Microbial

Scanning Microsc, 1988 Jun, 2(2), 1055 - 68
Bioapplication of colloidal gold in microbiological immunocytochemistry; Beesley JF; Microbiological organisms are an ubiquitous group of animals encompassing bacteria, viruses, protozoa, algae and fungi . They are adapted for survival in many diverse habitats and exert a profound effect on man and his environment . Colloidal gold electron immunocytochemistry is a useful technique for studying these organisms and may be applied in several ways . The post-embedding technique is used to detect internal antigens, whilst the pre-embedding technique is employed for the detection of external antigens . In contrast the immuno-negative stain technique is applied to detect antigens on structures such as viruses or bacterial pili which may be dried down onto an electron microscope grid and immunolabelled in situ . In addition the immunoreplica technique allows the examination of cell surfaces for the appearance of antigens . Together these techniques have yielded valuable information concerning microbiological organisms.

Semin Respir Infect, 1988 Jun, 3(2), 113 - 22
Invasive procedures in the diagnosis of pneumonia; Busk MF et al.; The etiology of respiratory infections can be elusive despite the recent advances in diagnostic technology . Thereby, the clinician needs a systematic approach for a definitive early diagnosis . This review presents the pros and cons of various invasive procedures in order to select the most appropriate diagnostic method . Expectorated sputum, the important initial step in community-acquired pneumonia, is unreliable in complex pneumonias, mainly because of colonization of the oropharynx . Even though blood cultures are frequently negative, they provide a precise diagnosis and should be obtained in undiagnosed pneumonias . Transtracheal needle aspiration has few false-negative results . However, its use has decreased because of the high frequency of false-positive cultures and risk of serious complications . Bronchoscopy provides direct access to both the bronchi and parenchyma for visualization and sampling . Plugged telescoping catheter brush, used safely in different clinical settings, has good sensitivity in identifying the pathogen, but the specificity varies with the underlying status of the patient . Because of upper airway contamination, bronchial washings are only slightly better than expectorated sputum . A newer technique, transbronchial needle aspiration, is, thus far, no improvement over the plugged telescoping catheter brush . In the immunosuppressed patient, bronchoalveolar lavage has excellent diagnostic accuracy for opportunistic infections . The accuracy increases with the addition of transbronchial biopsy . Transthoracic needle aspiration gives decisive information with low false-positive results . With the ultrathin needle, the complications decrease . Renewed interest in thoracoscopy-guided biopsy has demonstrated a high diagnostic accuracy with low complication rate . One procedure, a combination, or improvements of these procedures may reduce the need for open lung biopsy . Nevertheless, an open lung biopsy furnishes the best specimen for making a histological and microbiological diagnosis, although controversy exists regarding any improvement in survival rates.

Am J Physiol, 1988 May, 254(5 Pt 2), F747 - 53
Aberrant responses to growth-regulatory signals by variant kidney epithelial cells; Walsh-Reitz MM et al.; Cultures that achieved a higher cell density than expected were noted during study of growth regulation in monkey kidney epithelial cells of the BSC-1 line . Multiplication of the variant cells was accelerated, compared with parental cells, as the cultures approached confluence . Cytogenetic analysis, immunofluorescence antibody reactions with specific monkey serum, isoenzyme analysis, microbiological studies, and lack of growth in soft agar indicated that the variant cells were not a contaminating cell type, lacked new isoenzymes, were free of microbial contamination, and were not transformed . Confluent variant cultures did not respond to a purified growth inhibitor protein produced by BSC-1 cells that inhibits multiplication and reduces cell Na content in subconfluent variant and parental cells . Vasopressin, which is a mitogen for parental cells, was a potent growth inhibitor for confluent cultures of variant cells . Low-K or high-Na media, which stimulate proliferation of parental cells, had no effect on growth of the variant cell line . These results suggest that enhanced multiplication of the variant cells is mediated by altered signal transduction pathways and/or receptors for growth-regulatory molecules.

J Clin Periodontol, 1988 May, 15(5), 324 - 30
Longitudinal study of untreated periodontitis (I) . Clinical findings; Jenkins WM et al.; The principal aim of this study was to investigate the use of certain clinical and microbiological criteria to predict periodontal breakdown during a 1-year period . A further aim was to establish whether the act of collecting subgingival plaque samples periodically throughout the observation period would have any effect on the clinical or microbiological variables . Only the clinical data is presented in this paper . The study population comprised 11 volunteers (aged 32-51 years) with persistent advanced periodontitis and inadequate plaque control in spite of a previous intensive course of hygiene therapy . From the left jaw quadrants, 89 teeth were selected, yielding 148 bleeding pockets of 4 mm depth or more . From the right jaw quadrants, 74 teeth were selected, yielding 117 bleeding pockets of 4 mm depth or more . All subjects were examined on 7 occasions at 2-monthly intervals when plaque index scores, dichotomous measurements of gingival redness, pocket depths and attachment levels were recorded . Bacteriological sampling was carried out at each visit for each site only in the left jaw quadrants while the right jaw quadrants were sampled only at the first and last visits . During the study, no subgingival instrumentation was performed, except at 3 sites which exhibited loss of attachment of 3 mm . These teeth were withdrawn from the study for ethical reasons . At the completion of the study, the sequential changes in probing attachment level at each site were subjected to regression analysis to determine the direction and extent of attachment change which had taken place at each site.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1988 May, 186(2), 118 - 37
{Illnesses in relation to swimming pool visits--conclusions of a survey}; Botzenhart K et al.; Diseases acquired by using swimming-pools were recorded by inquiring visitors and local physicians in a German spa . The diseases were brought into relation with microbiological and chemical parameters of the swimming-pool water . Water quality was in general satisfying, but on days with a very great number of visitors the treatment-plant quickly was working beyond capacity . 663 out of 1056 visitors indicated diseases which they traced back to the visit of the swimming-pool . The quality of the water was the reason for only a part of the diseases . Eye-irritations and colds counted up to nearly half of the illnesses, other frequent complaints concerned the skin and the ear-nose-and throat-region.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1988 May, (5), 31 - 4
{Epidemiological characteristics of postoperative wound infections in a trauma center hospital}; Sukhomlinova GI et al.; The occurrence of cross infections in osteomyelitis patients has been proved by clinical, microbiological, and epidemiological methods . The patients are infected mainly in the dressing room for patients with purulent processes; the working conditions in this dressing room do not preclude the possibility of cross infections.

Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 1988 Apr 29, 113(17), 683 - 5
{Bronchoscopic diagnosis of lung infiltrates in immunocompromised patients}; von Eiff M et al.; Bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage was undertaken in 21 immunocompromised patients for microbiological and cytological diagnosis . In all of these patients radiologically confirmed pneumonic lesions had developed which, under empirical antibiotic treatment, had progressed or not clearly regressed . In four patients each the causative organisms of the pneumonia were identified as Pneumocystis carinii and Legionella, respectively, and Aspergilla in a further three . Proof of the causative organism in these patients resulted in a change of the antibiotic treatment . The pneumonia was healed in 11 patients . Ten patients died . Early bronchoscopy to identify the causative organism is recommended in immunocompromised patients so that, by administering microorganism-specific treatment, the at present high mortality in this group may be reduced.

Pharmazie, 1988 Apr, 43(4), 246 - 8
{Mercurimetric determination of cephalosporin antibiotics}; Pospisilova B et al.; The conditions for a potenciometric estimation of cefuroxime, cefsulodin, cefotaxime and ceftriaxon with mercury(II) perchlorate after the previous reaction of the antibiotics with hydroxylamine were established . The mercurimetric determination was well reproducible with the relative error of the mean ranging up to 1% and the results are identical with the spectrometric and microbiological determination . There is no need to use a standard . With this technique only the content of effective antibiotic with an intact beta-lactam ring can be estimated . The method did not provide objective results for cefoperazone and cefoxitin . The direct determination of cephalosporin degradation products was verified for cefalexin, cefalothin, cefuroxime, cefsulodin and ceftriaxon.

Lab Anim, 1988 Apr, 22(2), 109 - 16
The microbial environment and intestinal nematode infections of Heligmosomoides polygyrus in laboratory mice; Lewis JW et al.; The difficulty of establishing primary infections of Heligmosomoides polygyrus (= Nematospiroides dubius) in ASH/CSI mice in the Laboratory Animal House at Royal Holloway and Bedford New College during a recent autumn and spring period was associated with a syndrome of worm distortion, together with zero or low worm establishment and reduced fecundity (eggs/female worm) . The eggs produced were non-viable and the egg capsule comprised a rumpled lipid and ruptured chitin layer . The egg size and peaks of egg production were also reduced and the total egg output ceased entirely by day 28 post-infection in male mice . The syndrome was repeated when control LACA mice harbouring 'normal' infections of H . polygyrus were housed on the same source of peat bedding material as the ASH/CSI mice . An increase in H . polygyrus egg production in ASH/CSI mice, removed from the peat or treated with 0.04% oxytetracycline hydrochloride suggested that the cause of the syndrome was microbial in origin . A microbiological assay of the peat, which was the common denominator of all syndrome infections, revealed an abundance of chitinase secreting species of bacteria (Bacillaceae) . Bacterial chitinase was therefore likely to rupture the chitin layer of the egg capsule producing nonviable eggs and either abnormal or no larvae . Preliminary in vitro studies using chitinase from Streptomyces griseus indicated that the hatching success of eggs of H . polygyrus was reduced as the concentration of chitinase increased.

J Laryngol Otol, 1988 Apr, 102(4), 362 - 4
Antroscleroma; Saad EF; Oedema, hypertrophy, polyposis, atrophy or empyema of the maxillary sinus are common features of rhinoscleroma . However, actual involvement of the antrum by the nasal granuloma is rare and primary scleroma of the antrum is of extreme rarity . Three cases of antroscleroma are presented, one secondary to an extensive rhinoscleroma and two primary . The difference in the physical, biological and microbiological environment in the antrum from that in the nose might explain the rarity of antroscleroma.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1988 Apr, 21(4), 481 - 7
Evaluation of imipenem/cilastatin for treatment of infection in an elderly population; Smith MD et al.; Eighty-seven episodes of infection occurring in 83 patients were treated with imipenem as the sole antibiotic (1.5-4 g daily) . All patients were aged 65 years or over, many with other non-infective diseases . A favourable clinical outcome (infection cured or improved) was obtained in 88% of cases . Of the 37 patients who were microbiologically evaluable, a favourable clinical outcome occurred in 92% and a favourable bacteriological outcome (pathogen eradicated or suppressed) occurred in 86% of cases . There were 13 deaths amongst the study group, which might be expected in an ill elderly population . None of the deaths was thought attributable to imipenem . Minor clinical side effects occurred in 10.6%, and one patient sustained a cerebral ischaemic episode and fits, possibly related to imipenem . No serious changes were detected in laboratory parameters.

Can J Vet Res, 1988 Apr, 52(2), 239 - 48
Bronchoalveolar lavage of cranial and caudal lung regions in selected normal calves: cellular, microbiological, immunoglobulin, serological and histological variables; Pringle JK et al.; Of a group of 30 clinically normal male Holstein calves two to eight weeks of age, six two week old and six four week old calves met various radiographical and clinicopathological criteria for normality . Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed by fiberoptic bronchoscopy on cranial and caudal lung regions in all 30 calves and samples analyzed for free cells, microorganisms, and immunoglobulins . Lateral chest radiographs and lung biopsies were also conducted on each calf . Calves were euthanized and necropsied ten days after bronchoalveolar lavage was conducted . Reported in this paper are results from the 12 normal calves . Microorganisms were present in small numbers in the lower respiratory tract of some normal calves . There were no differences in the above parameters between cranial and caudal lobes . There were statistically significant changes in bronchoalveolar lavage cell proportions with age although there were no detectable differences in clinical signs . Four week old calves had a lower percentage of macrophages and a higher percentage of epithelial cells than two week old animals (p less than 0.05) . There was also a trend toward an increased percentage of neutrophils in older calves but this was not significant (p greater than 0.05) . Total bronchoalveolar lavage protein also appeared to increase with age (p less than 0.05) . In both groups a higher proportion of IgG2 in bronchoalveolar lavage compared to serum was found, suggesting the presence of a local selective transfer mechanism into respiratory secretions.

J Clin Periodontol, 1988 Apr, 15(4), 240 - 6
Clinical, microbiological and immunological features of subjects with destructive periodontal diseases; Haffajee AD et al.; 76 subjects with prior evidence of destructive periodontal diseases were monitored clinically and immunologically every 2 months for up to 5 years . Clinical parameters measured included bleeding on probing, gingival redness, plaque accumulation, suppuration, pocket depth and attachment level . Blood samples were taken by venipuncture and serum antibody levels to a series of 18 subgingival species determined . 33 of these subjects showed evidence of active disease during the monitoring period, based on changes in attachment level measurements assessed using the tolerance method of analysis . Mean attachment loss in these 33 subjects varied from 1.4 mm to 9.0 (median value 3.4 mm) and subjects whose mean attachment level was above the median showed a higher % of pockets greater than 3 mm and more suppuration . Severity of gingival inflammation related poorly to mean attachment loss . Subgingival plaque samples were taken from the active site(s) and from control sites of equal pocket depth and attachment loss in the same active disease subjects, prior to therapy, for predominant cultivable microbiota studies . 50 randomly selected isolates were identified from each sample . Predominant cultivable species in 170 pretreatment active and inactive sites combined (8500 isolates) were enumerated . The most frequently detected species were F . nucleatum (112 sites) and S . intermedius (106 sites), although the predominant species in the samples from each subject differed . The distribution of putative pathogens differed among subjects . For example, A . actinomycetemcomitans was found in 21 samples in 11 subjects and B . forsythus was found in 18 samples from 10 individuals . Antibody response patterns to the 18 subgingival species also varied among subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

APMIS, 1988 Apr, 96(4), 329 - 32
Stability of ampicillin, piperacillin, cefotaxime, netilmicin and amikacin in an L-amino acid solution prepared for total parenteral nutrition of newborn infants; Goldstein K et al.; The stability of ampicillin, piperacillin and cefotaxime, alone or in combination with either netilmicin or amikacin, was tested by microbiological methods at 29 degrees C (ampicillin, also at 22 degrees C) in an L-amino acid solution specially prepared for newborn infants . In the case of ampicillin, the mean concentration had dropped to 84% of the initial value after 24 hours . This fall is acceptable . Piperacillin and cefotaxime were stable . Admixture of netilmicin or amikacin did not affect the activity of ampicillin, piperacillin and cefotaxime . The concentrations of netilmicin and amikacin were stable for 24 hours . Combination with ampicillin, piperacillin or cefotaxime did not affect the activity of either aminoglycoside . The antibiotics investigated could therefore be used in our TPN infusion system.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1988 Apr, 85(8), 2658 - 61
Sequence analyses of herpesviral enzymes suggest an ancient origin for human sexual behavior; Gentry GA et al.; Comparison of the amino acid sequences of the deoxythymidine kinases of herpes simplex (HSV) and of marmoset herpes viruses (MHV) suggests a divergence time of 8 to 10 million years ago for HSV-1 and -2 . Like MHV, HSV-1 and -2 cause local infections in their natural hosts, and direct contact between two individuals during the brief period of infectivity is needed for transmission . Because B virus, a nearer relative of HSV, depends on both oral and genital routes of transmission, we postulate that ancestral HSV (aHSV) was similar, and that for HSV-1 and -2 to diverge, genital and oral sites had to become microbiologically somewhat isolated from each other, while oral--oral and genital--genital contact had to be facilitated to maintain both aHSV strains . We propose that acquisition of continual sexual attractiveness by the ancestral human female and the adoption of close face-to-face mating, two hallmarks of human sexual behavior, provided the conditions for the divergence.

J Hosp Infect, 1988 Apr, 11(3), 263 - 70
'Cialit' as a tissue preservative: a microbiological assessment; Cookson BD et al.; We describe bacterial contamination of a 'Cialit'-preserved cartilage bank which continued after a variety of changes to the harvesting and preservation protocols during a 3-year prospective study . Our results emphasize the importance of adequate tissue bank microbiological screening . Alternative methods of tissue preservation should be considered.

Aust Vet J, 1988 Mar, 65(3), 73 - 5
Bovine leptospirosis: microbiological and histological findings in cattle at slaughter; Skilbeck NW et al.; Kidneys from cattle at slaughter were examined for the presence of leptospires . Of 218 (8.3%) kidneys leptospires were isolated from 18; all were identified as Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo . None of the leptospire-infected kidneys had histopathological lesions indicative of leptospirosis and leptospires were demonstrated in only 2 by immunogold silver staining . Leptospires infected kidneys remained viable for at least 21 days when stored at 4 degrees but became non-viable within 14 days when stored frozen at -15 degrees.

Fam Pract, 1988 Mar, 5(1), 24 - 8
Management of cystitis: the patient's viewpoint; Pill R et al.; Two years after a microbiological study of the urethral syndrome 32 sufferers and 26 controls were asked what they felt caused 'cystitis' symptoms, what they did to prevent recurrences and how they managed acute episodes . Doctors may feel that they have discharged their clinical responsibility by excluding pathogens but the patient is often confused and frustrated by the mismatch between her own ideas on causation and the paradoxical ideas of her doctor . The findings indicated that both patient groups think in a divergent and largely non-biomedical manner about their symptoms . Medical advisers were unlikely to explore lay ideas on cystitis or reinforce self-help measures . Clinicians would be well advised to take lay ideas into account and, where appropriate, to capitalize on them in negotiating management.

Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis, 1988 Mar, 56(1), 61 - 5
A second sooty mangabey monkey with naturally acquired leprosy: first reported possible monkey-to-monkey transmission; Gormus BJ et al.; The existence of naturally acquired leprosy in a second sooty mangabey monkey has been documented . The disease has the clinical and histopathological characteristics of subpolar lepromatous leprosy (LLs), and microbiological studies thus far confirm the etiologic agent as Mycobacterium leprae . This mangabey had been housed in direct contact with the first mangabey in which naturally acquired leprosy was diagnosed in 1979 . Clinical symptoms appeared in the second mangabey in 1986, almost 7 years after the appearance of skin lesions in the first monkey . It is likely that the second mangabey contracted leprosy from the first mangabey or that both animals contracted the disease by contact with an unknown common third source . This is the only known possible natural transmission of leprosy from monkey to monkey, and suggests that a potential zoonosis exists in wild monkeys that may serve as a reservoir for the disease in areas where human leprosy is endemic.

Clin Radiol, 1988 Mar, 39(2), 121 - 6
Radiologically-guided percutaneous catheter drainage of empyemas; Hunnam GR et al.; We describe our experience with the percutaneous drainage of empyemas in 20 patients, using fluoroscopic, computed tomographic or ultrasonic guidance for catheter placement . The patients were seen over a period of 17 months . Sixteen patients were successfully treated, with the empyema drained and the cavity closed . In four patients drainage was unsuccessful and surgery was required . In three of these patients there was a history of illness in excess of 4 weeks preceding treatment and in one a history of trauma . Two or more catheters were used in seven patients and positive microbiological culture of the pus was obtained in 12, although neither factor significantly altered prognosis . There were no complications of the procedure . We believe the percutaneous insertion of catheters using suitable imaging guidance should be the initial method of drainage of empyemas.

Arch Intern Med, 1988 Mar, 148(3), 715 - 7
Candida pericarditis and tamponade in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus; Kaufman LD et al.; Candida pericarditis and tamponade developed in a patient with sterile purulent pericarditis secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus . Therapy with amphotericin B and properly timed surgical intervention led to a clinical and microbiological cure . This article emphasizes the importance of differentiating an infected pericardial effusion from the sterile pericarditis of systemic lupus erythematosus and provides suggested guidelines for the management of that complication.

Gut, 1988 Mar, 29(3), 332 - 5
Prevalence of sexually transmitted disease among male patients presenting with proctitis; Andrews H et al.; Fifty male patients with proctitis were examined and the clinical, microbiological, serological and proctological features compared with 51 known male homosexuals attending the genitourinary (GU) clinic at the same hospital . The homosexuals had a short history of bowel symptoms, minor sigmoidoscopic and histological changes on rectal biopsy and many positive serological markers of sexually transmitted infection . There was some evidence of sexually transmitted disease in the IBD patients and three were homosexuals . IgG antibodies were positive for chlamydia trachomatis (n = 10) and hepatitis A (n = 7) . One had a positive screening test for syphilis . Stool examination and rectal swab cultures were positive in two patients for cryptosporidium and cytomegalovirus respectively . Gastroenterologists must be aware of the possibility of specific infection in IBD patients and a clinical history should include sexual preferences and practices . If homosexuality is admitted, specific infection must be sought and excluded.

J Clin Microbiol, 1988 Mar, 26(3), 573 - 5
Comparison of Track XI fluorometric immunoassay with Bio-EnzaBead enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of serum antibody to mouse hepatitis virus; La Regina MC et al.; The Track XI system (Microbiological Associates, Bethesda, Md.) was compared with the Bio-EnzaBead assay (Organon Teknika, Durham, N.C.) for the detection of antibody to mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) . Strain A/J mice were inoculated intranasally with MHV type 3 . Sera were collected at 1, 2, 4, and 9 weeks postinoculation and tested . Individual serum samples were retested twice by each method . The results suggested that the Track XI system was more sensitive and reliable than the Bio-EnzaBead assay in detecting antibody to MHV type 3 in individual serum samples from A/J mice.

Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1988 Feb 20, 118(7), 223 - 6
{Chlamydia diagnosis in clinical practice . Chlamydia trachomatis EIA and direct immunofluorescence (MikroTak) in comparison with cell culture}; Gelzer D et al.; The correct obtaining of material is decisive for microbiological diagnosis . The new immunologic methods, enzyme immunoassay (Chlamydiazyme) and the direct immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibodies (MikroTrak) for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis have several advantages over cell culture . In 457 tests of urethral smears from men with all 3 methods, sensitivity and specificity were compared with cell cultures as method of reference . Tests with Chlamydiazyme yielded a concordance of 87.1%, a sensitivity of 81.5% and an specificity of 87.8% . Tests with MikroTrak were almost identical with a concordance of 86.9%, a sensitivity of 81.3% and a specificity of 87.5% . With both methods, the positive predictive value with 43.8% and 43.3% respectively is low . Frequent positive results with the immunological methods, which could not be verified by cell cultures, must be interpreted as failure of the culture method under practice conditions . The correlation of results with the clinical course supports this assumption.

JAMA, 1988 Feb 12, 259(6), 865 - 9
Postmortem microbiological findings of two total artificial heart recipients; Dobbins JJ et al.; This report describes the postmortem microbiological findings and related gross pathology from two patients who had the longest survival after implantation of the Jarvik-7-100 total artificial heart . We documented extensive polymicrobial colonization at the site of the device and adjacent structures; however, the internal drive lines were remarkably free of bacterial colonization despite evidence of infection at the skin junction and in close proximity to the artificial heart . The polyurethane polymer (Biomer) on the external surface of the device was discolored and pitted in appearance and the Velcro material that attaches the two ventricles together was eroded . A nonspecific mass of tissue that was adherent to the device and to portions of the drive lines contained inflammatory cells, fibrinous debris, and colonies of microorganisms.

J Virol Methods, 1988 Feb, 19(2), 185 - 8
A comparison of two ELISAs for detecting HBe markers; Sutehall GM et al.; A new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit (Wellcozyme HBeAg/anti-HBe; Wellcome Diagnostics) for detecting hepatitis Be antigen and antibody, the markers by which the infectivity of persons with hepatitis B surface antigenaemia may be inferred, has been compared with the ELISA obtained from the Division of Microbiological Reagents and Quality Control (Public Health Laboratory Service, London U.K.) currently used in this laboratory . The new test may be completed within 2 h compared with about 19 h for the current test . There was agreement between the two assay kits with 106/109 (97%) samples tested . The new test is acceptably sensitive and specific as well as being straightforward to perform.

J Nutr, 1988 Feb, 118(2), 165 - 9
Immature corn as a source of niacin for rats; Carpenter KJ et al.; The variability in the concentration and biological availability of niacin in corn was investigated . Plots of both sweet and field corn were harvested at different stages . In rat growth assays for available niacin, grains harvested at the immature, "milky" stage and then dried gave values of 88 and 74 micrograms/g, respectively . These values were in contrast to the low growth assay values of 18 and 16 micrograms/g for grain harvested at maturity, and even higher than the value of approximately 56 micrograms/g obtained for each immature corn in both the Association of Official Analytical Chemists procedure of chemical analysis and a standard microbiological procedure . However, when the milky grains were precooked at neutral pH, the values from these procedures were higher and agreed with the biological assay results . It is suggested that, during the initial alkaline digestion used for these two procedures, a proportion of the niacin in NAD, the major form of niacin in milky corn, degrades . However, when the materials are first cooked at neutral pH, nicotinamide is released without loss, and the pyridine ring is then stable . The traditional American Indian practice of roasting and drying "green corn" apparently provided a valuable source of niacin.

Aust N Z J Surg, 1988 Feb, 58(2), 153 - 6
Homograft skin banking--current practices and future trends; Fielding GA et al.; Homograft skin remains a very successful technique for covering major burns . This paper reviews current techniques of harvesting, microbiological testing, freezing and thawing of the skin, that lead to its optimal use . Recent advances, especially the use of homograft skin in combination with split skin and skin cultures, will add to the effectiveness of homograft skin application.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1988 Feb, 36(2), 127 - 32
{Consequences of ischemia of the terminal ileum in the rat: influence of exclusive parenteral nutrition}; Canarelli JP et al.; An experimental model of ischemia of the distal part of the small intestine has been realized in rats . This experimental study realizes a moderate ischemia of the distal part of ileum loops, by vascular ligations . An important decreasing of the intestinal motility is observed 2 days after the operation, by in vitro study . The motility became normal 7 days after . During this time a microbiological evaluation revealed an important increasing of anaerobic germ in the distal ileum . Total parenteral nutrition preserves the intestinal motility and the endoluminal flora . Ischemia of the small bowel is an important component of enterocolitis by modification of the peristalsis . The total Parenteral Nutrition in such condition seems to protect the intestinal flora.

J Hosp Infect, 1988 Feb, 11 Suppl A, 77 - 81
Food hygiene in hospitals; Wilkinson PJ; Food hygiene in British hospitals is reviewed in the context of national trends in food poisoning and changes in food legislation . New methods of large scale catering such as the cook-chill system are considered, and the safe operation of such a system in a typical health district is described . The application of current guidelines for the microbiological quality of cook-chill food is evaluated . The need for careful observance of these principles, together with appropriate microbiological surveillance of the process and the product, is demonstrated.

J Hosp Infect, 1988 Feb, 11 Suppl A, 244 - 50
What is in the surgeon's glove?
Newsom SW, Rowland C, Wells FC.
Three aspects of surgical hand hygiene have been studied: the attitude of the surgeon, the microbiology of glove changing during an operation, and the use of antiseptic-coated gloves together with different handwash routines . The survey revealed that the predominant factor in choice of agent for surgical hand hygiene was skin tolerance . The microbiological studies showed that 'closed' glove changing was to be preferred to 'open' changing, and that antiseptic-coated gloves further suppressed the skin flora, even after prolonged operations, compared to standard gloves.

Arch Intern Med, 1988 Jan, 148(1), 129 - 35
Persistent fever after recovery from granulocytopenia in acute leukemia; Talbot GH et al.; We reviewed the hospital admissions of 168 patients with acute leukemia to determine the incidence of persistent fever following recovery from chemotherapy-induced granulocytopenia . This phenomenon was observed during 26 (15.5%) hospital admissions . The microbiologically and/or clinically documented causes identified in 23 instances included viral infection (two patients), perirectal abscess (two patients), Hickman catheter-related bacteremia (two patients), intraabdominal infection (four patients), and nine fungal infections (five resolving pneumonia, one disseminated candidiasis, three focal hepatic and/or splenic mycosis) . One patient had both cholecystitis and a pneumonia of uncertain origin and three patients had drug reactions . Although overall the source of fever was usually readily apparent, focal hepatic and/or splenic mycosis produced protracted fevers that were difficult to diagnose . Visceral fungal infection should be a leading diagnostic consideration in patients with leukemia who remain persistently febrile following recovery from chemotherapy-induced granulocytopenia.

Vopr Onkol, 1988, 34(8), 960 - 6
{Induction of tumor-like growth in a culture of mycelial fungi--a potential experimental model of multistage carcinogenesis}; Zhemaletdinov FG et al.; A microbiological model of two-stage experimental carcinogenesis is described . Induction of tumor-like growth in mycelial fungus Fusarium bulbigenum var . blasticola culture was shown to include: (1) initiation by carcinogenic mutagens and (2) promotion or reversible morpho-energy transformation of the cell.

