Microbial

Can J Comp Med, 1984 Jul, 48(3), 275 - 7
Lung lesions in bovine fetuses aborted by Brucella abortus; Lopez A et al.; Considering the poor facilities available for microbiological diagnosis in some countries where Brucella abortus is a frequent cause of bovine abortion, a study was conducted to determine if isolation of B . abortus from an aborted bovine fetus could be predicted from a detailed histological study of the formalized lung . Thirty-nine samples of B . abortus positive and 20 negative fetal samples were examined for the presence of 14 different pulmonary lesions . Differences in the frequency of observed lesions between the positive and negative groups, were determined by odds ratios and chi square statistic . The confidence of the prediction was calculated by means of the logistic computer model . The frequency of eight lung lesions was found to be significantly (p less than 0.05) different between the groups; nevertheless, these lesions were not specific enough to be able to incriminate B . abortus as the cause of abortion.

Infection, 1984 Jul-Aug, 12(4), 274 - 5
A comparison of oxytetracycline and trimethoprim in the treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis urethritis; Nielsen PB et al.; The effect of trimethoprim was compared with that of oxytetracycline in the treatment of uncomplicated urethritis and/or cervicitis . Twenty-six patients treated with oxytetracycline were all microbiologically cured . Of 19 patients treated with trimethoprim, ten (53%) still harboured the chlamydia after two weeks . The superiority of tetracycline was even more pronounced following the evaluation of dysuria and discharges . 85% of the patients treated with oxytetracycline and 6% of those treated with trimethoprim had neither dysuria nor discharge after the completion of treatment . The patients who failed to be cured by trimethoprim were all successfully treated with oxytetracycline.

Z Urol Nephrol, 1984 Jul, 77(7), 391 - 400
{Serum resistance of Escherichia coli in chronic pyelonephritis . 1 . Serum resistance in the human serum pool}; Falkenhagen U et al.; 123 patients of the kidney department of the Clinic for Inner Medicine of Rostock University suffering from chronic pyelonephritis were taken into microbiological observation for between one and four years . 170 E . coli strains were bred from 59 patients with significant bacteriuria in the course of the disease and their serum resistence was determined with pooled human serum using Taylor's method . 78.24% of the strains examined were serum-sensitive, 11.18% intermediate and 10.59% serum-resistent . All strains were O-, K- and H-typed . 57.06% were successfully O-typed and were distributed over 40 O-serogroups . 24.12% were not typable and 18.82% were rough colonies . 86.50% of the resistent and intermediate strains strains were O-typable, 13.50% could not be typed . The significance of E . coli antigens (O, K, H) and serum resistence for the maintenance of a chronic infection is discussed.

Urologe A, 1984 Jul, 23(4), 201 - 3
{Tuberculosis following kidney transplantation}; Ulshofer B et al.; Morbidity of tuberculosis following kidney transplantation is about 1% (14/1719 kidney transplantations) . All cases occurred within 1 year after transplantation; surprising was the relative high incidence in patients from outside Central Europe . Four patients with lack of clinical symptoms in whom the diagnosis was made by routine X-ray films of the chest survived after immediate therapy while five of ten patients with miliary tuberculosis died although proper treatment was performed . In cases of fever not caused by rejection or in pneumonia resistant to common antibiotics prophylactic antituberculous therapy should be considered even if microbiological evidence is not yet confirmed.

Mikrobiyol Bul, 1984 Jul, 18(3), 137 - 44
{Rate of decomposition of keratinous material used by various organisms}; Goktan D; Keratinous materials such as feather, horn and nail are resistant to enzymatic degradation because they contain about 11-12 % cystine . However these materials can be used as a substrate by certain microorganisms . In this experiment 3 bacteria with different keratinous activities isolated from beforehand have been grown on ground feather . These microorganisms have rapidly used and as a result decomposed more than 60 % of the substrate in the first 3 days . But the amount of microbiological mass which has grown on the substrate is not high.

Pharm Weekbl Sci, 1984 Jun 22, 6(3), 105 - 10
Comparison of media and temperature of incubation for microbiological examination of purified water; Van Doorne H et al.; The suitability of four commonly used nutrient media, and two incubation temperatures for the bacteriological examination of purified water was investigated . The temperature of incubation (22 or 30 degrees C) exerted no profound influence on the observed numbers of colony forming units . Five days was optimal for all incubation conditions . Tryptone Soya Peptone Broth Agar was found to be less productive than the other media investigated, viz . Nutrient Agar 1/8 strength, Nutrient Agar and King A medium, which appeared to be equally productive.

Pharm Weekbl Sci, 1984 Jun 22, 6(3), 111 - 3
A note on the suitability of 'dip slides' for the microbiological examination of water and aqueous non-sterile pharmaceutical preparations; Van Doorne H et al.; The suitability of four brands of dip slides for the examination of purified water was studied . Especially when used in combination with a calibrated inoculating device reliable results were obtained . The usefulness for this purpose of the selective media present on three of the four brands is questionable, unless a previous resuscitation technique has been applied.

Biochem J, 1984 Jun 15, 220(3), 755 - 65
Rat hepatic uroporphyrinogen III co-synthase . Purification and evidence for a bound folate coenzyme participating in the biosynthesis of uroporphyrinogen III; Kohashi M et al.; Rat hepatic uroporphyrinogen III co-synthase was isolated and purified 73-fold with a 13% yield by (NH4)2SO4 fractionation and sequential chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel, Sephadex G-100 (superfine grade) and folate-AH-Sepharose 4B . The purified co-synthase has an Mr of approx . 42 000, and is resolved into two bands, each possessing co-synthase activity, by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis . A factor was dissociated from the purified co-synthase . Results of both microbiological and competitive protein-binding assays suggest that it is a pteroylpolyglutamate . The isolated pteroylpolyglutamate factor was co-eluted with authentic N5-methyltetrahydropteroylheptaglutamate on DEAE-Sephacel . Uroporphyrinogen III is formed by cosynthase-free preparations of uroporphyrinogen I synthase in the presence of tetrahydropteroylglutamate . Tetrahydropeteroylheptaglutamate is also able to direct the formation of equivalent amounts of uroporphyrinogen III at a concentration approximately one-hundredth that of tetrahydropteroylmonoglutamate . These results suggest that a reduced pteroylpolyglutamate factor is associated with rat hepatic uroporphyrinogen III co-synthase, and that this may function as a coenzyme for the biosynthesis of uroporphyrinogen III.

Poult Sci, 1984 Jun, 63(6), 1243 - 9
Hematology of chicks experiencing marginal vitamin B6 deficiency; Blalock TL et al.; An economical vitamin B6-deficient ration, which was palatable to broiler chickens, was prepared and fed to 1-day-old broiler chicks . The experimental ration was a glucose-soybean meal diet . Vitamin B6 was removed by washing the soybean meal with water . Microbiological analysis revealed that the washed ration contained .45 mg vitamin B6 activity/kg . Experimental rations were formulated to contain .5, 1.0, and 3.0 mg added pyridoxine HCl/kg of ration . These supplemental levels produced total pyridoxine concentrations, as assayed, of .95, 1.48, and 3.18 mg pyridoxine HCl activity/kg of diet . Chicks were grown to 7 weeks of age and characteristic B6 deficiency traits, including increased mortality, decreased body weight gain, and increased incidence of abnormal leg conformation, were quantitated or observed . An extensive hematological evaluation at 4 weeks of age indicated that this marginal B6 deficiency resulted in increased erythrocyte numbers, decreased mean corpuscular hemoglobin levels, and increased erythrocyte fragility . No changes in hematocrits, total hemoglobin level, intracellular hemoglobin concentration, or reticulocyte number were found . These results indicate that anemia did not occur in broilers experiencing a moderate vitamin B6 deficiency . The hematological condition is described as microcytic, normochromic polycythemia.

J Vet Pharmacol Ther, 1984 Jun, 7(2), 119 - 24
A preliminary study on the use of carbenicillin in snakes; Lawrence K et al.; The results of a 10 year survey on the in vitro antibiotic resistance patterns of Pseudomonas spp . isolated from clinically ill reptiles, showed a high degree of sensitivity to carbenicillin . On the basis of sensitivity testing, carbenicillin was used to treat nine snakes of four different species, with confirmed Pseudomonas infections . Plasma carbenicillin levels were assayed, by a microbiological agar diffusion technique, at intervals of time after a single intramuscular injection at a dose rate of 400 mg/kg . Peak plasma levels of 177 and 270 micrograms/ml were reached 1 h after the initial injection and therapeutic levels persisted for at least 12 h . This initial study indicated that a suggested dose regime in snakes, derived by extrapolation from mammalian dosages, of 100-125 mg/kg daily was insufficient to produce plasma levels of sufficient magnitude and duration to effectively treat Pseudomonas infections in snakes.

J Clin Hosp Pharm, 1984 Jun, 9(2), 105 - 12
Storage of mixtures for total parenteral nutrition . II . Microbiological control of large volume TPN mixtures; Nordfjeld K et al.; Microbiological control of TPN mixtures can be performed either by controlling the aseptic filling procedure using culture medium instead of intravenous solutions, or by an end-product sterility test . A microbiological process control of the filling procedure is described, and it is shown that a hospital pharmacy can prepare 3-litre bags without contamination . The number of 3-litre bags necessary in the process control is discussed, as well as the frequency with which a control should be performed . A possible non-destructive system for testing each 3-litre bag microbiologically is outlined and discussed . This system may be used when TPN mixtures without lipid emulsion are stored for longer periods.

Environ Health Perspect, 1984 Jun, 56, 35 - 41
The isolated perfused lung; Niemeier RW; The unique nonrespiratory functions of the lungs have become more apparent in recent years . The isolated perfused lung model offers many advantages over other methods for the study of pulmonary metabolism, xenobiotic disposition and the influence of interactions among agents of different physical forms . Detailed descriptions of the experimental preparation are elements in evaluating and comparing data from various sources but these are frequently neglected . A discussion and critique of the following elements are provided in this review in order to elucidate the typical problems one might encounter in evaluating data: perfusate type, perfusion method, construction materials, ventilation method, temperature control, surgical procedure, microbiological contamination and evaluation criteria of the preparation . Examples are given where the IPL method has been applied and suggestions are made for future research efforts.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Jun, 25(6), 785 - 6
Effect of decreased renal function on the pharmacokinetics of ceftazidime; Ackerman BH et al.; The pharmacokinetics of ceftazidime after a 1-g bolus dose were studied in 11 subjects, with creatinine clearances ranging from 113 to 6 ml/min . Concentrations of ceftazidime in serum were determined by microbiological assay . These data were fitted to a two-compartment open model, and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated . Correlation of ceftazidime clearance with creatinine clearance was excellent (r = 0.99).

Drug Intell Clin Pharm, 1984 Jun, 18(6), 466 - 74
Chemotherapy and periodontal disease--a review; Marder M et al.; Periodontal diseases are common, inflammatory infections of the mouth of microbiological etiology . Therapy traditionally focuses on professional tooth cleaning and debridement . Recent research has investigated the efficacy of antibiotic therapy, as well as the use of various other agents . Although protocols still are being developed, pharmacists can expect increasing use of these medications by dentists in the future.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1984 Jun, 32(5 Pt 2), 509 - 10
{Diffusion of ceftriaxone in the cerebrospinal and ventricular fluid in the absence of meningeal inflammation}; Chichmanian RM et al.; Spinal and ventricular diffusion of ceftriaxone, measured by HPLC or microbiological assay, is inconsiderable in subjects with healthy meninges.

J Assoc Off Anal Chem, 1984 May-Jun, 67(3), 617 - 20
Effect of sodium chloride and potassium chloride on growth response of yeasts Saccharomyces uvarum and Kloeckera brevis to free vitamin B6; Guilarte TR; Acid hydrolysis is the most commonly used extraction procedure for the microbiological assay of vitamin B6 in food samples . Because NaCl or KCl is formed as a result of the extraction procedure, these 2 salts were tested as possible agents that may influence the growth response of the yeasts Saccharomyces uvarum and Kloeckera brevis . Results indicate that NaCl and KCl do effect the growth response of these 2 yeasts, depending on the salt concentration and the B6 vitamer present.

Scand J Gastroenterol, 1984 May, 19(3), 369 - 74
Vitamin B12 in plasma in patients with continent ileostomy and long observation time; Nilsson LO et al.; Plasma cobalamins (vitamin B12) were determined by a microbiological method in 235 patients with continent ileostomies and postoperative observation times of 3-13 years (mean, 6 years) . The influence of the reservoir on the vitamin B12 values could not be evaluated in 22 patients (9%)--because of prophylactic treatment in 6%, subnormal B12 values before the operation in 1%, and 'treatment' of various neurological symptoms not caused by vitamin B12 deficiency in 2% . Fourteen (7%) of the remaining 213 patients had developed subnormal plasma levels of vitamin B12 and another 14 patients (7%) had 'borderline' values (130-200 pmol/l) . The median time interval between reservoir operation and the development of subnormal values was 7.5 years (range, 3-11 years) . A small-bowel resection had been added to the proctocolectomy in 11 out of 14 patients with subnormal values and in 8 out of 14 patients with borderline values . Subnormal or borderline values were seen in 27% of patients with Crohn's disease and in 12% of patients with ulcerative colitis . No patient had anaemia or neurological symptoms caused by B12 deficiency . The study shows that most patients with continent ileostomies do not develop B12 deficiency, and there is therefore no need for general prophylaxis . Since at least 7% developed subnormal values, the plasma levels of vitamin B12 should, however, be followed up regularly in all patients with continent ileostomies.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1984 May, 32(5), 343 - 6
{Bone levels of dibekacin}; Dellamonica P et al.; Levels of an aminoglycoside, dibekacin, are studied in bone . Fifteen specimens were obtained by Tanzer trocar biopsy three hours after the ninth injection of dibekacin (1 mg/kg) . Separation of cortical and spongy bone was not feasible owing to the small weight of specimens . Dibekacin concentrations were determined by microbiological assay . These concentrations were evaluated using a reference range in bone tissue determined with the same method and must be corrected according to blood levels . Dibekacin levels were 0.22 +/- 0.10 mg/l in healthy, non- contaminated specimens, and 1.70 and 1.80 mg/l in infected bone tissue.

J Pediatr, 1984 May, 104(5), 773 - 81
Developmental pharmacokinetics of mezlocillin in newborn infants; Janicke DM et al.; Single-dose pharmacokinetics of mezlocillin were studied in 53 newborn infants (72% less than or equal to 36 weeks' gestation) given ampicillin and an aminoglycoside for suspected or proved sepsis . Mezlocillin (75 mg/kg IV or IM) was substituted for ampicillin, serum was assayed microbiologically, and noncompartmental pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated . Analysis of covariance showed that dose/area under the serum concentration-time curve for mezlocillin was influenced by body weight, intramuscular administration, and treatment with gentamicin . A dual intravenous/intramuscular nonlinear regression model yielded an apparent intramuscular bioavailability of 84% . Clearance was proportional to body weight (WT) (r2 = 0.70) . Mean CL/WT (0.078 L/hr/kg) was one-half adult values and influenced by gestational age . Steady-state volume of distribution varied linearly with weight (r2 = 0.80), the mean value (0.38 L/kg) being twice that in adults . Mezlocillin half-life (mean 3.71 hours) exceeded adult values and did not correlate with weight . Twenty-four newborn infants received 75 mg/kg mezlocillin every 6 or every 8 hours, along with gentamicin, during the first 7 to 10 days of life . Peak (1.5 hours) and trough (6 or 8 hours) concentrations were determined; the latter decreased from day 3 to days 7 to 10, suggesting a possible postnatal age-dependent change in mezlocillin elimination . Although mezlocillin disposition is affected by age and therapeutic factors, weight alone may adequately predict dosing requirements.

J Neurosurg, 1984 May, 60(5), 1014 - 21
Cerebrospinal fluid shunt infection . Influences on initial management and subsequent outcome; Walters BC et al.; A retrospective study of the management of patients with infected cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunts was undertaken, covering the 20 years from 1960 to 1979, inclusive, and involving 222 patients with 267 infections . The data were analyzed with emphasis on influences surrounding treatment choice and subsequent outcome . Treatment was classified into three major categories: medical management (antibiotics alone), surgical management (antibiotics plus operative removal of the infected shunt), and no treatment (ranging from admission and observation only to shunt revision), the diagnosis of shunt infection having been missed . Results showed surgical treatment to be more efficacious than medical or no treatment, with a higher rate of initial cure, and lower morbidity and mortality rates . Also examined were the relationships among clinical presentation, infection rate, and results of specimens sent for culture, and initial treatment . The definitive nature of initial treatment was revealed to be directly proportional to the aggressiveness of microbiological investigation . This latter aspect was related to clinical presentation, with shunt malfunction being the least recognized symptom of shunt infection . Patients presenting with blocked shunts were less likely to receive therapy appropriate for infection than any other group, leading to the conclusion that shunt malfunction may be more specific to infection than heretofore believed.

