specific cDNA . The inserted sequence is about 350 base pairs long . It contains one restriction site for EcoRI and one restriction site for HinfI about 170 and 80 base pairs from one end . The insert is not cleaved by HindIII, HindII, BamHI, PstI, SalI, AvaI, TaqI, HpaII, BglI . A mixture of purified messengers coding for alpha chains and for x, y and z embryonic chains was incubated with the recombinant plasmid and the hybridized messenger was translated in a mRNA depleted reticulocyte lysate protein synthesizing system . The product of translation was identified as a z chain by carboxymethylcellulose cromatography . The recombinant plasmid is named "pBR322-egz" after embryonic globin z. Tohoku J Exp Med, 1979 Aug, 128(4), 325 - 31 A case report of the immunodysplasia syndrome and heavy chain disease associated with subacute bacterial endocarditis; Kuroyanagi T et al.; A 36-year-old man was admitted to Saitama Medical School Hospital, because of a remittent fever which had continued for approximately 6 months, hepatosplenomegaly and lymphadenopathy . He had direct Coombs' test positive auto-immune hemolytic anemia associted with subacute bacterial endocarditis (SBE) . The lymphnode demonstrated focal diffuse proliferation of immunoblasts and arborizing vessels with a few small germinal centers, which resembled histological features of the immunoblastic lymphadenopathy . The immunochemical analysis revealed the presence of free IgG Fc fragments in serum . From the above results the patient was diagnosed as immunodysplasia syndrome (IDS) and heavy chain disease (HCD) associated with SBE . It was suggested that the chronic antigenic stimulation due to SBE might have some role in the mechanism of the development of the IDS and HCD in our patient. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1979 Aug, (8), 98 - 103 {Seasonal problems of bacterial dysentery in the Dagestan ASSR}; Sultanov GV; During the period of 1959-1973 bacterial dysentery showed high morbidity rate in Daghestan in all seasons, this tendency existing both in urban and rural areas . The peculiarity of the monthly distribution of dysentery cases, observed all over the repulic, was the shift of the morbidity peak from August to September-October, and in some years even to November; this could be clearly observed from the analysis of the material as a whole and from the analysis of dysentery morbidity rates in rural and urban areas separately . This rise in dysentery morbidity rate in August--September might be due to the reassembling of children at various institutions after their mass return from summer resorts in the country, as well as to thhe influx of new children to creches and kindergartens . Moreover, as the period of August--September is the bathing and fruit-harvesting season in Daghestan, a rise in morbidity rate in these months was obviously caused by the unsatisfactory level of sanitation and hygiene due to an acute deficiency of water. South Med J, 1979 Aug, 72(8), 977 - 80 Corticosteroids as adjunctive therapy for acute bacterial meningitis; Harbin GL et al.; Although anecdotal reports and the results of clinical trials suggest that corticosteroids may be efficacious in the treatment of acute bacterial meningitis, controlled and double-blind studies fail to support this view with the exception that corticosteroids may be of benefit for patients with pneumococcal meningitis . Corticosteroids may also be of benefit to patients with acute bacterial meningitis in the presence of life-threatening complications of increased intracranial pressure, such as coma, seizures, fluctuating blood pressure, or rapidly deteriorating mental status, but results of controlled or double-blind studies to substantiate this have not been reported . The possible advantages gained from the use of corticosteroids must be considered with regard to a significant detrimental effect in patients over 16 years of age. Br J Pharmacol, 1979 Aug, 66(4), 565 - 72 Study on the possible entry of bacterial endotoxin and prostaglandin E2 into the central nervous system from the blood; Dascombe MJ et al.; 1 A study has been made of the possible entry of 51Cr-bacterial endotoxin and {5,6,8,11,12,14,15(n)-3H}-prostaglandin E2 ({3H5-PGE2) into the CNS of the anaesthetized cat . 2 No radioactivity was detected in perfusates of the preoptic-anterior hypothalamus or in the cerebrospinal fluid (c.s.f.) in vivo, or in brain tissue post mortem following intracarotid infusion of 51Cr-bacterial endotoxin . 