Clin Nephrol, 1988 Jan, 29(1), 35 - 40
Pharmacokinetics of intravenous and intraperitoneal fosfomycin in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis; Bouchet JL et al.; Kinetics of fosfomycin were investigated in six patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis . Each subject received both an i.v . and an i.p . 1 g dose of fosfomycin with a one week washout between doses . Fosfomycin was assayed by a microbiological diffusion technique . After intravenous injection the fosfomycin serum kinetic parameters were as followed: elimination half-life (t1/2 beta) 38.4 +/- 8.7 h; volume of distribution 0.32 +/- 0.02 l/kg; total plasma clearance 7.0 +/- 1.4 ml/min and peritoneal clearance 3.2 +/- 0.2 ml/min . Dialyzate fosfomycin concentrations reached a maximum mean value of 32.2 +/- 2.8 micrograms/ml at 4 h post-injection and fosfomycin was detectable in dialyzate samples for up to 72 hours post-dosing . After intraperitoneal instillation, fosfomycin appeared in the serum rapidly and the mean peak plasma concentration was 36.2 +/- 2.8 micrograms/ml at the 4th h . The absorption rate (ka) was 0.580 +/- 0.039 h-1 and the absorption of fosfomycin from peritoneal space was 68.4 +/- 6.0% . These data suggest a bidirectional exchange through the peritoneal membrane . Intraperitoneal administration of 1 g either 48 h apart for anephric patients or 36 h apart for patients with residual renal function may achieve therapeutic serum concentrations.

Pathology, 1988 Jan, 20(1), 70 - 3
Microbiological and histopathological confirmation of acanthamebic keratitis; McClellan KA et al.; A healthy 42 yr-old woman presented with a left keratitis which she had had for 3 months . No organisms could be grown by culture of corneal scrapings for bacteria and fungi, and the condition failed to respond to topical therapy . Amebic keratitis was diagnosed following corneal biopsy and cultures which grew Acanthamoeba of a species similar to, but not identical with, Acanthamoeba polyphaga . Medical treatment was continued for 6 mth . During this time the corneal infiltrate became less prominent but visual acuity remained impaired by both corneal opacity and cataract.

Infection, 1988, 16 Suppl 1, S14 - 8
Ciprofloxacin concentrations in tonsils following single or multiple administrations; Falser N et al.; Penetration of ciprofloxacin into human tonsils was studied in 20 adult humans undergoing tonsilectomy . Ten patients received a single intravenous infusion of 200 mg ciprofloxacin within 15 min (group A) and 14 patients were treated orally for three days with 500 mg ciprofloxacin b.i.d . prior to a preoperative infusion of 200 mg (group B) . Ciprofloxacin concentrations in serum and tonsils were determined microbiologically . Mean ciprofloxacin serum concentrations did not differ significantly between both groups . Similarly, mean distribution ratios between tonsils and serum were not dissimilar, being on average 150% irrespective of whether the drug was administered once or repeatedly . Thus, a significant accumulation of ciprofloxacin was not observed either in the intravascular or in the extravascular space.

Med Oncol Tumor Pharmacother, 1988, 5(1), 41 - 7
Non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema complicating intermediate and high-dose Ara C treatment for relapsed acute leukemia; Jehn U et al.; Infection, hemorrhage and adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are pulmonary complications occurring after remission induction therapy for acute leukemia . The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of these causes by serial roentgenogram, clinical, microbiological and laboratory tests in 21 patients (pts) with relapsed acute leukemia (18 X myeloid, 3 X lymphoblastic), an AML-pt (acute myeloid leukemia) suffering from secondary leukemia, and three pts with primary refractory leukemia following treatment with intermediate (IM) and high-dose cytosine arabinoside (HD-Ara C), in combination with amsacrine (AMSA)(n = 19), etoposide (VP 16) (n = 5) or Mitoxantrone (n = 1) . Eleven out of 25 pts developed pulmonary complications, one of them with massive hemoptysis and roentgenographic signs of pulmonary bleeding, one suffering from protracted shock after a tumor lysis syndrome, two pts showing symptoms of a cardiogenic pulmonary edema complicating severe Candida pneumonia in one case and legionnaires' disease in the other . Seven of the eleven pts had a non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema with respiratory failure 1-14 days after cessation of induction or consolidation therapy . In six of the seven, there were no signs of cardiogenic, infectious or metabolic reasons, including fluid overload, for the pulmonary edema, one had as a contributing factor a Candida infection of the lung . Three of the seven patients recovered, four died (two following IM and two after HD-Ara C) . Other adverse side effects, clearly attributable to HD-Ara C, included delirious state (n = 3), generalized erythema (n = 3), acute pancreatitis (n = 2), acute abdomen (n = 1) and conjunctivitis in almost all patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Int J Artif Organs, 1988 Jan, 11(1), 51 - 6
Seven-day storage of single donor platelets in polyolefin bags: clinical, biochemical, morphological and microbiological evaluation; Dragani A et al.; We compared the in vitro and in vivo function of fresh and stored platelet concentrates (PCs) collected by an automated continuous-flow blood cell separator (CS 3000 Fenwal) in a closed-system apheresis kit in order to evaluate the possibility of extending the storage time to seven days with the polyolefin container (PL-732) . The initial 220 ml platelet volume (5.14 +/- 1.23 x 10(11) was divided into two parts . Half was transfused and the other half was stored for 7 days . All cultured units were negative for bacterial contamination . Mean counts for fresh and stored platelets were respectively 2.34 +/- 0.59 and 2.17 +/- 0.50 X 10(11)/100 ml of PCs (mean recovery 88.7 +/- 11.9%) . The pO2 levels were maintained during storage (179.9 +/- 30.5 mmHg) but pCO2, pH, LDH, osmolality, glucose consumption, bicarbonates, ATP, and osmotic stress values changed significantly after 7 days storage . From a clinical point of view, in 14 patients receiving a total of 38 PC transfusions no statistically significant change in corrected post-transfusional levels was observed between fresh and stored PC . Biochemical and morphological data and clinical results suggest that PCs collected with CS-3000 blood cell separator in a closed system and stored for 7 days in polyolefin bags (PL-732) can be satisfactorily employed in clinical practice.

Lab Anim, 1988 Jan, 22(1), 35 - 45
Altered clinical and histological features of male MM mouse pyelonephritis associated with a change in its microbiology; Taylor DM et al.; Radical changes in the clinical, microbiological and histological features of spontaneous pyelonephritis in MM male mice occurred when they were transferred to a new environment after Caesarean derivation . Although the incidence of pyelonephritis remained the same, the survival age was increased . The renal histology indicated a shift to a more chronic form of pyelonephritis with renal amyloidosis as a common feature . At autopsy much more renal scarring was seen, resulting in the 'shrunken' kidney typical of chronic pyelonephritis . Renal lymphocytic accumulations were commonly found in MM mice, but they were also seen frequently in C57BL mice and in germfree stocks of both strains: no association was found between these lesions and pyelonephritis.

Chemotherapy, 1988, 34(1), 13 - 7
Study on tissue concentrations of antibiotics: bacampicillin in gingiva and maxillary bones; del Piano M et al.; 21 patients, whose age ranged from 17 to 60 years and who had not been previously treated with antibiotics or other drugs, received bacampicillin as a perioperative prophylaxis for minor operations in the oral cavity . Four oral doses of bacampicillin were administered: each dose of 800 mg every 12 h, and the last dose was administered 2 h before surgery . To assess bacampicillin serum concentrations two blood samples were collected from each patient: the first sample was obtained 1 h before surgery and the second one during surgery . Together with the second blood sample, small quantities of gingiva and bone were obtained from each patient to also assess the antibiotic concentrations in these tissues (microbiological method) . The results show that bacampicillin reaches high concentrations in both the blood and tissues studied by us, and that a direct correspondence exists between blood and gingival and bone tissue concentrations . Furthermore, it should be noted that no postoperative infections developed in our patients . These results lead to the conclusion that bacampicillin appears to be a suitable drug in the therapy of dental infections.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1988 Jan, 267(3), 331 - 8
Is there an optimal methodology for the microbiological analysis of effluent in CAPD peritonitis?
von Graevenitz A.
The definition of CAPD peritonitis and reasons for negative effluent cultures are discussed . Based on published data, present-day recommendations for an optimal culture technique of CAPD effluents are given.

Res Vet Sci, 1988 Jan, 44(1), 125 - 31
Microbiological and serological studies on caprine pneumonias in Oman; Jones GE et al.; Eight of 10 typical cases of contagious caprine pleuro-pneumonia in Oman yielded strain F38-like mycoplasmas from the lungs in high titre, but no other mycoplasmas: both negative animals had been treated with tylosin shortly before death . Among 21 other lungs examined three of six cases of acute pneumonia yielded Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae; one also yielded M capricolum . M ovipneumoniae was also isolated from all eight cases of chronic pneumonia sampled from an abattoir, and from the lungs of three animals which died without overt signs of pneumonia . A single isolate of M arginini and three of unidentified mycoplasmas were also obtained from goats with and without pneumonia . Various bacterial species were isolated, none of which predominated . Antibodies to M mycoides subspecies capri (M m capri) and strain F38 were detected in sera from eight different sources . Assuming titres of 1 in 40 or more as positive in the indirect haemagglutination test used, 29 per cent of 422 serum samples had antibodies to M m capri alone, 2.6 per cent to strain F38 alone and 3.6 per cent to both organisms . These results confirm the presence of F38-like mycoplasmas in Oman, and indicate also widespread infection with M m capri . The role of the latter in caprine pneumonias in Oman requires elucidation.

Langenbecks Arch Chir, 1988, 373(2), 82 - 90
Chronic atrophic gastritis and risk of N-nitroso compounds carcinogenesis; Carboni M et al.; Chronic atrophic gastritis is considered a precancerous condition for carcinoma of the stomach . To evaluate the correlation between progressive alterations in the mucosa and gastric juice microenvironmental factors, retained involved on N-nitroso compounds carcinogenesis, detailed analyses of biochemical and microbiological parameters such as pH, total viable counts (TVC), nitrate reductase positive bacterial counts (NRPBC), nitrite (NO2-) and thiocyanate (SNC-) levels, were carried out on 56 fasting gastric juices samples obtained at endoscopy from 28 patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), 14 with gastric cancers (GC), and 14 normal controls (NC) . The mean values of pH, nitrite, TVC, and NRPBC were significantly lower in the juices of NC than in those of CAG and GC patients . Furthermore, the mean levels of the same parameters were higher in GC than in CAG juices . No significant difference was found in the three groups for SCN- level which principally resulted influenced by smoke habit . The 28 patients with CAG were subdivided into two groups (Group A = Diffuse chronic atrophic gastritis--DCAG; Group B = Multifocal chronic atrophic gastritis--MCAG) according to the involvement of gastric corpus and fundus besides antrum by a process of mucosal atrophy . The mean levels of pH, nitrite, TVC, and NRPBC were significantly higher in MCAG than in normal controls but statistically lower in reference to DCAG and cancers . In these two groups no difference was found for the same variables . The percentage of contaminated juices was higher for DCAG and cancers in respect to MCAG but no difference was found between DCAG and neoplastic stomachs . The results of this study suggest that the DCAG could be considered as the chronic atrophic gastritis type more exposed to the risk of N-nitroso compounds carcinogenesis.

Crit Care Med, 1988 Jan, 16(1), 23 - 6
Intravenous immunoglobulins in association with antibiotics: a therapeutic trial in septic intensive care unit patients; De Simone C et al.; The therapeutic use of iv immunoglobulins of the G class in association with antibiotics in patients with severe sepsis is reported . As compared to the randomized control group of patients treated with antibiotics alone, patient survival was only slightly improved (from 25% to 42%; NS); however, the defervescence time was significantly shorter (10 vs . 16 days), and a greater percentage of microbiologically positive cultures became negative (40% vs . 8%; p less than .01) . The percentage of days on antibiotic treatment during ICU hospitalization was consequently reduced (38% vs . 95%; p less than .01) . The therapeutic use of iv immunoglobulin G is discussed in terms of antibody substitution and modulation of the immune system.

Eye, 1988, 2 ( Pt 3), 318 - 23
Neural spread of herpes simplex virus to the eye of the mouse: microbiological aspects and effect on the blink reflex; Claoue C et al.; This paper reports the microbiological aspects of zosteriform spread of herpes simplex virus (HSV) to the eye in the NIH strain of inbred mouse . Microbiological data support the concept of true zosteriform spread of herpes simplex virus from the inoculation site on the snout to the trigeminal ganglion, and thence to the eye . Following zosteriform spread of HSV to the eye, there is a frequent bacterial superinfection and this is associated with a typical clinical picture . Treatment of the mice with intensive systemic and topical antibiotics is able to alter the frequency with which this type of keratitis is seen.

Int J Clin Pharmacol Res, 1988, 8(2), 111 - 6
Efficacy of miocamycin in the therapy of non-specific genital infections (NSGI): non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) and acute urethral syndrome (AUS); Furneri PM et al.; The therapeutic efficacy of miocamycin against Ureaplasma urealyticum and Chlamydia trachomatis was the object of this study . Two different groups of patients were included in the trial: 40 males and 20 females affected by NGU and AUS respectively . All the patients positive for chlamydiae and/or ureaplasmas received 1200 mg/die of miocamycin for 12 days; a microbiological examination was performed 5 days from the end of the therapy . The therapy with miocamycin caused the resolution of both symptoms and microorganisms present . The use of miocamycin in current therapy could be favourable.

Arch Inst Pasteur Madagascar, 1988, 54(1), 217 - 28
{Cyto-microbiologic study of cervico-vaginal specimens, associated with a serologic study to detect sexually transmissible diseases in Madagascan prostitutes}; Mouden JC et al.; A microbiological survey of cervical and vaginal smears associated with a serological survey of sexual diseases was carried out on 298 prostitutes at the four principal Malagasy sea ports . This survey leads us to these conclusions: The great frequency of specific inflammations (72.1%) with Trichomonas vaginalis in the first place (39.2%) . The serological tests proved a high rate of positive treponemical serologies (25.2%), whose the half of the cases are evolutive forms . Nevertheless prevalence of HBs-antigene among this population does not exceed the rate recorded in the other African countries, while the rate of anti HIV antibodies' carriers is lower than the rates recorded in those African countries . A comparative survey with tests carried out at IPM on Malagasy women showed clearly higher figures of inflammations, cervical and vaginal infections and positive treponemical serologies among prostitutes.

Zentralbl Gynakol, 1988, 110(18), 1170 - 3
{Oral ciprofloxacin therapy in salpingitis}; De Wilde R; Thirty patients with clinical pelvic inflammatory disease were studied . Diagnosis was confirmed by laparoscopy . To determine the microbiological etiology, swab specimen for detection of aerobic, anaerobic and chlamydial infections were obtained from the endocervix, fimbriae and cul-de-sac . In 22 of 30 patients, microorganisms were detected . The patients received ciprofloxacin 2 X 750 mg p.o . daily at 12 hours interval for 10 days . During and after therapy, bacteriological examinations of the endocervix were performed . Based on the microbiological evaluation and clinical aspects, the bacteriological response and clinical efficacy were 86% . Laboratory analysis showed no alterations of blood values . As side effects we noticed gastrointestinal complaints (6/30), candidiasis vulvovaginalis (6/30), allergic exanthema (5/30) and non-bacterial cystitis (2/30) . Oral ciprofloxacin-monotherapy proved to be safe and effective in pelvic inflammatory disease.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1988, 20(5), 463 - 73
Management of pregnant women with contagious infections at delivery; Sterner G et al.; Since 1970 pregnant women with contagious infections in the country of Stockholm have been delivered at the Danderyd Hospital, the only hospital in the area which has departments of obstetrics and pediatrics as well as infectious diseases . This paper presents data from a prospective study carried out during a period of 10 years (1975-1984) . The study includes 303 women and their newborns who for various reasons were transferred to the Department of Infectious Diseases (DID) before or after delivery . A comprehensive microbiological investigation was made in order to establish an etiological diagnosis in all women included in the study . A possible transmission of the infection from the mother to her fetus/child before or after delivery was also investigated . Only 0.17% of the pregnant women in the area needed care at the DID at delivery or in the puerperal period . 9% of the deliveries occurred at another hospital, 32% at the DID and the remaining at the obstetrical department, Danderyd Hospital . The rate of complications, including cesarean sections, was 12% . Of the 165 women suffering from an infectious disease at the time of delivery, 40% had a verified viral disease--in most cases varicella or mumps, 28% had a bacterial infection and for 32% no etiology of the disease could be established . The study population also includes women suspected either to be incubated with a contagious disease or to be carriers of infectious agents, as well as healthy mothers whose newborns were expected to be carriers of infectious agents such as rubella and varicella . None of the women died during the study period but 5 were seriously ill and 3 needed intensive care . The rate of stillbirths was the same as reported among all births in the country of Stockholm but the perinatal mortality rate was significantly higher (see also a following article, ref . 27) . Our routines prove the necessity to take special care of pregnant women carrying a contagious infectious agent at term.

Rev Mal Respir, 1988, 5(6), 633 - 5
{A case of semi-delayed hypersensitivity to dry sausage dust}; Dalphin JC et al.; The authors record a case of semi-delayed hypersensitivity to sausage dust in an employee of a wholesale pork butcher and curing business . The symptoms combined cough and fever with rigors; there were no clinical or laboratory data to suggest alveolar disease . The immunoallergic "work-up" suggested a precipitin mediated disease with notably 10-14 precipitation arcs to the products of sausage sweepings . A microbiological analysis of the flora of the sausages, as well as an extensive search for precipitins and cutaneous tests have not enabled us to confirm the antigen responsible with certainty.

Ther Drug Monit, 1988, 10(4), 459 - 62
Evaluation of a fluorescence polarization immunoassay procedure for quantitation of isepamicin, a new aminoglycoside antibiotic; Uematsu T et al.; A fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) procedure for measuring isepamicin, a new aminoglycoside antibiotic, was evaluated . The range of the assay studied was from 0.3-50 micrograms/ml and the calibration curve can be stored for at least 32 days . There was no interference from hemoglobin (up to 400 mg/dl) and bilirubin (up to 20 mg/dl) . Within-run precision on each 20 replicates at 5, 15, and 25 micrograms/ml yielded a coefficient of variation (CV) of 1.44-2.52%; between-run precision on analyses at 5, 15, and 25 micrograms/ml over five periods yielded a CV of 1.26-1.59% . Cross-reactivities of the assay system with tobramycin and amikacin were null, but that with gentamicin, of which isepamicin is a derivative, was approximately 14-29% . Data obtained by microbiological assay and FPIA and by high-performance liquid chromatography and FPIA correlated significantly, with coefficients of correlation being 0.980 (n = 70) and 0.965 (n = 39), respectively . The FPIA offers a rapid, efficient, and accurate system for therapeutic monitoring of isepamicin plasma levels.

Pediatr Radiol, 1988, 18(6), 453 - 4
Differentiating bacterial from viral pneumonias in children; Bettenay FA et al.; 58 paediatric patients with pneumonia, in whom an etiological agent had been isolated, were reviewed . The patients were designated to have either viral or bacterial pneumonia on the basis of proposed clinical and radiological criteria . These presumed diagnoses were then compared to the microbiologically proven diagnosis . When clinical features suggested a bacterial infection the chance of isolating a bacteria as opposed to a virus was 18% . Was radiological features suggested a bacterial infection the chance of isolating a bacteria as opposed to a virus was 30% . Thus the commonest cause of "bacterial" clinical and radiological features is a viral infection and the proposed criteria do not allow differentiation of bacterial from viral pneumonia.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1988, 53, 18 - 21
Concentrations of doxycycline in muscle tissue and muscle tissue fluid; Cars O et al.; Doxycycline is known to have a marked tissue affinity, but there seems to be no previous studies where doxycycline levels have been compared in different compartments of a tissue . The purpose of the present investigation was to measure concentrations of doxycycline in serum, muscle and muscle tissue fluid using an experimental model in rabbits . After an intravenous infusion of doxycycline 10 mg/kg, samples were obtained at intervals for 4 h and concentrations were measured using microbiological methods . The levels of doxycycline in muscle tissue fluid followed closely the concentrations in serum and showed a similar rate of elimination . Doxycycline concentrations in muscle peaked later than the tissue fluid concentrations and were much higher than the corresponding serum level (mean ratio tissue/serum = 3.5).

Nahrung, 1988, 32(4), 375 - 81
Investigations on biochemical properties of milk-clotting enzymes; Braun I et al.; The properties of proteolytic enzymes produces from calf maws and from an Ascomycete were studied . Both milk-clotting proteases have their optimum activity at pH 5.2 and 45 degrees C . The microbiological rennin has a second maximum activity at pH 3.5 and 55 degrees C . Temperatures above 55 degrees C cause a rapid decrease of activity . The behaviour of enzyme activity is similar with varying substrate and enzyme concentrations . However, increasing amounts of enzyme in ratio to the substrate lead to reaction rates of the calf rennin differing clearly from that of the microbiological rennet complex.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1988 Jan, 9(1), 55 - 7
Mycoplasma and ureaplasma in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from immunocompromised hosts; Parides GC et al.; The significance of Mycoplasma spp . and Ureaplasma urealyticum infection in immunocompromised patients has not been clearly established . We identified mycoplasma or ureaplasma in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from 12 of 61 (20%) immunocompromised patients with pulmonary infiltrates . A complete microbiological investigation was made on the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae was the sole agent detected in three instances, suggesting that it may have been the cause of the infiltrates in these immunocompromised patients . Other Mycoplasma spp . and ureaplasma were detected in nine patients, but in eight of these patients other pulmonary pathogens were also recovered.

J Assoc Off Anal Chem, 1988 Jan-Feb, 71(1), 16 - 9
Comparison of paired-ion liquid chromatographic method with AOAC fluorometric and microbiological methods for riboflavin determination in selected foods; Reyes ES et al.; A paired-ion liquid chromatographic (LC) technique coupled with fluorometric detection to determine riboflavin in various food matrices is described . Chromatograms of many foods showed 2 peaks of interest due to presence of riboflavin and flavin mononucleotide (FMN) . Relatively high levels of FMN were found in raw beef, corned beef, chicken liver, and canned mushrooms . When riboflavin and FMN contents were summed, LC values were comparable to those obtained by the AOAC standard procedures . The LC technique was sensitive, rapid, and simple, yielding a mean standard deviation of 3.1% which was comparable to the AOAC fluorometric method (3.0%) and better than the AOAC microbiological assay (9.6%) . Mean spike recoveries were 91.8% for LC compared to 90.5% and 89.6% for the AOAC fluorometric and microbiological methods, respectively.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1988, 56, 55 - 8
Clinical and microbiological efficacy of a single dose of norfloxacin in the treatment of chancroid; Ariyarit C et al.; Forty-one men with a clinically and bacteriologically verified diagnosis of chancroid were given a single dose of 800 mg of norfloxacin and were examined clinically and bacteriologically four, seven and 14 days after treatment . Five patients were excluded from evaluation of efficacy due to concomitant infections or incomplete follow-up . Of the remaining 36 patients, 34 were cured and culture negative at follow-up controls . Another 15 men with culture-negative ulcers treated with 800 mg of norfloxacin as a single dose, were all cured clinically . The high cure rate and the good tolerability make norfloxacin a convenient and cheap alternative to intramuscular single dose therapy of chancroid.

Surg Endosc, 1988, 2(3), 176 - 9
Present indications and future expectations of ultrasound in surgery; Rothlin M et al.; With the improvement of resolution in the ultrasound image, this technique has become more and more popular as a diagnostic means in various fields of medicine . Surgeons use diagnostic ultrasound pre-, intra- and postoperatively . Preoperatively, it is mainly employed for tumour staging, differential diagnosis of the acute abdomen, assessment of intra-abdominal and intrathoracic fluid in polytrauma and lately for arthrosonography . Intraoperative ultrasound has developed into one of the most important tools in intraoperative decision making in surgery of the liver, the bile ducts and the pancreas . Adenomas of the parathyroid glands may represent an indication for intraoperative ultrasound . Postoperative ultrasound has become increasingly important in the follow-up of tumour patients and the monitoring of patients in the intensive care unit . Interventional sonography can either be diagnostic or therapeutic . Both pre- and postoperatively, it can be used to help acquire material for microbiological, chemical and cytological examination . On the other hand, it is applied for drainage of abscesses and pancreatic pseudocysts, as well as pleural and intra-abdominal fluid collections . The main problem for the surgeon beginning to work with ultrasound today is the lack of training facilities with an experienced teacher . This is the origin of most of the other problems, such as quality control, 24-h service and interobserver-variations . With the new technologies already available or being developed, ultrasound is bound to gain even more importance for the surgeon in the future.

Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol, 1988, 15(4), 161 - 7
Cervical chlamydia trachomatis and mycoplasmal infections in women with abnormal Papanicolaou smears; Cardillo MR; In a series of 2,346 Papanicolaou-stained smears from women undergoing routine gynaecological examination, 39 showed cytomorphological signs of inflammation suggesting Chlamydia trachomatis infection (Papanicolaou class II or III) . The 39 smears were studied microbiologically by the direct-immunofluorescence test and cell culture to see whether chlamydial infection correlated with the presence of Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum . The results were compared with the cytological and colposcopic findings . C . trachomatis was cultured in 56.41% of the 39 smears, and isolated by the direct-immunofluorescence test in 51.28% . M . hominis was detected in 35.89% and U . urealyticum in 25.54% . Though all three organisms coexisted in 10.25% of the smears, C . trachomatis and M . hominis in 15.38%, C . trachomatis and U . urealyticum in 2.56%, no valid conclusions could be drawn from their association . The study did, however, indicate that vacuolated cells and cells with "bubbly" cytoplasm are common also to other infections seen in PAP-test smears and do not necessarily warrant a diagnosis of C . trachomatis, but that Gupta-type intracellular inclusion bodies do.

Gynecol Obstet Invest, 1988, 26(4), 313 - 7
Comparison of tinidazole given as a single dose and on 2 consecutive days for the treatment of nonspecific bacterial vaginosis; Ekgren J et al.; Nonspecific bacterial vaginosis, defined as the presence of clue cells, was treated in a randomized, double-blind study with (1) tinidazole 2 g as a single dose (82 patients), (2) tinidazole 2 g on 2 consecutive days (84 patients), and (3) with placebo (81 patients) . The cure rates, both clue cells and Gardnerella vaginalis absent, were 51, 74 and 4%, respectively . A closer clinical and microbiological evaluation showed the 2-day regimen to be superior.

Boll Ist Sieroter Milan, 1988, 67(2), 165 - 72
{A case of nocardiosis located in the suprahyoid region (histopathological and microbiological clinical study}; Bianchi L et al.; A case of Nocardia asteroides infection affecting salivary gland is reported in a 43 years old woman . N . asteroides was cultured from pus, the histological appearance of suppurative lesions is described.

Tierarztl Prax, 1988, 16(4), 431 - 5
{Advice as to the safety precautions for handling infectious material in a veterinary practice laboratory}; Bohm R et al.; The number of microbiological investigations with infectious material increases in veterinary practice . Frequently the working space is cramped so that special security measures are imperative . These measures are discussed in detail . Their disregard can result in laboratory infections with zoonotic agents and in unpleasant lawsuits with bad consequences . The German regulations pertaining to security in laboratories are listed . They should be observed in any case.

Crit Rev Biotechnol, 1988, 7(3), 187 - 236
Biotransformations of steroids; Sedlaczek L; Different types of microbiological transformation of steroids are reviewed, with special attention given to bioconversions applied in the manufacturing of steroid hormones, i.e., 11 alpha- 11 beta-, 16 alpha-, 17 alpha-hydroxylations and 1-dehydrogenation . Availability and utilization of raw materials for industrial production of steroids of the estrane, androstane, and pregnane series are discussed . Among the current trends in steroid research of a practical nature, immobilization of enzymes and living cells and the spore process are emphasized as alternative techniques of steroid transformation of possible future importance . Efforts to recognize, in cell-free preparations, the components of steroid-transforming enzyme systems as well as the cellular mechanisms of control of their biosynthesis and activity are described in order to illustrate the main subjects of current basic investigation in steroid bioconversion.

Crit Rev Biotechnol, 1988, 8(1), 33 - 84
Methods for detecting recombinant DNA in the environment; Jain RK et al.; The successful introduction of genetically modified and genetically engineered microorganisms into the environment requires a quantitative evaluation of the survival and dispersion of the microorganisms and specific gene(s) in the environment . The objective of this article is to examine the applicability, suitability, and significance of existing and new methods for detecting and monitoring the recombinant genes or organisms introduced into the environment . Conventional microbiological method(s) involving the selective and differential growth of microorganism(s) adn other quantitative approaches such as the most-probable-number (MPN) method and direct microscopic observation (e.g., acridine orange direct count analysis) have drawbacks and are not specific or universally applicable . Direct enumeration by immunofluorescence by the use of fluorescent dye seems more sensitive although still not perfect . However, the molecular methodologies such as the use of gene probes, plasmid epidemiology, antibiotic resistant marker strains, and protein electrophoresis and bacteriophage sensitivity are receiving more attention . As yet, the technology of DNA:DNA hybridization appears to be very useful, sensitive, and accurate for detecting and monitoring the microorganisms in the environment, although improvements are required . New approaches can be developed which may include biochemical signature compounds as well as gene cassettes to be used in a complementary fashion with conventional and molecular techniques for quantifying specific genotypes and genes in the environment.

Zentralbl Chir, 1988, 113(12), 793 - 800
{Experimental microbiological criteria for the banking of full-thickness skin}; Baumer F et al.; Experimental studies were conducted into the biological durability of homologous full skin grafts . Colony counts for that purpose were determined in deep-frozen specimens in weekly intervals . Specimens were stored at various temperatures (+4 degrees C, -20 degrees C, -70 degrees C, -80 degrees C), with and without preceding quick freezing . Storage at -70 degrees C with protracted freezing gradient of 1 degree C/minute proved to the most favourable variant with due consideration of microbiological criteria . The physiological resident flora of skin grafts after thawing was almost unchanged under these conditions.