Antibiotiki, 1984 May, 29(5), 391 - 3
{Pharmacokinetics of mitomycin C in cancer patients during prolonged administration of the preparation}; Smolianskaia AZ et al.; The mitomycin C levels in the blood of patients subjected to prolonged intravenous injection of the drug in 200-300 ml of isotonic sodium chloride solution for 15-50 minutes were determined in the microbiological test system consisting of E . coli and 1.5 per cent of agar in the meat-peptone broth with restricted contents of the nutrients . Such administration of the drug usually provided lower blood levels than intravenous injections of the drug in analogous doses . However, the drug renal excretion was also less intensive . It suggested that the drug administered for a prolonged period was more completely absorbed by the host tissues . This was confirmed by much lower blood levels of the drug, when the tumors were large, as compared to those in patients with insignificant residues of the tumor tissue after surgical resections . The curves of mitomycin C distribution in the blood indicate that the pharmacokinetics of the drug in patients with tumors is a multi-factorial function.

Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol, 1984 May-Jun, 20(3), 393 - 9
{Structure and sorption properties of regenerated hemosorbent SCN}; Shataeva LK et al.; Stepwise desorption of protein components from the hemosorbent SCN after hemoperfusion was studied, and their molecular weights were determined . It was found that hard alkaline regeneration and oxidation with nitric acid do not affect the hemosorbent structure, composition and potentiometric characteristics . The regenerated hemosorbent can be successfully used for adsorbtion of extraneous low- and medium-molecular weight components to clarify microbiological liquids.

Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet, 1984 Apr-Jun, 9(2), 149 - 53
Pharmacokinetics and tissue localization of doxycycline polyphosphate and doxycycline hydrochloride in the rat; Michel G et al.; Two doxycycline derivatives Doxycycline polyphosphate and Doxycycline hydrochloride were administered to rats at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight . Doxycycline tissue levels were determined using a microbiological assay . Only an insignificant fraction of the antibiotics was found to cross the blood brain barrier . Doxycycline was highly concentrated in excretory organs: liver, kidneys and caecum . The high intestinal drug level observed is probably related to the entero-hepatic cycle of this antibiotic . There was a good correlation between serum and heart doxycycline concentration; heart level was about twice that of serum . In lung, antibiotic level was always higher than in serum.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1984 Apr, (4), 42 - 6
{Microbiological and immunodiagnostic studies in experimental erysipeloid}; Denisov GI et al.; The use of the passive hemagglutination test with a set of antigenic and antibody erythrocytic diagnostic reagents made it possible to detect antibodies to Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae specific and type specific antigens in the blood serum of infected mice and to reveal the presence of these antigens in the internal organs of the animals . After a considerable increase of the infective dose a higher level of contamination and the retention of the antigens in the internal organs were observed, while the activity of specific antibodies in the blood serum decreased.

Poult Sci, 1984 Apr, 63(4), 750 - 3
Available biotin content of various feed ingredients; Frigg M; The availability to the chick of the microbiologically determined biotin in various feed ingredients was assayed using a standard curve methodology . The chicks were grown up to 28 days of age . Ingredients of the standard diet were partially replaced by the test ingredient . Each test mixture was also supplemented with 200 micrograms biotin/kg and fed to a control group . The percentage of growth of the test chicks compared with the controls proved to be a suitable parameter for the assessment of biotin availability . Availability of biotin was expressed in percentage of the biotin determined microbiologically . In the tested cereals availability was distinctly low, whereas in some other feed ingredients the availability was reduced less.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1984 Apr, 56(2), 227 - 35
A new direct plate method for the enumeration of Escherichia coli in frozen foods; Hall LP; A new method has been devised, incorporating a resuscitant stage, which allows direct isolation of Escherichia coli biotype I, Irregular type II and Irregular type VI . Rapid indole tests on the distinctive colonies produced enable determinations of E . coli biotype I to be made within 24 h . This method employs materials of low cost and achieves complete recovery of injured cells . It also detects not only anaerogenic strains but those which are slow in producing acid from lactose or give negative results by other methods . If required, further study of isolates can be made after the indole test . Comparisons were made between conventional methods, the new method and a similar direct plate method . The implications of the higher counts obtained by the two latter methods are discussed in relation to microbiological specifications and standards for frozen foods.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1984 Apr, 47(4), 639 - 42
Bacterial conjugation in the digestive tracts of gnotoxenic chickens; Lafont JP et al.; Escherichia coli K-12 Hfr and F- strains were successively implanted in axenic chicks . Conjugation with exchanges of chromosomal genes occurred with high frequencies in the gut of the chicks and could continue as long as fertile strains coexisted in this environment . Almost all of the expected recombinant types were recovered in the feces under these experimental conditions . Furthermore, these recombinants were analogous to those obtained after conjugations in vitro . Recombinants formed in the gut were more numerous when the F- strain was seeded before the Hfr strain . The recombinants showed no apparent selective advantage over the parental strains in the intestinal medium . They were maintained throughout the experimental period and represented more than 10% of the total intestinal flora . The chick gut is usually rapidly colonized by other bacterial types under natural conditions . The possible effects of other components of the bacterial flora on conjugation of E . coli in holoxenic animals will require subsequent work with more complex microbiological conditions.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1984 Apr, 32(4), 285 - 8
{Technic for assaying cefotaxime and desacetylcefotaxime in serum by high performance liquid chromatography}; Boyer M et al.; Different high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods for determination of cefotaxime (Ctx) and desacetyl cefotaxime (D-Ctx) are used . The method described presents the following advantages: a fast extraction and efficient deproteinization of serum samples are achieved with Sep-Pak cartridges; the mobile phase is a mixture of methanol - bidistilled water - acetic acid which permits the simultaneous dosage of Ctx and D-Ctx under the same chromatographic process . The retention times are respectively 7 mn 05 s and 10 mn 40 s for D-Ctx and Ctx . The results of 92 assays were compared with microbiological procedures.

Immunology, 1984 Apr, 51(4), 735 - 42
Frequencies of background cytoplasmic Ig-containing cells in various lymphoid organs of athymic and euthymic mice as a function of age and immune status; Van Oudenaren A et al.; The distribution of background Ig-secreting cells, measured as cells containing cytoplasmic immunoglobulin (C-Ig cells), over spleen, bone marrow, lymph nodes and Peyer's patches was studied in congenitally athymic (nude) mice and heterozygous euthymic mice as a function of age and immune status (germ-free (GF) vs specific pathogen-free (SPF} . In young athymic as well as in young euthymic mice, the spleen was found to contain the great part of all C-Ig cells, irrespective of whether the mice were GF or SPF . The number of C-Ig cells in the spleen was found to be rather constant over the life span, while the number of C-Ig cells in the bone marrow of all groups of mice greatly increased with age . This indicates that the relative shift of C-Ig cells to the bone marrow is neither dependent on the presence of the thymus, nor on the microbiological status of the mice . However, at young and intermediate age the microbiological status of the mice did affect the total number of C-Ig cells per mouse . This was mainly due to the effect upon the bone marrow, mesenteric lymph nodes and Peyer's patches . At these ages the background Ig synthesis in these organs appeared to be mainly dependent on external antigenic stimulation, in contrast to the spleen, where the Ig synthesis appeared to be mainly due to endogenous stimulation . The Ig (sub)class distribution of the C-Ig cells was different for all different organs tested . Hardly or no difference in percentage distribution was found between the GF nude and GF heterozygous mice . Most C-Ig cells in spleen, bone marrow and lymph nodes of the GF mice were of the IgM isotype . C-IgG and C-IgA cells occurred in substantial percentages only in bone marrow and lymph nodes . In the lymph nodes of GF nude mice a remarkably high percentage of C-IgA cells was found.

Cytometry, 1984 Mar, 5(2), 145 - 50
Use of flow cytometry in industrial microbiology for strain improvement programs; Betz JW et al.; A flow cytometry (FCM) system was chosen to analyze and sort microbiological samples, e.g., bacteria, bacterial spores, yeasts, and fungal spores, without major changes in the commercially available state . The system was further improved by addition of a stepping motor-driven scanning table that accepts standard petri dishes or microtiter plates . The electronics of the sorting system were changed to enable the sorter to deliver only one particle at a time, working in a "handshake" mode with the scanning table . Appropriate parameters, depending on the biological material and including all fluorescent stains that do not impair growth and productivity of cells were chosen to sort distinct bioparticles under aseptic conditions and to clone colonies or cultures out of them . A mutagenized sample of spores entering the germination cycle can be followed and thus provide a means to pick only viable growing cells despite the killing effect of the mutagen . One example of a typical strain improvement is illustrated . From a spore suspension of Rhizopus arrhizus, a subpopulation of morphologically different spores comprising about 5-10% of the whole population was cloned . From approximately 8,000 clones, 10 were isolated that produced approximately five- to six-fold the amount of fungal lipase activity, compared to the original strain or to reisolated clones from the mean population of clones.

Chest, 1984 Mar, 85(3), 311 - 7
Summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis . A unique disease in Japan; Kawai T et al.; A unique form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in which clinical symptoms appear in the summer and subside spontaneously in the mid-autumn was found in Japan . This disease was named summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis and was found the most prevalent form in Japan . This disease has the following characteristic features: 1) initiation in the summer; 2) repeated episodes during subsequent seasons for many years; 3) familial occurrence; 4) no occupational relationship; 5) positive returning-home provocation test; 6) cough, dyspnea and remittent fever as a clinical triad; 7) diffuse nodular shadows on chest x-ray film; 8) leukocytosis with neutrophilia; 9) moderately decreased % VC and markedly decreased Dco and PaO2; 10) skin reactivity to PPD is negative while symptomatic; 11) pulmonary lesions of biopsied specimens show epithelioid cell granulomas without central necrosis (63.3 percent), plus alveolitis and/or pneumonitis; 12) isolation of patients from their home environment diminishes symptoms; 13) corticosteroid is effective; 14) seasonal atmospheric microbiological pollution is speculated upon, but the offending antigen is not defined yet.

Can Med Assoc J, 1984 Mar 1, 130(5), 593 - 7
Pulmonary complications in patients receiving granulocyte transfusions and amphotericin B; Bow EJ et al.; To evaluate the possibility that in febrile granulocytopenic patients amphotericin B given along with granulocyte transfusions could increase the incidence of pulmonary complications, we studied 43 severely granulocytopenic patients during 46 episodes of fever . Granulocytes were administered as part of the clinical protocol to all 19 patients who had clinically or microbiologically documented infection; the other 24 patients were randomly allocated to treatment with granulocytes (13 patients) or without granulocytes (11 patients) . In all, 32 patients received granulocyte transfusions during 35 episodes of fever . Pulmonary complications developed in six patients in each of the two randomized groups . The incidence of pulmonary complications was not influenced by the number of granulocyte transfusions or by the number of granulocytes per transfusion . Pulmonary complications were significantly more likely to occur in patients with fungal infections . Amphotericin B was given according to clinical indications; 21 patients in all received it . Survival was significantly poorer in patients with pulmonary complications, but the administration of amphotericin B was not related either to survival or to the incidence of pulmonary complications . We conclude that pulmonary complications and poor prognosis are related to underlying pulmonary fungal infection and not to any interaction between amphotericin B and granulocyte transfusions.

Eur J Cancer Clin Oncol, 1984 Mar, 20(3), 319 - 25
Serum C-reactive protein levels in the management of infection in acute leukaemia; Starke ID et al.; C-reactive protein (CRP) was measured serially in 29 patients with acute leukaemia . Sixty-four febrile episodes (greater than or equal to 38 degrees C) occurred during 37 periods of neutropenia (less than 0.5 X 10(9)/l) . In all of 41 microbiologically or clinically documented infections the maximum CRP level exceeded 30 mg/l, and in 25 it was greater than 100 mg/l . In no case in which the CRP level remained below 30 mg/l for 48 hr after the onset of fever was any clinical or microbiological evidence of infection obtained . The CRP level during documented infection began to fall 24-48 hr after appropriate treatment was begun . A CRP level above 30 mg/l in neutropenic patients was associated with early recurrence of fever if systemic antibiotics were discontinued . Graft-vs-host disease, without infection, did not result in high levels of CRP.

Arch Latinoam Nutr, 1984 Mar, 34(1), 83 - 93
{Use of food treated with gamma radiation in the feeding of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdnerii irideus)}; Grumberg J et al.; A rainbow trout diet, partially prepared with agroindustrial by-products, including laying hen's dung, was treated with gamma radiation (25 KGy) . The objective was to reduce the microbiological contamination and test its effect on weight gain, feed efficiency and mortality of trouts . For this purpose, two groups of trouts were compared: one received irradiated food, and the other the same diet, but without treatment . The experience was carried out through a period of 32 weeks, during the free growth stage (from 2 to 20g) . Microbiological contamination decreased from high values (greater than 6 X 10(6) germs/g of food) to acceptable levels (less than or equal to 3 X 10 germs/g of food), but the parameters measured in trouts, did not show any difference among both groups.

Vopr Pitan, 1984 Mar-Apr, (2), 54 - 5
{Evaluation of a food additive prepared from blood proteins}; Chirkina TF et al.; The authors provide the data on the biological value of food additive manufactured from the slaughtered animals' blood upon its defibrinization . The biological value was determined from the effects of proteolytic enzymes on proteins and by the microbiological rapid method with the use of ciliary infusoria as test object . The relationship was found between the biological value of the food additive and the ratio in it of fibrin and coloring enzyme.

Antibiotiki, 1984 Mar, 29(3), 179 - 82
{Effect of the pH of the medium and of temperature on tylosin stability}; Aksenova IA et al.; The stability of tylosin, a macrolide antibiotic, in solutions with varying pH and temperature was determined quantitatively . It was shown that tylosin was the most stable at pH about 3.5 and 9.0, which corresponded to the salt and nondissociated forms of the substance . Outside these stability ranges significant inactivation of the antibiotic was observed . The inactivation markedly increased with an increase in the temperature level and the exposure period . Satisfactory correlation between the data on microbiological and spectrophotometric determinations of tylosin in solutions is indicative of the advisability of the use of spectrophotometry in production of tylosin.

Quad Sclavo Diagn, 1984 Mar, 20(1), 1 - 14
{Automated management of information in the microbiology department of a hospital analysis laboratory . Practical evaluations and operational proposals}; Rossetti R et al.; The computer has now an important role in analysis laboratory . Particularly the microbiological sector may receive a considerable support by the computer . In fact it's possible to form an effective epidemiologic hospital observatory, by making a systematic and continuous control of bacterial ecology in hospital wards, through the statistical results elaborated by computer . This is the object of the microbiological sector in the hospital's laboratory in Pistoia Town.

J Am Optom Assoc, 1984 Mar, 55(3), 205 - 11
Microbiological evaluation of soft contact lens disinfecting solutions; Houlsby RD et al.; Several chemical disinfecting solutions for soft contact lenses were evaluated according to the tests suggested by FDA in the May 1983 revision of the Microbiological Guidelines . It was experimentally determined that cleaning and rinsing lenses remove 3.5 to 3.9 logs of microorganisms . Furthermore, it was determined that only 3% hydrogen peroxide had a rapid enough disinfection rate to meet the safety factor requirement within four hours as suggested in the "D-value test.' when contaminated lenses were cleaned, rinsed, and disinfected with commercially available solutions, all failed to disinfect the lenses within the minimum time specified on the label . These results were used to recommend significant changes in the Microbiological Guidelines . These changes include (1) limiting the rechallenge requirement during preservative effectiveness testing to only disinfecting solutions, (2) using the death rate kinetic profile of any approved chemical disinfecting solution as a basis for comparison of a new chemical disinfecting solution, and (3) using the results of the multi-item test for any approved chemical disinfecting solution as a basis for comparison of a new, proposed chemical disinfecting solution.

Mol Cell Biol, 1984 Mar, 4(3), 435 - 41
Mutagenesis of a shuttle vector plasmid in mammalian cells; Razzaque A et al.; Recently we and others have reported a high frequency of mutagenesis of shuttle vector plasmids after passage in mammalian cells (Razzaque et al., Proc . Natl . Acad . Sci . U.S.A . 80:3010-3014, 1983; Calos et al., Proc . Natl . Acad . Sci . U.S.A . 80:3015-3019, 1983) . The mutation frequency was determined by monitoring the integrity of a bacterial marker gene on the plasmid by standard microbiological procedures . Mutant plasmids contained deletions, insertions of cell DNA, and point mutations . The observed mutation frequency of 1% is much higher than that of cellular markers and could be due to the induction of a mutagenic environment by infection with a replicating plasmid . Alternatively, the hypermutagenesis may be due to some critical transient or persistent difference between the DNA in the plasmid and the cellular chromosome . We performed a number of experiments designed to distinguish between these alternatives, with particular reference to deletion mutagenesis . We conclude that mutagenesis was specific to the plasmid and propose that the majority of the deletion and insertion mutants were generated very early in the infection, before replication of the vector . However, some deletion mutagenesis also occurred after plasmid replication had begun.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1984 Feb, 47(2), 443 - 4
The wood preservative chromated copper arsenate is a substrate for trimethylarsine biosynthesis; Cullen WR et al.; The wood preservative chromated copper arsenate (CCA) is a very widely used product . As it contains both copper and arsenic, it is not dissimilar to the pigments Scheele's green and Schweinfurter's green which were found to be biologically convertible to the toxic Gosio gas (B . Gosio, Ber . 30:1024-1026, 1897) later identified by Challenger and co-workers as trimethylarsine (F . Challenger, Adv . Enzymol . 12:429-491, 1951) . Thus, it was of interest to determine whether microbiological action on CCA and wood treated with CCA could result in the production of trimethylarsine . We report that the fungus Candida humicola will produce this arsine from dilute solutions of CCA and from wood soaked in CCA.