3 Intracarotid administration of {3H}-PGE2 resulted in the entry of radioactivity into the CNS of endotoxin pretreated cats . Chromatographic analysis indicated the radioactivity in c.s.f . to be associated with PGE2 and a metabolite similar to 13, 14-dihydro-15-keto PGE2 . 4 Intracarotid administration of 13, 14-dihydro-15-keto {5,6,8,11,12,14(n)-3H}-PGE2 resulted in the presence of the compound in the CNS of the anaesthetized cat after pretreatment with bacterial endotoxin . 5 It is concluded that PGE2 and possibly 13,14-dihydro-15-keto PGE2 but not bacterial endotoxin may enter the CNS from the cerebral circulation to elicit the febrile response to bacterial endotoxin in cats. J Neurol Sci, 1979 Aug, 42(3), 417 - 27 Correlation between the capacity of bacterial lipopolysaccharide to supress experimental allergic encephalomyelitis and its mitogenic activity for lymph node cells in guinea pigs; Nagasawa K et al.; Protection of guinea pigs from experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) was attempted using bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from 4 sources . The ability of these LPS to induce DNA synthesis in guinea pig lymph node (LN) cells in vitro was also investigated . It was found that there existed a good correlation between the capacity of LPS to suppress EAE and their degree of mitogenic activities for LN cells . LPS from Escherichia coli 0111:B4 (Ec-LPS), which was most effective in suppressing EAE and also best inducer of DNA synthesis in LN cells, enhanced the proliferation of cells forming antibody to myelin basic protein (BP) in the regional LN . These results, in addition to the previous report, suggested that at the inductive phase the proliferation of B lymphocytes or their products, antibodies to BP, could inhibit formation of T lymphocytes sensitized to BP, resulting in suppression of EAE . Lipid A but not PS fraction of Ec-LPS showed a protective activity against EAE and a mitogenic activity for LN cells although less so than whole LPS . In addition, Lipid A appeared to exert its mitogenic effect mainly on B rather than on T lymphocytes. Br J Exp Pathol, 1979 Aug, 60(4), 434 - 40 Effects of bacterial endotoxin and corticosteroids on plasma concentrations of alpha 2 macroglobulin, haptoglobin and fibrinogen in rats; Gordon AH et al.; Bacterial endotoxin injected into rats resulted in increased plasma concentration of alpha 2 macroglobulin, haptoglobin and fibrinogen . Cortisone acetate injected i.m . by itself was sufficient to increase the plasma concentration of haptoglobin by 54% and to a lesser extent the concentrations of the other two proteins . When cortisone acetate and/or cortisol succinate were injected simultaneously with varying doses of endotoxin, the effects of the corticosteroid differed for each plasma protein . Doubtless because of the effect of cortisone by itself the slope of the dose-response relationship for haptoglobin was greatly reduced . In contrast to this the slope for alpha 2 macroglobulin was reduced and that for fibrinogen was unaffected . These findings suggest that, if effects due to endogenous corticosteroids are to be avoided, increases in plasma fibrinogen will serve best as indicators of stimulation of the acute-phase response . Since, however, the relative increase of alpha 2 macroglobulin due to the lowest dose of endotoxin was much greater than that of fibrinogen, increases in concentration of the former protein represent the most sensitive indication of the acute-phase response . Consideration of the responses in individual rats has made possible division into those with more or less than average increases for all 3 plasma proteins and those showing irregular responses . Especially in the group which had received the lowest dose of endotoxin, a much larger number than would be expected on a random basis was found to respond regularly with either more or less than average increases for all 3 proteins. Ann Allergy, 1979 Aug, 43(2), 115 - 9 Intradermal responses to common bacterial antigens: influences of sex and clinical condition; Moriearty PL et al.; Intradermal responses to antigens of 12 common bacteria were evaluated in 218 dermatologic and 155 respiratory patients . Women responded more frequently than men and respiratory