Adv Appl Microbiol, 1988, 33, 107 - 72
Microbial ecology of the terrestrial subsurface; Ghiorse WC et al.; We have presented a current view of the microbial ecology of the terrestrial subsurface by considering primarily the ecology of shallow aquifer sediments . The properties of the aquifer sediments and groundwater determine their ability to support microbial life and control the abundance and activities of microorganisms . Pore size, nutrient limitations, availability of electron acceptors, and large surface area for attachment all may have major effects on microbial abundance and activities in aquifer material . Microorganisms are the predominant forms of life in the subsurface . They will be found wherever enough space, nutrients, and water are available for them to live . Environmental factors such as pH, temperature, hydrostatic pressure, and dissolved salts also may influence subsurface microbial populations, but these factors do not exhibit great extremes in shallow water table aquifers, and thus only in very deep formations might they limit diversity or preclude the existence of microorganisms . Although the presence and activity of microorganisms in most subsurface environments are predictable, only recently have subsurface microbial populations in shallow subsurface zones been characterized . Aseptic sampling methods have been employed and microbiological and biochemical methods have been adapted to determine the types, abundance, and metabolic activities of microorganisms in subsurface material . Bacteria dominate, but eukaryotic microorganisms also are present . Vertical profile studies of a shallow aquifer in Oklahoma showed that active microbial biomass declined with depth to the unsaturated zone, but was variable in saturated sediments . Such a distribution of active biomass may be common in shallow aquifers . Studies on the lateral distribution of microorganisms in shallow and deep aquifers suggest that microorganisms are transported or migrate over fairly long distances in aquifer sediments . Surficial aquifers may be colonized by vertical or lateral transport and migration of surface microorganisms from recharge areas, but microorganisms could also have colonized when sediments were originally deposited . The biological and physical mechanisms controlling the migration of microorganisms in aquifers are not well understood . The function of shallow aquifers was considered with regard to nutritional ecology . Most pristine aquifers are oligotrophic . Heterotrophic life in these unique ecosystems is supported by secondary organic compounds that filter down from the soil above . The quantity and quality of organic nutrients depend on the age of water and rate of recharge of the aquifer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1988, 53, 12 - 7
In vitro comparison of the activity of doxycycline, tetracycline, erythromycin and a new macrolide, CP 62993, against Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum; Rylander M et al.; The in vitro activities of doxycycline, tetracycline, erythromycin and a new macrolide, CP 62993, against clinical isolates of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (n = 3), Mycoplasma hominis (n = 64) and Ureaplasma urealyticum (n = 33), were compared using an agar dilution method . M . pneumoniae seemed equally susceptible to the two tetracyclines, while the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of doxycycline were one or two dilution steps lower than the MICs of tetracycline for most strains of M . hominis and U . urealyticum . Ten of the 64 M . hominis strains required greater than or equal to 32 mg/l of tetracycline and 4 to 32 mg/l of doxycycline for inhibition . The MICs of CP 62993 were lower than those of erythromycin for all species tested although as much as 2 to 4 mg/l were required for inhibition of M . hominis . There is microbiological evidence that doxycycline as well as tetracycline might be effective against mycoplasmas and ureaplasmas . For erythromycin this is only true for M . pneumoniae and U . urealyticum.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1988 Jan, 21(1), 93 - 100
Comparison of high performance liquid chromatographic and microbiological methods for determination of itraconazole; Warnock DW et al.; A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method, with internal standard quantification, is described for the analysis of itraconazole in human serum . No interference was encountered from over 60 drugs tested . The standard curve was linear from 10 to 10,000 micrograms/l . The detection limit of the method was 10 micrograms/l, with coefficients of variation from 2.2 to 7.8% over a range of itraconazole concentrations from 20 to 1600 micrograms/l . An agar diffusion method is also described with a lowest reproducible limit of 100 micrograms/l . This method had coefficients of variation from 11.0 to 17.1% over a range of itraconazole concentrations from 100 to 1600 micrograms/l . Comparison of the methods showed that HPLC gave much lower values of itraconazole concentrations in patient serum samples than did the microbiological method.

Br J Cancer, 1988 Jan, 57(1), 83 - 6
The effect of tumour growth on liver pantothenate, CoA, and fatty acid synthetase activity in the mouse; McAllister RA et al.; Enzymatic, and microbiological assays were used to determine the hepatic contents of coenzyme A, acetyl CoA, fatty acid synthetase activity, and pantothenate in livers of tumour-bearing mice . Significant decreases in CoA and acetyl CoA were found in mice bearing TLX-5 lymphoma, sarcoma 180 or a fibrosarcoma . These changes were accompanied by significant decreases in pantothenate and increases in 4-phosphopantothenate suggesting an increase in pantothenate kinase activity due to reduction of CoA inhibition of the enzyme . In contrast, large increases were found in pantothenate and 4-phosphopantothenate in mice bearing TLX-5 lymphoma, i.p . or s.c . These changes could be due to a large reduction in the rate of conversion of an intermediate in the pathway of CoA, or increased production of pantothenate or 4-phosphopantothenate from the degradation of CoA or the phosphopantetheine residue in fatty acid synthetase . Activities of fatty acid synthetase in liver of mice bearing this tumour showed marked decreases, but were insufficient to account for the increase in pantothenate, and may reflect a reduction in cytosolic CoA needed for the conversion of the apo to the holoenzyme.

Adv Exp Med Biol, 1988, 228, 153 - 86
Interaction of viruses, bacteria and bacterial toxins with host cell surface glycolipids . Aspects on receptor identification and dissection of binding epitopes; Bock K et al.; An overview and perspective is presented on animal cell surface carbohydrate (primarily lipid-linked oligosaccharides) as specific receptors for viruses, bacteria and bacterial toxins . Although carbohydrate has been known for many years to be specific attachment sites for these ligands, it is only in very recent time that carbohydrate technology and receptor assays in combination afford a rational approach . One generalization from present experience is the property of microbiological ligands to recognize sequences placed internally in an oligosaccharide chain which differs from antibody recognition of short sequences which most often involves terminally placed determinants . This is of both biological and technical importance . Biologically it may assure attachment by avoiding differences between host individuals often residing in terminal parts (e.g . blood group determinants), and may also make a shift of target cells by mutations more efficient . Technically this property is an important help when dissecting narrow binding epitopes, and for disclosing receptor-binding variants with only slight differences in binding epitopes (e.g . different epitopes on the same disaccharide) . Such variants representing a kind of "epitope drift" are probably a consequence of point mutations in the binding site of the lectin-like proteins to select a proper host environment . Current technology allows an efficient screening for carbohydrate receptors with interesting consequences for applications within medicine (diagnosis and therapy) and biotechnology.

Cater Health, 1988, 1(1), 7 - 10
Hygiene--an economic factor in catering; Skroder P; Both nutritional and hygienic factors contribute to the economic success of a catering operation . Customers are increasingly nutritionally health conscious and also look for cleanliness when choosing somewhere to eat . Outbreaks of food poisoning are very bad publicity . Good quality of food is important but this is not necessarily synonymous with microbiological safety . Raw materials need to be checked on receipt and there should be good communication between the purchasing and the reception staff . Correct storage prolongs quality and safety and prevents waste, which frequently becomes most apparent when the food reaches the preparation area . The cold kitchen is very vulnerable and poor quality or badly stored raw materials compound bad handling to cause a risk to the consumer and a reduced shelf life leading to wastage . Warm holding of food needs to be balanced between the requirements of microbiological safety and loss of quality from holding too long at a high temperature . The official food inspector plays an important role, not just as the enforcer of food hygiene law, but also as an impartial adviser on hygiene . Caterers and their staff need to be encouraged to see hygiene as a positive way to economic success by reducing waste and thus achieving greater productivity: it is easier for most people to become enthusiastic about profits than about microbiology . The Swedish Catering Institute has published a training package with this as its main objective.

Cater Health, 1988, 1(1), 3 - 5
Microbiology and food hygiene in mass catering; Beckers HJ; Serious consequences can arise from lack of hygiene in mass catering . The uncritical use of routine microbiological tests purporting to measure hygiene merely creates a false sense of security . The microbiological safety of food is achieved by as far as possible ensuring the absence of pathogenic microorganisms and by all means preventing their multiplication . The Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point concept is used to identify microbiologically vulnerable points in the food production process and to determine the most appropriate methods of control to be applied, usually such methods as improved handling techniques, monitoring of temperature and more intensive supervision . Microbiological testing is of value in the initial analysis, at appropriate intervals for verifying the effectiveness of control measures, and in demonstrating to food handlers the reality of the microbial risk if good hygienic standards are not maintained.

Med J Aust, 1987 Dec 7-21, 147(11-12), 550 - 2
The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in a young, sexually-active population; Kovacs GT et al.; A prospective study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis among 1000 sexually-active women at the Family Planning Association Clinic in Melbourne . This organism was isolated from the cervices of 5.1% of screened women . The women were surveyed about their sexual and gynaecological history, and symptoms of discharge or pain . It was found that women who gave positive results for the presence of Chlamydia were younger, and had commenced intercourse at an earlier age . Risk factors of multiple sexual partners, cervical ectopy and symptoms of urethritis were identified . We recommend that women who have more than one sexual partner should ask their partners to use condoms or, failing this, undergo annual screening for Chlamydia by immunofluorescent stainingPIP: A prospective study was conducted over the December 11, 1985-May 29, 1986, period to determine the prevalence of "Chlamydia trachomatis" among 1000 sexually-active women at Melbourne's (Australia) Family Planning Association Clinic . An epidemiological and clinical history was recorded on a code sheet for study participants . Patients' ages, weights, coitarches, numbers of sexual partners during the last 12 months, and lengths of association with their present partners were recorded along with current contraceptive usage and the results of the last Papanicolaou smear-test . Patients also were asked about the presence of any symptoms of sexually-transmitted disease (STD) . The appearance of the cervix was ascertained on speculum examination . Cervical specimens were taken from all women for microbiological assessment . 995 patients completed the patient record form . In 994 of these women, satisfactory swabs were taken for microbiological examination . The patients ranged in age from 15-50 years with a mean age of 25.4 . The age at 1st intercourse (coitarche) ranged from 12-30 years and the number of sexual partners during the last 12 months from none to more than 10 partners . 573 (57.6%) women were using oral contraceptives (OCs), 141 (14.2%) no contraception, 101 (10.2%) an IUD, 118 (11.9%) a barrier method, and the remainder a progestagen-only pill, an injectable contraceptive agent, sterilization, or natural contraceptive methods . The previous cervical cytology was available for 775 (77.9%) women; 625 (80.6%) of these showed no abnormal cells . Of the 150 smear-tests that showed some abnormality, only 10 tests demonstrated dysplastic lesions . The rest were indicative of infection or a benign abnormality . Of the 994 cervical swabs, 51 (5.1%) swabs grew Chlamydia trachomatis . 42 swabs gave positive results of both immunofluorescence staining and culture; 9 swabs gave positive results of culture alone . An association between other factors and the presence or absence of Chlamydia was determined . When the ages of patients were compared, patients whose swabs gave positive results for Chlamydia were significantly younger than those whose swabs gave negative results . The women whose swabs gave positive results for Chlamydia began intercourse at a significantly younger age . The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in a young sexually-active population was 5.1%; the group with multiple partner was identified as being at high risk (9.3% positive results) . In trying to identify women with an increased risk of carrying Chlamydia, 5 factors appeared relevant: younger age at coitarche; a younger age; more than 1 sexual partner during the previous 12 months; symptoms of urethritis; and the presence of cervical ectopy .

Quad Sclavo Diagn, 1987 Dec, 23(4), 383 - 93
{Computerized management of information in the microbiology section of a hospital laboratory . Personal experience}; Cipriani S et al.; We installed in our microbiology laboratory a new computerized management system with a dedicated software for the needs of the department . The system allow us to give to the clinician the reports of microbiological data in a shorter time and to store them permanently . The computer system doesn't modify the existing organization of work, samples acceptance, execution of microbiological and serological tests and the report of the results, but make them faster, safer and more efficient . The system also shows the possibilities of epidemiological researches and statistical studies . These data are very interesting and useful for the relationship between the laboratory and general wards.

J Clin Gastroenterol, 1987 Dec, 9(6), 632 - 4
Treatment of cryptosporidiosis with spiramycin in AIDS . An "N of 1" trial; Woolf GM et al.; We describe a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial with spiramycin in a single patient with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and a severe secretory diarrhea caused by cryptosporidium . Spiramycin, a potentially harmful antibiotic, had no clinical or microbiological effect in this patient . The application of the single patient (N of 1) trial to common clinical problems is a simple way to analyze the value of different therapeutic approaches . The time-consuming, expensive, multi-patient trial with ultimate extrapolation to the individual patient can be avoided . Single-patient trials can influence management and improve patient care and have potentially wide use in patients with gastrointestinal disease.

Eur J Epidemiol, 1987 Dec, 3(4), 356 - 64
Rapid methods for the molecular diagnosis of infectious diseases: current trends and applications; Miotti PG; Methods for the rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases have become increasingly common in the last decade . The impetus for the development of such techniques has stemmed from the need to provide clinically relevant information without the length of time and complexity inherent to traditional cultivation methods . This is particularly important in high-risk populations for which more effective antibiotics and antiviral compounds are now available . Assay systems for the immunological detection of microbial agents occupy a central role in the molecular diagnosis of infectious diseases and are rapidly appearing on the market . Novel methods of organism detection by nucleic acid hybridization, long considered usable only in highly specialized laboratories, have the potential for use in routine microbiological laboratories and some systems are now commercially available . As more efficient and rapid diagnostics systems are being developed, the selection of the optimal method will depend on the environment in which the system is to be used . Rapid methods for the detection of infectious agents might markedly improve health care in a variety of clinical, laboratory and epidemiologic situations.

Minerva Med, 1987 Nov 15, 78(21), 1583 - 9
{Computerized management of the Chemico-Clinical and Microbiological Analysis Laboratory of U.S.S.L . No . 47 in Biella}; Detoma P; The current degree of computerisation in the chemical, clinical and microbiological analysis laboratory in USL 47, Biella, is reported with a description of the system employed . Future plans for further computerisation are described with particular reference to the random acceptance of samples and the direct link-up of analysts that will further improve a situation that is already highly satisfactory.

J Chromatogr, 1987 Nov 13, 409, 337 - 42
Simplified method to quantify geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol concentrations in water and microbiological cultures; Johnsen PB et al.; A simple and rapid method for the extraction and quantification of geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol is described . Using methylene chloride extraction and gas chromatography, the procedure eliminates costly stripping devices . Recovery efficiency of the procedure is approximately 65% with a sensitivity equal to the human threshold for these two important off-flavor compounds.

Vet Pathol, 1987 Nov, 24(6), 532 - 6
Candida abortion in cattle; Foley GL et al.; In a retrospective study, four cases of yeast-associated abortion were found among 1,323 bovine abortions during a 5-year period at the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine . Tissues were examined histologically, and results of virological testing and microbiological culture were reviewed . Candida parapsilosis was the only pathogenic agent demonstrated in these four cases . Placental lesions consisted of necrotizing placentitis with large numbers of yeasts within trophoblasts . Secondary fetal infection occurred in all four cases, with histological lesions or isolation of Candida from the lung, liver, intestines, abomasum, and heart . A tentative diagnosis of Candida parapsilosis-induced abortion in cattle can be made on the characteristic intracytoplasmic yeasts in placental trophoblasts.

J Assoc Off Anal Chem, 1987 Nov-Dec, 70(6), 931 - 6
Recommendations for preparing test samples for AOAC collaborative studies of microbiological procedures for foods; Andrews WH; Preparation of test samples for microbial collaborative studies poses problems not encountered in studies on chemical analytes . For Associate Referees who are considering a collaborative study of a microbiological procedure for food analysis, these problems have not been adequately addressed . Types of contamination (natural or artificial), number of test samples required, analyte selection, proper controls, and container selection are addressed herein . The discussion is a supplement to the guidelines contained in the Handbook for AOAC Members.

J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Nov, 25(11), 2214 - 5
Peritonsillar abscess caused by Nocardia asteroides; Adair JC et al.; A 22-year-old man with recurrent pharyngitis developed a peritonsillar abscess from which aspirated material yielded a pure culture of Nocardia asteroides . It is likely that the organism was introduced iatrogenically during a prior tonsillar incision . Although unusual, Nocardia species should be considered and microbiological specimens should be handled appropriately in pharyngeal abscesses that respond poorly to conventional therapy.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1987 Nov, 185(3), 201 - 10
{Strategy of environmental medical research}; Beck EG et al.; A report is made on the strategy and tactics of an environmental medical, group-diagnostic study of children which was carried out by order of the Hessian Minister of Social Security within the framework of the Lufreinhalteplan (Clean Air Plan) Rhine/Main in the time from 1982 to 1986 . This is a group-diagnostic examination of ten-year-old healthy children in the burdened area Rhine/Main (Wiesbaden, Frankfurt) and in the control areas of Freiburg and Starnberg . The objective of the study is to register the influence of the environment, in particular of air pollution, on a portion of the child population, especially with regard to persons at risk who react particularly sensitive to environmental influences and/or who have special health problems . In this connection it is attempted to convert the measuring data collected for characterizing the environment (ambient air) into effect-oriented data . The targets examined, i.e . anthropometric and clinical examinations as well as microbiological, immunologic and haematologic tests and the analysis of hair are to be evaluated in addition to family and social factors . Beyond that the attempt is made to correlate the results of the study with the biometeorological effective variables.

Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1987 Oct 10, 117(41), 1591 - 5
{Experiences in the diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infection using a double-sheathed brush catheter}; Lagler U et al.; Specimens from the lower airways were taken by protected brush catheter during 54 fiberoptic bronchoscopies for quantitative microbiological analysis . This technique allows uncontaminated sampling of lower airway secretion . The chance of identifying a bacterial pathogen in patients who have already been treated with antibiotics was less than 10% . The method is cumbersome, and it is important not only to culture but also to quantify the bacteria . The microbiological results thus obtained have influenced clinical decision-making in only a few patients.

Br J Urol, 1987 Oct, 60(4), 355 - 9
The role of Chlamydia trachomatis in epididymitis; Grant JB et al.; Microbiological studies have identified an infective micro-organism in 28 of 54 patients (52%) with epididymitis . Chlamydia trachomatis was the commonest infection isolated, occurring in 15 patients . An additional 17 patients (31%) who were culture negative had serological evidence which suggested recent chlamydial infection . Most patients with chlamydia were under 26 years of age, in contrast to patients over 35 years, in whom coliform infections predominated . Of the 12 consorts of patients with chlamydial epididymitis who were screened, nine were also positive for this micro-organism . These findings have important implications in the management of epididymitis, especially in young men.

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol, 1987 Oct, 26(2), 151 - 5
Endometrial microbial flora of hysterectomy specimens; Teisala K; Microbiological and histopathological specimens were obtained from three levels (fundal, middle and cervical) of the endometrium immediately after removing the uterus . Hysterectomy indication was menometrorrhagia and uterine fibroids in eight cases and chronic pelvic pain in two cases . All cultures for C . trachomatis, N . gonorrhoeae, M . hominis, U . urealyticum, herpes simplex virus, anaerobic and facultative bacteria were negative . Histopathological examination showed few plasma cells in the endometrium in four cases with the presence of uterine fibroids and in one case with adenomyosis . These results suggest that the endometrial cavity of a nonpregnant uterus is sterile.

Chemioterapia, 1987 Oct, 6(5), 374 - 6
Incidence of endogenous and exogenous opportunistic fungal infections in relation to different prophylactic measures: clinical and microbiological study of 431 immunocompromised patients; Mazzoni A et al.; Two groups of immunocompromised patients were studied with the aim of pointing out the possibilities of antifungal prophylaxis in this type of patient . All patients received oral treatment with nystatin, but only the patients of one group were also in strict reverse isolation . It has been confirmed that chemoprophylactic treatments may control opportunistic endogenous mycoses effectually . On the contrary, only reverse isolation seems to be effective against airborne exogenous fungal infections . Because of the difficulty and high cost of this practice, different modalities for a really generalizable antifungal prophylaxis are required . At present only the detection of new systemic antifungal drugs, which are not toxic and are easy to use, seems hopeful.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1987 Oct, 8(2), 113 - 7
Saccharomyces cerevisiae fungemia: case report and review of the literature; Cimolai N et al.; Saccharomyces cerevisiae was isolated on two separate occasions from the blood of a patient with chronic renal failure receiving dialysis . Treatment was complicated by recurrent ventricular tachycardia occurring after both 1 mg and 0.1 mg test doses of amphotericin . We report the unique clinical and microbiological aspects of this patient's management, and review the literature pertinent to this organism.

Occup Med, 1987 Oct-Dec, 2(4), 755 - 77
Biological interventions in the treatment of patients with multiple chemical sensitivities; McLellan RK; The syndrome of multiple chemical sensitivities has many manifestations and undoubtedly many causes . Treatment must be individualized based on a thorough psychosocial and biological diagnostic evaluation . Careful listening, as is usually the case, not only results in a more complete history but also serves a critical therapeutic purpose in cementing a trusting, working partnership . Family dynamics, and larger social concerns, such as litigation, may figure importantly as obstacles to rehabilitation if they are ignored in treatment planning . In chronically disabled patients, the importance of psychosocial interventions is even greater but should not eclipse attention to relevant medical interventions . The most basic physiologic manipulation involves a program of environmental avoidance . Such a program should be applied with caution since it is not without risks of inadvertent exacerbation of medical and psychologic disabilities . Therefore, from a medical perspective, interventions should focus on improving chemical tolerance by the appropriate application of first aid, chronohygiene, nutrition, psychophysiology, and correction of microbiological disruptions . Thorough investigation for intercurrent disease and its appropriate management is paramount . Attempts to treat the entire problem by isolating attention to one area or based on a single theory are likely to fail.

Thorax, 1987 Oct, 42(10), 759 - 65
Value of bronchoalveolar lavage in the management of severe acute pneumonia and interstitial pneumonitis in the immunocompromised child; de Blic J et al.; The diagnostic value of 73 bronchoalveolar lavages was assessed in 67 immunocompromised children (aged 3 months to 16 years) with pulmonary infiltrates . Thirty one children had primary and 19 secondary immune deficiency, 14 acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and three AIDS related complex . Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed during fibreoptic bronchoscopy, under local anaesthesia in all but two . One or more infective agents was found in eight of 11 patients with severe acute pneumonia and in 26 of 62 patients with interstitial pneumonitis . In interstitial pneumonitis, the most frequently encountered agents were Pneumocystis carinii (12), cytomegalovirus (8), and Aspergillus fumigatus (3) . The yield was related to the severity of interstitial pneumonitis . The mean cellular count and cytological profile in lavage returns from patients with varying infective agents or underlying pathological conditions showed no significant difference, except in those children with AIDS and AIDS related complex who had appreciable lymphocytosis (mean percentage of lymphocytes 28 (SD 17} . In children with AIDS and chronic interstitial pneumonitis lymphocytosis without pneumocystis infection was observed in eight of nine bronchoalveolar lavage returns and was suggestive of pulmonary lymphoid hyperplasia . Finally, bronchoalveolar lavage produced a specific diagnosis from the microbiological or cytological findings in 44 instances (60%) . Transient exacerbation of tachypnoea was observed in the most severely ill children but there was no case of respiratory decompensation attributable to the bronchoscopy . Bronchoalveolar lavage is a safe and rapid examination for the investigation of pulmonary infiltrates in immunocompromised children . It should be performed as a first line investigation and should reduce the use of open lung biopsy techniques.

Arch Latinoam Nutr, 1987 Sep, 37(3), 560 - 77
{Preparation and evaluation of fish portions from shrimp by-catch}; Acosta J et al.; Fish portions were obtained from a mixture of fish flesh from shrimp by-catch . Physical, chemical, microbiological and sensory tests were done to evaluate quality of raw materials, formulations and processing conditions . Several technological procedures proved to be feasible for this product . Stability of frozen products for four months was determined by physical, chemical and microbiological tests, the results of which indicated its stability during the study period . Findings of our study, therefore, suggest the potential of shrimp by-catch for the preparation of fish portions in view of its high acceptability and simple processing technique, by using marine resources not fully utilized at present.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1987 Sep, 20 Suppl A, 143 - 5
General principles of the treatment of infective endocarditis; Fleming HA; The early diagnosis of infective endocarditis is important so that effective antibiotic treatment may be started without delay . When this is achieved other treatment problems are minimised . Heart failure and rhythm changes are treated in the conventional way . The use of necessary surgery at any stage of the disease has greatly improved the prognosis . The timing of surgery is important and is best achieved by close consultation between cardiologist, microbiologist and surgeon . In general, any failure, either haemodynamic or microbiological, of the patient to make a good response will be an indication to consider surgery.

J Int Med Res, 1987 Sep-Oct, 15(5), 319 - 25
Short-term treatment of vaginal candidiasis with fenticonazole ovules: a three-dose schedule comparative trial; Wiest W et al.; In an unblinded, randomized parallel group trial three different therapeutic dose schedules of fenticonazole (vaginal ovules) were compared in the treatment of vaginal candidiasis . A total of 60 patients, aged 17-71 years, affected by mycologically confirmed symptomatic vaginal candidiasis were included and randomly allocated to three treatment groups: 200 mg daily, for 3 days; 600 mg in a single administration; and 1000 mg in a single administration . Therapeutic efficacy was assessed by microbiological and clinical criteria 7 days after the end of the treatment . All mycologically cured patients were re-checked, microbiologically and clinically, 2 weeks after the end of treatment to identify and evaluate possible relapses . The results obtained indicate that vaginal application of fenticonazole ovules is highly effective in producing both symptomatic relief and mycological sterilization of vaginal swabs in 75-85% of treated patients . No relapses were noted at the time of re-check . The three administration schedules tested appear to be equally effective and well tolerated . In one case only of the group given 200 mg and two cases of those given 1000 mg, a local burning sensation was noted . These results show that short-term treatment of vaginal candidiasis with fenticonazole ovules is effective and well tolerated.

Acta Eur Fertil, 1987 Sep-Oct, 18(5), 335 - 8
Is perlaparoscopic bacteriological analysis sufficient for establishing the etiology of P.I.D.?
Marino L, Montoli S, Di Mario M, Paganelli A, Sampaolo P.
The Authors have studied the usefulness and the limits of laparoscopy in the etiologic diagnosis of P.I.D.; for this purpose 21 patients affected with P.I.D . underwent microbiological sampling from cervix and/or vagina and from Fallopian tube during laparoscopy . The findings have shown a discrepancy between the microbiological isolation from vagina/endocervix and from salpinx and remarkably the loss of evidence of S.T.D . agents from tuba with, conversely, frequent isolation of these agents (34.7%) from cervical swabs . Therefore, the Authors believe that the percelioscopic microbiologic study of endosalpinx is essential for the correct etiologic diagnosis of P.I.D., especially in anaerobic germ infections; yet the technical problems of percelioscopic samples and the biological features of S.T.D . agents require the simultaneous bacteriological sampling from the cervix and/or vagina.

Minerva Med, 1987 Aug 31, 78(16), 1227 - 30
{Clinical evaluation of aztreonam in the prevention and therapy of infections in patients subjected to neurosurgical intervention}; Donati PA et al.; Twenty-six neurosurgery patients were given prophylactic treatment with Aztreonam at a dose of 1 g every 8 hours (30 mg/kg every 12 hours in children) for 8-12 days after the operation . In 18 cases 300 mg Clindamycin was also given every 8 hours for 8 days . No local or general infections arose in the postoperative period . Three patients with infections caused by susceptible bacteria were given 1 g Aztreonam every 6 hours (30 mg/kg every 8 hours in children) for 8 days . In all cases all clinical and microbiological signs of the infection had disappeared by the end of treatment . Apart from one episode of mild nausea no side effects were noted . Aztreonam is therefore considered a safe and effective drug for the treatment and prophylaxis of postoperative infections in neurosurgery.