Am Ind Hyg Assoc J, 1984 Feb, 45(2), 76 - 83
Personal air samplers for measuring occupational exposures to biological hazards; Macher JM et al.; Microbiological air samplers, designed to be worn as personal samplers, were evaluated for studying occupational exposures to aerosols of infectious and allergenic materials . Gelatin filter media, an impinger sampler, and spiral and cascade impactors were tested for collection efficiency for small (less than or equal to 2 microns) latex spheres and for recovery of bacterial aerosols . Only 20% of an aerosol of 0.8 micron latex particles passed through the impinger uncollected, while recovery of bacteria equalled or exceeded collection in an all-glass impinger . Gelatin filters matched the collection efficiency of membrane filters, but were unsatisfactory for the isolation of bacteria sensitive to dehydration . The spiral sampler and the cascade impactor provide information on the size distribution of collected particles, although, at present, collection efficiencies for very small particles are too low for rigorously quantitative studies . Methods of collection, and sampling strategies for biological aerosols are similar to those used for measuring exposures of workers to chemical and mineral aerosols; however, preparation of samples and identification of isolates may have to be referred to experts in the fields of bacteriology, virology, and mycology.

Ann Rheum Dis, 1984 Feb, 43(1), 80 - 2
Synovial infection with Mycobacterium kansasii; Leader M et al.; Atypical mycobacteria have been recognised as saprophytic organisms for many years, but it was only with the development of better microbiological culture techniques that they became recognised as potentially pathogenic to man . Infections of tendon sheaths and joints by these organisms may present diagnostic problems, and we report here 3 cases in which Mycobacterium kansasii was responsible for disease at the hand and wrist.

J Nutr, 1984 Feb, 114(2), 312 - 22
Humoral immunity in chicks experiencing marginal vitamin B-6 deficiency; Blalock TL et al.; An economical vitamin B-6-deficient ration that was palatable to broiler chickens was prepared and fed to 1-day-old chicks . The experimental ration was a typical soy-glucose ration . Vitamin B-6 was removed by washing the soybean meal with water . Microbiological analysis revealed that the washed ration contained 0.45 mg vitamin B-6 per kilogram . Experimental rations were formulated to contain 0.5, 1.0 and 3.0 mg supplemental pyridoxine x HCl per kilogram of ration . These supplemental levels produced the following total pyridoxine concentrations in the diet: 0.95, 1.48 and 3.18 mg pyridoxine x HCl activity per kilogram of diet . Chicks were grown to 7 weeks of age and characteristic vitamin B-6 deficiency signs were quantitated and/or observed . Notable signs in chicks receiving 0.5 mg added vitamin B-6 were increased mortality, decreased body weight gain and increased incidence of abnormal leg conformation . The humoral immune system of broiler chicks that were moderately deficient in vitamin B-6 was investigated . Marginal pyridoxine deficiency caused significant reduction in antibody levels to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and relative levels of IgM and IgG during the peak and degradation phases of the primary response . During the hyperimmune response total anti-SRBC levels were not affected; however, relative levels of IgM and IgG were lowered.

Br J Exp Pathol, 1984 Feb, 65(1), 59 - 65
A colposcopic and histological study of experimental chlamydial cervicitis in marmosets; Johnson AP et al.; A total of 14 marmosets were inoculated intra-vaginally with Chlamydia trachomatis and the development of genital tract disease was assessed microbiologically, by colposcopic examination of the cervical and vaginal mucosa and by cytological and histological examination of biopsy and autopsy specimens . Eight animals had infections which persisted microbiologically for 2-5 weeks, and six animals, three of which had been inoculated on multiple occasions in a previous study, apparently eliminated their infection within 1 week of inoculation . Colposcopic examination showed that four of the eight infected animals developed acute cervicitis characterized by erythema, occasional slight oedema, and the presence of cloudy or purulent cervical mucus . The other four infected animals showed minimal signs of cervical inflammation . Three of the six animals which rapidly cleared their infections developed slight cervical inflammation characterized by erythema and cloudy cervical mucus during the fortnight after inoculation . Six control animals inoculated with medium displayed minimal cervical changes . The diagnosis of acute cervicitis in the infected animals was confirmed by examination of histological sections and cervical smears, which revealed the presence of polymorphonuclear leucocytes, with lymphocytes occasionally being seen . Although inflammatory changes were occasionally noted in specimens from control animals, the changes were relatively mild and occurred at a later time than those seen in infected animals . Intracytoplasmic chlamydial inclusions in epithelial cells were not detected in any of the specimens studied . Examination of genital tract tissue obtained at autopsy from five inoculated animals generally showed inflammation of the cervix and vagina, but in only one of these animals was there evidence of endometriosis and salpingitis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Am J Vet Res, 1984 Feb, 45(2), 260 - 2
Experimental infection of lambs with ovine adenovirus isolate RTS-151: clinical, microbiological, and serologic responses; Lehmkuhl HD et al.; Twelve 1-week-old colostrum-deprived lambs that were inoculated with ovine adenovirus isolate RTS-151 developed a mild febrile response between postinoculation days (PID) 4 and 10 . They were inactive and some had serous nasal discharges; their respiratory rates and efforts were increased . Virus was isolated from nasal secretions from PID 2 to PID 8 . Virus also was isolated from tracheal fluid and lung tissue of most lambs at necropsy (between PID 2 and 12), but not from liver, kidney, small intestine, and feces, indicating that the infection was confined to the respiratory tract . Four control lambs remained healthy and neither virus nor serum antibody was detected.

Lancet, 1984 Jan 7, 1(8367), 36 - 8
Acute chest syndrome in sickle-cell disease; Davies SC et al.; 25 consecutive episodes of acute chest syndrome in 13 adult patients with sickle-cell disease were studied retrospectively . Chest symptoms were present on admission in 23 of 25 episodes . Abnormal chest signs and an abnormal chest X-ray were present on admission in only 11 and 9 episodes, respectively, but developed later in the remainder . The 9 episodes with bilateral radiological changes were associated with higher pulse rates, longer-lasting fever, more profound arterial hypoxaemia, and greater falls in haemoglobin than the 16 unilateral episodes . 2 patients with bilateral disease died; both had platelet counts less than 100 X 10(9)/litre . In 12 episodes (6 bilateral, 6 unilateral) exchange transfusion was required and produced striking improvement in 11 . Despite intensive microbiological investigation, infection was found in only 2 episodes--1 mycoplasma and 1 evidence of Escherichia coli . Pulmonary intravascular sickling may account for much of the clinical picture.

Eur J Clin Pharmacol, 1984, 26(3), 389 - 92
Pharmacokinetics of cefoxitin administered by i.v . infusion to patients with a pleural effusion; Otero MJ et al.; The pharmacokinetics of cefoxitin was studied in 6 healthy volunteers and in 5 patients with a pleural effusion after administration of a single dose of 30 mg/kg i.v . infusion . The serum and pleural fluid concentrations of cefoxitin were determined microbiologically . The elimination half-life of the antibiotic from pleural fluid in all cases was 2-3 fold longer than from serum, which shows a difference between the kinetic elimination processes of the antibiotic from the two fluids . The slow elimination of cefoxitin from pleural fluid facilitates its accumulation in this compartment during a multiple dosage regimen.

Vet Med Nauki, 1984, 21(1), 103 - 9
{Microbiological studies of Mladost sour milk}; Mladenov MG et al.; Studied were a total of 239 productional batches of Mladost sour milk to establish the occasional contamination with coliform bacteria . It was found that 97.9 per cent of the batches had coli titers of 0.1 and over 0.1, and 2.1 per cent of the batches--over 0.01 . Fourteen productional experiments were carried out to ascertain the sources of contamination with coli forms, yeasts, and moulds . It was found that the productional starter used for this type of sour milk did not contain coliforms and moulds in 0.1 cm3 but in about 43 per cent of the batches it contained 20 to 470 cm3 yeasts . It was also established that both yeasts and moulds that have found their way to the product multiplied in it to a various extent, depending on the activity of the cultures and the temperature of storage . Some of the stored batches deteriorated in terms of their organoleptic indices . At 11,000 cm3 yeasts the deterioration becomes stronger following the cummulation of greater amounts of biomass.

J Pharm Sci, 1984 Jan, 73(1), 113 - 5
Determination of pantothenic acid in multivitamin pharmaceutical preparations by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography; Hudson TJ et al.; A high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure was developed for the analysis of calcium pantothenate in nutritional supplements . The method involves a simple extraction using phosphate buffer and sonication . Chromatographic separation is obtained using an aminopropyl-loaded silica gel column in the reverse-phase mode . A UV detector set at 210 nm was used to monitor the effluent . Quantitative recoveries were obtained, and precision of the method is discussed . The method is applicable to multivitamin tablets, calcium pantothenate raw material, and yeast grown in the presence of high levels of calcium pantothenate . The results of the method are compared with results obtained from the USP microbiological method of analysis . It was concluded that the procedure is rapid, accurate, easily automated, and practical for routine quality control use.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1984, 42, 169 - 76
Requirements for documentation of clinical effects of antibiotics; Norrby SR; Documentation of clinical and microbiological efficacy and safety of antibiotics require well designed studies involving large number of patients . In principal, all studies should be comparative and the comparative agent(s) should be well documented in the literature . If possible, the studies should also be blind but if satisfactory blinding cannot be guaranteed, open studies will have to be performed, especially if injectible antibiotics are studied . The size of the trial, in terms of number of patients evaluable for clinical and especially for microbiological efficacy, must be sufficient either to prove significant differences between the regimens studied or to demonstrate equality with a reasonable type II error . Since the end-points used for efficacy and safety are not normally continuous, the patient materials must often be of a size which can only be achieved by multiple independent trials or multicentre trials . Thus, such studies are recommended.

J Clin Pathol, 1984 Jan, 37(1), 78 - 82
Disseminated petriellidiosis (allescheriasis) in a patient with refractory acute lymphoblastic leukaemia; Shih LY et al.; A case of disseminated petriellidiosis is presented . This complication occurred in a patient with refractory acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, who was receiving repeated courses of cytotoxic drugs, antibiotics and prolonged corticosteroid therapy . The diagnosis of infection by Petriellidium boydii was established by pathological and microbiological studies of a specimen obtained at open lung biopsy . The portal of entry was probably through the lung spreading later via the blood stream to the brain, thyroid and kidneys . The present case once again emphasises the importance of specific microbiological identification in definitive diagnosis . To our knowledge, only three cases of disseminated petriellidiosis have been reported and this case appears to be the first case with renal involvement.

Rev Pneumol Clin, 1984, 40(4), 233 - 6
{Comparative study of 2 assay methods for serum isoniazid in 413 patients: microbiological method and high performance liquid chromatography}; Meurice JC et al.; Serum INH was assayed by 2 techniques over 4 years in 413 patients following the administration of a single test dose of 300 mg of isoniazid . The microbiological method measures the inhibitory activity of the serum on the growth of mycobacteria . The pharmacological method consists of high performance liquid chromatography with ultra-violet detection (HPLC) . The mean difference in the assays performed by the 2 methods in each subject was 0.061 mcg/ml and the global correlation between the 2 assays was 0.76 . Liquid chromatography also allows the simultaneous assay of acetyl INH . Thirty-three per cent of the subjects who received a test dose of 300 mg of INH had a serum INH concentration of between 1 and 2 mcg/ml at the third hour . This study therefore confirms the usefulness of a pre-treatment assay of INH and the good correlation of the results obtained with the 2 methods.

Arch Androl, 1984, 12 Suppl, 35 - 41
Ureaplasma-infected human sperm in infertile men; Grossgebauer K et al.; The case of an infertile man with oligospermia and symptoms of urethritis-prostatitis, whose spouse had a vaginal discharge, is reported . Microbiological analysis of appropriate specimens revealed a strain of tetracycline-resistant ureaplasma urealyticum in both patients . Using the transmission electron microscope, it was possible to demonstrate spermatozoal heads "infected" with microorganisms strongly resembling ureaplasma urealyticum.

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1984, 50(4), 405 - 16
Microbial contamination of a vitamin A formulation, prepared in local pharmacies, and its preservation against yeasts and moulds; van Doorne H et al.; The microbial contamination of 44 samples of a vitamin A preparation in sucrose syrup was investigated . The contaminants were almost exclusively yeasts and moulds . Microbiological and physicochemical studies showed that sorbic acid was the preservative of choice for this formulation . The results are discussed with respect to the preservation of non-sterile pharmaceuticals.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1984, 16(3), 309 - 14
Comparative determination of sulfonamide concentration in serum by chemical and microbiological assay; Malmborg AS et al.; Analysis of sulfamethoxazole in serum from patients treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was performed with the agar diffusion assay which is supposed to measure only unconjugated sulfonamide and with the spectrophotometric method which enables one to measure both unconjugated and conjugated sulfonamide . The two methods gave serum concentrations in the same range when used in patients with intact kidney function . In patients with decreased renal function the chemical method yielded higher values, probably due to accumulation of conjugated sulfamethoxazole . The agar diffusion assay gives an accurate answer if the clinical question concerns the therapeutic effect only . The spectrophotometric analytical method has a broader potential since it may be employed irrespective of the clinical question that motivated the analysis.

Acta Microbiol Hung, 1984, 31(4), 399 - 404
Hydroxylamine inactivation of cephalosporins: nucleophilic attack on beta-lactam structures; Uri JV; Cephalosporins are not degraded by hydroxylamine (NH2OH) in neutral and acidic solutions . Their reaction with NH2OH in slightly alkaline solutions leads to microbiological inactivation which seems to be a structure dependent phenomenon . In these experiments the mandelic acid-type compounds appear to be quite stable to the effect of NH2OH, whereas, cefazolin is gradually degraded and the straight chain-containing cephalosporins are variably inactivated . The phenylglycine-type oral cephalosporins were generally sensitive to the alkaline conditions used in these tests and apparently are not inactivated by NH2OH . On the contrary, the phenylglycine-type cephalosporins seem to be somewhat stabilized in the presence of NH2OH.

Arzneimittelforschung, 1984, 34(1), 66 - 71
{Bioavailability of penicillin V in aqueous dosage forms}; Lintz W et al.; The bioavailability of Megacillin-oral-Trockensaft (active substance: potassium salt of phenoxymethylpenicillin, penicillin V potassium) was compared with that of another commercially available drug containing the same active substance . In a cross-over study, 12 healthy volunteers were administered by oral route 10 ml of each preparation (equivalent to 600 000 U = 392.2 mg potassium salt of phenoxymethylpenicillin) under standardized experimental procedure . Relative bioavailability was assessed by determination of phenoxymethylpenicillin concentrations in the plasma, employing both microbiological assay as well as high-performance liquid chromatography, by computation of the areas under the plasma concentration curves, and by calculation of the time periods necessary for the attainment of maximum plasma concentrations . In order to assess differences between the two forms in duration of efficacy, calculation of time intervals were based on plasma concentrations which were above 0.5; 1.0 or 1.5 micrograms/ml, respectively . Results of this comparative study indicate that Megacillin-oral-Trockensaft is superior to the other commercial preparation . The considerably better bioavailability of Megacillin-oral-Trockensaft is attributed to a substantially higher absorption rate and to a 2.4 times greater extent of absorption . Due to the distinct advantage in the bioavailability of Megacillin-oral-Trockensaft peak plasma concentrations of phenoxymethylpenicillin 5-6 fold higher and are reached faster when compared with those following intake of the other form tested . In practice, the superior bioavailability of Megacillin-oral-Trockensaft guarantees quicker initiation of therapeutic activity and greater safety (higher plasma concentrations, prolonged effect).

Eur J Immunol, 1984 Jan, 14(1), 102 - 5
The regulation of macrophage activity in congenitally athymic mice; Sharp AK et al.; It has been suggested that non-T cell-mediated cellular immune mechanisms might be elevated in nude mice, which could contribute to their partial resistance to intracellular infectious agents and to the development of spontaneous tumors . In this study we have examined macrophages (M phi) from athymic, euthymic and athymic T cell-reconstituted mice in terms of their phagocytic capacity, microbicidal and tumoricidal activity, and the production of hydrogen peroxidase and superoxide anions . These studies have demonstrated the presence of activated M phi in nude mice and suggest that this activation is associated with the absence of T cell-mediated suppression . We have also compared M phi activation levels in germ-free nude mice which have received a defined intestinal bacterial flora . We have found M phi activity to be significantly elevated in microbiologically defined nude mice when compared to germ-free nude mice, indicating that a resistant gut flora is capable of nonspecifically stimulating nude mouse M phi.