patients responded significantly more frequently than dermatologic patients to certain antigens . Interpretation of interspecies associations of responses suggested that certain organisms may be key species in the development of bacterial hypersensitivity. Experientia, 1979 Jul 15, 35(7), 865 - 6 Artifacts from agar-protein interaction simulating a bacterial growth in the haemocultures; Tedeschi GG et al.; Some morphological, histochemical and biochemical properties of the particles taking origin from the polysaccharide-proteins interaction in the presence of platelets and lymphocytes are described. C R Seances Acad Sci D, 1979 Jul 9, 289(2), 221 - 4 {Enzymatic activity of peritoneal macrophages of Balb C mice after enteral or parenteral stimulation with bacterial extracts}; Ivanoff B et al.; A study of peritoneal macrophage activation has been conducted by simultaneous investigation in eleven enzymes in Balb/c Mice stimulated with bacterial extracts, by oral and parenteral route . The results showed important changes in Macrophage number and activity . On the other hand this activation depended upon the route of administration, antigen nature, and time interval between stimulation and peritoneal harvesting. Infect Immun, 1979 Jul, 25(1), 48 - 53 Macrophage activation by bacterial cell walls and related synthetic compounds; Takada H et al.; Activation of peritoneal macrophages from guinea pigs by various bacterial cell walls, M-1 endo-N-acetylmuramidase enzymatically digested bacterial cell walls and synthetic muramyl dipeptides was studied in terms of stimulation of {14C} glucosamine incorporation . All test bacterial cell wall preparations significantly increased a {14C}glucosamine uptake by the macrophages . Some of the water-soluble M-1 enzyme digests also exerted stimulating effects on macrophages, although the activity of the digests was found to be weaker than those of original cell walls . Furthermore, an adjuvant-active synthetic MurNAc-L-Ala-D-isoGln (MDP) showed a weak but significant activity, whereas an adjuvant-inactive analog, MurNAc-L-Ala-L-iso-Gln, did not show a significant activity, at least with the dose of 100 microgram . Additional studies with 6-O-acyl derivatives of MDP revealed that 6-O-(2-tetradecylhexadecanoyl)-MDP and 6-O-(3-hydroxy-2-tetradecyl-octadecanoyl)-MDP exhibit stronger macrophage-stimulating effects than MDP . It can be concluded from the above findings that MDP is the essential structure responsible for stimulating the activity of cell walls on guinea pig peritoneal macrophages, but it requires a particle state, which results from an additive character of lipophilicity, to exert the activity fully and effectively. Bol Med Hosp Infant Mex, 1979 Jul-Aug, 36(4), 735 - 42 {Cholestyramine in the treatment of acute bacterial diarrhea in infants}; Duffau Toro G et al.; 32 infants admitted to Hospital "Roberto del Rio" with infectious diarrhea and dehydration were assigned random to two groups, one of them receiving the usual therapeutic regimen of rehydration, refeeding and furazolidone and the other group the same treatment plus cholestyramine . The patients were studied with balance technique on days 1st, 3rd., and 5th . after admission, analyzing clinical progress, features of the stools, total digestive transit time, pH of the feces and the presence of reducing substances, volume of the stools, water excretion and sodium, potassium and chloride elimination in the feces . The patients receiving cholestyramine showed an earlier improvement in the appearance of the stools, less excretion of feces and water and diminished sodium and potassium elimination . Chloride excretion was similar in both groups . Cholestyramine tolerance was excellent . No side effects or complications were observed. Pediatrics, 1979 Jul, 64(1), 60 - 4 Diagnosis of neonatal bacterial infection: hematologic and pathologic findings in fatal and nonfatal cases; Squire E et al.; Consecutive newborn autopsy cases were divided into infected and noninfected groups on the basis of pathologic findings and cultures, and were compared to a concomitant consecutive group of neonatal survivors with proven bacterial sepsis . Newborns dying with bacterial infection often demonstrated leukopenia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia, usually associated with normal bone marrow cell production . Those with nonfatal sepsis frequen