Arch Fr Pediatr, 1987 Aug-Sep, 44(7), 539 - 44
{Fetomaternal therapeutic follow-up of spiramycin during pregnancy}; Forestier F et al.; In the preventive treatment of congenital toxoplasmosis it is admitted that spiramycin is concentrated in the placenta and crosses the placental barrier at the end of pregnancy . However, little is known about its entry in the fetal circulation . We studied fetal spiramycin blood levels during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy in women who, having presented with toxoplasmosis during the 1st trimester, had been given spiramycin until delivery . Microbiological titrations of spiramycin were performed--in the maternal blood at the onset of treatment, at the time of fetal blood sampling and during delivery), in the fetal blood at the time of prenatal diagnosis of toxoplasmosis, in cord blood and placenta at birth . We were able to confirm transplacental crossing of spiramycin . Fetal blood levels during the 2nd trimester were about 47% of the maternal ones and there was no correlation between maternal and fetal levels . Levels at birth showed that (1) there was no accumulation in the course of treatment, (2) spiramycin was concentrated in placenta and (3) there was a correlation between fetal and maternal levels during the 3rd trimester.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1987 Aug, 31(8), 1157 - 63
Recent analytical methods for cephalosporins in biological fluids; Toothaker RD et al.; Since 1980, RP chromatography has been the principal analytical technique used for cephalosporins . This technology offers selectivity, accuracy, and ease of use . Most of the methods rely on protein precipitation and, to a lesser extent, solid-phase isolation or extraction procedures . The proper selection of a method depends on the analytical constraints imposed by the overall objective of the study . For example, pharmacokinetic datum interpretation mandates that the method be validated and provide specific and accurate results . LC is the preferred technique, since it not only meets these specifications but may also distinguish between the drug and metabolites . Those chromatographic methods which quantify several different cephalosporins are not desirable for pharmacokinetic datum interpretation, since accuracy and precision are usually compromised in order that many different drugs may be quantified in a single analysis . The proper selection of sample preparation method is dependent on the presence of potential interferences and the acceptable lower limit of quantitation . Protein precipitation methods offer ease of sample preparation but may suffer from nonselectivity . Solid-phase isolation and extraction procedures may increase selectivity and improve the limit of quantitation . Although LC provides specific and accurate results, clinical laboratories may prefer to use the less specific methods for therapeutic drug monitoring . In this case, microbiological, enzymatic, and fluorimetric methods offer improved sample throughput but less specificity . However, these methods should not be used for drugs that may have a low margin of safety or if the patient is on multiple-antibiotic therapy . Future methods may involve incorporating solid-phase isolation columns to enhance the specificity of chromatographic, microbiological, enzymatic, and fluorescence methods . Advancements in microbore column technology may allow improvements in the selectivity and sensitivity of LC methods . Many investigators prefer to use simple protein precipitation procedures for sample preparation because of sample throughput constraints . However, advances in robotic sample preparation may allow the more cumbersome solid-phase isolation or extraction techniques to be used to improved sample throughput and specificity.

Carcinogenesis, 1987 Aug, 8(8), 1085 - 8
Biochemical studies on the catalysis of nitrosation by bacteria; Calmels S et al.; Biochemical and microbiological studies were conducted to characterize the mechanism of bacterial formation of N-nitrosomorpholine from morpholine and nitrite at neutral pH . Nitrosating activity was markedly induced when bacteria were cultured anaerobically in minimal culture medium containing nitrate, while the presence of cysteine or tungsten in the medium inhibited induction . Of various metals, coenzymes and inhibitors tested for their effects on in vitro nitrosation of morpholine, potassium cyanide, sodium azide, NAD(P)H and nitrate strongly inhibited nitrosation . Several mutants of Escherichia coli A10 strain were prepared in order to examine whether nitrosation activity is linked to specific loci . Niridazole-resistant mutants, which lack nitroreductase, had as much nitrosating activity as the original E . coli A10, but chlorate-resistant mutants had completely lost this activity . A good correlation was observed between nitrate reductase activity and nitrosating activity in these mutants . These results indicate that bacterial nitrosation is an enzyme-mediated reaction closely associated with molybdenoenzymes such as the nitrate reductase/formate hydrogenlyase system.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1987 Aug, 31(8), 1222 - 4
Determination of teicoplanin concentrations in serum by high-pressure liquid chromatography; Joos B et al.; An isocratic reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatographic method for the determination of six components of the teicoplanin complex in biological fluid was developed . By using fluorescence detection after precolumn derivatization with fluorescamine, the assay is specific and highly sensitive, with reproducibility studies yielding coefficients of variation ranging from 1.5 to 8.5% (at 5 to 80 micrograms/ml) . Response was linear from 2.5 to 80 micrograms/ml (r = 0.999); the recovery from spiked human serum was 76% . An external quality control was performed to compare this high-pressure liquid chromatographic method (H) with a standard microbiological assay (M); no significant deviation from slope = 1 and intercept = 0 was found by regression analysis (H = 1.03M - 0.45; n = 15).

S Afr Med J, 1987 Aug 1, 72(3), 197 - 8
The value of laparoscopy in the diagnosis of acute pelvic inflammatory disease; Burchell HJ et al.; A total of 40 patients with acute pelvic inflammatory disease (acute PID) were examined over a period of 7 months to determine the diagnostic value of laparoscopic examination in these cases . The most important findings were: the clinical diagnosis of acute PID was confirmed by laparoscopy in 55% of patients; laparoscopy was especially of value in differentiating potentially lethal conditions such as ectopic pregnancy and acute appendicitis from acute PID in 15% of patients; laparoscopically obtained microbiological specimens provide a more accurate means of determining the microbiological aetiology of acute PID than vaginally obtained specimens.

Can J Vet Res, 1987 Jul, 51(3), 345 - 9
Effects of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus infection on bovine airway reactivity; Conlon PD et al.; The response of isolated tracheal and bronchial strips to isoproterenol in vitro was studied in eleven male Jersey calves . Clinical, microbiological and pathological evaluations of the calves were carried out . In calves exposed once or twice to infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus, the relaxation threshold of the trachealis muscle to isoproterenol was significantly (p less than 0.05) impaired (threshold 5.0 X 10(-7) M, single exposure and 1.0 X 10(-7) M, double exposure), when compared with uninfected controls (threshold 1.0 X 10(-8) M) . Single infection significantly impaired tracheal relaxation to isoproterenol doses from 1.0 X 10(-7) to 5.0 X 10(-4) M, and double infection significantly impaired tissue responses at drug doses from 1.0 X 10(-7) to 1 X 10(-4) M . Bronchial relaxation threshold was not significantly inhibited (p less than 0.05) in singly infected or doubly infected animals (threshold 5.0 X 10(-8) M and 1.0 X 10(-8) M, respectively), when compared with uninfected controls (threshold 1.0 X 10(-9) M) . Single infection significantly impaired bronchial relaxation at isoproterenol doses from 1.0 X 10(-7) M to 5.0 X 10(-6) M while double infection significantly impaired relaxation only at 5.0 X 10(-7) M . The disruption of normal homeostatic bronchodilatory mechanisms may predispose animals infected with infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus to secondary bacterial infections due to excessive airway constriction and subsequent compromise of lung defenses.

Arch Dis Child, 1987 Jul, 62(7), 700 - 5
Sudden and unexpected death between 1 and 5 years; Southall DP et al.; Of a population of 9856 children followed up from birth, 9251 of whom underwent 24 hour tape recordings of electrocardiograms and abdominal wall breathing movements during early infancy, five died suddenly and unexpectedly at home at ages ranging from 16 months to 4 years . Postmortem examination, including full histological and microbiological investigations . failed to identify abnormalities ordinarily associated with death in all five cases . Two of the children were known to have had frequent cyanotic episodes and died during these events . In the three remaining cases there was no previous history of cyanotic or apnoeic episodes . The death of one of these three children was seen by his parents and the clinical features suggested that apnoea rather than a cardiac arrhythmia was the primary mechanism for his death . As in infancy, sudden and unexpected death for which no adequate cause is found at necropsy seems to constitute a major component of mortality between 1 and 5 years.

Handchir Mikrochir Plast Chir, 1987 Jul, 19(4), 230 - 2
{Buruli ulcer--necrotizing infection of the hand of a plastic surgeon}; Exner K et al.; The Buruli ulcer is caused by mycobacterium ulcerans . The clinical features of this atypical mycobacteriosis are similar to tuberculosis . Differentiation is only possible by microbiological investigation . In cases of chronic soft tissue infections mycobacteriosis must be taken into consideration . Since microbiological differentiation needs 8-12 weeks and chemotherapy is not effective, early and wide surgical excision is the treatment of choice.

Am Ind Hyg Assoc J, 1987 Jul, 48(7), 652 - 5
Personal size-separating impactor for sampling microbiological aerosols; Macher JM et al.; A commercially-available personal impactor was altered to sample viable microorganisms onto a semisolid, moist, gelatin medium rather than onto a stainless steel or filter surface . The Marple personal cascade impactor is an eight-stage sampler with predicted cut-offs of 20, 15, 10, 6, 3.5, 2, 1, and 0.61 microns for stages one to eight, at a flow rate of 2 L/min . The possibility was examined that using trays containing a small amount of gelatin medium in place of the thin, flat filters of the original design would alter the impactor's performance . A polydisperse aerosol of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP or DOP) was sampled directly into an aerodynamic particle sizer and through a stage of the personal impactor . The aerosol particles penetrating the tested stage were sized and counted, and the counts compared with those in the total aerosol . With a Mylar medium filter as the collecting substrate, the measured particle cut-offs (D50) for stages four to seven were 5.2, 3.4, 1.4, and 1.0 microns . With a tray containing gelatin as the collecting substrate, the D50 were 5.9, 4.0, 1.6, and 1.0 microns . The size separation of the personal sampler for ambient bacterial and fungal aerosols compared well with that of the Andersen microbiological impactor . The use of a moist collecting surface, compared to a dry surface, can be expected to enhance recovery of viable airborne microorganisms sensitive to dehydration.

Neurology, 1987 Jul, 37(7), 1214 - 6
Penicillin concentrations in serum and CSF during high-dose intravenous treatment for neurosyphilis; Schoth PE et al.; Eight neurosyphilitic patients (two asymptomatic, six symptomatic) were treated with intravenously administered aqueous penicillin G, 0.15 million IU/kg body weight/24 hrs for 15 days . On the 8th day of treatment, penicillin concentrations were determined in serum and CSF samples collected at hourly intervals over a period of 8 hours, using a microbiological assay method . Serum concentrations ranged from 0.26 to 100 mg/l, while CSF concentrations ranged from 0.062 to 3.0 mg/l . These results indicate that, by ensuring penicillin concentrations in CSF, which are continuously above the minimal fully treponemicidal concentration during the course of treatment, this treatment regimen should provide an adequate therapy for asymptomatic and symptomatic neurosyphilis.

Pol J Pharmacol Pharm, 1987 Jul-Aug, 39(4), 337 - 42
Influence of ethnic diets on ampicillin bioavailability and pharmacokinetics in healthy Pakistani subjects; Hamid S et al.; The influence of time and different ethnic diets on relative bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of orally administered ampicillin was studied in healthy Pakistani subjects . The bioavailability of ampicillin was determined using the plasma levels which were measured microbiologically . Plasma levels were analyzed, assuming a one-compartment linear model with first order absorption . Different types of Pakistani diets ingested immediately before dosing reduced plasma levels to an almost similar extent, while different results were found upon changing the time of drug administration with respect to the food intake . The study reveals that, for maximum absorption, ampicillin should be given on empty stomach and at least 1.5 h before the meal.

Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet, 1987 Jul-Sep, 12(3), 153 - 60
Erythromycin lactobionate: pharmacokinetics and uterine tissue levels; Segui A et al.; Erythromycin is well-known for its properties of tissular diffusion . An estimation of its concentration in uterine tissue seemed worthwhile, in order to justify the use of erythromycin lactobionate in uterine infections by sensitive micro-organisms . The authors studied the uterine levels of this macrolid, after perfusion of 1g of erythromycin lactobionate, over a period of one hour . The protocol involved a group of 15 women, who were to undergo a hysterectomy for benign non-inflammatory pathology . The uterine specimens and plasmatic pharmacokinetics of the antibiotic constitute the data . The concentrations of antibiotic were determined by microbiological methods . 2 sets of results emerge: during perfusion, the uterine erythromycin levels are equal or inferior to simultaneous serum levels . after perfusion, the uterine levels are superior to serum levels . A bicompartmental linear model was used, which simulated the tissular levels in standard treatment with erythromycin lactobionate . If the erythromycin 4 micrograms/ml critical concentration is compared with uterine tissue concentration, the antibiotic may be expected to be active against a uterine affected by sensitive micro-organisms during a period of approximately 5 hours . This result must be confirmed by a clinical study.

Ann Inst Pasteur Microbiol, 1987 Jul-Aug, 138(4), 407 - 14
Whole-cell bacterial peroxidase test with isoproterenol as the hydrogen donor; Giunta S et al.; The beta-adrenergic compound isoproterenol was used as oxidizable reagent in a whole-cell assay for the detection of bacterial peroxidase activities . Isoproterenol has been shown to constitute a useful reagent for detecting peroxidase activities in enzymatic tests, utilizing standard purified enzymes, and in the microbiological application proposed . The procedure developed is simple and rapid to perform . In contrast to currently used whole-cell tests for bacterial peroxidases, the assay described here does not need preliminary permeabilization; moreover, the compound utilized does not have related toxicological problems . Therefore, the isoproterenol assay may represent a low-cost safe additional peroxidase test in clinical bacteriology.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1987 Jul, 20(1), 133 - 6
Studies on a new formulation of ceftazidime--ceftazidime arginine--in patients with recurrent chest infections; Davies BI et al.; One hundred hospital patients with respiratory infections were treated with 1 or 2 g intramuscular injections of ceftazidime sodium or of a new formulation of ceftazidime with arginine three times daily . Clinical and microbiological assessments showed no significant differences in efficacy between the two preparations . Local pain necessitating lignocaine was noted in five of 49 evaluable patients given ceftazidime sodium (10.2%) but in none of the 50 receiving ceftazidime arginine . No other unwanted effects were recorded . The pharmacokinetic results after the 1 g injections showed slightly higher Cmax values with ceftazidime arginine with correspondingly greater 0-7 h AUC values . The mean AUCs were almost identical after the 2 g injections.

Arch Pathol Lab Med, 1987 Jul, 111(7), 601 - 19
Molecular biology and the pathologist . General principles and applications; Fenoglio-Preiser CM et al.; This review article contains two parts . In the first part, molecular biological principles and techniques are discussed . These include nucleic acid isolation, restriction endonucleases, various types of hybridization methods, and restriction fragment-length polymorphisms . The second section focuses on the application of these techniques to genetic analyses, microbiological diagnosis, cell differentiation, and tumor biology . It is our hope to provide the reader with a broad understanding of the tools and an appreciation of their applications.

Antibiot Med Biotekhnol, 1987 Jul, 32(7), 502 - 8
{Data averaging in pharmacokinetic analysis: the population pharmacokinetics of cephalothin and cefazolin}; Firsov AA et al.; Cephalothin and cefazolin pharmacokinetics was studied in cats after intravenous administration in doses of 20 and 75 mg/kg . The antibiotic serum concentrations were determined microbiologically . It was shown that the antibiotic pharmacokinetics within the above dose ranges was linear . The data on the antibiotic pharmacokinetics were described by bioexponential equations . Various methods for estimating population pharmacokinetic parameters were compared . Two approaches were used in estimating the population parameters: (1) averaging of individual concentrations followed by determining a single set of the parameters (naive pooled data approach) and (2) calculating of the parameters for an individual concentration/time set followed by the parameter averaging (two-stage approach) . With the use of every approach the geometric mean of the parameters was calculated along with the arithmetic one . When the two-stage approach was used the population parameters were estimated with two procedures: averaging of the hybrid parameters (macroconstants) and averaging of the microconstants . Estimation of the population parameters as a geometric mean of the individual parameters, proved to be the most preferable approach.

N Z Med J, 1987 Jun 24, 100(826), 374 - 7
Netilmicin in the treatment of clinical peritonitis in chronic renal failure patients managed by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis; Neale TJ et al.; The efficacy and systemic absorption of netilmicin following intraperitoneal instillation were studied during ten episodes of clinical peritonitis in chronic renal failure patients managed by CAPD . Episodes were unselected for sensitivity of microorganism in vitro to netilmicin . Five subjects studied as inpatients had sequential dialysate and frequent plasma samples assayed for netilimicin up to 110 hours of therapy . Five patients who managed their peritonitis at home had dialysate and plasma netilmicin levels estimated at two and six days . In a dose of 10 mg/l, netilmicin was curative in the majority of patients (70%) . Toxic blood levels were not found . Experience with netilmicin compared favourably with that observed in eight consecutive episodes of outpatient peritonitis managed with intraperitoneal cefamandole, the first line treatment for CAPD peritonitis in our unit (75% cure) . No side effects were recorded with either agent . We conclude that netilmicin can be used effectively in the majority of microbiologically undifferentiated episodes of CAPD peritonitis, including in the home setting.

S Afr Med J, 1987 Jun 6, 71(11), 717 - 9
Disseminated Blastomyces dermatitidis infection in a non-endemic area . A case report; Berkowitz I et al.; In areas where tuberculosis is endemic other causes of respiratory infection are often overlooked . A pulmonary infiltrate associated with skin lesions without a microbiological diagnosis of tuberculosis should arouse suspicion of a fungal infection . This was demonstrated in a patient in whom Blastomyces dermatitidis, a rare pathogen in southern Africa, was isolated.

AORN J, 1987 Jun, 45(6), 1420 - 1, 1424-7
Interhospital transportation . Monitoring sterility of instrument packs; Greene VW et al.; The Minneapolis-St Paul area is currently experiencing an increase in health care mergers among hospitals . As new facilities are acquired, whether through merger or the building of satellite hospitals, economic considerations often instigate the consolidation of certain departments and services . Thus, hospitals are confronted with a new set of management problems . One such problem might be determining if the probability of contamination increases when a sterile pack is transported from the central sterile supply department of one hospital to the operating room of another hospital . This study indicates that interhospital transport of surgical packs, using a specially designed transfer system, can be accomplished without compromising the sterile status to a significantly greater degree than that associated with transport within a hospital . Many more samples would have to be assayed before these results could be considered conclusive . This study proposes a simple, reproducible, microbiologically sensitive and statistically satisfactory test to monitor the sterile integrity of surgical packs . In the past, different sterility monitoring methods proposed have required either special equipment, specially trained personnel, or complicated procedures . The assay method described here can be easily used by central sterile supply department personnel to monitor the sterile status of transported or stored surgical packs.

Antibiot Med Biotekhnol, 1987 Jun, 32(6), 444 - 6
{Microcomputer-based automation of the microbiological analysis of antibiotic activity}; Kuropatkin LV et al.; Laboratory informative computer systems (LICS-10 and LICS-11) for microbiological assay of antibiotics were developed . The systems are based on the ISKRA-1256 computer . As compared to the routine method with the use of the well-known V . S . Dmitrieva's Tables the LICSs provide more than a 2-fold decrease in the working hours of the assay . The data on the specific software for the LICSs are presented and the algorithms for the calculations are described.

Gut, 1987 Jun, 28(6), 726 - 38
Effects of one year's treatment with ranitidine and of truncal vagotomy on gastric contents; Thomas JM et al.; Fifteen patients with peptic ulcer underwent 24 hour studies of gastric contents: before and on completing six weeks' treatment with oral ranitidine 150 mg bd, twice on maintenance treatment for nine to 12 months and one month after stopping the drug . For comparison, 11 patients underwent identical 24 hour studies three to 38 months after truncal vagotomy for duodenal ulcer . During treatment with ranitidine median 24 hour intragastric pH, nitrate concentration, and counts of total and nitrate reducing bacteria increased significantly regardless of dietary nitrate content; there was no significant increase in the median day time concentration of N-nitroso compounds . Despite these changes, an acid tide at some point in each 24 hour study period prevented persistent bacterial colonisation of the stomach . There were no significant differences between the biochemical and microbiological changes recorded during one year of treatment with ranitidine, and the observations on patients after truncal vagotomy . One month after stopping one year's treatment with ranitidine all variables examined returned to pretreatment levels . Treatment with ranitidine or vagotomy was associated with significant positive correlations among pH, nitrate concentration and bacterial counts . Correlations between pH and N-nitroso compound concentration and between concentrations of nitrite and N-nitroso compounds were not significant.

J Dairy Sci, 1987 Jun, 70(6), 1168 - 77
Evaluation of efficacy of four commercial enzyme-based cleaners of ultrafiltration systems; Smith KE et al.; Use of UF and RO in the dairy industry is rapidly expanding . Because the dairy industry demands high levels of cleanliness, this new technology requires close evaluation to assure adherence to these standards . Efficacy of four commercial enzyme-based cleaners (pH 7.0 to 8.4) in UF systems was determined by microbiological evaluation and permeate flux restoration . The UF system containing two polysulfone UF membranes in parallel, was soiled by recycling 380 L of sweet whey (40 degrees C) for 2.0 h followed by concentrating whey for .5 h . The cleaning cycle consisted of acid cleaner (.5 h, 40 degrees C), followed by enzyme cleaner (10.0 h, 40 degrees C), and rinsing (2.0 h, 40 degrees C) . A chlorine sanitizer was circulated (5 min, 40 degrees C) and the unit containing sanitizing solution left idle overnight . Flux was determined and swabs and rinse water samples were taken immediately after soiling, after cleaning, and the next morning to check sanitizing . The four enzyme-based cleaners were unsatisfactory when microbiological criteria were considered . Loss of sanitizer strength and problems with yeast and especially mold growth over time also indicated lack of effective cleaning . Flux, however, was restored easily and did not correlate with efficacy of cleaning based on numbers of microorganisms remaining.

Genitourin Med, 1987 Jun, 63(3), 182 - 7
Morbidity after termination of pregnancy in first trimester; Duthie SJ et al.; The outcome of termination of pregnancy was observed in relation to the preoperative clinical and microbiological findings in 167 women attending a day care abortion unit in Liverpool . Before termination, Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from the cervix of 19 (11%) of the patients and high counts (greater than 10(4) colour changing units (ccu) per ml of specimen) of mycoplasmas were found in 30 (18%) . Coexistent infections with chlamydiae and high counts of mycoplasmas occurred in only seven (4%) women . Trichomonas vaginalis, yeasts, or pathogenic bacteria were found in vaginal swabs from 30 (18%) women . After undergoing termination, seven (4%) women developed pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), five (71%) of whom had yielded C trachomatis before undergoing termination . A further 13 (8%) patients developed minor morbidity of the upper genital tract; high count mycoplasmal infection had been found in seven (54%) and chlamydial infection in three (23%) of these women before termination . In contrast, C trachomatis had been isolated from only 11 (8%) and high counts of mycoplasmas from 23 (16%) of the 147 women who had uneventful recoveries after undergoing termination . No correlation was apparent between the presence of vaginal pathogens before termination and the development of untoward sequelae postoperatively . Neither the history nor clinical examination before termination would have indicated that chlamydial or mycoplasmal infections were present, or that postoperative complications were likely to occur . Abnormal cervical cytology, however, was found in 86 (52%) of women overall, including 15 (79%) of the 19 women with chlamydial infection.

Eur J Epidemiol, 1987 Jun, 3(2), 137 - 42
Prevalence of leptospirosis in man . Pilot survey; Cacciapuoti B et al.; A survey on the prevalence of leptospirosis was performed on the population living in an area of central Italy . The size of the sample was calculated in order to provide significant results in the case of a prevalence of infection in not less than 1% of the population . Results demonstrated an unexpectedly wide circulation of leptospirosis in the surveyed area, showing a prevalence rate of infection of 11.34% for people living in rural areas and 3.08% for people living in the main town . The highest prevalence of infection (17.44%) was found in people between 30 and 44 years of age, living in rural areas . Such a wide circulation of undiagnosed past leptospiral infections was attributed both to the prevalence of mild clinical cases of leptospirosis in humans and the lack of microbiological tests performed to differentiate current leptospirosis from other infectious illnesses . An unexpected persistence in sera of co-agglutinins towards non-pathogenic serovars of L . biflexa was also noticed in healthy people . Criteria were established for the extension of the survey on the prevalence of leptospirosis to cover larger areas by limiting sampling to the more exposed age groups and to areas representative of a larger land belt.

Arch Latinoam Nutr, 1987 Jun, 37(2), 351 - 63
{Preparation of frozen blocks of fish flesh and its evaluation during storage}; Rodriguez L et al.; Minced fish flesh from shrimp by-catch was used as raw material to prepare four frozen blocks under different conditions, as follows: a) Minced fish flesh washed in cool water for 10 minutes with continuous stirring (water-fish proportion, 3:1) . b) Minced fish flesh mixed with sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) (0.5%), and sodium chloride (1%), respectively . c) Minced fish flesh mixed with 0.5% sodium tripolyphosphate, 1% sodium chloride and 7.5% corn starch, and c) Minced fish flesh without any treatment, which was used as control . Fish blocks were frozen at -40 degrees C and stored at -10 degrees C and -30 degrees C freezing points during a six-month period . Physical, chemical and microbiological tests were performed during the storage period . The results obtained indicate that frozen fish blocks stored at -10 degrees C deteriorate faster than those stored at -30 degrees C . The TPP, sodium chloride and corn starch treatments were not effective in reducing protein denaturation, but they do increase the water retention capacity of the blocks.

Isr J Med Sci, 1987 Jun, 23(6), 752 - 8
Identification and isolation of mycoplasmas by immunobinding; Kotani H et al.; This laboratory has developed an immunobinding assay (IBA) to identify and detect mycoplasmas in a variety of specimens . The specimen is inoculated in volumes of 10 microliters onto nitrocellulose (NC) paper, which is then blocked, fixed, and incubated at room temperature . Specific antimycoplasma polyclonal or monoclonal antibody is first added, followed by peroxidase-labeled antibody directed toward the first immunoglobulin . Alternately, antimycoplasma IgG can be purified and conjugated to horseradish peroxidase for use in a direct assay . Addition of a developing solution results in the formation of purple color when mycoplasmas are present . Titers of rabbit antimycoplasma antisera range from 1:1,000 to 1:30,000 . This assay can detect approximately 1 x 10(4) colony-forming units (CFU) . This IBA has been used routinely to identify mycoplasmal isolates from 132 infected cell cultures . In addition, the procedure successfully detected Mycoplasma pneumoniae in throat swabs from patients with respiratory illness within 2 h . Perfect correlation was obtained with the IBA and microbiological culture of throat swabs for M . orale, M . salivarium and M . pneumoniae . The procedure was successfully used for other Mollicutes . It detected ureaplasmas in urogenital swabs and corn stunt spiroplasmas in infected corn plants and leafhoppers . A modification of the technique has been developed that identifies mycoplasma colonies on agar . It has also been used to assay for antimycoplasma antibodies in serum.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1987 Jun, 35(5 Pt 2), 719 - 23
{Pharmacokinetics of ceftriaxone in hemodialysis}; Laville M et al.; The influence of hemodialysis on the pharmacokinetics of ceftriaxone was studied in 5 patients with chronic renal failure, with a glomerular filtration rate of less than 5 ml/min, and treated by regular hemodialysis . A single dose of 2 g ceftriaxone was administered IV at the end of a hemodialysis, and venous samples were drawn 12 and 24 h thereafter . Two hemodialysis were performed at the 44th (HD1) and the 92nd (HD2) hour, and blood samples were drawn simultaneously on arterial and venous sides of the dialyzer at the onset of HD1 and at the end of HD2 . Plasma ceftriaxone concentrations were measured on each sample by both microbiological and chromatographic (HPLC) methods . In these patients, ceftriaxone kinetics are considerably longer than in normal subjects, with an elimination half-life of 16 h, an apparent distribution volume of 800 ml/kg, but without decrease of plasma clearance, except in one patient who had hepatic cytolysis at the time of injection . Plasma concentrations on both sides of dialyzers, or before and after hemodialysis, are not significantly different, and the mean hemodialysis clearance ranges between 26 and 30 ml/min/m2 dialyzer area . According to these data, the dose-interval between successive administrations of ceftriaxone 2 g IV should be 48 h in patients with chronic renal failure, and supplemental doses do not appear necessary after hemodialysis.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1987 Jun, 35(5 Pt 2), 713 - 6
{Determination of blood ceftriaxone . Comparison of microbiological and HPLC methods}; de Barbeyrac B et al.; 108 serum samples in 27 patients were collected after the first, before the second, after and before the fifth dose of 2 g every 24 h and assayed for ceftriaxone by microbiological method and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) . The statistical analysis of the results show a correlation coefficient equal to 0.95 . The protein binding doesn't affect the microbiological method . The two methods are convenient for clinical use.

Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Jun, 6(3), 344 - 7
New microbiological techniques for hospital epidemiology; Goldmann DA; Infection control teams rely on microbiology laboratories for accurate, reproducible data to trace the spread of microorganisms in the hospital . Since few problems are recognized immediately, laboratories should save important nosocomial pathogens so that outbreak strains will be available for analysis by more sophisticated techniques, particularly since automation has reduced the amount of epidemiologically useful data generated by routine procedures . Traditional supplemental reference procedures include phage typing, biotyping, serotyping and bacteriocin typing . Recently, analysis of antibiotic resistance determinants has provided the hospital epidemiologist with additional tools . Resistant strains have been characterized by their production of specific antibiotic inactivating enzymes . Agarose gel electrophoresis and restriction endonuclease analysis of plasmid DNA have permitted precise characterization of nosocomial strains, and the spread of antibiotic resistance genes can now be followed by sensitive and specific DNA probes . DNA probes also show promise for distinguishing nosocomial strains bearing known virulence factors from strains with less pathogenic potential . Molecular genetics techniques have found an additional role in elucidating the epidemiology of nosocomial viruses, especially the herpesviruses.