Contemp Issues Clin Biochem, 1984, 1, 188 - 224
Nutrition and vitamins in alcoholism; Ryle PR et al.; Chronic alcoholics frequently have evidence of nutritional deficiency due to decreased intake, reduced uptake and impaired utilisation of nutrients . The alcoholic has increased nutrient requirements due to greater metabolic demands and the need for tissue repair . Chronic alcohol-related brain damage can often be a direct result of nutrient depletion, particularly of the vitamins thiamine, B12, nicotinamide and pyridoxine . Lesser degrees of brain damage are frequently unrecognised, and by the time a vitamin deficiency syndrome has developed and been diagnosed, irreversible damage has often occurred . The development of suitable computerised psychometric tests may allow earlier detection of brain malfunction associated with malnutrition, which can be reversed by nutrient repletion before permanent damage occurs . Circulating levels of vitamins can be a valuable guide to nutritional status, although care is needed when interpreting the results of such tests in the alcoholic . Sensitive microbiological and biochemical tests for assessing vitamin status in man have been available for some years, and in addition, new biochemical methods are constantly being developed . It is important that such methods are evaluated, and possibly adapted for clinical use where appropriate . Newer methods may have significant advantages over older, more established techniques . For thiamine and pyridoxine, for example, methods now exist to determine accurately circulating levels of the active forms of these vitamins, which could give more direct assessment of vitamin status than earlier methodology that uses indirect measurements, such as red cell enzyme activities . On the other hand, in the case of folate and B12, there has been a tendency to opt for the easy-to-perform radioassay techniques, when in fact the earlier microbiological methods offer greater sensitivity and probably also better accuracy . Technically difficult assays should not be disregarded if they can give information which is of greater clinical use than a simpler assay technique . Clinical laboratories should always bear in mind what their vitamin methods are actually measuring, particular consideration being given to whether metabolically inactive forms or analogues are determined in the assay . This can be of importance to the interpretation of vitamin data in the alcoholic, who often has problems forming active vitamins from their precursors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

G Batteriol Virol Immunol, 1984 Jan-Jun, 77(1-6), 45 - 53
{Phagocytic and intracellular killing activity of rat macrophages: critical analysis of 2 different evaluation methods}; Iannello D et al.; Two different evaluation methods of the "in vitro" bacterial killing activity of macrophages were compared; the former based on the determination of the number of viable microorganisms in the supernatant of macrophage cultures by a microbiological plate method; the latter based on the evidentiation of intracellular killing by differential staining of living and killed microorganisms with acridine orange . Phagocytic and microbicidal activities of peritoneal cells were investigated by the two methods in control rats and in tumor-bearing rats . Qualitative and quantitative differences in the kinetics of phagocytosis and microbial killing were evidentiated in macrophages from tumor-bearing rats . Furthermore, both methods proved to be suitable and reproducible.

IARC Sci Publ, 1984, (53), 339 - 65
Nickel--an essential element; Anke M et al.; Nickel is necessary for the biosynthesis of the hydrogenase, carbon monoxide dehydrogenase, and of factor F 430, found in a number of genera of bacteria . Urease from jack beans and several species of plants is also a nickel protein . These plant enzyme systems can affect animals via the microbiological digestion of food in the rumen . Nickel is a constituent part of all organs of vertebrates . Its absorption can be controlled . Low nickel offers reduce growth; this is particularly true of intra-uterine development . Such offers also decrease the life expectancy of reproducing animals . Nickel deficiency is accompanied by histological and biochemical changes and reduced iron resorption and leads to anaemia . It can disturb the incorporation of calcium into skeleton and lead to parakeratosis-like damage, which finds expression in disturbed zinc metabolism . Nickel deficiency results in lower activities of different dehydrogenases and transaminases and, above all, of alpha-amylase, and particularly affects carbohydrate metabolism . A marked decrease in metabolism was observed in the case of the energy sources fat, glucose, and glycogen . Nickel therefore performs a vital function in metabolism: it is an essential element . The nickel requirements of human beings and animals amount to less than 500 micrograms/kg and are probably even considerably lower . It therefore follows that, in view of the available nickel offer, primary nickel deficiency in human beings and animals can be excluded, at least in the present state of knowledge . On the other hand, it should be remembered that, 25 years after the discovery of the essentiality of manganese, this element was included among the trace elements of academic importance only, whereas today it is a feed additive.

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1984, 50(5-6), 641 - 63
A centenary of academic and less learned food microbiology . Pitfalls of the past and promises for the future; Mossel DA et al.; A review is presented of the development of Food Microbiology from its roots in different disciplines - including human and animal medicine, general microbiology, agricultural science and food chemistry - to an autonomous science with the main vocation to provide the knowledge allowing providing food that is wholesome, of high quality and acceptable in the microbiological sense . This evolution entailed a change in approach from mere, and often rather primitive inspection of end-products to intervention by (i) identification of hazard points ("critical points" or CPs) by ecological studies; (ii) elimination of CPs by elaboration of Good Manufacturing and Distribution Practices (GMPs); (iii) validation of GMPs by monitoring production lines and final products at point of sale and gauging the results by Risk Analysis . It is emphasized, that although advanced and ecologically sound techniques have become available, it will still require extensive education and training at all levels before the scientific advances outlined in this review will have been fully integrated in day-to-day food production and catering in developed as well developing areas of the world . Interdisciplinary instruction and co-operation cannot be missed in attempts to reach this goal.

Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 1984, 21(4), 289 - 322
Modification of plant proteins by immobilized proteases; Lee JW et al.; A potential application of plant proteins could be a replacement of animal proteins now in use in the food industry on the basis of certain specific functional properties plant proteins have . Modification of the chemical structure of selected plant proteins is needed to replace more expensive animal proteins as food ingredients that have specific functional characteristics . Structure modification may be achieved by physical, chemical, or microbiological methods, or by a combination of these . Immobilized enzyme techniques offer significant advantages for protein modification . Knowledge of the molecular properties of plant proteins is essential to understand the basis of protein functionality, to modify proteins so that they acquire desirable functional properties, and to predict potential applications of modified plant proteins . This paper reviews all the above mentioned aspects of plant protein chemistry and potential utilization.

Tierarztl Prax, 1984, 12(3), 307 - 15
{Swine dysentery}; Seeger K et al.; The microbiological and serological properties of Treponema hyodysenteriae, its mediators of pathogenicity and the morphological changes in infected animals were presented . From these changes and from the disturbances of the intestinal function, the clinical symptoms could be derived . Finally problems of epidemiology, therapy and prophylaxis of swine dysentery were discussed.

Z Rechtsmed, 1984, 92(3), 189 - 97
{Microbial contamination of ABO antigens in bone tissue}; Hauser R et al.; Fragments of human bones were stored in different media for two years and then expression of the ABO antigens was indicated . Simultaneously, microbiological investigations were performed . In almost all cases, different ABO substances were detected in putrefied and fresh bones taken from the same person . Blood group antigens found in putrefied bones were compared with serological activity of bacterium cultured from these tissues . Attempts were made to remove unspecific reactions . The authors assume that bacteria are responsible for nonspecific serological reactions, not only as a carrier of blood-group-like substances, but also as a source of enzymes responsible for changes in the structure of ABO antigens in putrefied bones.

Pharmatherapeutica, 1984, 3(9), 613 - 7
The treatment of napkin dermatitis: a double-blind comparison of two steroid-antibiotic combinations; Bowring AR et al.; A double-blind trial was carried out in 62 infants with moderate to severe napkin dermatitis to assess the effectiveness and acceptability of topical treatment with a miconazole/hydrocortisone preparation compared with that of a nystatin/benzalkonium chloride/dimethicone/hydrocortisone preparation . Patients were allocated at random to one or other treatment and the creams were applied to the affected area 3-times daily for 7 days . At the initial visit, a swab was taken for microbiological investigation . Clinical assessments were made of the signs and symptoms of erythema, weeping, tissue maceration and the more general symptom irritability, before and after 7-days' treatment . Parents were asked to note the time taken to significant improvement of their infant's condition and to comment on ease of application and staining properties of the preparation used . Both treatments produced a high and similar overall cure rate (80% and 84%, respectively), with a significant improvement within 48 hours in the majority of cases . Staining of napkins was reported in significantly fewer cases with the miconazole/hydrocortisone cream.

Mikrobiologiia, 1984 Jan-Feb, 53(1), 167 - 9
{Anaerobic glove box}; Tashirev AB et al.; Anaerobic conditions can rapidly be created in a box designed for working with obligate anaerobic organisms by driving out the air with an inflatable ball . The box is fitted with a device for sterilising a microbiological loop.

Mol Biol (Mosk), 1984 Jan-Feb, 18(1), 176 - 88
{Prospects and achievements of genetic engineering in development of antiviral vaccines}; Tikhonenko TI; Proceeding from the known data various theoretical and experimental approaches to the construction of gene-engineering vaccines are considered . Gene-engineering subunit vaccines of the first generation are based on isolation of the genes coding for the synthesis of full length capsid proteins with the main antigenic determinants and their subsequent expression in suitable recipient cells . Initial idea of the microbiological synthesis as the main way for production of any antiviral vaccines was not confirmed by the later development . Now for this type of vaccines eucaryotic systems are widely employed using the animal virus vectors and the animal cell cultures . Gene-engineering subunit vaccine of the second generation appears to be a chimeric protein with built-in antigenic determinants of different viruses and maximal immunogenicity in monomeric form . The last point reopens the perspective to use a microbiological synthesis for the production of antiviral vaccines . Besides that the chemically synthesized polypeptide antiviral vaccine will be used widely . In gene-engineering subunit vaccines of the third generation it is possible to use not the natural antigenic determinants which often are characterized by high level of the primary structure changes but artificial (non-natural) antigens, that are the capsid protein conservative regions which under natural conditions of infection or immunization do not induce the protective antiviral antibodies . The recombinant DNA technology in addition to subunit type vaccine allows to construct living vaccines which represent a DNA-containing attenuated virus with build-in natural or synthetic gene of the capsid or chimeric protein with antigenic determinants of another viral species.

Chemotherapy, 1984, 30(1), 1 - 6
Concentrations of ceftriaxone in prostate adenoma tissue; Adam D et al.; A total of 46 patients aged 59-84 who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate gland received 2 g of ceftriaxone intravenously at different points in time, ranging from 30 min to 74 h before the operation . The antibiotic concentration was determined in the serum as well as in the prostate adenoma tissue using microbiological methods after treating the tissue in a stomacher . 30 min after application, tissue concentrations were between 12.9 and 73.7 micrograms/g, and after 4 h still between 1.0 and 50.0 micrograms/g . Even after 48 h levels between 0.6 and 5.6 micrograms/g were found . Therefore ceftriaxone proved not only to have a long serum half-life as compared to other comparable cephalosporins, but also prolonged tissue concentrations, which justifies a single preoperative dose before transurethral resection of the prostate gland, as established by the clinical results described.

Arzneimittelforschung, 1984, 34(12), 1787 - 91
Investigation of human bile and serum levels by high pressure liquid chromatography after administration of latamoxef or cefotaxime; Krausse R et al.; The high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used for the quantitative determination of R- and S-epimers of latamoxef, cefotaxime and desacetylcefotaxime in serum and bile . Bile levels of latamoxef, 1 and 2 h following administration of the antibiotic, were markedly above serum values . Those of cefotaxime, however, were identical after 1 h, after 2 h bile levels were below serum values . Desacetylcefotaxime concentration in bile after 1 and 2 h was four to five times higher than in serum . The ratio R-:S-epimer of latamoxef in serum was 49:51 after 1 and 2 h, in bile 44:56 after 1 h and 48:52 after 2 h . In the case of latamoxef the comparison of the microbiological and the HPLC assay showed good correlation (r = 0.98) . The ratio cefotaxime: desacetylcefotaxime in serum was 72.5:27.5 after 1 h and 61.5:38.5 after 2 h, in bile 41:59 after 1 h and 24:76 after 2 h.

Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1984, 24(10), 709 - 11
A new fluorimetric assay for streptothricins; Hesse G et al.; In strongly acidic medium (70% HClO4) streptothricins form a fluorophore (lambda ex = 312 nm; lambda em = 381 nm) with unknown structure . A fluorimetric determination of pure or crude products and cultures, respectively, was worked out based on this reaction . Concentrations for fluorescence measurements were in the range of 10(-8) - 2 X 10(-7) moles . Interferences of the assay are discussed, a statistical evaluation of results and a comparison between microbiological and fluorimetric findings are given.

Lancet, 1983 Dec 17, 2(8364), 1379 - 82
Anaerobic vaginosis (non-specific vaginitis): clinical, microbiological, and therapeutic findings; Blackwell AL et al.; The effect of metronidazole on anaerobic vaginosis (non-specific vaginitis) was assessed in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 40 women . 19 of 20 women given metronidazole 400 mg twice a day for seven days were clinically and microbiologically cured by the time they completed treatment . All 20 women given a placebo were treatment failures, but when they were given a single 2 g dose of metronidazole, 15 showed clinical and microbiological cure a week later . 14 of the responders showed a recurrence of infection a month after treatment; this was probably due to reinfection, although persistence of infection cannot be ruled out . Findings in the clinic correlated closely with subsequent microbiological results in 133 out of 140 patient-visits, which suggests that there is no need for expensive and time-consuming laboratory investigations in this condition.

Pharm Weekbl Sci, 1983 Dec 16, 5(6), 298 - 301
Synthesis, physical properties and microbiological activities of more water soluble silver sulfadiazine derivatives; De Wit PP et al.; In this study the preparation of five hydrophilic derivatives of sulfadiazine is reported . The common structural element in the compounds is the 2-sulfonamidopyrimidine moiety . Three of these compounds are suitable for the preparation of a photostable I: I silver compound . These silver compounds are five to ten times more water soluble than silver sulfadiazine . The IR, 1H- and 13C-NMR data point to a similar co-ordination of silver in these compounds as with silver sulfadiazine . The microbiological activity of these silver compounds against St . aureus is slightly lower.

Fortschr Med, 1983 Dec 8, 101(46), 2129 - 32
{Demonstration of a tetracycline-resistance factor in a genital Mycoplasma strain . Clinical and molecular biology aspects of Ureaplasma coinfected penicilliń and tetracycline-resistant gonorrhea}; Jahn G et al.; We report a male patient with severe penicillin-resistant gonococcal urethritis, coinfected with a tetracycline resistant strain of ureaplasma urealyticum . Ureaplasmas are frequently involved in gonococcal urethritis and commonly this organism may persist after the penicillin therapy causing a "post-gonoccal-urethritis" (PGU) . Additional treatment with tetracyclines prove to be successful in most of these patients except in cases of tetracycline resistance in ureaplasma urealyticum . In a case like this erythromycin may be useful, a drug to which these isolates are sensitive . The microbiological and genetic feature of a tetracycline resistant strain of ureaplasma urealyticum is presented in detail . The clinical and epidemiological importance of these results are discussed and compared with the literature.

J Pharm Sci, 1983 Dec, 72(12), 1470 - 1
Quantitation of amikacin, kanamycin, neomycin, and tobramycin in pharmaceutical dosage forms using the Hantzsch reaction; Gupta VD et al.; A spectrophotometric assay method for the quantitative determination of amikacin, kanamycin, neomycin, and tobramycin in pharmaceutical dosage forms has been developed . The method is based on the Hantzsch reaction, forming dihydrolutidine derivatives which can be measured spectrophotometrically . The excipients EDTA, phenol, sodium bisulfite, and sodium citrate do not interfere, while salts of ammonia do interfere . The relative standard deviations based on seven readings were 1.64, 1.88, 2.10, and 1.93% for amikacin, kanamycin, neomycin, and tobramycin, respectively . Assay results have been compared with microbiological assay results provided by the manufacturers . The assay method appears to be stability indicating.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 Dec, 12(6), 629 - 39
The pharmacokinetics of chloramphenicol in the neonate and young infant; Mulhall A et al.; The peak and trough serum concentrations and total body clearance of chloramphenicol were determined by microbiological assay in a multicentre investigation of 90 babies . Chloramphenicol was administered by the intravenous, intramuscular or oral route and dosage ranged between 12 and 210 mg/kg/day . A wide variation in both serum levels and clearance amongst babies receiving the same dose was observed . Neonates (64) had significantly higher serum concentrations (P less than 0.001) and slower clearance (P less than 0.0001) than infants (26) . Oral administration in neonates resulted in lower steady state serum levels (P less than 0.02) than those following intravenous administration . Term neonates cleared chloramphenicol more rapidly than their preterm contemporaries (P less than 0.005) . Forty-one per cent of subjects had potentially toxic serum levels; subtherapeutic peak serum levels (less than 15 mg/l) were recorded in 39/90 babies . Concomitant penicillin therapy resulted in higher serum concentrations (P less than 0.05); phenobarbitone was not associated with increased clearance or lower steady state serum levels of chloramphenicol . Postnatal age and gestational age accounted for some of the variability in pharmacokinetic response to chloramphenicol . Although many babies receiving the recommended dose had serum levels within the accepted range (15-25 mg/l), others did not . Routine monitoring of chloramphenicol in every baby receiving this antibiotic is essential: the regimens of 18% babies in the present study were altered after assay.

J Periodontol, 1983 Dec, 54(12), 712 - 3
Microbiological study of localized juvenile periodontitis in Panama; Eisenmann AC et al.; The occurrence of subgingival Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Capnocytophaga in 12 localized juvenile periodontitis and 10 gingivitis patients from Panama was determined using selective culture techniques . A actinomycetemcomitans was present in all localized juvenile periodontitis lesions studied and was, on average, recovered in hundred-fold-higher numbers from localized juvenile periodontitis lesions than from gingivitis lesions . Capnocytophaga was only recovered in approximately threefold-higher numbers from localized juvenile periodontitis than from gingivitis . The study confirms and extends previous data indicating a close relationship between A actinomycetemcomitans and localized juvenile periodontitis . It is proposed that identification of A actinomycetemcomitans may be a valuable adjunct in the diagnosis of localized juvenile periodontitis.

Hum Nutr Appl Nutr, 1983 Dec, 37(6), 426 - 40
Microbiological aspects of the preparation and administration of naso-gastric and naso-enteric tube feeds in hospitals--a review; Anderton A; The reported instances of microbial contamination of naso-gastric and naso-enteric feeds are reviewed and the significance of contamination discussed . Possible sources of contamination are suggested and factors affecting the rate of growth of organisms in feeds and feeding systems are considered . Comparisons are made with the in-use contamination of intravenous feeds.

J Pharm Sci, 1983 Dec, 72(12), 1467 - 9
Quantitation of ketoconazole in biological fluids using high-performance liquid chromatography; Pascucci VL et al.; A rapid, specific procedure is described for the quantitation of ketoconazole in biological fluids using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) . The procedure involves sample preparation using a reverse-phase C-18 cartridge prior to chromatography and quantitation using peak height ratios (UV absorbance detection, 231 nm) of ketoconazole to the internal standard, phenothiazine . A sensitivity of 0.2 micrograms/ml was achieved using a 0.5-ml sample . The mean recovery was 86.2%, and overall coefficient of variation of the procedure was 7.1% . This procedure has been used to determine ketoconazole levels in human serum, plasma, CSF, and synovial fluid . A comparison with a microbiological assay is presented, and adaptability of this procedure to quantitation by fluorescence to increase the sensitivity fivefold is discussed.

Pharmazie, 1983 Nov, 38(11), 740 - 3
{Protein binding of the macrolide antibiotic turimycin . Methodologic effects on results}; Hesse G et al.; A methodological investigation deals with the binding of the macrolide antibiotic turimycin to bovine serum albumin (BSA) and serum proteins . On this occasion, it is pointed out that, especially when serum is used, the critical evaluation of the analytical method is of the same importance as the utilization of standardized procedures for the quantification of the protein binding in the sense of general comparability . This concerns, for example, the chemistry of the reaction used for detection, the formation of degradation products of the active principle in the serum during the study of the binding and possible repercussions on the chemical determination, the electrolyte content of the sample in the punched hole of the microbiological test plate, losses of activity or synergistic effects of the serum-antibiotic combination during incubation of microbiological test plates after termination of the equilibrium dialysis . The determination of binding constants by means of a competitive fluorescence titration, the chemical analysis of equilibrium dialyses and their parallel assessment with the aid of the agar-diffusion plate test led to results which were not in agreement with each other . Turimycin which is very slightly soluble at pH = 7.4 and fairly soluble at pH = 5.0, is practically not bonded at the lower pH value of BSA and serum proteins (fluorescence titration of BSA: Kb approximately 20; equilibrium dialysis and chemical evaluation) . The microbiological determination in serum on the basis of equilibrium dialyses yields higher values for the binding of turimycin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1983 Nov, 128(5), 955 - 6
Unresponsiveness of Legionella bozemanii pneumonia to erythromycin administration despite in vitro sensitivity; Parker MM et al.; We report a case of Legionella bozemanii pneumonia that failed to respond clinically and microbiologically to erythromycin administration . The organism was recovered from bronchial brushings and washings and was demonstrated to be sensitive in vitro to erythromycin as well as to rifampin and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim . The patient received a 9-day course of erythromycin before she died . Nonetheless, postmortem lung tissue yielded Legionella bozemanii . In treating Legionella pneumonia unresponsive to erythromycin, addition of another antibiotic, based on sensitivity testing, should be considered.

Acta Otolaryngol, 1983 Nov-Dec, 96(5-6), 501 - 8
Penetration of doxycycline in respiratory mucosa; Sundberg L et al.; In order to study the penetration of doxycycline (Idocyklin) in respiratory mucosa 100 mg tablets were given in standard dosage to 58 patients with longstanding secretory otitis media, the "secretion-in-cavity" model, and to 37 patients with nasal polyposis, the tissue model . Myringotomy with aspiration of the middle ear secretion or polypectomy was performed at different intervals during the course of medication . Blood samples were drawn simultaneously . The concentration in secretion, tissue and serum was assessed by means of a microbiological agar well method . The mean concentration of doxycycline in respiratory mucosa and secretion was found to exceed the MICs of the common respiratory pathogens as soon as 3 hours after the first dose, and remained on a therapeutical level until 24 hours after the last dose . The results are in full agreement with those obtained from penetration studies in other parts of the respiratory tract, thereby lending support to the validity of the models used.

Rev Infect Dis, 1983 Nov-Dec, 5(6), 1061 - 77
Invasive aspergillosis; Rinaldi MG; Invasive fungal disease of humans caused by species of the genus Aspergillus Micheli ex Linnaeus has become a significant and prevalent problem in contemporary medicine, particularly with regard to the compromised host . This review addresses the current status of invasive aspergillosis, including microbiological, clinical, and pathologic aspects . Diagnostic and therapeutic considerations are discussed with a view toward early and aggressive intervention in order to prevent the high mortality rate associated with aspergillosis.

Farmakol Toksikol, 1983 Nov-Dec, 46(6), 83 - 8
{Microbiological method of determining cyanocobalamin in tissues and finished drugs made from animal raw materials}; Krylov IuF et al.; An assay for cyanocobalamin with the use of the test microorganism E . coli, mutant ATCC 9637, is offered . The measurement of the content of cyanocobalamin in the blood serum and liver of intact rats after intraperitoneal drug injection demonstrated its content to reach a maximum 30 minutes after injection and to depend on the dose . When given in doses 100 and 400 micrograms/kg, the drug dose in the serum amounted to 82 and 261 ng/g, respectively, and in the liver to 80 and 259 ng/g . The method is readily reproducible, does not require the observance of strict aseptics, it is economical and time-saving.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 Nov, 12(5), 519 - 21
The penetration of cefmenoxime into cerebrospinal fluid across non-inflamed meninges; Rolston KV et al.; The penetration of cefmenoxime, a newly-developed cephalosporin, across non-inflamed meninges was studied in 12 volunteers undergoing elective myelograms . Patients received 30 mg/kg of cefmenoxime intravenously every 6 h for three doses . Trough and peak serum levels were drawn just prior to and immediately after the last dose . CSF was obtained from 1 to 4 h after the administration of the last dose and a concomitant serum sample was also drawn . Cefmenoxime levels were determined by a microbiological assay and by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) . Cefmenoxime was detected in the CSF of all 12 patients and ranged between 0.15 and 1.4 mg/l.

Vopr Virusol, 1983 Nov-Dec, 28(6), 737 - 41
{Behavior of Mycoplasma in a continuous cell culture of embryonic sheep kidney producing the bovine leukemia virus}; Rakovskaia IV et al.; Mycoplasma sp . previously isolated from sheep embryo kidney cells producing bovine leukemia virus (FLK-BLV) was serologically identified in the growth inhibition test as M . arginini . SDS-PAGE of cellular proteins demonstrated their identity in M . sp . and M . arginini . Upon artificial inoculation of FLK cells, M . arginini persisted in the cells for a long time and was detectable in high titres by all the methods used . Other species of mycoplasma were isolated from the cells by microbiological method but were detectable by other methods in first passages only . The phenomenon of "disappearance" of mycoplasma was not associated with the toxic effect on them of the ingredients used in cell propagation and of cell metabolism products . It is assumed that sheep embryo cells, M . arginini, and bovine leukemia virus is a fortunate biological model of natural infection.

N Z Med J, 1983 Oct 26, 96(742), 795 - 6
Bacterial endocarditis due to Kingella kingae; Sage MJ et al.; A case of infective bacterial endocarditis due to Kingella kingae in a 26 year old male involving a prosthetic mitral valve is described . Microbiological features of this organism are outlined, and the treatment of this endocarditis is discussed with reference to the four previously reported cases.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1983 Oct, (10), 79 - 82
{Interaction of Acholeplasma laidlawii and Mycoplasma arthritidis with the lymphocytes of mice of different strains}; Rakovskaia IV et al.; The interaction of mycoplasmas and mouse lymphocytes has been studied by the microbiological and electron-microscopic methods . The experiments have shown that A . laidlawii and M . arthritidis are adsorbed on lymphocytes and thymocytes of (C57BL6 X A/He)F1, BALB and C57BL mice after 15 minutes of their joint incubation at 37 degrees C, 1 hour later adsorption reaches its maximum intensity and after further prolongation of the time of incubation the number of adsorbed microbial cells remains unchanged . The first stage of the interaction of mycoplasmas with splenic and thymic lymphocytes (adsorption) is the same in (C57BL6 X X A/He)F1, BALB and C57BL mice, and differences in the persistence of mycoplasmas in mice of the above strains are probably due not to different capacity of the cells for adsorbing mycoplasmas, but to differences in the immune status of these animals.

Equine Vet J, 1983 Oct, 15(4), 317 - 20
Leptospiral infection in horses in Northern Ireland: serological and microbiological findings; Ellis WA et al.; Thirteen strains of pathogenic leptospires were isolated from 12 of 91 horses; seven strains belonged to the Australis serogroup (serotype bratislava) with three, two and one strains belonging to the Icterohaemorrhagiae, Hebdomadis (serotype hardjo) and Autumnalis serogroups respectively . Using leptospires isolated from horses and others representing the known parasitic Leptospira serogroups, a sample of 650 mares' sera was tested for agglutinating antibodies . Antibodies were found in 89.1 per cent of sera . The predominant reaction was to serotype bratislava, strain S/1334/79, isolated in this study, antibodies to which were detected in 81.8 per cent of sera . It is suggested that serotype bratislava may be adapted to, and maintained by, the horse population in Northern Ireland.

J Clin Pathol, 1983 Oct, 36(10), 1102 - 4
Ozone killing action against bacterial and fungal species; microbiological testing of a domestic ozone generator; Dyas A et al.; The action of ozone generated from a small domestic device was examined with a view to using it in clinical isolation units accommodating immunosuppressed patients . Over a six-hour period in an average size room the device did not generate sufficient ozone to suppress bacterial and fungal growth . A useful bactericidal action, against a variety of human pathogens was achieved with ozone concentrations between 0.3 to 0.9 ppm . Bactericidal ozone concentrations are close to the limit permitted for human exposure however and further experiments are indicated.

Vet Med (Praha), 1983 Oct, 28(10), 633 - 40
{Incidence of foreign substances in raw and pasteurized milk}; Malikova M et al.; In 1980 to 1982, the occurrence of inhibiting substances, herbicides and chemical elements contaminating raw farm and bulk milk and pasteurized milk in different stages of technological processing was studied in the input regions of 19 dairies of the Lacrum Brno concern corporation . Residues of inhibiting substances were demonstrated by the thin-layer microbiological diffusion disk method using the testing strain of B . stearothermophilus var . calidolactis, to be present in raw milk (9.1% out of 143 samples) as well as in pasteurized milk (2.0% out of 151 samples) . Chromatographic method (sensitivity 0.01-0.05 mg.kg-1 milk) was used for examining 135 raw milk samples for the occurrence of herbicides based on diazines and triazines . Herbicides were demonstrated to get into milk; residues were found in 45 samples (33.3%) . Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used for examining 143 raw milk samples for the contents of zinc, copper, iron and manganese . As to zinc content, 100% of the samples met the standard, as to iron content 99%, and as to the content of copper, 89% (Ministry of Health Directives, No . 50, 1978) . The content of manganese remained within the range up to 0.1 mg.kg-1 milk in 60% of the samples . Out of the 135 milk samples (101 raw, 34 pasteurized milk ones) examined for the content of lead, four samples (3%) failed to meet the limit of the highest admissible level.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 Oct, 12(4), 403 - 6
Assay of netilmicin in serum by substrate labelled fluoroimmunoassay; White LO et al.; A substrate-labelled fluoroimmunoassay (SLFIA) for gentamicin was used to assay netilmicin by substituting serum calibrators containing netilmicin . The assay proved highly reproducible and the results obtained showed a good correlation with the results of EMIT and microbiological assays.

Vet Microbiol, 1983 Oct, 8(5), 437 - 42
Experimental parainfluenza type 3 infection in young lambs: clinical, microbiological, and serological response; Lehmkuhl HD et al.; Five, 1-week-old, colostrum-deprived lambs were inoculated transtracheally with a parainfluenza type-3 (PI-3) virus that had been isolated from a pneumonic lamb lung . A biphasic febrile response, cough, rapid breathing followed by forced expirations, listlessness, and anorexia were observed in the lambs . There were multifocal areas of consolidation in the lungs of all lambs and ulcerations in the nasal mucosa of three lambs . Serum antibody titers to PI-3 virus ranged from 2 to 16 in lambs necropsied Day 3 to Day 7 post-inoculation, respectively . Virus was isolated from nasal secretions, tracheal fluids, and lung tissues of all lambs.

Boll Ist Sieroter Milan, 1983 Sep 30, 62(4), 328 - 32
{Bacteriological study at the vaginal level in sexually active women}; Altomare GF et al.; We have studied the microbiological environment of the vagina in 202 sexually active women when they came into an outpatient gynecological hospital . By some specific bacterioscopic and cultural examinations we have tried to understand the pathological role of some microrganism in sexually transmitted diseases . An elevated incidence of mycoplasm in asymptomatic subjects has shed light on the probable saprophytic behaviour of these microrganisms.

Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1983 Sep 17, 113(37), 1327 - 30
{Clinical and microbiological aspects of peritonitis in patients treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis}; Broquet PE et al.; Over a 3-year period 22 episodes of peritonitis were observed among 20 patients treated for end-stage renal failure by CAPD . This represents an overall incidence of 1 episode every 9.5 patient-months (1/14.2 months in 1981, 1/11.3 months in 1982) . Eight patients out of 20 never developed peritonitis, and 6 had one episode only . Cocci + were the most frequent culture finding . Two episodes of mycotic peritonitis and 1 sterile peritonitis were observed . Antibiotic treatment was generally successful within 24 h . The incidence of peritonitis was higher among diabetic (1/7 months) than among non-diabetic patients (1/12.6 months) . Patient selection, the bag connection technique and the experience accumulated by the dialysis team appear to be the principal factors in lowering the incidence of this complication.

J Chromatogr, 1983 Sep 9, 276(2), 385 - 94
Determination of amikacin in serum by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection; Barends DM et al.; A procedure for the determination of amikacin in serum is described . The aminoglycoside is extracted from serum by using a disposable cation-exchange column . The eluate of this column is derivatized with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and subsequently analysed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection at 365 nm . The absolute recovery of amikacin by this procedure is 72% . Kanamycin is used as the internal standard . The sensitivity is 1 mg/l for amikacin with samples of 200 microliters . Precision, expressed as the coefficient of variation, is about 3% in the therapeutic concentration range . The 2,4-dinitrophenyl derivative of amikacin is synthesized on a preparative scale by a new method and its structure is demonstrated to be the fully derivatized amikacin . The analysis of serum samples obtained in an in vivo experiment correlates well with the results from a microbiological assay.

Med J Aust, 1983 Sep 3, 2(5), 217 - 21
Use of antibiotic agents in a large teaching hospital . The impact of Antibiotic Guidelines; Harvey K et al.; Three surveys of antibiotic use have been conducted at The Royal Melbourne Hospital . The first was conducted in 1978, before the introduction of the booklet, Antibiotic Guidelines; the second was conducted eight months after, and the most recent, four years after, its distribution . In 1978, 30% of 563 patients surveyed were receiving antibiotic therapy; this proportion declined to 28% of 967 patients studied in 1982 . At the beginning of 1978, 52% of all treatments audited were judged appropriate when compared with those recommended in the Guidelines; this proportion rose to 72% in the second survey and was maintained at 70% in 1982 . Certain inappropriate prescribing patterns persisted, such as the use of amoxycillin for the treatment of primary pneumonia, surgical antibiotic prophylaxis which was started too late, and the failure to simplify therapy when the results of microbiological investigations became available . Antibiotic guidelines facilitate the auditing of antibiotic usage and aid rational prescribing . Nevertheless, additional measures appear necessary if specific patterns of misuse of antibiotic agents are to be corrected.

J Clin Pathol, 1983 Sep, 36(9), 1067 - 70
Necrotising granulomata in prostatic resection specimens--a sequel to previous operation; Lee G et al.; Six cases, in which necrotising granulomata were discovered in transurethral resection specimens of prostate gland, are described . In four of these cases, granulomata of foreign body type were also present . None of the patients had clinical, microbiological or histological evidence of tuberculosis, past or present . All had had at least one previous prostatectomy . The necrotising granulomata had characteristic microscopic appearances . They were almost certainly caused by operative trauma.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1983 Sep, 178(1-2), 1 - 29
{Waste from hospitals, health resorts and sanatoria}; Althaus H et al.; As part of the waste disposal planning in the administrative districts in Nordrhein-Westfalen, the present expertise intends to determines the requirements to be satisfied by the collection and intermediate storage of hospital waste, and to answer the question from a hygienic point of view as to what sort of waste may be taken to an internal garbage dump and what waste is to be burned . From among the variety of hospital refuse, that material was selected for which, as a result of the direct contact between waste and patient, a certain hygienic risk could not be entirely ruled out . This includes waste from the wards similar to private houshold garbage, medical soft waste (swabs, dressings etc.) medical solid waste (syringes, cannulae etc.) . For waste other than this, disposal by way of garbage dumps is considered unproblematic or else such waste is to be disposed off in compliance with legal provisions (infection wards) . For organ refuse, the only mode of disposal is by burying or burning . On perusal of the literature it was found that with regard to the hygienic condition of the above-mentioned waste, views differ widely ranging from "unobjectionable" to "infectious" . Apart from this, these views are not supported by microbiological data ascertained experimentally . However, a reliable assessment cannot do without such data . Preliminary investigations were carried out to see what waste disposal routes exist in the various hospitals; then in two hospitals the waste volume of each ward was determined on 7 workdays over a total period of approx . two months and the waste was checked for the three sorts of refuse mentioned above . It was found that the refuse averaged 0.54 or 0.56 kgs per bed per day and 5.44 or 5.43 litres per bed per day with a specific weight of 0.10 kg/l . The microbiological analyses included both hospital refuse and "normal" household garbage from three dumps . Within the first group of waste the analyses covered not only waste conglomerates but also individual refuse ingredients (e.g . syringes) . The workup comprised 264 waste samples from the hospital area and 21 samples from dumps, which were subjected to quantitative and qualitative microbiological tests . The results showed that hospital refuse very often contains less pathogens than household garbage and that it was even germ-free in some cases; especially individual samples repeatedly proved to be free of bacterial growth.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Arch Dis Child, 1983 Sep, 58(9), 745 - 7
Psychogenic cough; Shuper A et al.; Psychogenic cough is croupy and explosive, never occurs during sleep, and is not affected by antitussive drugs . Physical and radiographic examinations of the respiratory tract and microbiological investigations are normal . Bronchial asthma manifested as chronic cough should be excluded in each patient by lung function testing.