Neurosurgery, 1987 Jun, 20(6), 930 - 7
Computed imaging stereotaxy: experience and perspective related to 500 procedures applied to brain masses; Apuzzo ML et al.; The evolution of more sophisticated imaging techniques has initiated a renewed interest in stereotactic devices, methods, and applications . The Brown-Roberts-Wells instrument was available to us early in its prototype stage, and this report reviews the first 500 cases using the system at the University of Southern California Medical Center Hospitals . Procedures were undertaken after recognition of apparent structural alterations on imaging studies, with objectives being both diagnostic and therapeutic . Target locations were predominantly within the cerebral centrum-basal ganglia (284 cases) and diencephalic-mesencephalic regions (129 cases) . Operative objectives included: histological and microbiological assay, cyst and abscess aspiration, installation of temporary or permanent drainage conduits, point source and colloid base brachytherapy, cerebroscopy and ventriculoscopy with biopsy, aspiration, and excision, and intraoperative vascular localization . Using multiple instrumentation at the target point (741 point placements), we realized procedural objectives in 95.6% of the cases . The mortality was 0.2% and the morbidity was 1%: hematoma, 2 cases; infection, 1 case; increased deficit, 1 case; intraprocedural seizure, 1 case . A specific diagnosis was not obtained in 4.4% (necrosis, 10 cases; inflammatory response, 9 cases; granuloma, 1 case; gliosis, 1 case; diagnostic error, 1 case) . Individual guidelines for case selection, technique, institutional requirements, and applications of the method are discussed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1987 Jun, 184(3-4), 336 - 58
{Vertical flow of germs in a building shaft: physical and microbiological measurements and development of an analogous mathematical model}; Munch W et al.; The air flow and the concentration of microorganisms have been measured in the stair shaft of a hospital . A diving bell-type of pressure-recording instrument and samplers for the microorganisms (impaction device) were used . With this experimental data the flow rate of microorganisms between the floors of the hospital was calculated . A physical model based on numerical calculations using simplified transport equations is proposed, which would be able to predict the flow field and the distribution of microorganisms in a staircase . The calculations have been executed up to a Reynolds number of 400 when the Schmidt number is 0.5 and 1.0 . This numerical method can help to reduce the experimental work, as well as, to investigate unknown transport mechanisms of organic and inorganic substances including microorganisms.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1987 Jun, (6), 25 - 9
{Comparative effectiveness of different methods for the microbiological study of resected pulmonary tuberculomas}; Dorozhkova IR et al.; Wide-range microbiological study (bacterioscopy, inoculation, biological assays) of 114 lung tuberculomas excised from 107 patients has revealed a pronounced variability and sharply decreased viability of mycobacterial populations vegetating in caseous foci . Differences in the frequency and character of the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and their altered forms, arising from the use of three above-mentioned methods of microbiological investigation, were noted . Bacterioscopy proved to be more informative with respect to the detection of the bacterial forms of M . tuberculosis . Biological assay was highly sensitive with respect to the L-forms of M . tuberculosis and permitted the detection of the persisting forms of this infective agent, contained in caseous foci and not detected by the method of inoculations . To evaluate the actual state of the mycobacterial population in the focus of tuberculous lesion, the use of a complex of microbiological methods for the detection of typical and biologically altered forms of M . tuberculosis is necessary.

J Immunol, 1987 May 15, 138(10), 3426 - 30
Altered splenic T cell function of BALB/cByJ mice infected with mouse hepatitis virus or Sendai virus; Smith AL et al.; Mouse hepatitis virus and Sendai virus are among the most common viruses naturally infecting laboratory mice . Concanavalin A-stimulated in vitro proliferative responses of splenocytes were examined after infection of BALB/cByJ mice with the JHM strain of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV-JHM) or Sendai virus . Mice were exposed to these viruses by presumed natural routes (per os or intranasally) . Immunodepression was marked but transient among BALB/cByJ mice exposed to MHV-JHM . Among mice exposed to Sendai virus and examined over a 21-day period, spleen cells from only one mouse, sacrificed 10 days postinoculation, exhibited a severely impaired ability to respond to concanavalin A . Lymphokine production by spleen cells from control and infected mice was then assessed . IL 2 was either absent or present at very low levels in culture supernates of concanavalin A-unresponsive spleen cells from MHV-JHM-infected mice . Spleen cells from the single Sendai virus-infected mouse also produced very low levels of IL 2 . In contrast, IL 1 was detected in supernatants of all spleen cell cultures derived from control, MHV-JHM-infected, or Sendai virus-infected mice . There was not a clear correlation between concanavalin A responsiveness and the ability of spleen cells to produce interferon-gamma . These results stress the importance of using laboratory mice of known microbiological status for immunologic experiments.

Arzneimittelforschung, 1987 May, 37(5), 577 - 9
Local treatment of candidal vaginitis with a mepartricin-sodium lauryl sulfate complex; Godts P; 44 patients with candidal vaginitis participated in a trial using a new formulation of a mepartricin-sodium lauryl sulfate complex for local administration (dosage schedule: one 25,000-unit vaginal tablet (SPA-S-222) daily for 6 days) . Microbiological examination revealed an 88.6% cure rate (samples tested negative) at the end of treatment and a 90.9% cure rate 30 days after cessation of treatment . In addition, the clinical symptoms observed at the beginning of treatment disappeared rapidly and the patients showed great clinical improvement under the present therapy . Both local and systemic tolerance of the preparation used were excellent.

J Radiol, 1987 May, 68(5), 373 - 80
{A new diagnostic method of spondylodiscitis . Magnetic resonance imaging}; Frocrain L et al.; Twenty four patients who were hospitalized for a suspicion of spondylodiscitis were prospectively evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), radiology and radionuclide studies . Fifteen patients had an infectious spondylodiscitis, four had a vertebral degenerative disease, four had a rheumaticus spondylodiscitis, one had a chemical spondylodiscitis . The microbiological examinations and the clinical development bore the diagnosis out . Seven patients underwent Indium 111 scanning . The results of this scanning were correlated with MRI results . The MRI was performed with a 0.35 T whole body superconducting unit using spin echo technique . All patients were studied in the sagittal plane with two pulse sequences and more often with a surface-coil: TR 500 msec./TE 28 msec . and TR 2,000 msec./TE 60 msec . In all cases of true infectious spondylodiscitis the MRI results finding were characteristics . On the image obtained with the TR 500 msec./TE 28 msec., there was a confluent decreased signal intensity from the vertebral bodies and the intervertebral disk space . On the image obtained with TR 2,000 msec./TE 60 msec . there was an increased signal intensity from the vertebral bodies and the intervertebral disk space . The other spondylodiscitis have given a different MRI imaging, it was a confluent decreased signal intensity from the vertebral bodies and the intervertebral disk space on the twice pulse sequences . different images were obtained during the evolution of the infectious: first we observed a modification of the vertebral signal then the typical image that we described then a normal signal of the vertebral bodies with a pathological signal from the intervertebral disk space at last a degenerative intervertebral disk.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

J Comp Pathol, 1987 May, 97(3), 299 - 308
Physiological and microbiological changes in the abomasum of sheep infected with large doses of Haemonchus contortus; Nicholls CD et al.; The pH, PO2 and the number of viable bacteria per ml of abomasal fluid were recorded before and after administering large doses of infective larvae of H . contortus to sheep . Highly significant increases were observed in the pH, in numbers of viable bacteria and in the proportion of oxygen-sensitive bacteria in the abomasal fluid during the first 10 to 14 days of infection . At the same time a decrease in the abomasal fluid PO2 was recorded . Subsequently a slow recovery of pH, PO2 and bacterial numbers to pre-infection values ensued . The microbiological and physiological changes occurring in the abomasum of sheep after infection with H . contortus are discussed with reference to these results.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 May, 53(5), 1042 - 5
Microbiological evaluation of wet and dry floor sanitization systems in hospital patient rooms; Vesley D et al.; A new system for sanitizing floors in hospital patient rooms has been developed . The method consists of dry dusting with a cotton-blend, chemically treated (10% by dry mop weight) dust mop . This method was compared with a conventional cleaning protocol consisting of an initial predusting with the same nongermicidal chemical (3% by dry mop weight) followed by wet mopping with a fresh solution of a quaternary ammonium disinfectant-detergent . Each of six rooms was sampled by using RODAC plates (Becton Dickinson Labware, Oxnard, Calif.) on 10 consecutive days for each of the two methods . The study was initially performed during the summer and then repeated during the winter . Results imply that there is no significant difference between the new dry method (81.9% CFU reduction) and the conventional method (83.1% CFU reduction) . Furthermore, the initial dry dusting step in the conventional method accounted for virtually all of the reduction by that method . Thus, wet mopping with a germicidal chemical produced no additional significant reduction of natural microbial populations on environmental surfaces beyond that achieved by dry dusting with dust-suppressant chemicals.

J Gen Microbiol, 1987 May, 133 ( Pt 5), 1111 - 26
The control of experimental Escherichia coli diarrhoea in calves by means of bacteriophages; Smith HW et al.; Seven phages highly active in vitro and in vivo against one or other of seven bovine enteropathogenic strains of Escherichia coli belonging to six different serotypes were isolated from sewage . Severe experimentally induced E . coli diarrhoea in calves could be cured by a single dose of 10(5) phage organisms . It could be prevented by doses as low as 10(2), by spraying the litter in the calf rooms with aqueous phage suspensions or simply by keeping the calves in uncleaned rooms previously occupied by calves whose E . coli infections had been treated with phage . Microbiological examinations of calves used in these experiments revealed that the phage organisms multiplied rapidly and profusely after gaining entry to the E . coli-infected small intestine, quickly reducing the E . coli to numbers that were virtually harmless . The only phage-resistant E . coli that emerged in the studies on calves infected with one or other of the seven E . coli strains were K- . These organisms were much less virulent than the K+ organisms from which they were derived and did not present a serious problem in calves given adequate amounts of colostrum . Infections produced by oral inoculation of a mixture of six strains of the E . coli could be controlled by administration of a pool of the six phages that were active against them but, in general, the control was less complete than that observed in the single-strain infections . K+ phage-resistant bacteria emerged in some of the calves used in these mixed infections and they were as virulent as their parent organisms; evidence from in vitro studies suggested that they might have arisen by genetic transfer between organisms of the different infecting strains . Infections produced by these K+ mutants and their parents could be controlled by the use of mutant phages derived from phages that were active on their parents . During the experiments with mixed E . coli infection, an extraneous phage active against one of the six E . coli strains suddenly appeared in calves kept in the same rooms . Microbiological examinations revealed that this phage was effectively controlling the multiplication of organisms of that particular strain of E . coli in the small intestines of the calves.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1987 May, 35(5), 642 - 3
{One-dose treatment of male gonococcal urethritis by ofloxacin}; Morel P et al.; Ofloxacin is a new fluoroquinolone with excellent in vitro activity against N . gonorrhoeae . 32 adult males with acute uncomplicated gonococcal urethritis were treated with a single-dose of orally administered ofloxacin (400 mg) . 1 out of 32 isolates was penicillinase-producing N . gonorrhoeae . Urethral cultures were obtained before treatment and on day 3-5 . Microbiological cure was achieved in all patients (100%) . No side effects were observed . According to these results, single-dose ofloxacin therapy (400 mg) is effective and safe against uncomplicated gonococcal urethritis in adult males.

Mycopathologia, 1987 May, 98(2), 91 - 9
Circulating IgG antibodies against fungal and actinomycete antigens in the sera of farmer's lung patients from different countries; Kurup VP et al.; Sixty-nine farmer's lung patients and 28 normal controls from four countries (Finland, Switzerland, Canada and the United States) were investigated for antibody levels against 13 antigens commonly used for the screening panel for hypersensitivity pneumonitis . Of these antigens, eight were from the Medical College of Wisconsin (United States) and five were from the University of Kuopio (Finland) . IgG antibodies against these antigens were studied in 97 sera using a sensitive biotin-avidin-linked enzyme immunoassay . The results indicate that the mean antibody titer against Micropolyspora faeni was highest in the United States (U.S.) followed by Finland . Both Finnish and U.S . antigens reacted almost identically against various groups of patients, although the degree of reactivity varied considerably . Higher antibody levels against Thermoactinomyces vulgaris were detected in Finnish patients than patients from other countries while patients from all four countries showed elevated levels of antibodies against T . candidus . This study demonstrates that antigens from identical species, irrespective of geographic origin, reacted similarly . However, variability between antigens of the same species was still considerably significant . Since the microbiological flora of moldy hay varies widely in different regions, the microbial species associated with the disease at a given geographical area has to be determined before selecting antigens for serological studies . The antigens currently used in various laboratories are crude preparations and need to be purified and standardized for dependable results . Until such antigens are available, all antigenic preparations used in the immunological evaluation of patients should be immunochemically characterized for their reproducibility and reliability although the ultimate goal should be to obtain standardized pure antigens for dependable immunodiagnosis of farmer's lung.

AIDS, 1987 May, 1(1), 9 - 13
Enteropathic AIDS in Uganda . An endoscopic, histological and microbiological study; Sewankambo N et al.; Twenty-three Ugandan patients with enteropathic acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS, 'slim' disease) were studied . Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy, colonoscopy, biopsy, stool parasitology and culture were performed . Endoscopy revealed oral and/or oesophageal candidiasis in 22 patients . Stool examination and histology of the upper GI tract showed that 11 patients had cryptosporidiosis and three had isosporiasis (total of 61% of patients with coccidian enteritis) . One case of possible Mycobacterium avium mycobacteriosis was also identified . Enteropathic AIDS in Uganda presents with a spectrum of infections similar to that found in developed countries, but the incidence of cryptosporidiosis and isosporiasis is higherPIP: Of about 40 patients with presumed enteropathic Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), i.e., oral thrush, diarrhea, and weight loss, admitted to Mulago Hospital medical wards, Uganda, from October through November 985, 23 patients were studied with upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy and stool examination . Those patients chosen for study suffered with diarrhea, weight loss, and oral candidiasis and were willing to tolerate endoscopy . Weight loss was not quantified in most patients, but generally it was profound . 10 of the patients gave a history of genital sores or venereal disease . There were 16 males and 7 females with an age range of 19-47 years . All were sexually active, and all denied homosexuality anal intercourse, and intravenous drug abuse . 4 patients had had blood transfusion . The 23 patients represented a cross-section of the population with most social classes included . 20 patients were seropositive with antibody to HIV . Specimens from 2 patients were lost . 1 patient was seronegative . Apart from 5 patients who had been treated with nystatin for oral thrush and clinically presumed esophageal candidiasis, all the patients had oral thrush at the time of endoscopy . 20 patients had obvious esophageal candidiasis, and 1 patient had the appearance of Kaposi's sarcoma in the esophagus . Stool examination and histology of the upper GI tract showed that 11 patients had cryptosporidiosis and 3 had isosporiasis (total of 61% of patients with coccidian enteritis) . 1 case of Mycobacterium avium mycobacteriosis also was identified . The incidence of cryptosporidiosis and isosporiasis is higher in Uganda than in developed countries .

J Periodontol, 1987 May, 58(5), 301 - 7
Salt and peroxide compared with conventional oral hygiene . II . Microbial results; Wolff LF et al.; This study was designed to investigate the effect of conventional oral hygiene (n = 116 subjects) versus a salt and peroxide oral hygiene regimen (n = 115 subjects) on subgingival microorganisms . Subgingival plaque for microscopic evaluation was obtained from eight index tooth sites in each of 231 adult subjects . Microbial forms were microscopically identified at baseline, 8, 16, and 24 months . For both oral hygiene groups, cocci were increased (P less than 0.05) and motile rods were decreased (P less than 0.05) at 8 months and returned to baseline by 16 months . Spirochetes were decreased (P less than 0.05) and remained low through 24 months in both oral hygiene groups . The frequency of agreement between clinical (bleeding) and microbial (greater than or equal to 15% spirochetes or motile rods or greater than or equal to 20% spirochetes + motile rods) criteria for instrumentation was 59.8% . It was also found that fewer total instrumentations for test subjects were observed when microbiological criteria were used as compared with clinical criteria . The greater number of instrumentations based on clinical criteria was highly significant (P less than or equal to 0.001) . A significant change in microbial signs associated with peridontal disease may be obtained with either a conventional oral hygiene or a salt and peroxide oral hygiene home care regimen.

J Clin Microbiol, 1987 May, 25(5), 758 - 62
Nonvalue of sputum culture in the management of lower respiratory tract infections; Lentino JR et al.; Establishment of the microbiological etiology of bacterial pneumonia by sputum culture is confounded by both lack of recovery of fastidious pathogens and contamination of specimens with oropharyngeal flora . We reviewed the clinical records from 249 patients over a 3-month period for evidence of pneumonia . Gram staining and cultures were performed on 381 specimens isolated from this population of patients . Recovery of respiratory tract pathogens was accomplished with 354 specimens from 226 patients; 27 specimens yielded normal flora in culture but were smear positive . An additional 256 specimens submitted to our microbiology laboratory did not meet smear criteria for purulence nor did they yield respiratory tract pathogens in culture . A total of 637 specimens submitted to the microbiology laboratory were evaluated for sputum purulence by the criteria of Bartlett . Of the total 354 specimens which were positive in culture for a pathogen, 182 (52%) were submitted from 150 patients with no objective evidence of pneumonia . The majority of specimens obtained from patients without pneumonia were nonpurulent . However, 71 of 182 culture-positive specimens obtained from 50 patients without pneumonia were purulent . Approximately half of these patients (31 of 50) had other pulmonary or upper respiratory tract pathology which could account for the sputum purulence . Among the 172 culture-positive specimens from 76 patients with pneumonia, only 100 (58%) were acceptable by smear criteria . An additional 23 patients provided expectorated purulent sputum from which no respiratory tract pathogen could be isolated . Of these 23, 7 had pneumonia . We conclude that sputum culture and Gram staining are neither specific nor sensitive as diagnostic tools . Objective criteria for purulence of Gram-stained specimens must be applied before their inoculation into culture media . Specimens should be sought only from patients with objective evidence of pneumonia.

Minerva Med, 1987 Apr 30, 78(8), 543 - 8
{Computerized management in the surveillance of nosocomial infections}; Pizzoferrato A et al.; A personal computerised system was developed for the on-going assessment and monitoring of hospital infections . The system involves the computer processing of clinical analyses . It also selects and statistically processes the data from microbiological tests conducted on hospital patients and staff . The system makes it possible to monitor the microbiological situation of the hospital environment with particular reference to the air, surfaces, instruments and material . In this way it is possible to identify the outbreak of minor hospital epidemics and to monitor their evolution and spread.

Br J Dis Chest, 1987 Apr, 81(2), 133 - 9
Comparative clinical and laboratory features of legionella with pneumococcal and mycoplasma pneumonias; Woodhead MA et al.; The clinical and laboratory features of 83 cases of community-acquired pneumococcal pneumonia (PP), 79 cases of legionella pneumonia (LP) and 62 cases of mycoplasma pneumonia (MP) have been compared . No unique features have been found in any group . Patients with MP were younger, were more likely to have had prior antibiotics before hospital referral, had a predominance of upper respiratory tract symptoms, low total white cell counts and lacked features of multisystem involvement . Multisystem features were common in both PP and LP with confusion, high fever, hyponatraemia, hypoalbuminaemia and abnormalities of liver function occurring more often in LP . A high leucocyte count was especially common in PP . Antibiotic therapy in community-acquired pneumonia must remain empirical until a definite microbiological diagnosis is made.

Mycopathologia, 1987 Apr, 98(1), 45 - 7
Experimental dermatophytoses produced by E . floccosum in guinea pigs; Cabanes FJ et al.; Experimental dermatophytoses were tested in guinea pigs by 17 strains of genus Epidermophyton . Only three strains of E . floccosum produced lesions . These lesions were detected 5-7 d after inoculation, and no crust formation or alopecia was observed . These lesions were also studied using microbiological and histopathological techniques . No infection occurred after cutaneous application of E . floccosum var . nigricans and E . stockdaleae.

J Trop Med Hyg, 1987 Apr, 90(2), 51 - 9
Mycetoma in Saudi Arabia; Bendl BJ et al.; The clinical and microbiological features of 31 cases of mycetoma seen in 8 years at a Riyadh hospital are described . Eighteen were due to Streptomyces somaliensis, 10 to Madurella mycetomatis and one each to Actinomadura madurae, Nocardia asteroides, and an unidentified species of Cladosporium . No immune defects were detected in the patients . Eleven had osteolytic lesions and 17 required surgery . Only seven patients were cured . Streptomyces infections were seen from all parts of Saudi Arabia outside the Rub Al Khali, but Madurella occurred mostly in highland regions where rainfall is higher.

Lab Anim, 1987 Apr, 21(2), 138 - 42
An alternative method for the decontamination of rats carrying Mycoplasma pulmonis without the use of germfree isolators; Banerjee AK et al.; Two strains of Lewis rat were successfully freed from Mycoplasma pulmonis infection by using a combination of oral treatment with oxytetracycline hydrochloride and obtaining young by hysterectomy . Laminar flow cabinets were used to perform hysterectomies on donor animals and for rearing hysterectomy-derived animals . After thorough microbiological examination the rats were brought to the breeding colony of the Laboratory Animal Centre . Periodic laboratory tests using both cultural and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods showed that the animals have remained free from M . pulmonis for the last 3 years.

Monatsschr Kinderheilkd, 1987 Apr, 135(4), 231 - 4
{Collection and preservation of breast milk}; Henker J; Milk of the own mother is the best food for young babies . Donated breast milk can be fed in untreated raw condition or after preservation . A microbiological examination is a prerequisite for this . Total bacterial colony counts up to 10 Mpt/l can be considered normal . But premature infants should only be given a highest quality milk with a total bacterial count below 1 Mpt/l . Only coutions milk banking procedures should be used . Deep freezing and lyophilization are the most suitable procedures.

Am J Optom Physiol Opt, 1987 Apr, 64(4), 284 - 9
Microbiological testing of the Blairex Water Purifier; Meng KE et al.; The Blairex Water Purifier (previously called The Blairex Deionizer) is a filtration unit designed to purify tap water for uses that require distilled or deionized water . The unit is intended to offer soft contact lens wearers a more convenient and safe method of obtaining distilled water when using salt tablets or enzymatic cleaning tablets . In this study, the safety of these units was analyzed from a microbiological point of view . The microbial starting state of 18 factory sealed Blairex Water Purifiers was evaluated by filtering sterile water through each unit and enumerating the organisms in the effluent . Then a known number of specific microorganisms was filtered through each unit . For the next 30 days, subsequent sterile distilled water filtrations were done each day . The effluent was collected with each filtration and enumerated for microorganisms . The results indicated that the majority of Blairex units tested were not sterile from the onset . Several Blairex units evaluated did support bacterial growth, as the bacteria that were passed through the unit on day 1 of the study were found in the effluent in increasing numbers with use . The clinical implications of our findings are discussed . Each time Blairex units were obtained for evaluation, the units appeared different in either filter attachments, plastic composition, or shape . The results varied according to which type of Blairex unit was tested.

Jikken Dobutsu, 1987 Apr, 36(2), 135 - 42
Microbiological monitoring in inbred mouse foundation stocks in Japan; Kagiyama N et al.; Microbiological monitoring on 128 inbred mouse foundation stocks consisted of common 10 inbred strains and inbred strains originated from outbred dd mice was performed by cooperation of 24 organizations . A total of 881 mice were divided into 647 conventional animals from 95 colonies and 234 barrier-sustained animals from 33 colonies . Three viral, one mycoplasmal, 6 bacterial, one fungal and 3 parasitic agents selected as monitoring microbes according to the proposed selection standards . Among conventional colonies, 84.2% were positive for at least one agent . The highest detection rate was 44.2% for S . obvelata, followed by P . pneumotropica and S . muris, P . aeruginosa, G . muris, Sendai virus, M . pulmonis, MHV and E . coli O115a, c: K (B) . Of these agents, only one microbe, P . aeruginosa, was detected in barrier-sustained colonies (36.4%), thus the efficacy of barrier system for the microbiological quality control of the inbred mouse foundation stocks was actually demonstrated . The positive rates of MHV (6.3%) and Sendai v . (16.8%) were significantly low compared with those in experimental mouse colonies . Positivity for parasites was rather high and they were infested together with other pathogens in many cases . Thus parasites including G . muris, S . muris and S . obvelata were regarded as useful indicators to see microbiological contaminations in conventional mice . There observed no strain difference in susceptibility to pathogens except for C57BL/6 and AKR mice which seemed to be high antibody responders to MHV.

Chemioterapia, 1987 Apr, 6(2), 101 - 4
Evaluation of cefotaxime concentrations in rat cerebral areas and serum by microbiological method and HPLC; Pizzimenti FC et al.; The aim of the investigation was to verify the reliability and sensitivity of High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), compared to the classic microbiological method of plate diffusion, in evaluating cefotaxime concentrations in some cerebral areas and serum of the rat . The mean concentration of cefotaxime in the serum (after acute administration of 15 mg/kg i.m.) was 20 micrograms/ml with the microbiological method and 23 micrograms/ml with HPLC . No antibiotic was detectable, with both methods, in the cerebral areas . The results with both methods are in good accordance, although the HPLC technique is more sensitive and accurate.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1987 Apr, 183(5-6), 511 - 29
Analysis of the microbiological particulates in municipal drinking-water by scanning electron microscopy/X-ray energy spectroscopy; McCoy WF et al.; Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray energy spectroscopy (SEM/XES) were used to survey the biological and nonbiological particles in two different municipal drinking-water systems . Microbiological particles could be differentiated from non-biological by their qualitative elemental compositions and this information was used as the basis for an automated detection scheme . Automated SEM/XES analyses were used to demonstrate microbiological differences between well-water and surface-water in distribution systems.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1987 Apr, 183(5-6), 505 - 10
Microbiological evaluation of drinking water construction materials--comparison of two test procedures; Schoenen D et al.; Materials used in contact with drinking water can impair water quality by supporting the growth of aquatic microorganisms . In order to prevent this problem several different test procedures have been developed but to date no comparative study of the performance of these methods has been published . During collaborative studies between the regional laboratories of the Thames Water Authority, London, and the Institute of Hygiene, University Bonn, duplicate samples of 11 PVC materials were exchanged and evaluated by the standard methods used in the United Kingdom (UK) and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) . There was a good agreement between the results as assessed by the published criteria . When a stricter criterion for interpreting the results of the UK method was applied to the findings, a complete agreement between the methods was observed.

Lab Anim, 1987 Apr, 21(2), 149 - 54
Simple methods which maintain the barrier status of specific-pathogen-free animals during experimentation; Herbert J et al.; Several simple procedures for experimentation on specific-pathogen-free rats and mice are described which combine the technique of plastic-film-isolator containment and a laminar flow sterile environment . These permit the full range of cellular immunology experiments to be performed without compromising the microbiological barrier.

Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther, 1987 Mar, 286(1), 15 - 22
Bioequivalence studies of five brands of ampicillin trihydrate capsules; Hamid S et al.; Using the microbiological assay method, the bioavailability of ampicillin in healthy human volunteers has been examined . The plasma levels were used to determine the extent and rate of bioavailability following oral administration of 250 mg capsules produced by 5 different manufacturers . Balanced incomplete block design was employed and standard statistical techniques were used to detect any significant difference between multivariate and univariate characteristics . The results indicate that the different brands are almost bioequivalent with respect to the rate of bioavailability but that they are bioinequivalent with respect to the extent of bioavailability.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1987 Mar, 31(3), 410 - 6
Influence of conversion of penicillin G into a basic derivative on its accumulation and subcellular localization in cultured macrophages; Renard C et al.; beta-Lactam antibiotics do not accumulate in phagocytes, probably because of their acidic character . We therefore synthesized a basic derivative of penicillin G, namely, 14C-labeled N-(3-dimethylamino-propyl)benzylpenicillinamide (ABP), and studied its uptake and subcellular localization in J774 macrophages compared with that of 14C-labeled penicillin G . Whereas the intracellular concentration (Ci) of penicillin G remained lower than its extracellular concentration (Ce), ABP reached a Ci/Ce ratio of 4 to 5 . Moreover, approximately 50% of intracellular ABP was found associated with lysosomes after isopycnic centrifugation of cell homogenates in isoosmotic Percoll or hyperosmotic sucrose gradients . The behavior of ABP was thus partly consistent with the model of de Duve et al . (C . de Duve, T . de Barsy, B . Poole, A . Trovet, P . Tulkens, and A . Van Hoof, Biochem . Pharmacol . 23:2495-2531, 1974), in which they described the intralysosomal accumulation of weak organic bases in lysosomes . Although ABP is microbiologically inactive, our results show that beta-lactam antibiotics can be driven into cells by appropriate modification . Further efforts therefore may be warranted in the design of active compounds or prodrugs that may prove useful in the chemotherapy of intracellular infections.

Antibiot Med Biotekhnol, 1987 Mar, 32(3), 218 - 20
{Sanitary microbiological aspects of the treatment of wastes from antibiotic manufacture in biological ponds}; Leonova VE et al.; Efficiency of decreasing sewage contamination was estimated under laboratory conditions by the Coli index in additional treatment of antibiotic production sewage in bioponds with higher aquatic plants . It was shown that the sewage decontamination in summer was intensive due to vital activity of complex biocenosis of the higher aquatic plants and algae and reached the required levels . This allowed to use much lower quantities of the reagents in chlorination of water for circulating water supply.

Acta Eur Fertil, 1987 Mar-Apr, 18(2), 121 - 2
Ofloxacin versus doxycycline in gynecological infections; Schneider A et al.; 40 patients were investigated with either ofloxacin (2 X 20 mg/7d) or doxycycline (2 X 100 mg/7d) . E . coli (28 from 61 strains) was the predominant strain isolated . Microbiological efficacy: 51 from 61 strains were eliminated: 29 from 32 strains in the ofloxacin group and 22 from 29 strains in the doxycycline group . Two patients in the ofloxacin and four in the doxycycline group were not cured . There were two side effects (sickness) in the doxycycline and two in the ofloxacin group.