Biometrics, 1983 Sep, 39(3), 765 - 70
Discovering an epidemic before it has reached a certain level of prevalence; Metz JA et al.; In this communication we calculate the probability of discovering a simple epidemic in a large population before the epidemic has reached a given level of prevalence, by regularly taking a small random sample from the population for microbiological screening . Apart from the general formula which has to be evaluated numerically, we derive various simple approximation formulae which shed light on the properties of various monitoring regimes . These formulae are, moreover, rather robust against deviations from the model specifications . The results are applied to the evaluation of the efficiency of an infection-monitoring program in an animal breeding centre.

J Clin Microbiol, 1983 Sep, 18(3), 702 - 8
Nocardia asteroides recovery from a dog with steroid- and antibiotic-unresponsive idiopathic polyarthritis; Buchanan AM et al.; This report describes a fatal case of idiopathic polyarthritis in a dog that was partially responsive to vigorous immunosuppressive treatment . Synovial fluids were cultured for L-forms at the following stages of disease: (i) acute arthritic relapse, (ii) incomplete remission, and (iii) death . Nocardia asteroides UCD 1-581 was recovered from the L-form broth culture of the specimen taken during acute relapse, 5 weeks after inoculation, but not at any other stage of disease . Numerous conventional microbiological cultures were unproductive during all phases . Changes occurring in L-form plates included the formation of large irregular mineral deposits and many transferable bodies resembling pseudocolonies . Microscopic examination revealed the presence of many intracellular golden-brown granules and acid-fast bodies in macrophages of the lung and bronchial lymph node tissues . The granules are believed to be the variants embedded in calcium deposits similar to those which developed in the L-form cultures in vitro . Fluorescence of these acid-fast bodies with antibody specific for superoxide dismutase of N . asteroides GUH-2 and labeled anti-immunoglobulin G established their relationship to the isolate . The unrelenting course of disease and the persistence of N . asteroides as an L-form in this animal despite vigorous immunosuppression suggest that this organism plays a direct role in the etiology of this disease.

Am J Trop Med Hyg, 1983 Sep, 32(5), 1172 - 6
Antigenic characterization of Tettnang virus: complications caused by passage of the virus in mice from a colony enzootically infected with mouse hepatitis virus; Smith AL et al.; Neutralization assays were undertaken for the purpose of antigenically characterizing three strains of Tettnang virus from two geographic regions . The previously reported relationship of Tettnang virus strains to mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) was confirmed . However, the precise relationship of the Tettnang strains to prototype MHV strains was obscured in our study by the finding that the isolates had been passaged in mice from a colony subclinically infected with MHV . An Egyptian strain of Tettnang which had not been passaged in that colony was reciprocally related to the neurotropic JHM strain of MHV . Our data stress the importance of microbiological monitoring of apparently healthy laboratory animals used for virologic research.

Pathologist, 1983 Sep, 37(9), 641 - 7
Microbiological safety cabinetry; Kruse RH; This article presents a brief history of the safety cabinet, with emphasis on the Class II Laminar Flow Biological Safety Cabinet . The why, what, how, and when of cabinet operation, purchase, certification, HEPA filters, and cabinet working techniques are explained thoroughly.

Br J Haematol, 1983 Aug, 54(4), 613 - 21
Separation of cobalamin analogues in human sera binding to intrinsic factor and to R-type vitamin B12 binders; Muir M et al.; Intrinsic factor (IF) and cobalamin-R-binding protein (R-binder) linked to polyacrylamide beads were used to absorb cobalamins from solutions and serum extracts . Both binding agents were equally effective in removing {57Co}B12 from aqueous solution . IF was more effective than R-binder in removing {57Co}B12 added to a serum extract . All endogenous cobalamins detectable in serum by saturation analysis assay were removed by absorption onto R-binder . Absorption with IF removed microbiologically-active cobalamins but left behind analogues assayable with an R-binder . However, when absorption with IF was continued the concentration of R-binding cobalamins steadily declined indicating that IF bound both types of cobalamins through the binding was less avid for the microbiologically-inactive analogues than for microbiologically-active cobalamins . Finally, the R-binding analogues in serum were carried on transcobalamin I and none was detectable on transcobalamin II . The absorption studies establish the presence of two types of cobalamins one binding preferentially to IF and the other preferentially to R-binder . Only the former is detected by microbiological assay.

Pharmazie, 1983 Aug, 38(8), 559 - 60
{Sterile packing materials for formaldehyde sterilization}; Fleck H et al.; Apart from the already widely applied sterilization by ethylene oxide, the sterilization by gaseous formaldehyde is another reliable procedure for the sterilization of thermolabile instruments . An essential advantage of the sterilization by gaseous formaldehyde over the so-called wet sterilization is that it can be performed in a recontamination-proof sterile packing . Packing materials produced in the GDR, the germ-tightness and toxicological safety of which were already known, were tested to evaluate their suitability for sterilization by gaseous formaldehyde . An appropriate packing variant was found and tested for microbiological reliability.

J Rheumatol, 1983 Aug, 10(4), 643 - 6
Observations on the responses of synovial lymphocytes to viral antigens in rheumatoid arthritis and Reiter's syndrome; Ford DK et al.; The responses of synovial lymphocytes to 12 microbiological antigens, including 8 viral antigens, were studied with the 3H-thymidine uptake procedure in 15 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 4 patients with Reiter's syndrome . In 4 patients with rheumatoid factor (RF) negative RA, responses to the paramyxovirus antigens, parainfluenza and respiratory syncytial were marked, with lesser responses to adenovirus and mumps antigens . The synovial lymphocytes of 6 patients with RF titers of greater than or equal to 1:160 showed only minimal antigenic responses.

J Periodontol, 1983 Aug, 54(8), 476 - 80
The effect of metronidazole on human periodontal disease . A clinical and bacteriological study; Lekovic V et al.; Fifteen female subjects undergoing treatment for nonspecific vaginitis with metronidazole 250 mg q.i.d . for 7 days were studied . Clinical and microbiological evaluations were carried out initially and at 2 and 4 weeks . The following parameters were measured in two quadrants: plaque index, sulcular bleeding index, pocket depth, attachment level and amount of gingival fluid . Dark field microscopy was used to quantitate the plaque constituents . One quadrant was subjected to root planing at the initial visit; the other quadrant received no therapy . No oral hygiene instructions were given . All the clinical parameters were significantly reduced in all areas . Gingival fluid, sulcular bleeding index and pocket depth showed greater improvement in the root-planed quadrant compared to the nonroot-planed quadrant . Dark field microscopy showed decreases in fusiforms, curved rods and spirochetes in all areas with a concomitant increase in cocci . The root-planed quadrant showed no significant differences in microbiological aspects when compared to the nonplaned quadrant . Clinically, metronidazole therapy resulted in improvement of periodontal status with some additional but small enhancement due to root planing . Microbiologically, metronidazole dramatically changed the quality of plaque with no supplemental effect when root planing was added.

J Pharm Sci, 1983 Aug, 72(8), 958 - 60
Simultaneous determinations of cefsulodin and cefotiam in serum and bone marrow blood by high-performance liquid chromatography; Yamamura K et al.; A high-performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the simultaneous determinations of cefsulodin and cefotiam in serum and bone marrow blood samples . After extraction with acetonitrile, the cephalosporins were applied to a reverse-phase column with an internal standard, cefazolin; the mobile phase was a mixture of 0.005 M tetrabutylammonium phosphate and methanol (35:65, v/v) . The method yielded satisfactory resolutions for these agents, and the results were compared with those obtained using the microbiological method . The statistical analysis of the relationship between the methods gave a good correlation for all of these agents and samples . The concentrations of cefsulodin and cefotiam, concurrently administered by the intravenous route to patients subjected to artificial total joint prosthesis, in serum and bone marrow blood collected at 0.5 and 1 hr postinjection were almost equivalent.

Am J Med, 1983 Jul, 75(1), 97 - 109
Infection among 210 patients with surgically staged Hodgkin's disease; Coker DD et al.; To determine the incidence and types of infections in Hodgkin's disease, particularly those related to the overwhelming pneumococcal sepsis syndrome, 210 consecutive patients with previously untreated Hodgkin's disease who underwent staging laparotomy with splenectomy from March 1968 to October 1979 were reviewed . For 178 patients (85 percent) alive at the end of the study, the mean follow-up time was 68.1 months . Eighty-two serious infections occurred among 59 (28 percent) of the patients; 47 (57 percent) serious infections were microbiologically documented and 35 (43 percent) were clinically documented . Forty-seven microbiologically documented serious infections occurred in 34 patients and consisted of 23 episodes of pneumonia, 10 cases of bacteremia, seven wound infections, two cases of disseminated herpes zoster, one subphrenic abscess, and four miscellaneous infections . Microbiologically documented serious infections occurring during initial treatment or remission had lower incidences of leukopenia (29 versus 58 percent) (p = 0.09) and death (11 versus 53 percent) (p = 0.005) than those occurring after relapse of Hodgkin's disease . Of the microbiologically documented serious infections, 76 percent were associated with a predisposing factor(s) (leukopenia, postoperative state, steroids, peripheral neuropathy, leukemia), of which 34 percent were fatal . Microbiologically documented serious infections unassociated with a predisposing factor were never fatal, including the only episode of pneumococcal sepsis in the series . In contrast to microbiologically documented serious infections, only 14 percent of clinically documented serious infections (versus 38 percent) were fatal . The overwhelming pneumococcal sepsis syndrome and other infections thought to be associated with the asplenic state are uncommon problems in patients with Hodgkin's disease after splenectomy.

Am J Vet Res, 1983 Jul, 44(7), 1266 - 71
Studies on the pathogenesis of epizootic bovine abortion; Kimsey PB et al.; Ornithodoros coriaceus Koch ticks were fed on 37 pregnant cows . The fetuses were obtained from the cows at 23 to 126 days after maternal tick exposure . Characteristic lesions of epizootic bovine abortion were observed only in those fetuses recovered 100 days more or after maternal tick exposure . Fetuses collected between 50 and 100 days showed mild-to-moderate lymphoid and mononuclear cell hyperplasia . Reaction in fetuses studied less than 50 days after maternal tick exposure were mild . Lesions could not be seen in 2 of the youngest fetuses . Increases in serum immunoglobulin concentrations were present only in those fetuses examined 80 days or more after their dams had been exposed to ticks . The specificity of the immunoglobulins could not be determined . Sera from 12 fetuses tested failed to fix complement in tests for group-specific chlamydial antibodies . A wide variety of microbiological cultivation attempts were made to recover the causative agent of epizootic bovine abortion from these fetuses; however, no agent was recovered regularly, and chlamydial organisms were not recovered from any . The significance of 2 recovered agents, apparently viral, is still to be determined . Fetal tissues, both frozen and fresh, collected from fetuses of dams exposed to a feeding of ticks were capable of reproducing the disease after inoculation into pregnant cows or directly into fetuses.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 Jul, 12 Suppl A, 369 - 75
Ceftazidime in cystic fibrosis: clinical, microbiological and immunological studies; Cullen RT et al.; We have investigated the use of the new cephalosporin ceftazidime for the treatment of pseudomonas infection in cystic fibrosis, using 100 to 240 mg/kg intravenously daily . The clinical and microbiological results of 18 courses of therapy, lasting from 1 to 4 weeks have been satisfactory, particularly since the patients had previously proved refractory to treatment with most other appropriate antibiotics . However, in common with other anti-pseudomonal antibiotics, a first course of ceftazidime proved the most successful, subsequent courses being less effective . Three patients died because of chronic respiratory infection . In cystic fibrosis pseudomonal infections rapidly relapse after therapy and therefore we have been examining the interactions of antibiotics with relevant host defence mechanisms . In one patient who received a 4 g infusion of ceftazidime there was enhancement of neutrophil phagocytosis-triggered chemiluminescence . We conclude that, used in high doses, ceftazidime is a useful addition to the available antibiotics for therapy of pseudomonas infection in cystic fibrosis.

Can J Microbiol, 1983 Jul, 29(7), 797 - 802
Colony counting on hydrophobic grid-membrane filters; Sharpe AN et al.; A device to facilitate manual scoring of hydrophobic grid-membrane filters (HGMF) is described . Variations in scores were generally less than 2.5% between 41 analysts from six laboratories, who, using the apparatus, scored a set of five specimen HGMF in different ways, and there was good agreement between scores from positive and negative grid-cell counts by each analyst . A scoring procedure for use in routine microbiological analysis, suitable for HGMF at various degrees of saturation, is recommended.

Can J Comp Med, 1983 Jul, 47(3), 375 - 8
The relationship of serology and nasal microbiology to pulmonary lesions in feedlot cattle; Yates WD et al.; A group of 62 beef calves, born and raised in an institutional herd, were transferred at nine months of age to a commercial feedlot where they remained until slaughter seven months later . Clinical, immunological and microbiological monitoring was carried out during this period . No serious clinical illness occurred . One hundred percent seroconversion to bovine virus diarrhea virus took place after introduction of the calves into the feedlot as well as almost complete (59/62) seroconversion to bovine herpesvirus 1, a proportion of which could be related to a single vaccination . Significant increases in recoveries of Mycoplasma spp . from nasal swabs also occurred in the feedlot . At slaughter, the lungs of all animals were recovered and examined for pathological lesions: 23 were completely normal and 39 showed minor histological changes chiefly characterized by areas of lobular to sublobular atelectasis . For this group of calves, no relationship was found between the presence of potential pathogens in nasal mucus and the occurrence of lesions in the lung . The serological results are discussed in terms of vaccinations and other known events that occurred during the study period.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 Jul, 12 Suppl A, 93 - 9
Randomized study of ceftazidime versus gentamicin plus cefotaxime for infections in severe granulocytopenic patients; de Pauw BE et al.; A randomized study of gentamicin plus cefotaxime versus ceftazidime alone was performed in 87 patients, with a neutrophil count of less than 1000/mm3 at the start of the treatment . The overall cure rate for the ceftazidime group was 71% and for the gentamicin plus cefotaxime 47% . This difference was shown to be statistically significant at a level of P less than 0.05 . The cure rates for the microbiologically proven infections were 90 and 63% respectively . Serious adverse effects, causing preliminary withdrawal of therapy, have not been observed.

Infect Control, 1983 Jul-Aug, 4(4), 198 - 204
Management of infectious waste from hospitals; Rutala WA et al.; In October 1980, 80% (120/150) of North Carolina (NC) hospitals responded to a comprehensive solid waste questionnaire intended to identify their solid waste disposal practices . NC hospitals generated an average of 13 lb . of solid waste/patient/day and infectious waste comprised 5% to 11% of the total hospital waste . Most hospitals (greater than 66%) considered blood, isolation, laboratory (including microbiology), pathology, and autopsy waste as infectious, while other sources of solid waste were generally considered non-infectious . The infectious wastes were normally incinerated or steam sterilized before discarding . Nearly all hospitals (95%) used a Class A landfill to dispose of the non-infectious waste . Two-thirds of the NC hospitals are discarding blood, microbiological, pathological, and isolation waste in accordance with the CDC recommendations, while the compliance rates for the JCAH and EPA recommendations for these wastes were 94% and 24%, respectively . If the EPA modified its recommendations to include incineration of microbiological waste, which is practiced by 50 responding NC hospitals, the compliance rate would be 95.5% for these wastes and 61.7% overall.

Can J Microbiol, 1983 Jun, 29(6), 631 - 6
A new simple method for microbiological sampling of meat surfaces; Goulet J et al.; A new method for sampling meat surfaces using abrasive discs has been tested against the spray gun technique already described by Clark (1965) . Evenly inoculated beef and pork slices were sampled after 1, 48, and 120 h of incubation at 4 degrees C for beef and 1, 48, and 72 h at 4 degrees C for pork . The new method was slightly less efficient than the spray gun in recovering bacteria during the early stages of incubation but was about 600% more efficient after 72 and 120 h.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1983 Jun, 31(6), 519 - 21
{penetration of fosfomycin into bronchial secretions}; Berthelot G et al.; The objective of this study was to evaluate the penetration of fosfomycin in bronchial secretions in 11 tracheostomized patients which allowed sampling at successive times, following intravenous injection of 4 gr of the drug during 4 hours . In simultaneous samples of serum and bronchial secretions, the measurement of fosfomycin was performed according to the agar diffusion microbiological method . The results of the study showed a worthwhile penetration of fosfomycin, with a mean bronchial concentration reaching 13,1 micrograms/ml, half an hour after the end of the injection, decreasing slowly with 7,04 micrograms/ml remaining two hours after the injection . The ratio between bronchial levels and corresponding serum levels reached 13% two hours after the injection . Fosfomycin diffusion from serum to bronchial secretions realizes significant amounts that are superior to the MICs of fosfomycin for most bacteria responsible for serious broncho-pulmonary infections in intensive care units.

J Hosp Infect, 1983 Jun, 4(2), 159 - 64
Clinical and microbiological evaluation of piperacillin in elective biliary surgery; Morris DL et al.; Fifty patients undergoing electric biliary surgery were given piperacillin 2 g i.m . 2 h preoperatively followed by 2 g i.v . at the beginning of the operation . Venous blood and bile from the gall bladder and common bile duct were assayed for piperacillin . Blood levels exceeded 100 mg 1(-1) in all instances unless the protocol was not followed . Both gallbladder and common bile duct bile levels exceeded 50 mg 1(-1), and the only exceptions were due to poor penetration into three obstructed gallbladders . Common bile duct levels exceeded 50 mg 1(-1) even in the presence of obstructive jaundice . Only one patient developed a minor postoperative wound infection.

Vet Rec, 1983 May 14, 112(20), 469 - 71
Monitoring and testing for residues of therapeutics in meat; Lindsay DG; Any programme for determining the incidence of residues of therapeutic substances in meat requires an effective programme of sampling which ensures that the data obtained from a sample are representative of the population from which the sample was drawn . The organisation of such a system in the UK has been achieved in the past two years and a routine testing programme is now possible . Apart from general microbiological screening tests which can be used to detect the presence of most antibiotics in meat, the development of an effective programme of testing meat for residues of therapeutics has also been limited, until recently, by the lack of suitable methods for their detection . However, the use of immunoassay methods now enables very low levels of anabolic growth promoters to be detected and multiresidue tests for anthelmintics are being investigated . In the case of certain important antibiotics such as chloramphenicol, neomycin and the sulphonamides, the microbiological screening tests used at present are insensitive and individual chemical or other methods will have to be used for their detection.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 May, 11(5), 447 - 53
The impact of antibiotic policy on prescribing in a London teaching hospital . A one-day prevalence survey as an indicator of antibiotic use; Cooke DM et al.; To assess current antibiotic use and the impact on prescribing of hospital antibiotic policy, a prospective one-day prevalence survey of antibiotic use in both in-patients and out-patients was undertaken at St Thomas' Hospital . Of 921 in-patients, 196 (21%) received 269 antibiotic prescriptions on the survey day . Approximately 40% of in-patients received prophylaxis and 60% received treatment . Among 1521 out-patients, 292 (19%) were given a prescription on the survey day and 102 (7%) received an antibiotic prescription . Assessment of in-patient use with reference to the current hospital antibiotic policy was made mainly on microbiological grounds, on choice and dosage of agents . Choice of antibiotic was largely in accord with antibiotic policy, but was considered inappropriate in 12.5% of 81 in-patients given prophylaxis and 2.5% of 120 in-patients given treatment . Dosage of some major agents and timing of surgical prophylaxis was also considered inappropriate in many patients . A simple one-day survey is a useful indicator of antibiotic use in the hospital, and shows where further guidance to prescribers could be provided.

Am J Vet Res, 1983 May, 44(5), 831 - 8
Prevalence of mycoplasmas and immune responses to Mycoplasma bovis in feedlot calves; Boothby JT et al.; Microbiological cultural, cytologic, and immunologic observations were made on 30 calves . The eyes, nares, and bronchioalveolar region were subjected to microbiological cultural examination for mycoplasmas . Four of the examinations of 30 eyes, 15 of those of 30 nasal tissues, and 25 of those of the 30 bronchioalveolar regions from the 30 calves were positive for mycoplasmas . Mycoplasma bovis and M bovirhinis were the most prevalent species . Cytologic examinations of peripheral blood and bronchioalveolar washes did not show pathologic changes . Results of indirect hemagglutination, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, lymphocyte-stimulation tests on peripheral blood cells, and skin testing demonstrated only a low prevalence of immune recognition of M bovis . Infection and immune response were studied in 3 calves for 10 weeks before, and for 4 weeks after, intratracheal administration of live M bovis.

J Assoc Off Anal Chem, 1983 May, 66(3), 597 - 601
Microbiological determination of lincomycin in feeds and supplements containing high concentrations of bentonite; Stahl GL et al.; A microbiological method is described for determining lincomycin in complete feeds, supplements, and pre-mixes greater than 100 g/ton and containing high levels of bentonite . The AOAC method currently used is unsatisfactory for analyzing feeds with concentrations of bentonite greater than 5.5% . Study indicates that low lincomycin recoveries from high level bentonite feeds are a function of aqueous contact and subsequent binding . The present method involves an alternative extraction technique using formamide as the primary extractant . A binary solvent system of ethanol and phosphate buffer aids in the extraction, miscibility, and conversion to water solubility for subsequent testing . Forty-one feeds containing as high as 60% bentonite were assayed by the reported method and gave a mean recovery of 106% and a range of 94-114% . An inter-laboratory confirmation study produced a mean recovery of 103%, with a range of 93-114% . A factorial analysis of variance of the interactive effects between lincomycin level and bentonite level within the AOAC method and within the bentonite method showed no interactions which would influence percent recovery in either assay method.

Am J Med Sci, 1983 May-Jun, 285(3), 28 - 33
Presumed respiratory syncytial virus pneumonia in three immunocompromised adults; Kasupski GJ et al.; Three cases of presumed respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) pneumonia in immunocompromised adults are described . Two patients had symptoms of cough, fever, and malaise, following completion of a course of combination chemotherapy for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia . The third patient, a juvenile onset diabetic, developed similar symptoms while hospitalized for severe hyperglycemia . Chest roentgenograms showed lower lobe infiltrates in both leukemic patients and a bilateral non-confluent bronchopneumonia in the diabetic patient . All patients had a marked rise in complement-fixing antibody titres to RSV, suggesting a concurrent infection with the virus . Extensive microbiological investigations failed to reveal any other etiologic agent . Nosocomial infection was considered possible . RSV is not considered a cause of pneumonia in compromised adults . Our three cases suggest that there may be a higher incidence of RSV pneumonia in compromised patients, than previously recognized.

Am J Clin Nutr, 1983 May, 37(5), 867 - 71
Forms of vitamin B6 in human milk; Vanderslice JT et al.; A previously developed high performance chromatographic method has been modified slightly and used to determine the forms of vitamin B6 in human milk . The chromatographic traces are free of compounds that would interfere with the two principal forms found, pyridoxal and pyridoxal phosphate . The method is fast and reliable; it yields recoveries of from 90 to 106% for the vitamers and agrees with results obtained on the same samples with the standard microbiological assay.

Infection, 1983 May-Jun, 11(3), 170 - 2
Mucormycosis in the immunocompromised host; Bhaduri S et al.; We are presenting two typical case histories of mucormycosis in patients with acute leukaemia which illustrate some of the important features of this infection in compromised hosts . In such patients, mucormycosis is mostly pulmonary or widely disseminated and often has a rapidly fatal course . A microbiological diagnosis from blood or sputum is difficult to establish . Mucormycosis or other fungal infections should be suspected in compromised patients with infections which do not respond to adequate antibiotic therapy.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1983 May, 31(5), 404 - 12
{Effect of storage time at -20 degrees C on the determination of serum concentrations of tobramycin in the presence of 6 beta-lactams}; Forey F et al.; We assessed the role of six beta-lactam antibiotics and of storage time at - 20 degrees C, in inactivation of tobramycin in patients' sera . Several ranges of concentrations were used for the combined antibiotics . The tobramycin concentrations were measured both by microbiological assay (plate diffusion) and an enzyme mediated immunoassay technique (EMIT) . Using the bioassay method, the results after 8 days of frozen storage were as follows: carbenicillin and ticarcillin (256 mg/l) induced a 40-50% reduction of tobramycin activity, whereas mezlocillin (256 mg/l) had less effect: a 15-20% reduction . After 15 days at -20 degrees C the results were nearly the same except for azlocillin (256 mg/l), increasing its percentage reduction to 20% . The results obtained by EMIT procedure were significantly better after 8 days of frozen storage: only mezlocillin (5% reduction) and azlocillin (10%) were effective . Nevertheless after 15 days at -20 degrees C, the inactivating action of the pre-cited antibiotics were similar to those obtained at the same time with the bioassay method . Piperacillin and cefsulodin never induced any reduction of tobramycin levels, whatever the time of storage or quantification procedure used . So, our opinion is that patients' sera containing a beta-lactam antibiotic in combination with tobramycin should be assayed immediately upon receipt . Keeping it at -20 degrees C is not sufficient to prevent in vitro tobramycin inactivation.

Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 1983 Apr, 4(3), 319 - 32
Fetal and maternal immunologic manifestations of intrauterine Adenovirus SV-20 infection; Moe JB et al.; Rhesus monkey fetuses of either immune or nonimmune dams were inoculated in utero with Adenovirus SV-20 (AdSV-20), a virus capable of inducing fetal pneumonia, and studied immunologically at various intervals . AdSV-20 infection at 90-100 days gestational age resulted in absolute lymphopenia in a few fetuses, reduced numbers of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) which formed rosettes with sheep erythrocytes (ERL) and reduced complement-receptor lymphocytes (CRL) in a majority, while Fc fragment-receptor lymphocytes (FcRL) were occasionally increased . There was a tendency for depression of ERL and CRL early in infection of 120-130-day fetuses, followed by stimulation of these populations and FcRL in later phases . Maternal immunity did not protect against these effects of AdSV-20 infection in fetuses . Immune and nonimmune dams were spared adverse clinical effects and had no changes in lymphoid cell populations following inoculation of their fetuses . Despite precocious production of circulating IgM, fetuses of nonimmune dams had little or no demonstrable anti-AdSV-20 serum neutralizing (SN) antibody, indicating that the ability to develop an effective immune response was suppressed or had not been acquired at the gestational ages studied . Nonimmune dams displayed little evidence of seroconversion following inoculation of their fetuses with AdSV-20, except in those dams whose fetuses died in utero, whereby there was a significant antibody response . SN antibody titers of immune dams were not boostered substantially subsequent to inoculation of their fetuses, and fetal SN titers were lower than maternal titers, suggesting absence of an active fetal antibody response in this group also . Direct inoculation of AdSV-20 into 90-130-day rhesus monkey fetuses provided a model system for immunologic study of fetal infection, probably involving complex fetal-maternal interactions, in a situation where the infected, viable fetus and its dam appeared to be microbiologically isolated from one another.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1983 Apr, 177(3-4), 312 - 8
{Further microbiological studies of the air in a newly built (under the pavement) section of the underground railway in Budapest}; Szam L et al.; In three subway stations, which are "sub-pavement" stations (Budapest), microbiological air analyses were simultaneously carried out by means of sedimentation and by the use of Krotow's impactor . In the course of the examinations, which lasted eight months, the following max . values were obtained on the agar plates: 78 colonies/dm2/h and 239 colonies/m3; the rates of incidence for pathogenic and indicator bacteria were 2.7 and 1.7 per 10 plates . The strongest airflow was 0.7 m/sec . These values were obtained at the "Nagy-varad ter" station, which forms a transition to the subway stations . The "stopper effect" was found to exist here as well, although not to such an extent as in the deep subway stations, but still more pronounced than in the other two "subpavement" stations "Esceri ut" and "Hatar ut" . The microbiological values are at any rate more favourable than in the subway stations dealt with in an earlier paper.

Anaesthesist, 1983 Apr, 32(4), 180 - 4
{Rate of contamination of intravenous indwelling cannulae with sideport access}; Zinganell K et al.; 136 cannulae with valved side injection port were introduced intravenously into patients from the general surgery, urology and dermato-surgical service under clinical routine conditions . The cannulae were used from 1 up to 4 days for anaesthesia purposes as well as peri- and postoperative infusion therapy and injection of drugs through the sideport . After use the cannulae were removed following an aseptic procedure and examined microbiologically . 37 cannulae (27.2%) were found contaminated, 25 of these (18.3%) with more than 25 colonies . The infusion line (border of the conus, the interior of the conus and the lumen of the cannula) was 21 times (15.4%), the side injection port 6 times (4.4%) and the intravasal capillary surface 17 times (12.5%) contaminated . Contamination of the cannula or of parts of the cannula did not correlate well with observed signs of inflammation at the puncture site (45 patients = 33%) . If, however, the contamination of the cannula is considered to be an infection risk, the addition of a side injection port to such a cannula does not increase the risk of infection . This risk is much greater via the infusion line.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1983 Mar, 36(3), 481 - 6
{Experimental and clinical studies on BRL 25000 (clavulanic acid-amoxicillin) in the field of obstetrics and gynecology}; Cho N et al.; BRL 25000, consisting of 250 mg amoxicillin (AMPC) and 125 mg clavulanic acid (CVA), was studied in the field of obstetrics and gynecology . Tissue concentrations The concentrations in venous serum and arterial serum of uterus, different sites uterus, oviduct and ovarium were determined . Tissue concentrations of AMPC and CVA corresponded to 45--75% and 20--50%, respectively of serum concentrations . The good responses were obtained in cases with intrapelvic infection and the overall clinical effective responses were obtained in 100% of patients . Effectiveness was found microbiologically and clinically in infections due to AMPC resistant organisms . No side effects were found.

Am J Med Technol, 1983 Mar, 49(3), 179 - 81
Case report: potential error in the estimation of antimicrobic concentrations by the microbiological assay method; Sewell DL et al.; An 83-year-old man was admitted for gastrointestinal bleeding that required a segmental colectomy for correction . The patient was initially treated with gentamicin, clindamycin, and cephapirin for sepsis . Antibiotic coverage was changed to amikacin, clindamycin, and penicillin G for sepsis and anaerobic cellulitis . When renal function began to deteriorate, serum amikacin levels were determined by a radioenzymatic and bioassay method . The serum concentration of amikacin in the presence of penicillin G and clindamycin was overestimated when a multiantimicrobic-resistant Escherichia coli was used as the indicator organism in the microbiological assay.

Br J Haematol, 1983 Mar, 53(3), 423 - 35
Solid-phase vitamin B12 assays using polyacrylamide-bound intrinsic factor and polyacrylamide-bound R-binder; Muir M et al.; A new solid phase vitamin B12 assay is described using intrinsic factor to measure microbiologically-available B12 and R-binder to measure total B12 . The solid phase reagent consists of intrinsic factor coupled to polyacrylamide beads and salivary R-binder coupled to polyacrylamide beads . The assay is simple to perform and separates completely sera from controls and patients with megaloblastic anaemia due to B12 deficiency.

Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol, 1983 Mar-Apr, 19(2), 163 - 75
{Microbiological synthesis of tetrapyrrole compounds}; Bykhovskii VIa et al.; This paper reviews publications on the biosynthesis of functional tetrapyrroles by microorganisms . Emphasis is given to the structure of uroporphyrin III methylated derivatives termed corriphyrins and their involvement in the formation of two groups of tetrapyrrole pigments--corrinoids and siroheme . Current concepts concerning the final stages of the formation of the corrine ring and potential cobalt-free precursors of vitamin B12 are discussed . It is indicated that the data available may help elucidate evolutionary and biogenetic patterns in the emergence and interaction of tetrapyrrole compounds and formulate problems of practical importance.

Am J Hosp Pharm, 1983 Mar, 40(3), 432 - 4
Solution stability of cephradine neutralized with arginine or sodium bicarbonate; Wang YC et al.; The solution stability of two formulations of cephradine--one using L-arginine and the other sodium carbonate as the neutralizer--was studied . Solutions of each formulation of 1% cephradine were prepared in the following diluents: 0.9% sodium chloride injection, lactated Ringer's injection, Ringer's injection, Normosol-R injection, 5% dextrose injection, and sterile water for injection; 5 and 25% solutions were made with sterile water for injection . All solutions were maintained at 25 degrees C, and at least five samples of each were assayed at various time intervals . Assay methods were HPLC, hydroxylamine colorimetric assay, microbiological agar diffusion, and iodometric analysis . By all assay methods, degradation rates of 1% solutions were lower for the arginine-neutralized product than for the one neutralized with sodium carbonate . This may be attributable to the lower pH values of solutions of the formulation with arginine, because one mechanism of degradation is pH-dependent . At concentrations of 5%, the difference in cephradine stability between the two formulations was minimal . At the 25% concentration, the formulations containing sodium carbonate were more stable . At these higher concentrations, the effect of pH is less important because degradation occurs by a combination of mechanisms . The 1% cephradine-arginine formulation was more stable than the same strength cephradine-sodium carbonate formulation in all the i.v . diluents studied . At 5 and 25% cephradine concentrations, the differences in stability between the two formulations were not substantial.