J Periodontol, 1987 Mar, 58(3), 147 - 52
The value of systemically administered metronidazole in the modified Widman flap procedure; Mahmood MM et al.; This double-blind cross-over study was undertaken to assess the effect of systemically administered metronidazole when used as an adjunct to periodontal surgery for the treatment of moderate and advanced periodontitis . The effect of metronidazole was compared with that of placebo in patients undergoing modified Widman flap procedures in two areas of the same jaw which could be matched for type of tooth and severity of the periodontal disease . Clinical and microbiological parameters were examined prior to surgery and then 7 days, 1 month, and 3 to 6 months, postoperatively . The clinical parameters recorded were pocket depth (PD), Sulcus Bleeding Index (SBI), probing attachment level (PAL), and patients' preference and pain score . Subgingival plaque samples were studied with dark-field microscopy for differential bacterial count . Pocket depths and SBIs were reduced significantly at all stages, in both groups . Probing attachment levels increased at 7 days, to significant levels only in the metronidazole group, subsequently PALs decreased in both groups with no significant differences between the groups . Although the differential bacterial count altered markedly in both groups at all times, only the straight rod count at 1 month was significantly (P less than 0.05) lower in the metronidazole group . Metronidazole with surgery did not exert a significantly greater beneficial effect than placebo with surgery.

Arch Intern Med, 1987 Mar, 147(3), 553 - 5
Pressure sores and underlying bone infection; Sugarman B; Pressure sores are a serious complication of hospitalized and chronically ill patients . Evaluation for underlying bone infection can be made difficult by radiographic, nuclear imaging, and soft-tissue culture studies that are abnormal and suggest the presence of bone infection, when no infection is present . Evaluation by bone biopsy with histologic and microbiological studies can accurately and promptly diagnose whether bone infection is present . This allows appropriate treatment when infection is present, and prevents unneeded and potentially toxic antibiotic therapy when preliminary studies incorrectly suggest that infection is present.

Acta Eur Fertil, 1987 Mar-Apr, 18(2), 117 - 20
Microbiological investigations on genital infections: a nosocomial experience in Palermo; Mazara M et al.; The new methods for in vitro fertilization and GIFT induced the authors to carry out a retrospective survey on microbiological investigations done on 820 patients (641 women and 179 men) affected with genital infections and 62 newborns hospitalized during the period 1980-1986 to the aim of studying the prevalence of the various microorganisms responsible for sexually transmitted diseases in our area . The biological material obtained from men gave positive results less frequently than that obtained from women (p less than 0.001) although the prevalence of "significant" microorganisms isolated from the same material was overlapping for both sexes (p greater than 0.5) . Chlamydia trachomatis positive samples were rare in men (6.1%) as well as in women (4.2%); in one case C . trachomatis was contemporaneously observed in the auricular swab of a newborn and from the cervical swab of the mother . Herpes Simplex virus positive samples were observed in 4 (11.8%) out of 36 women only . This study confirms the usefulness of the microbiological investigation before undertaking attempts for in vitro fertilization.

Minerva Med, 1987 Feb 15, 78(3), 159 - 63
{Role of ureaplasma in human infectious pathology}; Romano N; Ureaplasmas are increasingly considered responsible for a variety of genitourinary pathologies in both men and women . However a critical review of the medical literature produces some reservations about the way surveys have been conducted largely due to the inadequate application of epidemiological research techniques and the failure to adopt either a global microbiological approach or a correct antibiotic-placebo experimental trial . Despite these negative factors some interesting indications appear to emerge and it is now certain that ureaplasmas are responsible for certain forms of non-gonococcic urethritis (NGU) and chronic prostatitis . More complex and still widely debated is the question of the involvement of ureaplasmas in obstetrical, gynaecological and neonatal pathologies . Two clinical pictures, chorion-amnionitis and low birth weight are considered the most probably pathological forms caused by ureaplasmas . However further tests using analytical epidemiological methods are required for their definite recognition.

Chemioterapia, 1987 Feb, 6(1), 38 - 40
Pharmacokinetics of cefotaxime after a single intravenous dose in patients with impaired renal function; Moukhtar I et al.; Twelve male patients with impaired renal function and six healthy male volunteers were given a single i.v . dose of cefotaxime (1000 mg) . Serum concentrations of cefotaxime were determined by a microbiological assay . The pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained using an open two-compartment model . Results showed that the median elimination t1/2 of cefotaxime was prolonged in patients (3.25 h) compared to volunteers (1.4 h) (P less than 0.001) . The median AUC0----infinity was increased in patients (211.99 micrograms/ml X h) compared with volunteers (78.21 micrograms/ml X h) (P less than 0.001) . Also, the median clearance was decreased in patients (4.73 l/h) compared with volunteers (12.82 l/h) (P less than 0.001) . This study shows prolonged half-life and decreased elimination of cefotaxime in patients with impaired renal function.

Br J Surg, 1987 Feb, 74(2), 110 - 2
Perisplenitis and perinephritis in the Curtis-Fitz-Hugh syndrome; Gatt D et al.; Four cases of the Curtis-Fitz-Hugh syndrome diagnosed laparoscopically and with microbiological or serological evidence of chlamydial pelvic infection are reviewed . The case histories emphasize the part played by renal angle and left upper quadrant symptoms . In one patient the surface of the spleen was affected by the same classical inflammation normally seen on the surface of the liver . In 3 patients bilateral or left-sided renal angle pain and tenderness constituted the presenting features, or a major manifestation, and in all patients renal tract investigations were entirely normal . The patient with laparoscopic perisplenitis also had perihepatitis and pelvic inflammation, the latter being florid in all cases . Perisplenitis and perinephritis are proposed as possible additional manifestations of this syndrome.

J Pharm Sci, 1987 Feb, 76(2), 177 - 9
Microbiological systems in organic synthesis: preparation of racemic prenalterol utilizing Cunninghamella echinulata; Pasutto FM et al.; The fungal microorganism Cunninghamella echinulata was utilized to para-hydroxylate the synthetic substrate (+/-)-1-isopropylamino-3-phenoxy-propan-2-ol (1) . The resulting product, (+/-)-1-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)-3-isopropylamino-propan-2-ol, or (+/-)-prenalterol, (2) was formed in greater than 85% yield . Extracts from incubates were derivatized with trifluoroacetic anhydride and the concentrations of 1 and 2 were determined by GC on a fused silica methyl silicone capillary column with nitrogen-phosphorus detection . At substrate concentrations of 100 and 200 mg/L, the biotransformation proceeds with apparent first-order kinetics . With higher concentrations, the kinetics of prenalterol formation and substrate uptake appear to be nonlinear with a Km value of 427.8 micrograms/mL and a Vmax value of 232.3 micrograms/mL/d . This suggests that the biotransformation may proceed through a single-capacity limited pathway . The microbial product was isolated and identified as (+/-)-prenalterol by comparison (mp, IR, MS, 1H NMR) with an authentic specimen.

Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther Toxicol, 1987 Feb, 25(2), 97 - 100
Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of a controlled release amoxicillin formulation; Arancibia A et al.; The pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of an in vitro controlled release amoxicillin formulation were studied in nine healthy volunteers, in comparison with an intravenous injection and a conventional tablet . The experiment was designed in a crossover fashion . The volunteers received the three formulations on separate occasions . The antibiotic was measured in plasma using a microbiological method . The absolute bioavailability of the two solid dosage forms was estimated comparing non-compartmental parameters . The results indicated that there was no correlation between the in vitro dissolution rate and the pharmacokinetic behavior in the body.

Can J Microbiol, 1987 Feb, 33(2), 85 - 92
ICMSF methods study . XVII . An international comparative study of the direct plate and hydrophobic grid-membrane filter methods for enumeration of Escherichia coli in foods . International Commission on Microbiological Specifications for Foods; Sharpe AN et al.; Eight laboratories compared counts of Escherichia coli from naturally or artificially contaminated ground beef, other meats and poultry, vegetables, fish and shellfish, cheese, and diverse sources such as swabs, by the Anderson-Baird-Parker direct plate (DP) and a hydrophobic grid-membrane filter (HGMF) method . For five of the eight laboratories overall counts by HGMF were significantly low (51-83%) compared with those by DP . Counts by HGMF tended to be lower for naturally contaminated samples; several possible causes were investigated . In a subsidiary study, analyst variation in counting HGMF ranged from 0.8-7.3%, with little evidence of effects from counting positive versus negative grid cells or from the fullness of growth or staining intensity.

Epidemiol Infect, 1987 Feb, 98(1), 15 - 24
Bacterial populations on dressed pig carcasses; Morgan IR et al.; Samples were collected at two abattoirs from four sites on pig carcasses as they were being placed in a chiller . Bacteriological examination showed that no single sampling site could be used to assess the microbiological status of pig carcass surfaces . Sampling from multiple sites on a carcass may be required to assess the degree of contamination by different bacteria . It is suggested that the hygiene of slaughtering and dressing of pig carcasses at an abattoir cannot be assessed on a single visit and that a number of visits are necessary to establish a hygiene pattern.

Vet Rec, 1987 Jan 31, 120(5), 102 - 9
Caprine arthritis-encephalitis in the Basque country, Spain; Gonzalez L et al.; A goat herd severely affected by arthritis was studied . The most representative clinical signs consisted of articular swelling, mainly of the carpal joints, and the subsequent locomotor disorders . Some goats also showed signs of central nervous system involvement . Examinations of joint fluid revealed an increased number of mononuclear blood cells, mostly lymphocytes . Gross and microscopic articular lesions were of inflammatory and degenerative types . Periarticular connective tissue, synovial bursae, tendons and tendon sheaths were predominantly affected . Inflammatory lesions were those of a chronic hyperplastic tenosynovitis with fibrosis of the connective tissue components . Degenerative changes consisted mainly of necrosis and mineralisation of articular-related structures . Histological lesions in the central nervous system were those of a nonpurulent encephalitis initially located in periventricular areas, but in one case extensive encephalomalacia was also seen . Of the 80 animals sampled 82.5 per cent showed seropositive reactions against an ovine progressive pneumonia virus antigen . None was seropositive to brucella and titres to chlamydia were low . Attempts to isolate chlamydia and mycoplasma from affected joints and several organs failed . Different bacteria were recovered from a few samples but did not seem significant . Syncytium-forming viral particles were isolated from several organs, mainly the lungs, synovial membranes and lymphoid tissue of almost all the slaughtered animals . These particles were identified as lentiviruses by electron microscopy . The clinical signs, lesions serological results and microbiological findings, led to a diagnosis of caprine arthritis-encephalitis . This syndrome has not been recognised in Spain previously.

Clin Neurol Neurosurg, 1987, 89(4), 265 - 7
Unilateral proptosis secondary to diffuse condensing osteomyelitis; Naidu MR et al.; Osteomyelitis of the skull is an uncommon disease in the present days, mainly due to the advent of modern and more effective antibiotics . Hematogenous osteomyelitis is very rare . Osteomyelitis of the skull is usually not associated with sclerosis which is commonly seen in the rest of the skeleton . There are only few occasional case reports of condensing osteomyelitis wherein there was sclerosis of the bone associated with osteomyelitis of the skull and epidural abscess . An unusual case of diffuse condensing osteomyelitis of the skull producing unilateral proptosis is reported . The clinical, radiological features and microbiological aspects are presented . The proptosis was treated by excision of the bone behind the eyeball and thus relieving the proptosis and the impaired vision . The patient was given broad spectrum antibiotics for a period of two months . Further management problems are discussed.

IARC Sci Publ, 1987, (84), 367 - 9
Observations of the use of 137caesium radiation to control N-nitrosopyrrolidine formation in bacon; Fiddler W et al.; Several alternatives to the use of nitrite, including irradiation, have been developed to reduce the nitrosamine content in bacon and still retain its microbiological safety and desirable sensory characteristics . This paper presents results obtained from experiments in which 137Cs was used at +5 degrees C . Bacon prepared with 120 or 40 mg/kg sodium nitrite (NaNO2) yielded lower residual nitrite before frying and lower levels of N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR) after frying when irradiated at 3.0 Mrad, compared to doses of 0, 0.75 and 1.50 Mrad . Also, a slight increase in the level of NPYR in fried bacon over the 0 control was noted with 0.75 Mrad . In bacon irradiated with 0-1.5 Mrad in 0.25-Mrad increments, a marked increase was observed at 0.5 Mrad . Bacon from pork bellies irradiated prior to processing had more NPYR after frying than bacon irradiated after processing, suggesting the formation of an additional precursor or some catalytic agent.

Curr Med Res Opin, 1987, 10(8), 555 - 61
Efficacy and tolerability of cefuroxime axetil in patients with upper respiratory tract infections; Griffiths GK et al.; A study was carried out in general practice to assess the clinical effectiveness and tolerability of the oral cephalosporin, cefuroxime axetil, in the treatment of 369 patients presenting with acute infections of the upper respiratory tract . The main diagnoses were tonsillitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis and otitis media . Patients were treated for 7 days with 1 tablet of 250 mg cefuroxime axetil twice daily . Details of fever and signs and symptoms of infection such as pain, sinus tenderness and reddening of the eardrum were recorded before and after treatment . Response was assessed by the physician on the basis of the clinical findings (the microbiological findings will be reported separately), and by patients on their satisfaction with their therapy . The results indicated an overall clinical improvement rate of 89%: all clinical parameters showed significant improvement and most patients were symptom-free when seen after treatment . Only 2 patients were classified as treatment failures and withdrawn from the study . Complete resolution of the infection was seen more often in patients with tonsillitis and pharyngitis than in those with sinusitis or otitis media . Over 80% of patients expressed their satisfaction with therapy . Adverse events reported were few, even though patients were prompted with a non-leading question, and were mainly mild in nature . The most frequently reported were diarrhoea (5%) and loose motions (3%).

Nahrung, 1987, 31(5-6), 499 - 506
{A mathematical description of microecologic correlations}; Zunft HJ; Due to the diversity of microbiological interrelations results of animal experiments concerning the effect of nutrition factors on the microecological system in the intestinal tract are often difficulty to interpret . In order to reveal deeper correlations multivariate statistical methods particularly the non-linear multiple regression analysis are tried to use . First results show that correlations between nutrition factors and microecological signs of the colon content can be depict by quadratic polynoms, whereas for biochemical signs also a linear dependence appears possible.

Nahrung, 1987, 31(5-6), 377 - 82
{Microecological regulative principles of human gastrointestinal flora}; Bernhardt H; In the course of coevolution of man and microorganisms the macroorganism must have developed mechanisms which allow a qualitative and quantitative regulation in his microbial colonization . On the several places, microbial growth is limited by various factors . Adherence ability of microorganisms belongs to the special colonization events . An uninhibited colonization begins if regulative factors are omitted . Factors of the host are only partially able to kill the microorganisms . Microbes possess signal receptors managing adaptation to environmental changes . If a strategy of growth and multiplication is not realizable such factors change to a strategy of survival . Very likely, these common microbiological principles are valid to the gastrointestinal tract, too.

Hear Res, 1987, 28(2-3), 227 - 36
Mixed conductive and sensorineural hearing loss in LP/J mice; Steel KP et al.; Air and bone conduction thresholds for the detection of a compound action potential response were measured in mice of the LP/J inbred strain, which has been proposed as a possible model for human otosclerosis . Thresholds were compared with control data from CBA/Ca mice . Evidence of a mixed sensorineural and conductive hearing loss was obtained in LP/J mice . Few signs of hair cell degeneration or middle-ear bony lesions were found in 20-day old mice, although they generally showed raised thresholds to both air and bone conducted stimuli . The reason for the observed sensorineural component of the hearing loss at this age is not clear, since endocochlear potentials were normal in mice of this strain . By 225 days of age, hair cell loss was extensive and there was clearly excess bone growth in all middle-ear specimens studied, particularly on the incus and the cochlear wall facing the middle ear . Microbiological analysis of LP/J specimens revealed no evidence of a middle-ear infection specific to these mice which might explain the pathology.

Gynecol Obstet Invest, 1987, 24(2), 92 - 4
Is the collagen content reduced when the fetal membranes rupture? A clinical study of term and prematurely ruptured membranes; Evaldson GR et al.; In 15 patients experiencing premature rupture of the fetal membranes (PROM) and in 15 control subjects having delivered spontaneously at term, the collagen content of the membranes was determined by the hydroxyproline method . From each patient two membrane specimens were obtained, one from the rupture margin and another from the membranes in close relation to the placental margin . No significant difference in the collagen content was demonstrated between the two groups of patients . Moreover, no significant difference was observed comparing the collagen content within the paired membrane specimens of each patient in each group . Neither was there any obvious change in the membrane collagen content in relation to clinical signs of chorioamnionitis or microbiological findings . It is concluded that changes in the collagen content of the fetal membranes bear no significance as to the etiology of PROM, neither is such a change involved in the mechanism of membrane rupture at term.

Clin Lab Haematol, 1987, 9(3), 313 - 20
An evaluation of the Cell-Dyn 1000; Flanagan P et al.; The Cell-Dyn 1000 is a new eight parameter fully automatic cell counter . This was evaluated following the ICSH guidelines . Scientific evaluation was generally satisfactory, largely conforming to the manufacturer's specifications . A number of potential microbiological safety hazards were noted; many could be overcome by minor modifications . Throughput and start-up/close-down times were acceptable . However, the reliability of the tested machine was felt to be less than satisfactory although this may be corrected by further minor machine modifications.

Clin Lab Haematol, 1987, 9(2), 157 - 67
An evaluation of the Coulter Counter Model T660; Willson G et al.; An evaluation of a Coulter Counter Model T660 has been carried out . This instrument is a compact, fully automated, blood cell counter which measures WBC, RBC, Hb, haematocrit, MCV and platelet count on a 100 microliter sample of whole blood . The instrument was assessed during one month of regular use . One possible microbiological hazard was detected, which could be corrected by an instrument modification . No mechanical hazards were identified . The instrument as supplied produced some inaccurate WBCs; this malfunction appeared to be consequent on a design fault relating to the burn circuit of the white cell aperture and following instrument modification performance was considerably improved . Results produced were broadly comparable with those produced by a Coulter Counter Model S Plus IV . Precision was satisfactory . Deviations from linearity on dilution were not sufficient to be of practical importance . Carryover was satisfactorily low . Time-lapse of up to 48 h did not introduce inaccuracy of sufficient magnitude to be of practical importance . Throughout varied from 52 to 63 specimens/h . Following instrument modification the overall assessment was that the T660 was easy to operate, reliable, and clinically useful.

Vet Med Nauki, 1987, 24(1), 49 - 56
{Toxicity and nutritive action of Pharmakhim's sodium monensin in weaned lambs}; Iotsev M et al.; Tested was the monensin-Na Pharmakhim preparation (commercial formula Monensin-100, a 10 per cent premix of monensin-sodium) with weaned lambs with regard to toxicity, tolerance, nutritive action, distribution, and residual amounts in the body as well as with special reference to its effect on meat quality . It was found that doses of 15 mg/kg body mass were well tolerated, with no changes in both behaviour and appetite . The minimum lethal dose was 30 mg/kg b . m . Medicated feed, containing Monensin-100 at rates 10, 20, and 30 ppm, offered to the animals in the course of 90 days produced a positive effect after the 30th day, acting best in conc . of 30 ppm . In the amounts referred to Monensin-100 negligibly stimulated the process of hemopoiesis; more substantial was the improvement of the carbohydrate metabolism, raising the amount of blood sugar (better at the rate of 30 ppm) . Histologic investigations of parenchymal organs of the animals treated with nutrient amounts of the preparation revealed no degenerative changes . Neither was there any negative effect on the tested organoleptic, physico-chemical, and microbiological indices of the meat obtained following the use of Monensin-100 in the concentrations referred to . The withdrawal time at slaughtering weaned lambs that had been offered Monensin-100 with the feed in the course of 90 days with regard to the concentrations cited above was shown to be at least 48 hours.

J Toxicol Environ Health, 1987, 22(1), 101 - 11
Role of desacetylation in the detoxification of cephalothin in renal cells in culture; Hottendorf GH et al.; The toxicity of three cephalosporin antibiotics to rabbit kidney cells in culture was compared to their known nephrotoxic potential in vivo (cephaloridine greater than cefazolin greater than cephalothin) . While cephalothin is considered to be a relatively nonnephrotoxic cephalosporin when administered to many species including humans and rabbits, in several in vitro systems involving rabbit renal tissue, cephalothin was comparatively more toxic than anticipated based on in vivo data . Cephalothin is extensively desacetylated in rabbits to a less microbiologically active metabolite, desacetylcephalothin . When a microsomal S9 fraction from rabbit kidney was added to the in vitro assay in cultured rabbit renal cells, cephalothin was desacetylated and its toxicity to kidney cells was reduced . The addition of S9 in vitro provided a toxicity ranking of the cephalosporins that correlated with their known in vivo nephrotoxic potentials (cephaloridine greater than cefazolin greater than cephalothin) . The in vitro detoxification of cephalothin by S9 was blocked by the coadministration of the esterase inhibitor, aminocarb . Desacetylcephalothin was relatively nontoxic to rabbit renal tissue in vitro . These results suggest that the desacetylation of cephalothin in vivo represents a previously unrecognized mechanism of detoxification of this cephalosporin antibiotic . Furthermore, this mechanism of detoxification may be applicable to other acetylated cephalosporins.

Int J Clin Pharmacol Res, 1987, 7(3), 225 - 7
Penetration of cefonicid in skin suction blister fluid in healthy volunteers; Cruciani M et al.; A new cephalosporin, cefonicid (1 g) was given intramuscularly to six healthy volunteers 12 h after induction of skin suction blister . Serum and blister fluid were collected during a 24 h period . Antibiotic assay was made by a microbiological method . The data were analysed by a one-compartment kinetic model . Despite the high protein binding, cefonicid penetrated in microbiologically effective concentration into blister fluid . Blister fluid concentrations were higher than the serum concentrations at 24 h.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1987 Jan, 40(1), 232 - 7
{Studies on the metabolic fate of isepamicin sulfate (HAPA-B) . V . Plasma concentrations of HAPA-B in dogs after multiple administrations}; Suzuki T et al.; Plasma concentrations after a single or multiple intramuscular administrations of isepamicin sulfate (HAPA-B) at dose levels of 6.25, 25 and 100 mg/kg to male and female dogs were measured by microbiological assay, and were also compared with those of amikacin at dose levels of 25 and 100 mg/kg . Shapes of plasma concentration curves after multiple administrations of HAPA-B were very similar to those after single administrations at all dosage levels tested . On the other hand, the shape of plasma concentration curve after multiple administration of amikacin at 100 mg/kg was markedly different from that after a single administration.

J Med Primatol, 1987, 16(2), 83 - 9
Basic considerations in assessing and preventing occupational infections in personnel working with nonhuman primates; Richardson JH; Transmission of zoonotic infections of nonhuman primates to human contacts is a documented occupational hazard . Although the list of naturally occurring and experimentally induced infections of nonhuman primates is extensive the risks of transmission may substantially be reduced by the use of good animal care practices, appropriate protective measures and devices, and suitable animal facilities . The essential elements of good animal care practices include high levels of personal hygiene; minimizing the creation of potentially infectious aerosols and droplets; use of personal protective clothing, devices, and vaccines; a system for reporting, evaluating, and treatment of occupational exposures and infections; and animal facilities appropriate for the species being used and the activities conducted . These essential elements are described and discussed in the context of published voluntary codes of practice--notably "Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories."

Int J Clin Pharmacol Res, 1987, 7(1), 59 - 62
Pharmacokinetics of mecillinam after a single intravenous dose in patients with impaired renal function; Moukhtar I et al.; Twelve male patients with impaired renal function and six healthy male volunteers were given a single i.v . dose of mecillinam (400 mg) . Serum concentrations of mecillinam were determined by a microbiological assay . The pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained using an open, two-compartment model . Results showed that the median elimination t 1/2 (beta) of mecillinam was longer in patients (5 h) than in volunteers (3.4 h) (p less than 0.1) . The median AUC0----infinity was greater in patients (72.44 micrograms ml-1.) than in volunteers (32.96 micrograms ml-1 X h) (p less than 0.001) . Moreover, the median clearance was decreased in patients (5.5 L h-1) as compared with volunteers (12.17 L h-1) (p less than 0.001) . Thus the study showed prolonged half-life and decreased elimination of mecillinam in patients with impaired renal function.

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1987, 32(2), 112 - 5
Microbiological and chemical dehydrogenation of withaferin A; Fuska J et al.; Arthrobacter simplex dehydrogenated withaferin A to 4-dehydrowithaferin A but it was not able to dehydrogenate this substrate in position 27 . 27-Dehydrowithaferin A was prepared chemically using pyridinium chlorochromate . Whereas 4-dehydrowithaferin A surpassed in its effect on leukemic (388 cells the original compound and all its derivates synthesized so far, 27-dehydrowithaferin A was biologically inactive.

J Infect Dis, 1987 Jan, 155(1), 12 - 27
Serodiagnosis of invasive aspergillosis in patients with hematologic malignancy: validation of the Aspergillus fumigatus antigen radioimmunoassay; Talbot GH et al.; Six hundred sixteen sera from 79 hematology patients admitted on 152 occasions were analyzed for validation of the Aspergillus fumigatus antigen radioimmunoassay (RIA) . Invasive aspergillosis developed on 24 admissions of 22 patients . Maximal antigenic activity was significantly higher in patients with invasive aspergillosis than in controls (P less than .0005) . At the level of antigenic activity selected as the cutoff value, the sensitivity of the RIA was 74%, the specificity 90%, the positive predictive value 82%, and the negative predictive value 85% . Antigen was detected before invasive aspergillosis was suspected during 30% of admissions and before pathological or even preliminary microbiological evidence for disease in 46% . In 17 (77%) of the 22 episodes of pulmonary aspergillosis, the RIA would have been the first positive diagnostic test for aspergillosis or would have confirmed a diagnosis established by other means . Overall, the test would have been of clinical usefulness in diagnosis, management, and prognosis in 80% of 16 fatal cases.

Bull Inst Marit Trop Med Gdynia, 1987, 38(1-2), 88 - 94
Leptospirosis from the clinical viewpoint; Ziegler K; Epidemiological, clinical and microbiological data of 27 patients suffering from leptospirosis are presented . Because of the sporadic occurrence of the disease, diagnosis on admission was correct in only 18% of the patients . As proved by the agglutination test, most of the infections were due to serotype icterohaemorrhagiae, but in only one case could the leptospires be detected directly in the blood culture . In most of the cases the course of the disease was moderately severe with one fatality . Symptomatology and treatment are discussed.

Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol, 1987, 225(3), 163 - 5
Experimental study of the intra-ocular penetration of ketoconazole in rabbits; Malecaze F et al.; We studied 11 healthy rabbits and 15 rabbits with experimentally induced Candida endophthalmitis . Using a microbiological procedure, ketoconazole levels were determined 1, 2, 4, 8 and 24 h after its oral administration . Ketoconazole penetration was average in the aqueous humour, significant in tears and poor in the vitreous . Vitreous penetration was not detectable in healthy rabbits or in rabbits with chorioretinits exhibiting little or no vitreous reaction . Such penetration was only significant in rabbits exhibiting massive vitreous exudation; however, in such rabbits, penetration was not always observed (only in 2 out of 6 animals) . Given these results, the treatment of Candida endophthalmitis in humans using ketoconazole would appear to be of questionable value.

Drugs, 1987, 34 Suppl 1, 26 - 32
Penetration of ofloxacin from blood to sputum; Davies BI et al.; Serum and sputum concentrations of ofloxacin were measured by a microbiological agar-well diffusion assay in nearly 100 patients after single 400, 600 or 800 mg doses of ofloxacin . All patients were admitted to hospital because of acute purulent exacerbations of chronic respiratory disease, and the concentration studies were performed on the first treatment day while the sputum was still purulent . Both blood and sputum samples were tested at standardised time intervals after dosage, and concentration-time curves were constructed . Cmax values in serum and sputum were 3.7 and 2.7 mg/L after 400 mg ofloxacin, 7.1 and 6.1 mg/L after 600 mg and 8.8 and 6.3 mg/L after 800 mg . Penetration from blood to sputum, as judged from ratio of AUC values for sputum and serum, varied from 78 to 103%.

Boll Ist Sieroter Milan, 1987, 66(6), 489 - 90
Endocarditis due to Cardiobacterium hominis; Manso E et al.; A case of subacute bacterial endocarditis was caused by Cardiobacterium hominis in a 55-year-old man who had a history of rheumatic fever . A survey of the literature showed few reports dealing with the isolation of these organisms from human sources . Microbiologically, the chief distinguishing features of C . hominis are its characteristic colonial morphotype, a positive reaction, and its production of indole.

J Perinat Med, 1987, 15(6), 565 - 8
A dipstick test for infection in preterm premature rupture of the membranes; Fisk NM; Microbiological analysis of amniotic fluid obtained by amniocentesis is increasingly employed in preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM) to predict those patients at increased risk of chorioamnionitis . Although liquor culture appears the most accurate predictor, a role exists for rapid but slightly less accurate testing . In this study, a dipstick (Cytur-test) which predicts the presence of leukocytes was evaluated in amniotic fluid . Twenty-one samples were obtained by amniocentesis from 25 women with PPROM at gestation 26-34 weeks . The dipstick predicted 5 out of 6 specimens with a positive culture and 12 of 14 with a negative culture (figure 1) . Its accuracy as a predictor of a positive culture was similar to microscopy for polymorphs, with sensitivities of 83.3% and 80% respectively and specificities of 85.7% and 92.3% . Neither test proved as predictive of histological chorioamnionitis due to 6 patients delivering greater than 48 hours after amniocentesis who may have developed infection subsequent to the demonstration of sterile liquor.

Ann Rech Vet, 1987, 18(4), 405 - 13
{Elimination of polypeptide antibiotics (colistin and bacitracin) in the milk after intramuscular or intramammary administration}; Moretain JP et al.; The elimination in cow's milk of polypeptidic antibiotic residues (colistin sulfate, colistin methanesulfonate and bacitracin) was investigated following intramuscular and intramammary administrations of eight drugs marketed in France . The quantitative analysis was performed according to the microbiological method of agar diffusion . The mean elimination periods lasted between three and six milkings for injected preparations, between four and six milkings for intramammary ones . These results were used as a basis to determine the withdrawal times required on these drugs . The problem of the diffusion of the residues into milk from a quarter treated by the intramammary route, to the untreated quarters was also addressed.

Drugs Exp Clin Res, 1987, 13(12), 747 - 50
Comparative nephrotoxicity and tissue accumulation of dactimicin, amikacin and gentamicin; Bonadio M et al.; Dactimicin (ST 900) is a new pseudo-disaccharide aminoglycoside antibiotic which has been shown to be active against systemic infections in mice . Few data have so far been reported on dactimicin tissue accumulation or its potential nephrotoxicity . In this study, nephrotoxicity and renal tissue concentrations of gentamicin, amikacin and dactimicin were compared in Wistar rats . Liver, heart and lung accumulation of these drugs were also evaluated . Groups of 5 rats were respectively injected with 100 mg/kg body weight of the different drugs daily for 7 days . Five control rats were also injected with saline . Twenty-four hours after the last injection, all rats were sacrificed and bled to death . Blood samples were taken for BUN and serum creatinine assay . Kidney, liver, heart and lung tissues, as well as blood, were removed and processed for microbiological assay of gentamicin, amikacin and dactimicin . The results of this study showed that dactimicin, as well as amikacin, did not induce any significant increase in BUN and serum creatinine, while gentamicin administration resulted in severe uraemia in all rats . Consequently a much higher accumulation of gentamicin than amikacin and dactimicin was achieved in serum and tissues.

Z Hautkr, 1987, 62 Suppl 1, 36 - 8
{Food additives from the viewpoint of the food chemist}; Luck E; Food additives serve the consumer and are a necessity for food retailers and producers . Additives, such as vitamin D and iodine, increase the nutritional physiological value of foodstuffs . Additives, which improve food preservation by preventing microbiological deterioration are especially important . Some additives are added during food production and have no further use in the finished product . They are no longer present (solvents, clarifying agents) . With regard to health, many food additives are better tested than most foods.

Int J Clin Pharmacol Res, 1987, 7(6), 481 - 4
Cefonicid concentration in lung tissue after intramuscular administration; Cruciani M et al.; A long-acting cephalosporin, cefonicid, was given as a single 1 g dose to sixteen patients hospitalized for lung carcinoma and undergoing thoracic surgery . Lung and serum specimens were obtained approximately 2, 4, 6 and 12 h after injection . Antibiotic assay was made by means of a microbiological method . Effective concentrations of cefonicid in the serum and lung tissue were achieved during the sampling time (12 h) . The data suggest that a single dose of cefonicid may be useful for antibiotic prophylaxis in thoracic surgery.

Ann Biol Clin (Paris), 1987, 45(6), 685 - 8
{Diffusion of 5-fluorocytosine in bronchial secretions in patients with respiratory insufficiency}; Brasseur P et al.; The 5-Fluorocytosine bronchial secretion levels of 14 patients with a chronic respiratory disease were determined using a microbiological method . The mean maximal concentrations (7.76 +/- 7 micrograms/ml) were obtained at the end of a single 25 mg/kg i v perfusion over 30 minutes . The level increased when five i v perfusions were performed every 6 hours and bronchial diffusion was higher and faster by concomitant administration of (bromhexin hydrochloride) . Therefore, 5-Fluorocytosine was not found in bronchial secretions of four patients in spite of a normal serum levels (21.5 +/- 5 micrograms/ml).

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand, 1987, 66(5), 445 - 9
Intra-uterine contraceptive devices (IUDs) in relation to uterine histology and microbiology; Kajanoja P et al.; Histological and microbiological examinations were made of 90 uteri taken in association with abdominal hysterectomy . Thirty-one women had an intra-uterine contraceptive device (IUD) in utero at the time of operation, 16 women had previously used an IUD, while 43 had never used one . A chronic inflammatory reaction was seen significantly more often in the fallopian tubes of women with an IUD in situ (21/31, 68%) than in those who had never used an IUD (7/43, 16%) . In contrast, non-active post-inflammatory tubal changes were found less frequently in women with an IUD in situ (6%) than in women who had never used an IUD (16%) . All tubes were sterile, expect for two with apathogenic microbes . An endometrial inflammatory reaction was found in 4 women with an IUD in situ and in one woman who had never used an IUD . The possibility of tubal infertility must be borne in mind when planning IUD contraception.

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand, 1987, 66(4), 315 - 7
Is the fibrinolytic activity involved in the mechanism of fetal membrane rupture? A clinical study of term and prematurely ruptured membranes; Evaldson GR et al.; The fibrinolytic activity (FA) was determined in fetal membrane specimens obtained in 15 cases of premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) and from 15 control women who gave birth spontaneously at term . In each case two membrane specimens were obtained, one from the rupture margin and the other from the membranes close to the placental margin . No significant difference in FA was demonstrated between the two groups of patients . Nor could any significant difference be found on comparing the FA within the paired membrane specimens of each group . Furthermore, no obvious change in FA was demonstrated in relation to clinical signs of chorioamnionitis or microbiological findings . However, although the FAs observed in prematurely ruptured membranes were comparable to those found in term specimens, this does not exclude the possibility of an involvement of FA in the mechanism of membrane rupture.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1987, 52, 7 - 10
Treatment of acute bacterial peritonitis: a trial of imipenem/cilastatin against ampicillin-metronidazole-gentamicin; Leaper DJ et al.; Imipenem/cilastatin at a dose of 0.5 g six hourly was compared to conventional combination therapy with ampicillin 0.5 g six hourly, metronidazole 0.5 g eight hourly and gentamicin 80 mg eight hourly (with dose adjustment by trough and peak serum levels) in the treatment of severe intra-abdominal infections . All antibiotics were given intravenously . Forty-five patients entered the trial . Of the 19 evaluable patients in the imipenem/cilastatin group, 16 were clinically cured with five microbiological successes and two failures . Of 24 evaluable patients in the combination group, 22 were clinically cured with one microbiological success and one failure . One patient in each group suffered an adverse effect . Patients in the I/C group tended to be older with more women and more severe infections . The origin of peritonitis was similar . I/C did not differ from combination therapy in efficacy or safety and was comparable in cost . However, I/C was easier to administer than combination therapy and there was no need for serum concentration monitoring.

J Fr Ophtalmol, 1987, 10(10), 539 - 41, 543-6
{Acanthamoeba keratitis . Clinical, histological and ultrastructural study}; Hoang-Xuan T et al.; Acanthamoeba keratitis is a rare but very severe necrotizing stromal keratitis due to a non-parasitic free-living soil and freshwater amoeba . It affects more readily soft and hard lens wearers . It is often clinically mistaken for herpetic keratitis because of the similarity of the signs and the difficulty in performing the specific microbiological tests . This is the reason why the diagnosis is most often made at the time of penetrating keratoplasty and histological study of the buttons with special stains . Medical treatment is effective only when starting at the beginning of the disease.

Nutr Health, 1987, 5(1-2), 25 - 9
Sucrose and dental caries; Sheiham A; Sucrose is unequivocally implicated in the cause of dental caries . Biochemical, microbiological, animal and human clinical and epidemiological evidence support a causal relationship . The risk of caries is related both to the amount and the frequency of intake of sucrose . The evidence that sucrose is important is that a) extracellular synthesis of polysaccharides by plaque bacteria is dependent on high concentration of sucrose . Without synthesis of polymers S . mutans cannot colonize the mouth in large numbers . b) studies on animals show a relationship between sucrose content of a food and its cariogenicity, c) there is a direct relationship between the quantity of sucrose consumed and caries in humans, d) the relationship between dietary sucrose and caries in humans approximates an S-shaped curve that rises more steeply when the sucrose-containing products are consumed frequently and when newly erupted teeth are present in young children and adolescents . Following the sharp rise, the curve flattens out . Sucrose is much more cariogenic than starch in humans . Reduction in sucrose consumption levels by half will benefit dental health and is unlikely to have any detrimental effects on health.

Arch Androl, 1987, 18(1-2), 1 - 178
Interdisciplinary andrology . STDs . AIDS research; Hafez ES; Multidisciplinary andrology deals with clinical application and modern technology for the evaluation and differential diagnosis of male infertility with emphasis on morphological, anatomical, biochemical, immunological, hereditary, and microbiological parameters . Little is known about the effects of diet, disease, stress, environmental, and drugs on male-related unexplained infertility of couples . Regional, national, and international centers of multidisciplinary andrology should provide (1) extensive and unique clinical services; (2) a computerized "patient referral center," (3) self-learning packages (slides/tape programs) for patients; and (4) a computer link to the National Library of Medicine and the Drug Information Center . Specialized laboratories and clinics can be served by expert consultants, visiting professors, bilingual and well-trained clinicians, nurses, laboratory technologists, computer operators, and related allied health personnel . Patient education pamphlets, updated every few years, can be distributed during training workshops when an extensive network of remote teleprinters can be utilized . Qualified client location may install a printer to allow on-site printing of reports in the shortest possible time . Special mailing containers are provided to clients who wish to mail their laboratory specimens . Other clinical services may include the following: 1 . Central source of communication and information in andrology; 2 . International roster of multidisciplinary andrology centers; 3 . Patient referral to centers and consultations for developing countries; 4 . Screening of husbands and wives for in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer (IVF/ET); 5 . Screening of couples with unexplained infertility for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including AIDS; 6 . Exchange of research material and methodology; 7 . Coordination of multicenter research; 8 . Organizing training workshops for clinicians, nurses, and laboratory technicians; 9 . Establishing a repository of films, video tapes, slides, catalogs, instrumentation, books, SEM photos, and atlases; 10 . Publication and editorial assistance; 11 . Consultation for the appropriate selection, purchase, and quality control of instrumentation (all on one computer system); 12 . Evaluation of new diagnostic tools for idiopathic infertility and fertility regulation; 13.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Zentralbl Gynakol, 1987, 109(12), 745 - 54
{Spermiologic aspects of in vitro fertilization}; Glander HJ; Some publications of the last three years, which deal with the influence of the spermatozoa on the success rates of the in vitro fertilization (ivf) were analysed: 1 . Semen samples with 10(7) spermatozoa per ml and more than 30% motile and normally configurated sperm cells are regarded as the lower limit of the usability . 2 . Microbiological investigations, determination of the concentration of white blood cells, assessment of the motility during an in vitro incubation, evaluation of the acrosomal enzymes, the resistance of the spermatozoa to osmotic stress and the ability of the penetration of pre-ovulatory mucus represent additional criteria for the selection of semen samples . 3 . The correlation between the results of the penetration test of the zona pellucida-free hamster oocytes and of the ivf is discussed . A lower limit of the conventional semen parameters concerning a success of the ivf is not detectable by this test . 4 . The applied method of the separation of the spermatozoa should depend on the sperm quality . "Swim up"-method led to the best rates of fertilization . 5 . Improvement of the male conditions for the ivf is possible . 6 . The infertility caused by antisperm-antibodies is an accepted indication of ivf in contrast to oligozoospermia . 7 . The fertilization of the oocyte by the spermatozoon prerequisites several spermatozoal alterations (capacitation, acrosome reaction), which are presented in this article in parts.

J Orthop Res, 1987, 5(1), 1 - 6
Indium-111 leukocyte scintigraphic detection of subclinical osteomyelitis complicating delayed and nonunion long bone fractures: a prospective study; Esterhai JL Jr et al.; Twenty patients were studied prospectively with indium-labeled leukocyte imaging to evaluate its effectiveness in differentiating noninfected delayed or nonunion from osteomyelitis complicating these entities . All patients underwent an open surgical procedure within 24 h of the scan . Bone specimens from the nonunion site were obtained for microbiological and histological analysis to confirm the presence or absence of osteomyelitis . In these twenty patients, the sensitivity of the indium scintigraphy was 100%, the specificity 100%, and the overall accuracy 100% . Indium-labeled leukocyte scintigraphy is significantly more accurate than 99mtechnetium and 67gallium imaging had been, when studied earlier, in detecting subclinical osteomyelitis complicating nonunion . Indium-labeled leukocyte scintigraphy should supplant sequential technetium and gallium studies in this patient population when the surgeon must determine whether subclinical osteomyelitis is complicating fracture management of delayed and nonunions.

Arch Microbiol, 1987 Jan, 146(4), 338 - 40
Methylation sensitivity of the restriction enzymes FnuDII and AccII; Gaido ML et al.; The restriction enzymes FnuDII and AccII are isoschizomers of the DNA sequence 5'-CGCG-3' . We have determined that 5-methylcytidine at either cytidine position in this recognition sequence inhibits DNA cleavage by FnuDII and AccII . A third isoschizomer, ThaI was previously shown to exhibit an identical methylation sensitivity . It is remarkable that 3 restriction enzymes derived from diverse microbiological sources exhibit this identical methylation sensitivity.

Int J Rad Appl Instrum {A}, 1987, 38(1), 71 - 3
A note on the effect of gamma-rays on cefamandole and oxacillin; Jacobs GP et al.; The feasibility of the radiation sterilization of two beta-lactam antibiotic powders, cefamandole nafate and oxacillin sodium, has been examined by subjecting them to a range gamma-radiation doses, followed by chemical and microbiological analyses . It would appear feasible to radiation sterilize oxacillin sodium . The radiation sterilization of cefamandole nafate may be realistic at low doses or under conditions that minimize radiolysis.

Rev Infect Dis, 1987 Jan-Feb, 9 Suppl 1, S139 - 42
Randomized comparative trial of three regimens of itraconazole for treatment of vaginal mycoses; Sanz Sanz F et al.; A randomized comparative study of three treatment regimens with itraconazole was carried out in 60 nonpregnant women with acute vaginal candidosis . Vaginitis was demonstrated by both a positive culture and positive findings on microscopic examination of a vaginal smear as well as by the presence of clinical symptoms . Sixty patients seen over a three-month period were randomly allocated to receive one dose of 200 mg daily for two consecutive days (regimen A), 200 mg twice a day for one day (regimen B), or 200 mg once a day for three consecutive days (regimen C) . Each group comprised 20 patients . In group A, 65% were clinically and microbiologically cured, 5% were clinically but not microbiologically cured, and 30% relapsed . In group B, 55% were clinically and microbiologically cured, 10% were clinically but not microbiologically cured, 15% did not respond to treatment, and 20% relapsed . In group C, 75% were clinically and microbiologically cured, 10% did not respond, and 15% relapsed.

Ann Med Interne (Paris), 1987, 138(6), 411 - 5
{Digestive manifestations in acquired immunodeficiency disease}; Girard PM et al.; Digestive manifestations of AIDS were studied retrospectively in 87 patients with respect to clinical, microbiological, endoscopic and histological data . Chronic or intermittent diarrhea was observed in 62 p . 100 of patients and frequently associated with major weight loss . The digestive opportunistic infections were: oesophageal candidiasis (42 p . 100), cryptosporidiosis (24 p . 100), cytomegalovirus infections (22 p . 100), isosporiasis (3.4 p . 100), atypical mycobacteriosis (2.2 p . 100), toxoplasmosis (2.2 p . 100) . Thirty non-opportunistic agents were detected in 26 patients . Gastrointestinal Kaposi sarcoma occurred in 18 p . 100 of cases . The etiology of diarrhea remained unknown in 16 p . 100 of patients . The value of endoscopy is discussed: esophagogastroduodenal fibroscopy, is usually required to assess oesophageal candidiasis, colonoscopy is required to assess cytomegalovirus colitis on histological data.

Lab Anim Sci, 1986 Dec, 36(6), 650 - 4
Sex specificity of myocardial damage in mice fed a purified diet; Fullerton FR et al.; Both sexes of BALB/c and B6C3F1 mice were divided into test groups and fed either a purified diet (AIN-76A) or a natural ingredient diet (NIH-07) containing graded levels of 2-acetylaminofluorine (2-AAF) for 90 days . A large number of dead or moribund B6C3F1 males fed the AIN diet were removed from the study prematurely . AIN-fed B6C3F1 mice removed early as well as some sacrificed at the end of the study showed myocardial damage with hemorrhage . A much smaller number of BALB/c males fed the AIN diet also exhibited these signs while none of the females from either stock were affected . Mice having these lesions were confined largely to 2 of 5 treatment groups . Increased levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (GOT) (P less than .01) occurred in the AIN-fed B6C3F1 male mice that were sacrificed, supporting the histopathological observation of myocardial damage . There was no other significant difference in the GOT between diets or 2-AAF doses . No environmental factors could be associated with the problem and microbiological and chemical analyses of the diets showed no convincing evidence of specific pathogenic organisms or nutritional deficiencies that might have caused these lesions . Extended storage (up to 4 months) and one batch of feed in particular seemed to be associated with mice having myocardial damage . These associations were highly strain and sex dependent and suggest that great care must be taken in the manufacture and handling of the diet . Furthermore, it seems likely that the diet may be marginally adequate for some strains of mice and may require modification before it will become generally useful.

Hum Reprod, 1986 Dec, 1(8), 559 - 60
In-vitro techniques: can they replace animal testing?
Pearson RM.
PIP: Some evidence exists that in-vitro studies are capable or potentially capable of providing more rapid, precise, and relevant information than do some animal studies . At this time, the primary use of in-vitro tests is the detection of specific toxic properties of drugs and chemicals, e.g., mutagenesis and mechanisms of toxicity . The theoretical basis for this stems from the commonality of the basic structure and behavior of genetic material whereby in-vitro tests for genetic toxicology can replace animals tests . Additionally, replacement of animal testing by in-vitro techniques depends on the validity of the assumption that the wide range of manifestations of toxicity observed in vivo are triggered by a relatively small number of identifiable initiating events . The screening of drugs for a particular adverse property currently is the most applicable use of in-vitro tests . In practice the development of in-vitro tests most likely will proceed in at least 2 distinct phases: identification by a series of individual tests of the fundamental biological properties of the test drug; and findings detected in the phase 1 tests would be investigated in more sophisticated versions of the test, and these phase 2 tests usually would be of much longer duration . Table 1 lists the vast range of cells and tissues which have been used for in-vitro tests and details some of those most relevant to preclinical testing of drugs in the field of fertility regulation . The tests fall into the categories of microbiological tests, fungal cultures, tissue culture teratogen assays, cytoxicity tests -- sensitivity of tissues, and sperm tests in toxicology . There has been a reduction in confidence in animal studies in the safety evaluation of oral contraceptives (OCs) . This has led to their rejection as indicators of significant hazards to women . Consequently, a number of short-term in-vitro tests have been accepted by the regulatory authorities . Of these, the Ames test is the most popular . A variety of genetic assays have been developed which involve the use of cultures of fungi . In these observations changes in the chromosome number can be assayed by selective plating techniques . Using primary cell cultures of 8-day chick embryo limb fibroblast cultures, it is possible to develop techniques which give some correlation with tests for teratogenicity on whole animals . The development of cytotoxicity assays as an alternative to the Draize test for acute inflammatory response in the eye of the adult rabbit raises the possibility of the evaluation of spermicides as a similar test system . Finally, sperm tests may provide valuable information in toxicological testing .

J Clin Microbiol, 1986 Dec, 24(6), 1071 - 4
Microbiological and biochemical characterization of spirochetes isolated from the feces of homosexual males; Jones MJ et al.; Spirochetes were isolated from the feces of 11 homosexual males who had diarrhea . The anaerobic organisms were isolated from a selective medium that consisted of Trypticase soy agar supplemented with either 5% horse or human blood, 400 micrograms of spectinomycin per ml, and 5 micrograms of polymyxin B per ml . Nonselective media that permitted good growth of these fastidious organisms were developed, and selected biochemical tests were performed . The tests included carbohydrate utilization, detection of certain enzymes, and determination of volatile fatty-acid end products of metabolism . Two growth patterns were noted on solid media, a haze of growth and production of small colonies . Based on the results of biochemical tests, patterns of preformed enzymes, and volatile fatty-acid production, we believe that the 11 isolates represent a heterogeneous group of spirochetes . The data suggest that the human colon may harbor unique strains of cultivable spirochetes; additional study of the taxonomy of the organisms and assessment of their virulence for humans are needed.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1986 Dec, 263(1-2), 237 - 52
Microbiological findings in erythema (chronicum) migrans and related disorders; Neubert U et al.; In order to evaluate the virtual advantage of proving borrelial infection in dermatoses clinically diagnosed as erythema (chronicum) migrans (ECM), acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans (ACA) or lymphadenosis cutis benigna (LCB) by means of histological, cultural or serological trials, skin and serum samples obtained from altogether 99 patients suffering from these dermatoses were examined . Serum and--to some extent--skin specimens gained from healthy individuals (n = 36), patients with not tick bite associated disorders of skin, internal organs and nervous system (n = 121) were used as controls . In addition, serum specimens from patients enduring circumscribed scleroderma (morphea), n = 31, and sera of Bavarian forest workers (n = 211) were proven for the presence of borrelial antibodies . Using an indirect immunofluorescence assay with borrelial strains, propagated in inbred mice, as antigens, elevated IgM- and/or IgG antibody titers were found in 51 (84%) out of 61 ECM-, in 17 (100%) ACA- and in 2 (33%) out of 6 LCB-sera . Antibody titers decreased significantly after adequate antibiotic therapy . The groups in comparison yielded spirochetal serum antibodies as follows: Healthy individuals and patients with various diseases 7 out of 157 (4.5%), morphea patients 7 out of 31 (23%) and forest workers 71 out of 211 (34%) . Borrelia burgdorferi was cultivated from 6 out of 32 skin and from 1 blood specimen obtained from ECM patients and from 1 out of 5 ACA skin specimens . Borreliae could also be detected in the blood of 3 out of 11 thymusaplastic nude mice after intraperitoneal implantation of ECM-tissue . More frequently than borreliae spindle-shaped bacteria resembling fusobacterium sp . were detected not only by in vitro cultivation of ECM and ACA skin samples, but also in the blood of thymusaplastic mice after implantation of ECM-tissue . By Warthin-Starry silver strain borrelia-like structures were detected in 9 out of 28 ECM, in 3 out of 12 ACA and in 1 out of 5 LCB skin specimens . Therefore in our experience serological examinations turned out to be the most productive diagnostic tool.

Adv Contracept, 1986 Dec, 2(4), 387 - 92
Postabortal insertion of IUD; Tuveng JM et al.; During 1983, 823 first trimester therapeutic abortions were performed at the University Hospital of Trondheim, Norway . Of these patients, 229 had an IUD inserted at the end of the operative procedure . The remaining 594 patients served as controls . Microbiological samples were taken from the cervix and the urethra . No prophylactic antibiotic treatment was given . Compared to the group of patients not selecting an IUD as contraception, there was no increase in readmission frequency due to immediate postabortal IUD insertion . There were no positive cultures for N . gonorrhoeae, and the relative number of positive chlamydia cultures was the same in both groups . In the IUD group we did not find any increase in complications such as bleeding, pain, perforations or infections . During the first year of observation, 3 pregnancies occurred in the IUD group, giving a Pearl index of 1.3 pregnancies per year . Continuation rate after one year was 72.8% . We recommend immediate postabortal insertion of an IUD after first trimester abortion as a practical and safe procedure.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1986 Dec, 18(6), 757 - 63
High performance liquid chromatographic determination of ketoconazole in human serum; Turner CA et al.; A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with terconazole as internal standard is described for the rapid analysis of ketoconazole in human serum . Except for diazepam no other drug interfered with the analysis . The lowest reproducible limit of the method was 0.05 mg/l . The coefficient of variation of the procedure was less than or equal to 7.5% over a range of ketoconazole concentrations from 1.0 to 10.0 mg/l and less than or equal to 16.75% over a range from 0.05 to 0.5 mg/l . Comparison with a microbiological method showed good correlation.

J Hyg (Lond), 1986 Dec, 97(3), 393 - 403
Outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in Glasgow Royal Infirmary: microbiological aspects; Timbury MC et al.; The bacteriological investigation of an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in Glasgow Royal Infirmary affecting 16 patients is described . Most of the patients had been treated in high-dependency areas on two floors of the hospital supplied by the same two air-conditioned ventilation systems . The source of infection was traced to contamination of a cooling tower from which a plume of spray discharged into the intake vents of the two ventilation systems . Rubber grommets within the cooling tower probably provided a nidus of infection there . The control and management of the outbreak are discussed: a policy of frankness about the course and progress of the investigations was adopted and helped to allay anxiety on the part of both staff and media.

Chemioterapia, 1986 Dec, 5(6), 391 - 3
Pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose of ofloxacin in patients with renal failure; Nawishy S et al.; Ten male patients with chronic renal failure and five healthy male volunteers were given a single oral dose of ofloxacin (200 mg) . Serum concentrations of ofloxacin were determined by a microbiological assay . The pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained using an open one-compartment model . The study showed prolonged half-life and decreased elimination of ofloxacin in patients with renal failure . The median t1/2 of ofloxacin was prolonged in patients (38.5 h) compared with volunteers (17.8 h) (P less than 0.01) . The median AUC0----infinity was increased in patients (58.45 micrograms/ml X h) compared to volunteers (17.34 micrograms/ml X h) (P less than 0.01) . Also, the median Cl was decreased in patients (3.42 l/h) compared with volunteers (11.53 l/h) (P less than 0.01).

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1986 Dec, 183(2-3), 120 - 9
{Water hygiene in the hospital}; Sonntag HG; After defining what we mean by water hygiene and a short survey of contamination sources for water of drinking-water quality in a hospital, we describe by 2 focal points of water demand, namely dialysis and physical therapy (hydrotherapy pools): at which points and by which means water may suffer from microbiological contamination or by alterations of chemical parameters, which infectious agents and chemical parameters primarily are involved, which measures are required to secure the quality of this water . The major regulations and DIN-standards pertinent to water hygiene are pointed out, and the importance of considering measures of water hygiene for the supply of qualitatively unobjectionable water in the hospital is demonstrated.

Am J Gastroenterol, 1986 Dec, 81(12), 1145 - 8
Hepatic disorders in the acquired immune deficiency syndrome: a clinical and pathological study; Kahn SA et al.; We reviewed the clinical data, hepatic histology, and microbiological features of 21 patients with previously documented acquired immune deficiency syndrome who had liver biopsies . Diagnoses of specific infections were made on liver biopsy in 11/21 patients (57%) . Granulomas were found in 10/21 patients (48%) and were most often a manifestation of infection with Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare . Elevated levels of serum alkaline phosphatase and longer duration of diagnosed illness were significantly associated with the presence of granulomatous disease.

J Chromatogr, 1986 Nov 28, 383(1), 111 - 8
Determination of aditoprim, a new dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor, in the plasma of cows and pigs; Ascalone V et al.; A selective and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of aditoprim, a new dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor, in the plasma of cows and pigs . The compound and its internal standard were extracted with chloroform from plasma buffered at pH 9 and chromatographed on a muBondapak reversed-phase column with a mixture of acetonitrile and 0.5% ammonium carbonate aqueous solution and detected by UV absorption . Aditoprim can be quantitatively extracted from plasma . The limit for quantitative determination was ca . 0.050 micrograms/ml with a standard deviation of +/- 0.006 micrograms/ml and an accuracy of +/- 3% . The assay was linear over the concentration range 0.1-5.0 micrograms/ml (precision 0.007-0.09 micrograms/ml), and the day-to-day accuracy was better than +/- 3.5% . No interference was observed from either metabolite(s) or coadministered sulphonamides . The new procedure was compared with a microbiological assay by analysing plasma samples from pigs treated with aditoprim . The two methods gave similar results in the range 0.5-5.0 micrograms/ml.

Wien Klin Wochenschr, 1986 Nov 21, 98(22), 758 - 61
{New aspects of Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis: current diagnosis}; Weiss W; Differential diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease includes careful history taking, microbiological stool tests and endoscopy . Radiological procedures are required only in patients with Crohn's disease in order to demonstrate small bowel lesions or fistulae . The clinical relevance of recent scintigraphic techniques (67-gallium-citrate, 111-indium granulocytes, 99m-technetium-sucralfate) needs further exploration . Careful follow-up of patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease is mandatory once the duration of symptoms exceeds 10 years, in view of the high risk of development of carcinoma . The search for severe dysplasia is difficult and time consuming . Certain additional tests promise to be of value in detecting early malignancy, but these are not yet suited for routine clinical follow up.

J Chromatogr, 1986 Nov 7, 369(1), 105 - 15
Derivatization of primary amines by 2-naphthalenesulfonyl chloride for high-performance liquid chromatographic assay of neomycin sulfate; Tsuji K et al.; A normal phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been developed for the assay of neomycin sulfate . The method involves pre-column derivatization with 2-naphthalenesulfonyl chloride (NSCl) followed by extraction in chloroform and chromatography using a normal phase silica column with detection at 254 nm . The standard curve for the HPLC assay of neomycin sulfate is linear with a correlation coefficient of 0.9996 over the range of 0.02 to 0.4 mg/ml . Neomycins B, and C, and neamine can be separated and quantified isocratically with relative standard deviations of 0.92% and 1.4% for neomycin (B + 1/2C) and neamine, respectively . Prednisolone is used as an internal standard to aid in quantification . Mass spectrometric data confirms that neomycin is derivatized at all the six primary amines on the neomycin molecule . Eight lots of neomycin sulfate were used to compare the HPLC {NSCl and 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNFB)}, gas-liquid chromatographic and microbiological assay methods . The average results of the NSCl-HPLC method fell between those of the microbiological and DNFB-HPLC methods . Also, good correlation of the neomycin C contents in neomycin were obtained between the NSCl-HPLC and DNFB-HPLC methods.

Monatsschr Kinderheilkd, 1986 Nov, 134(11), 826 - 8
{Meningitis following lumbar puncture in bacteremia?}; Wintergerst U et al.; We report on two infants with bacteremia and the clinical signs of meningitis who developed overt meningitis following an extended period after the first lumbar puncture, in which inconspicuous (cytological and bacteriological) cerebrospinal fluid were found . The causative infective agents of bacteremia and meningitis were identical . The iatrogenic induction of meningitis by the procedure of lumbar puncture in the presence of a bacteremia is imaginable, but has not been proven . Diagnostic consequences are: Every lumbar puncture for bacterial meningitis has to be complemented with a simultaneous blood culture . Lumbar puncture should be repeated when clinical signs of meningitis persists in children, especially in infants with positive blood culture and with inconspicuous cerebrospinal fluid findings in the initial lumbar puncture . Such children should be hospitalized for clinical observation . Therapeutical consequences are presently unclear . Proven recommendations are lacking for the different possible procedures after initial lumbar puncture in children with suspicion of a bacteremia: for instance no therapy or one single antibiotic dose given i.v . immediately following the lumbar puncture or the same treatment as in proven meningitis until microbiological results are obtained.

Hautarzt, 1986 Nov, 37(11), 597 - 602
{Enlarged spectrum of tick transmitted spirochaetoses}; Rufli T et al.; After the successful identification of Borrelia burgdorferi as the cause of Lyme disease, a new tick-borne infection occurring in the United States, almost identical spirochaetes have been isolated from the tick Ixodes ricinus in Europe . As a result, the spirochaetal aetiology of skin diseases, which had long been recognized as tick-borne infections, namely erythema chronicum migrans with its neurological complications of the tick-borne meningopolyneuritis of Garin-Bujadoux-Bannwarth, acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans and lymphadenosis cutis benigna, could be confirmed by means of microbiological, histological and serological methods . On the basis of case histories it had already been assumed for some time that anetodermia maculosa and the localised sclerodermas might also be caused by a tick-borne agent . The results of serological investigations have now strengthened this assumption, although microbiological confirmation is still lacking.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1986 Nov, (11), 74 - 8
{The system of epidemiological surveillance as a reflection of the structure of the epidemic process}; Cherkasskii BL; The socio-ecological concept in epidemiology, formulated by the author in his earlier works and regarding the epidemic process as a biosocial hierarchical, integral system, can serve as a theoretical basis for the epidemiological surveillance of infectious and parasitic diseases . In accordance with the structure of the epidemic process, the system of epidemiological surveillance is subdivided into the following monitoring levels: molecular, microbiological, clinical, biocenological, statistical and sociological . The functions of epidemiological surveillance should be performed by the existing and newly organized All-Union Centers for the corresponding nosological forms.

Q J Med, 1986 Nov, 61(235), 1047 - 53
The high morbidity of CAPD fungal peritonitis--description of 10 cases and review of treatment strategies; Tapson JS et al.; Fungal infection is an uncommon cause of peritonitis in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) . This report describes the clinical and microbiological features of 10 cases of fungal peritonitis . Although all patients survived, morbidity was high . Abscess and adhesion formation were particular problems . Only two patients were able to return to CAPD after microbiological cure . Currently available treatment strategies for fungal peritonitis are reviewed.

J Am Dent Assoc, 1986 Nov, 113(5), 807 - 8
Multiple, painful oral ulcerations in a patient with Hodgkin's disease; DeBoom GW et al.; The frequent occurrence of the oral lesions of histoplasmosis in combination with disseminated infection necessitates prompt recognition and diagnosis . The possibility of such an infection occurring in an immunocompromised patient should be considered high on the list of differential diagnoses, and treatment should be planned accordingly . The varied clinical presentations of histoplasmosis, ranging from shallow ulcers to nodular or vegetative masses, can be confusing and may lead to inaccurate diagnosis with resultant delay in treatment or inappropriate treatment . Submission of adequate tissue sections for microbiological and histopathological assessments is crucial.

Rev Infect Dis, 1986 Nov-Dec, 8 Suppl 5, S583 - 8
A randomized controlled trial of ampicillin plus sulbactam vs . gentamicin plus clindamycin in the treatment of intraabdominal infections: a preliminary report . Study Group of Intraabdominal Infections; The prediction of abdominal surgical wound infection: the value of an enrichment broth for initial culture of operative parietal swabs; At the conclusion of 817 abdominal operations, duplicate swabs were taken from the subcutaneous tissues for microbiological examination; one swab was transported to the laboratory in Stuart's thioglycollate medium and the other immediately incubated in Robertson's cooked meat broth . The latter method resulted in significantly more isolations of potentially pathogenic bacteria than the former, (31% compared with 17%, P less than 0.001) . Immediate culture in broth with subsequent subculture allowed more accurate prediction of patients at risk of wound infection; using this method we found a 1:3 likelihood of wound infection with a 5% chance of severe infection when a single pathogenic species was cultured, and a 1:2 likelihood of wound infection with a 10% chance of severe infection when two or more pathogenic species were cultured . Transport of swabs in thioglycollate medium, in contrast, detected fewer patients with parietal contamination and showed a 1:5 likelihood of wound infection when the swab was sterile and a 1:2 chance when one or more than one pathogenic species was cultured.

Tijdschr Diergeneeskd, 1986 Oct 15, 111(20), 979 - 82
{The use of flocculation sludge in poultry feed . The effect of feeding flocculation sludge on the quality of broiler chickens}; de Vries AW et al.; Broiler chickens were fattened for six weeks with feeds, to which 0%, 7.5% or 15% of dried flocculated sludge had been added . Tests were performed on the slaughtered birds with regard to microbiological and sensory characteristics . In addition, the concentrations of various (heavy) metals in the meat of the breast and leg were determined . Specimens of the tissues of various organs were also subjected to histopathological examination . Except for a still unaccountable increase in juicyness of the flesh of the legs of the 7.5% group and a reduction of the zinc level in that of the breast and legs, any other effects attributable to the incorporation of dried flocculated poultry sludge in the diets were not detectable.

Pharmazie, 1986 Oct, 41(10), 705 - 8
{Conditions for the mercurimetric determination of the drug content of penicillins}; Pospisilova B et al.; Mercurimetric determination of penicillins includes direct titration with a solution of mercury (II) perchlorate in the medium of pyridine solvent or acetate buffer, which determines the content of decomposition products, and titration after alkaline hydrolysis, which indicates the total amount of penicillin . The determination which is indicated potentiometrically with continuous addition of the titrant, provides real and reproducible results in the titration rate of 0.6 ml/min with the initial concentration of penicillin 170 mg/30 ml and temperature 25 degrees C . Benzathine and procaine salts of benzylpenicillin and benzathine salt of phenoxymethylpenicillin were dissolved in dimethylformamide (DMF) before the titration in acetate buffer . Titrations of ampicillin, amoxycillin and azlocillin were performed in the mixture of acetate buffer and formamide which ensured real results . Hydrolysis of the lactam ring of azlocillin, mezlocillin, ticarcillin and piperacillin is quantitative in 10 min of action of NaOH (1 mol/l) which was confirmed by comparing with the enzymatic cleavage . Relative standard deviation for all penicillins was less than 1% . The accuracy of the method for the determination of penicillins was proved by comparing with the microbiological and iodometric determination . The mercurimetric determination of penicillins and their decomposition products in acetate buffer was applied to injections, tablets, capsules and dry sirup.

Arzneimittelforschung, 1986 Oct, 36(10), 1518 - 20
Linearity of the pharmacokinetics of phosphomycin in serum and interstitial tissue fluid in rabbits; Fernandez Lastra C et al.; A study was carried out on the access and residence of (-)(1R,2S)-1,2-epoxypropylphosphonic acid (phosphomycin) in interstitial tissue fluid produced experimentally by subcutaneous implantation of spiral steel cages after administration of doses of 20, 30 and 60 mg/kg of the antibiotic to rabbits . The levels reached by the drug in serum and interstitial tissue fluid (ITF) were determined by a microbiological plate diffusion method . The elimination half-lives of phosphomycin ranged between 1.16 and 1.57 h . These values are similar to those found for the disappearance half-lives from ITF . Phosphomycin reached maximum concentrations in ITF between 31.95 and 80.37 micrograms/ml . Linear relationships were established between the (AUC) 0 infinity in serum, the (AUC) 0 infinity in ITF and Cmax in ITF and the doses studied, revealing the non-dose-dependent kinetics of phosphomycin . The linearity of phosphomycin kinetics was checked in serum and ITF by applying the superposition principle.

Tsitologiia, 1986 Oct, 28(10), 1113 - 6
{Decontamination of cell cultures by removing mycoplasmas: a comparison of 3 methods}; Smirnova TD; Three different methods of decontamination of cell cultures from mycoplasma were compared: by macrophages in the presence of antibiotics, by ultraviolet radiation in the presence of 5-bromuridin and Hoechst-33258, by cloning of cells in the presence of antibiotics metacycline and doxicycline . Only the latter method was effective to decontaminate the cell cultures from mycoplasma . Twelve cell lines were decontaminated and tested for the presence of mycoplasma by microbiological method, by staining with the dye Hoechst-33258 and autoradiography . All the cell lines were free of mycoplasma.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1986 Oct, 182(5-6), 449 - 77
{Microbiology of ground water and drinking water}; Dott W et al.; Groundwater has been considered a safe source for drinking water protected against surface contamination . However, a number of reports about chemical and microbiological contamination have disproved this assumption . Besides hygienical monitoring, little is known about the microbiology of ground- and drinking water . The purpose of this paper is to give a review about the main fields of investigation concerning microbial activity in ground- and drinking-water-action . The hygienical relevant topics are: survival and transport of microorganisms, microbiological degradation of organic pollutants, turn-over of nitrogen compounds, oxidation and reduction of iron and manganese and development of methods for microbiological water examination.

Genitourin Med, 1986 Oct, 62(5), 342 - 4
Microbiological survey of acute epididymitis; Hawkins DA et al.; In an 18 month period, 198 men presented with a painful, swollen, and tender epididymis or testicular or scrotal pain . Fifty were excluded from analysis because of prior antibiotic treatment or a history of the disease, or both . Of the remaining patients, epididymitis was not diagnosed in 108, though 23 (21%) of them had urethritis . Thus 40 men were seen who had acute unilateral epididymitis . Of the 27 less than 35 years old, 13 (48%) had a urethral chlamydial infection and two others a gonococcal infection . Sexually transmitted micro-organisms were not confined, however, to the younger age group, though only two (15%) of 13 men who were 35 years or older had a urethral chlamydial infection . Most, that is 29 (73%), of the patients with acute epididymitis also had urethritis when first seen . Urethral micro-organisms were found most often in 13 men who had severe epididymitis, chlamydial infection occurring in eight (62%) of the patients in this category.

Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther Toxicol, 1986 Sep, 24(9), 485 - 9
Pleural fluid levels of cefoxitin in patients with renal impairment; Barrueco M et al.; The pharmacokinetics of cefoxitin was studied in 14 patients with a pleural effusion, 8 of which had normal renal function and the other 6 varying degrees of renal impairment . All patients received a single dose of 30 mg/kg i.v . bolus of the antibiotic . The serum and pleural fluid concentrations of cefoxitin were determined microbiologically . The serum elimination half-life of the antibiotic in the group of patients with normal renal function had a mean value of 1.35 +/- 0.56 h while that of the second group ranged between 2.00 h and 40.79 h, according to the deterioration in renal function . The disappearance half-life of cefoxitin from pleural fluid increased parallel to the degree of renal impairment, reaching a value of 30.09 h for a creatinine clearance (Ccr) of 5.8 ml/min . From the data obtained, dosage regimens were programmed according to the degree of renal function with the aim of achieving safe and efficient cefoxitin levels in both biological fluids.

Am J Hosp Pharm, 1986 Sep, 43(9), 2225 - 8
Stability of 1% rifampin suspensions prepared in five syrups; Krukenberg CC et al.; The stability and microbiological activity (potency) of rifampin in 1% w/v suspensions prepared extemporaneously using five syrups was studied . The contents of four 300-mg rifampin capsules (Rifadin, Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals Inc.) were crushed and placed in amber glass bottles . The rifampin powder was combined with 120 mL of each of the following syrups: Syrup, NF; two commercially available simple syrups (Humco Laboratories and Whiteworth, Inc.), wild cherry syrup (Eli Lilly and Company), and a fruit-flavored syrup (Syrpalta) . The bottles were then stored at room temperature or under refrigeration for six weeks . Portions of each suspension were removed and assayed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and a microbiological assay technique initially and after two, four, and six weeks of storage . No significant changes in rifampin concentrations were detected by either assay technique over the study period . However, an increase in the concentration of rifampin degradation products was detected by HPLC assay, especially between the fourth and sixth weeks . A 1% w/v suspension of rifampin prepared using Rifadin capsules and any of the five syrups studied is stable for four weeks at room temperature or under refrigeration.

Aust N Z J Surg, 1986 Sep, 56(9), 689 - 92
Aspiration drainage of splenic abscesses; Dwyer DE et al.; The successful use of guided percutaneous needle aspiration in the management of four patients with solitary splenic abscess is described . Two patients had needle aspiration alone and two patients, with large splenic abscesses, had drainage tubes inserted . The procedures were well tolerated and allowed rapid microbiological diagnosis with selection of appropriate antibiotic therapy . The techniques were useful in patients felt to be poor anaesthetic risks, and the complications of splenectomy were avoided.

Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol, 1986 Sep-Oct, 22(5), 595 - 606
{Microbiological synthesis and transformation of prostaglandins}; Milman IA et al.; The review surveys current literature on microbiological synthesis and modification of prostaglandins . Three possible approaches to the use of microorganisms for prostaglandin production are considered including synthesis de novo, arachidonic acid transformation, and prostaglandin modifications . The most typical reactions of prostaglandin transformations by microorganisms are analysed: hydrolysis, hydroxylation, reduction and beta-oxidation.

Microbiol Sci, 1986 Sep, 3(9), 285 - 7
International Commission on the Taxonomy of Fungi (ICTF): name changes in fungi of microbiological, industrial and medical importance . Part 2; Cannon PF; This is the second in a series of reports bringing changes in the names of fungi of microbiological, industrial and medical importance to the attention of workers in these fields . The series is sponsored by the Division of Mycology of the International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS) and prepared under the auspices of the International Commission on the Taxonomy of Fungi (ICTF) . The first of this series of reports (which included an introduction to the series explaining the need for name changes) was published in Microbiological Sciences 3: 168-171 (1986).

J Assoc Off Anal Chem, 1986 Sep-Oct, 69(5), 773 - 6
Computerized semiautomated microbiological assay of folacin; Keagy PM; A semiautomated microbiological folacin assay system is described . A microcomputer controls sample dilutions, medium addition, turbidity determination, and data acquisition . Assay capacity is 600 tubes per day, approximately twice that of comparable manual assays . Using the automated equipment, more samples can be compared within one assay, eliminating many sources of between-assay variation in large studies . Additional advantages of this system are reduced human errors, flexibility of assay design, and multifunctional component equipment . Folacin results from chicken liver, spinach, and breakfast cereal samples show equivalent precision for manual and automated assays.

Acta Eur Fertil, 1986 Sep-Oct, 17(5), 381 - 5
Results of a microbiological study of 99 patients undergoing laparoscopy due to sterility and/or pelvic pain; La Sala GB et al.; The Authors report the results of a microbiological study of 99 patients who had undergone laparoscopy for infertility and/or pelvic pain . In 64% of the cases the microbiological study gave a positive result and in 45% of these 2 or more microorganisms were isolated; this high positive result was due to the presence of microorganisms with low pathogenicity on the cervical and urethral swabs . The microbiological study, B.S.R . and the leucocytes did not show any significant correlation with the pelvic pathologies found by means of laparoscopy . The only exception to this was Chlamydia T . which gave positive results, both in the direct and indirect test, in 22% of the patients, and which was found most often in the cases where laparoscopy had shown pelvic phlogisis.

Chem Biol Interact, 1986 Sep, 59(2), 141 - 6
Phototoxic potential of mequitazine, a phenothiazine derivative, as determined by the photosensitized action on microbiological systems; Fujita H et al.; In order to determine phototoxic potential of mequitazine (MQZ), a phenothiazine derivative, in vitro tests were attempted using microbiological systems . When Escherichia coli was irradiated with ultraviolet-A light in the presence of MQZ, the surviving fraction was decreased with increasing fluence . Irradiation of bacteriophage lambda in the presence of the drug decreased the surviving fraction as well . Possible targets for the photosensitized action in these systems were discussed.

J Hosp Infect, 1986 Sep, 8(2), 109 - 15
Control of Legionella in hospitals; Edelstein PH; Legionellas are present in water distribution systems and cooling towers of many hospitals . No firm data are available regarding the need for prophylactic disinfection of these contaminated systems . Disinfection of water systems and cooling towers is an accepted and effective means of ending nosocomial Legionnaires' disease, but it should be performed in conjunction with good epidemiological and microbiological studies to pinpoint environmental reservoirs and disseminators . Chlorination, pasteurization, or both, are the only means of disinfection found to be effective in disease outbreaks . Prospective surveillance of immuno compromised patients with pneumonia is probably the most effective means to determine if a hospital is a source of Legionnaires' disease and, therefore, requires further investigations and disinfection.

Hosp Eng, 1986 Sep, 40(8), 17 - 23
Prevention of airborne infections in operating rooms; Howorth FH; After controlled trial lasting five years in 19 hospitals in Europe, it was found that a substantially downward flow of microbiologically clean air, without any peripheral entrainment of contaminants, reduced wound sepsis more effectively than any other means . This reduction was at least 50% and when a body exhaust system was also used, the reduction in wound sepsis was at least 75%, whether antibiotics were used or not . With these unidirectional downward (laminar) flow systems, the side panels or drapes which were necessary to prevent peripheral entrainment of ambient air, contaminated by body emissions of those outside the clean zone, were found to be restrictive to surgeons and their procedures . An exponential (trumpet shaped) flow of microbiologically clean air was found to overcome these objections . From an overhead canopy, the air flows centrally downwards and then rapidly outwards, so peripheral entrainment cannot occur, consequently restrictive side panels are not required and so the system cannot be abused by leaving them off . Howorth Exflow clean zones for surgery are now in use in over 30 countries and when used in conjunction with the body exhaust and gowns for the members of the surgical team and the patient, it has been shown that zero cfu/3m is achievable in the air during surgery and that wound sepsis from the airborne route is eliminated without inconvenience to anyone in the operating theatre.

Pharmazie, 1986 Aug, 41(8), 588 - 90
{The use of microcrystalline cellulose dispersions for the production of dermatologic agents}; George J et al.; The employment oft microcrystalline cellulose of the Heweten-type (cellulose powder(AB-GDR) for the production of dermatological preparations as aqueous and aqueous-oily multicomponent systems can contribute to the opening of a further field of application of this auxiliary substance in pharmaceutical factories and pharmacies . By means of intensive shearing and mixing forces, e.g . a colloid mill, it is possible to produce dispersions with fluid media, which proved to be stable when they contained a solid content over 8 p.c . Such dispersions can improve the utilization properties of various preparations . By varying the solid content concentration one can produce dispersions of different properties . Microcrystalline cellulose powders meet the demands which characterize an auxiliary substance in general . Special attention has to be drawn on the problem of microbiological stability because of the necessarily high moisture content of the dispersion . Preparations manufactured by colloid wet grinding with microcrystalline cellulose are distinguished by a high physicochemical stability.

Mycopathologia, 1986 Aug, 95(2), 77 - 80
Sources of fungal contamination in a burn-care unit; Vidotto V et al.; A microbiological study was carried out in the burn-care unit of the Centro Traumatologico Ortopedico of Turin (Italy) in order to detect the most important sources of fungal contamination in patients at high risk of infection . Identification of the fungi was carried out only for those of medical mycological interest, with the exclusion of the yeast isolates.

J Microsc, 1986 Aug, 143 ( Pt 2), 177 - 86
The use of gold markers in immunocytochemical studies of microbiological organisms: a review; Beesley JE; Colloidal gold probes have revolutionized electron immunocytochemistry and are now used extensively for microbiological studies . The gold probes can be applied in one of several methods to gain valuable information from the sample . The pre-embedding technique, the post-embedding technique, the immunonegative stain technique, the immunoreplica technique and the immunofreeze-fracture technique, are each described and their applications in microbiology, for diagnosis, for the detection of the site of antigen synthesis in host cells, for vaccine production and for genetic engineering are reported.

Pediatr Ann, 1986 Aug, 15(8), 577 - 9, 583-5
Vulvovaginitis in the preadolescent girl; Arsenault PS et al.; Vaginal discharges in prepubertal girls can be categorized under two broad headings--those with specific microbiological causes and, in the absence of such, those that are nonspecific in origin . For specific vulvovaginitis, treatment should be tailored to the findings on cultures, wet mounts, KOH, or other slide preparations . For the sexually transmissible organisms resulting in a vaginal discharge, thorough social service investigation should be undertaken in addition to appropriate antibiotic therapy . When a microbiological cause cannot be found and a foreign body has been ruled out, one is left with a diagnosis of nonspecific vulvovaginitis; treatment goals should be aimed at reassuring and re-educating the patient and parents in good hygienic practices as well as the elimination of potential irritants.

Antibiot Med Biotekhnol, 1986 Aug, 31(8), 596 - 600
{Increase in the coefficient of component utilization by balancing the composition of the nutrient medium for growing pneumococci}; Ivanova LG et al.; The possibility of using the experimental-analytical balance method (EABM) for development of balanced media, optimal and economic by their composition is shown . The method is based on the specific growth activity of the medium components and mathematical calculation of their concentrations . A balanced medium containing human placenta hydrolysate was developed . The medium has a high component consumption coefficient and provides maintenance of high levels of the pneumococcal culture biological properties such as growth, capsule formation, virulence and agglutinability . The quantities of nutrient yeast extract, cystine, glucose and sodium chloride in the balanced medium are 2, 18-20, 4-4.7 and 32-33 times lower respectively than those in the initial medium . The use of the balanced medium instead of the initial unbalanced one or instead of the meat medium based on the Hottinger broth will provide the total economy of 1010 or 2360-2580 roubles respectively per . 1000 liters of the medium . It is concluded that a wider use of this method in optimization of microbiological nutrient media in production of medical and biological preparations is promising.

J Clin Periodontol, 1986 Aug, 13(7), 692 - 700
Comparative longitudinal study of 2 methods of scheduling maintenance visits; 2-year data; Listgarten MA et al.; This report compares the clinical and microbiological status of 2 groups of subjects with treated periodontis on different maintenance schedules . 43 control (C) subjects were given prophylaxes every 3 months . 40 test (T) subjects were given this service on a flexible schedule according to the proportions of spirochetes and/or motile rods in fresh smears of subgingival scrapings . Both groups were examined every 6 months clinically and microbiologically . This report presents base line, 1- and 2-year data . Generally, mean values for both groups did not differ significantly from one another . Both groups exhibited comparable increases in GI and PLI scores during the first 2 years of this study . No change in probing depth was noted between base line and the 2-year examination . However, a slight increase in attachment level, as determined by probing, was noted in both groups . Both groups also exhibited similar proportions of bacterial morphotypes at base line and subsequent examinations . Disease recurrence, defined as an increase in probing depth of 3 mm or more from base line on any tooth surface during the 2-year period, tended to be more prevalent in the C than in the T group (15/43 C and 9/40 T subjects) . However, the proportional difference between the groups was not statistically significant . Subjects with disease recurrence in the T group had greater proportions of spirochetes at base line than subjects in the same group without disease recurrence (20.2% versus 9.8%, p less than 0.01) . This difference in proportions persisted if both groups were examined jointly, but was only of borderline significance (16.0% versus 10.5%, p = 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Genitourin Med, 1986 Aug, 62(4), 235 - 9
Treating pelvic inflammatory disease with doxycycline and metronidazole or penicillin and metronidazole; Heinonen PK et al.; The best way of treating pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is not known . The clinical response to two treatment regimens (penicillin plus metronidazole v doxycycline plus metronidazole) was studied in 33 patients with PID confirmed by laparoscopy and endometrial biopsy . The overall failure rate, according to the criteria used in this study was five of 11 (45%) women with chlamydial PID, none of six women with gonococcal PID, all of four women with chlamydial gonococcal PID, and three (25%) of 12 women with non-chlamydial non-gonococcal PID . The failure rate with penicillin plus metronidazole treatment was unacceptably high (53%), and significantly higher than that with doxycycline plus metronidazole (19%) (p = 0.038) . In most cases the microbiological and histopathological evaluations identified a probable explanation for the poor response to the treatment regimen used.

Cancer, 1986 Jul 15, 58(2), 366 - 71
Aspergillus sinusitis in cancer patients; Viollier AF et al.; Paranasal sinusitis occurred in 52 immunosuppressed cancer patients treated over 5 years at the University of Maryland Cancer Center . Twenty-one patients had aspergillus sinusitis; Aspergillus sp, including flavus and niger were directly recovered from sinus in 19 of the 21 infections . Two other patients with sinus involvement and positive nose cultures for Aspergillus flavus or fumigatus and microbiologically documented pulmonary aspergillosis were considered clinically, although not microbiologically, documented . Predisposing factors for aspergillus sinusitis during the 60 days prior to infection diagnosis were granulocyte count less than 500 microliter (mean duration, 42 days versus 14 days for sinusitis of other etiology; P less than 0.001), prolonged hospitalization (mean duration, 22 days versus 14 days for patients with nonfungal sinusitis; P less than 0.001), and prolonged antibiotic therapy (mean duration, 22 days versus 9 days; P less than 0.001) . Treatment with amphotericin B was initially successful for 18 of 21 patients; however, 11 of 18 patients had infection recurrence that always developed at time of tumor exacerbation and reinstitution or intensification of chemotherapy . These findings suggest that aspergillus sinusitis in cancer patients is seen in association with prolonged neutropenia and antibiotic therapy, is amenable to therapy, but tends to recur with relapse of malignancy.

Arzneimittelforschung, 1986 Jul, 36(7), 1082 - 5
Distribution of cephalothin and ceftriaxone into experimental interstitial tissue fluid in rabbits; Gonzalez Molinello A et al.; A study was carried out on the access and residence of cephalothin and ceftriaxone in interstitial tissue fluid (ITF) produced experimentally by subcutaneous implantation of spiral steel cages after administration of 30 mg/kg of the two antibiotics to rabbits . The levels reached by the drug in serum and ITF were determined by a microbiological plate diffusion method . The elimination half-lives of cephalothin and ceftriaxone showed mean values of 0.23 and 1.77 h, respectively . Both these values were lower than those found for the disappearance half-lives from ITF . Cephalothin reached a maximum concentration in ITF of 4.37 micrograms/ml at 0.52 h, while ceftriaxone showed a maximum concentration of 24.94 micrograms/ml at 2.09 h . The area under the curve of tissue concentrations of ceftriaxone was approximately 20-fold greater than that of cephalothin at the same dose and using same administration route . The index of the penetration capacity expressed as the quotient of the respective AUC's in ITF and in the systemic circulation gave a value for ceftriaxone which was approximately double that obtained for cephalothin.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1986 Jul, 39(7), 877 - 87
Isolation and structural identification of nine avilamycins; Mertz JL et al.; Avilamycin is an antibiotic complex produced by cultures of the organism Streptomyces viridochromogenes, strain NRRL 2860 . These compounds belong to the orthosomycin family of antibiotics . Structural composition of the major avilamycins and several minor avilamycins are known . Nine additional minor avilamycins, designated F through N, have been isolated via semi-preparative silica gel or reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography with final purification using a reverse-phase column loading solvent switching technique . 1H NMR and mass spectroscopy, negative ion fast atom bombardment (neg FAB) and electron impact, were used to structurally identify the avilamycins . All of the compounds were microbiologically active and similar in structure to other known avilamycins.

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