Tijdschr Diergeneeskd, 1983 Feb 15, 108(4), 145 - 7
{Chloramphenicol excretion in milk studied with a FAST (fully automated sample treatment) liquid chromatography method . Preliminary communication}; van der Stroom-Kruyswijk JH et al.; The concentration of chloramphenicol (CAP) in milk following parenteral administration to cows was determined by FAST Liquid Chromatography . This method is 200 times more sensitive than microbiological procedures and may be used in examination on an extensive scale . The lowest detection limit is 0.05 ppm . Residues of CAP could be detected in the milk up to and including 32 hours after i.m . administration to three cows of a preparation containing 200 mg of CAP per ml.

Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther, 1983 Feb, 261(2), 186 - 95
Pharmacokinetic interpretation of some antibiotics in camels; El-Gendi AY et al.; Evaluation of the pharmacokinetic properties of 4 antibiotics: penicillin-G (P), streptomycin (S), chloramphenicol (C) and oxytetracycline (O) was performed in groups of camels following a single i.m . injection of therapeutic doses, i.e . 6000 IU, 10, 4 and 3 mg/kg b.wt., respectively . The concentrations of these antibiotics in serum were determined by microbiological assay methods . The highest serum concentrations were reached after 0.42, 1.44, 4.02 and 0.94 hr for P, S, C, and O respectively with corresponding t 1/2 alpha values of 0.12, 0.28, 1.48 and 0.17 hr and t 1/2 beta values of 1.09, 8.28, 6.20 and 7.00 hr.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1983 Feb, 45(2), 603 - 9
Frequency distribution of coliforms in water distribution systems; Christian RR et al.; Nine small water distribution systems were sampled intensively to determine the patterns of dispersion of coliforms . The frequency distributions of confirmed coliform counts were compatible with either the negative-binomial or the lognormal distribution . They were not compatible with either the Poisson or Poisson-plus-added zeroes distribution . The implications of the use of the lognormal distributional model were further evaluated because of its previous use in water quality studies . The geometric means from 14 data sets ranged from 10(-6) to 0.2 coliforms per 100 ml, and the geometric standard deviations were between 10 and 100, with one exception . If the lognormal model is representative of the coliform distribution; the arithmetic mean sample count is a poor estimator of the true mean coliform density, and the probability of water in a distribution system containing small patches with large coliform densities without detection by routine monitoring is finite . These conclusions have direct bearing on the interpretation of microbiological quality standards for drinking water.

Br J Vener Dis, 1983 Feb, 59(1), 59 - 62
Diagnosis of gonorrhoea in women . A national survey; Belsey EM; In a retrospective study of 2581 microbiologically confirmed female cases of gonorrhoea seen in STD clinics in England and Wales 96% of infections were detected by the first set of Gram-stained smears and cultures . A comparison of the outcome of the two tests between clinics according to their size and location showed considerable variation . The reasons for these disparities are analysed and physicians advised to re-examine their present methods in the light of these findings and newer techniques.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1983 Feb, 36(2), 369 - 90
{Comparative double-blind study of cefotetan and cefmetazole in patients with purulent peritonitis}; Tanimura H et al.; A clinical study of daily administrations of CTT (2g) and CMZ (4g) was performed by randomized double blind techniques in order to compare the clinical efficacy, side effects and usefulness . The 150 cases studied were as follows; Purulent peritonitis due to perforated gastrointestinal tracts (122 cases), traumatic peritonitis (4 cases), biliary peritonitis (7 cases), postoperative peritonitis (7 cases), intraabdominal abscess (6 cases); 4 cases were excluded from the statistical evaluation because of protocol deviation . 1 . No significant differences in background parameters were found between the 2 groups . 2 . Clinical evaluation of the efficacy rate by the attending physician revealed no significant differences between the 2 groups (CTT 82%, CMZ 74%) . However, in severely perforated duodenal and/or gastric ulcer cases, greater clinical effectiveness was obtained in the CTT group than in the CMZ group (P less than 0.05) . 3 . Clinical evaluation of the efficacy rate by the committee revealed no significant differences between the 2 groups; 86% and 82% for the CTT and CMZ groups, respectively . However, in cases which showed marked effectiveness, although statistical significant differences were not found between the 2 groups (P less than 0.1), the CTT group (53%) was superior to the CMZ group (38%) . In 122 cases of the purulent peritonitis, the efficacy rate was 92% in the CTT group and 86% in the CMZ group; this difference was also statistically significant by U-test (P less than 0.05) . 4 . The effectiveness was also evaluated by microbiological study in 90 cases . No significant differences were found in the ratio of eradication of isolated bacteria between the 2 groups; 30 of 44 cases (68%) in the CTT group and 34 of 46 cases (74%) in the CMZ group . 5 . With regards to this eradication of bacterial strains; 115 of 119 strains (96.6%) were eradicated in the CTT group and 115 of 126 strains (91.3%) in the CMZ group . 6 . Side-effects were noted in 2 cases in the CTT group; one case of nausea with chest discomfort and the other case of drug eruption . In the CMZ group, only 1 case of drug eruption was noted . Moreover, no significant differences were found in the laboratory findings between the 2 groups . Based on these results it was concluded that the clinical effectiveness of CTT (1 g twice daily) against peritonitis is as excellent as that of CMZ (2 g twice daily), both drugs being administered by drip infusion.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1983 Feb, (2), 31 - 6
{Quantitative microbiological and clinical characteristics of diseases caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli}; Kleganov VK; For the first time the quantitative microbiological characteristics of diarrheas caused by enterotoxigenic E . coli (ETEC), serovars O15: H?, O34: H10, O78: H? O148: H? and O148: H28, in 5 patients are presented . The multiplication of ETEC in the patients' body has provided clinical material permitting the authors to reveal, for the first time, the capacity of ETEC for the colonization of the intestine and to judge of their etiological role in the diseases . A close relationship between the clinical manifestations of the disease and the number of ETEC per g of feces in its dynamics has been established . These data indicate that patients may be regarded as the possible sources of infection.

S Afr Med J, 1983 Jan 15, 63(3), 88 - 90
Idiopathic chondrolysis of the hip . A case report; Smith EJ et al.; A report of a case of idiopathic chondrolysis of the right hip in a 13-year-old Black girl is presented . Radiographs and microbiological and biochemical investigations excluded all other diseases . Cartilage and synovium were removed at biopsy of the right hip . Macroscopic and histopathological studies showed the typical features of idiopathic chondrolysis . Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the histological findings . Scanning electron microscopy highlighted the irregular pitted and fibrillated surface of the cartilage . Immunofluorescent studies on cartilage and synovium were negative . The possible pathogenesis of the disease is discussed, but the cause still remains unknown.

Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1983 Jan 15, 113(2), 44 - 6
{Systemic mycoses in hematologic neoplasms}; Stahel RA et al.; Between July 1973 and June 1981 systemic fungal infections were found in 27 of 270 autopsies of patients with hematologic malignancies: in 16 aspergillosis, in 6 candidiasis, in one aspergillosis and candidiasis, and in 4 mucormycosis . The frequency increased from 6% during the first 6 years to 25% during the last 2 years (p = 0.025) . Fever despite antibiotics and new pulmonary infiltrates were the major symptoms . In only 6 of 16 patients did microbiological findings support the clinically suspected diagnosis . Systemic fungal infections were the principal cause of death in 12 patients . Because of the difficulty of establishing the diagnosis, empiric antimycotic therapy should be started promptly on clinical suspicion in patients with neutropenia and fever despite antibiotics.

Nahrung, 1983, 27(4), 311 - 8
Mycotoxins in cereal grain . Part VIII . Microbiological evaluation of cereal grain quality, connected with mycotoxins occurrence; Chelkowski J et al.; Four classes of microbiological quality of cereal grain are proposed . For classification the frequency of kernels contamination with Penicillia, Aspergilli and Phycomycetes is considered as essential . Lots contaminated with mycotoxins (ochratoxins) were usually of IIIrd and IVth class of quality.

Arkh Patol, 1983, 45(4), 49 - 54
{Morphofunctional characteristics of palatine tonsil tissue and lacuna contents in chronic tonsillitis}; Khmel'nitskaia NM et al.; Relationships between microbiological features and cell composition of lacunar content and morphofunctional status of the immunocompetent tissue of palatine tonsils were studied by histological, histochemical, morphometrical, microbiological, and cytological methods . Cytological and microbiological data on the lacuna content were found to reflect the reactive condition of the tonsils and should be regarded as a component of the morphofunctional characteristics of the palatine tonsils as a whole.

Med Educ, 1983 Jan, 17(1), 17 - 23
Evaluation of a course on medical microbiology for non-medical graduate scientists from medical microbiological laboratories; Harris FT et al.; An assessment of the educational value of a series of courses intended to improve the clinical awareness of non-medical graduate microbiologists has been made . Objective and subjective data were collected by means of questionnaires, pre- and post-course multiple choice tests and informal discussion . The format of the courses are described . The increase in cognitive knowledge acquired during three of the courses is comparable with results from another study in clinical students . The anomalous results from one of the four courses may be explained in terms of the composition of that course . The data presented contribute to the information required for the evaluation and assessment of educational courses.

Arzneimittelforschung, 1983, 33(3), 363 - 9
{Effect of nitrofurylpropenylidene benzhydrazides against trichomonads, bacteria, yeasts and fungi with particular consideration of the results in the Ames test and host-mediated assay}; Hein H et al.; 11 out of 13 N-{3-{5-nitrofuryl-(2)-propenylidene)}-benzhydrazides described by us showed an in vitro activity against T . vaginalis almost equivalent to or approaching that of the standard substances metronidazole and tinidazole . One compound was markedly more effective; two compounds exhibited much weaker activity than the two reference substances . In the model of the T . foetus infection of mice, only two compounds came close to the chemotherapeutic effect of tinidazole when administered orally . The other compounds were less effective . Metronidazole showed an activity 10 times weaker than that of tinidazole in this animal model . The in vitro efficacy of the most active substances a and d on T . foetus infection paralleled the bacteriostatic effect against different species of bacteria . In comparison, d was more effective than a against T . vaginalis, 2 Candida strains and M . tuberculosis . In the Ames test, 5 out of the 13 described N-{3-{5-nitrofuryl-(2)-propenylidene))}-benzhydrazides proved mutagenic in test strains TA 98 and TA 100; this was the case also in strain TA 1537 for the microbiologically most promising compound a . Because of liver damage observed in the test on toxicity, the substance was not taken up in clinical studies . It is interesting to note that these substances were not found to be mutagenic in the host-mediated assay . No signs of chromosome breaks were observed for substances a and n in the micronucleus test . The relevance of these findings was discussed . Statistical procedures were described for both the Ames test and the host-mediated assay.

J Environ Sci Health B, 1983, 18(2), 253 - 67
Microbial degradation of trifluralin by Aspergillus carneus, Fusarium oxysporum and Trichoderma viride; Zayed SM et al.; 3H-Trifluralin was synthesized by condensation of 3H-4-chloro-3,5-dinitro-alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluorotoluene with di-n-propylamine . After incubation of trifluralin with Aspergillus carneus, Fusarium oxysporum and Trichoderma viride for 10 days, a small percentage (less than 10%) of unchanged herbicide was recovered in the extractable fraction . This indicates a fairly rapid degradation of the herbicide by the fungal species . Other than trifluralin, the culture medium contained at least five labelled products: 2,6-dinitro-N-n-propyl-alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluoro-p-toluidine; 2,6-dinitro-alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluoro-p-toluidine; 2-amino-6-nitro-alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluoro-p-toluidine, 2,6-dinitro-4-trifluoromethyl phenol and a major polar product which constituted more than 50% of the total extractable transformation products . A pathway, which simulates that of aerobic degradation of the herbicide in soil, is suggested for the microbiological degradation of trifluralin.

Polim Med, 1983, 13(3-4), 117 - 23
{Sterilization of packages using radiation . I . Microbiological studies}; Czerniawski E et al.; Utilization of ionizing radiation for the sterilization purposes enables the sterilization of dressing materials in packed form together with the protecting packages . This procedure secures advantageous conditions for prolongation of storage time of manufactured articles in the sterile state . In this work the results of six years investigations dealing with the sterility of dressings sterilized by 60Co gamma-irradiation and packed in one--and multilayer packaging materials were shown . After sterilization those materials were storaged in various temperature conditions.

Ann Rech Vet, 1983, 14(4), 450 - 5
Environment and gastro-enteritis; Vannier P et al.; Pathologists are always tempted to account for the occurrence of diseases by the presence or absence of some specific microbiological agent . It is the case when a major infectious agent is in contact with a receptive animal . When the Transmissible Gastro-enteritis virus is introduced into a susceptible herd, the results of the infection are calamitious . Nevertheless, the relationship between the infection and the disease is rarely simple . It is necessary to distinguish two kinds of diseases: --the monofactorial diseases (T.G.E....) --the multifactorial diseases (Colibacillosis especially after the weaning...) . For these multifactorial diseases the clinical signs and the lesions are induced by an infectious agent which can be considered as a final "effector" whose multiplication depends on factors in the farm which disturb physiological or immunological mechanisms of regulation (humoral immunity, clearance, intestinal motility...) . The herd system can be defined by 6 variables which could be considered as limiting factors responsible for the onset of digestive disorders: food, building, management, animal with specific and non-specific resistance, microbism and the farmer who plays a main role in the control of these variables . The disease has to be considered not only as the result of the multiplication of the microbe which is often the last actor of a morbid process but also as the disharmony of the variables defining the structure of the herd.

Acta Med Hung, 1983, 40(4), 221 - 7
Microbiological findings and protein concentration in gastric juice; Somos Z et al.; From 17 patients subjected to pentagastrin test, 136 samples of gastric juice (fasting sample, basal secretion, fractions after stimulation) were collected . The concentration of the protein components (IgG, IgA, IgM, C3 and albumin) in the fasting samples were in excess of those found in the basal secretion, but protein output (volume X concentration) was nearly identical in the two samples . The protein concentration of the fractions obtained in response to pentagastrin stimulation were too low to be measurable . According to correlation analysis, protein concentration in the gastric juice is primarily the function of the microbiological finding . The allergic effect of microorganisms in the gastric juice may give rise to an increase in its immunoglobulin and albumin concentrations.

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1983, 77(6), 820 - 4
Brucellosis in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia . A microbiological and clinical study; Kambal AM et al.; During a period of two years, 30 cases of brucellosis were positively diagnosed from a total of 209 patients who reported with prolonged fever for investigation . Diagnosis was made both by blood culture and serological tests . The latter included slide and tube agglutination in all cases and an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 16 . 11 cases (36.7%) gave negative results by the slide-agglutination screening test used at the recommended single serum dilution of 1:80 . This was due to the prozone phenomenon as they gave positive results upon further dilution in the tube agglutination test . 13 of the 16 tested by ELISA were positive for both IgM and IgG and three were positive for IgG only . Of the six cases that were positive by culture, five grew Brucella melitensis and one B . abortus.

Vet Med Nauki, 1983, 20(7), 60 - 7
{Hygienic microbiological studies of a dried egg mixture}; Kozareva M et al.; A study on the production of powdered egg melange has been carried out according to the modern principles and the methodology of the hygiene-and-microbiological standardization of food products . It has been established that by microbiologic indices the produce of powdered eggs corresponds to the normative documents, however, some key technologic and hygiene factors are disclosed that affect its microbial flora . Data makes it reasonable to actualize the microbiologic standards provided for in the standardization documents, introduce new microbiologic control indices, and optimize the technologic process and the hygiene regime of producing and storing the product.

Steroids, 1983 Jan, 41(1), 1 - 13
D-homoandrostanes . 4 . The incubation of some D-homo-5 alpha-androstanes with Rhizopus nigricans; de Marcano D et al.; Nine dioxygenated D-homoandrostanes were incubated with Rhizopus nigricans to investigate the effect of D-ring modification on microbiological hydroxylation . Structure determination of the products by NMR spectroscopy, and in certain cases independent synthesis of their oxidised products, showed that in contrast to 5 alpha-androstanes the majority of the compounds were hydroxylated in the "reverse" mode, and only D-homo-5 alpha-androstane-3,17-dione was hydroxylated in the "normal" mode to any extent . Stereospecific ring D-hydroxylation at C(17 alpha) was observed for both D-homo-5 alpha-androstane-3,6- and 3,7-diones.

Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1983, 31(3), 389 - 94
Determination of serum concentrations of some aminoglycoside antibiotics by use of the fluorescent immunoassay method; Dzierzanowska D et al.; In serum samples of 20 children the concentration of amikacin, gentamicin and tobramycin was determined paralelly by use of conventional microbiological method and fluoroimmunoassay technique . Peak concentration of tested aminoglycosides was observed 60 min after the first administration of the drug . The "trough level" of amikacin was lower than 10 micrograms/ml and that of gentamicin and tobramycin lower than 2 microgram/ml . Serum concentration of aminoglycosides in samples tested by microbiological assays and fluoroimmunoassay test was similar, correlation coefficient was 0.93.

Scand J Urol Nephrol, 1983, 17(3), 291 - 7
Laboratory findings in chronic prostatitis--with special reference to immunological and microbiological aspects; Vinje O et al.; Twenty-nine consecutive patients hospitalized for chronic prostatitis were examined . The HLA and radiographic findings are presented in detail elsewhere . Serum immunoglobulin levels were normal . The concentrations of IgG, IgA and IgM in prostatic fluid were significantly lower than in serum, both absolutely and as percentages of total protein concentration . Distinct bands were seen in the gamma region of agarose gel electrophoresis from prostatic fluids both in patients and in controls, and other tests also indicated that they did not reflect oligoclonal Ig responses . Growth of Chlamydia or Mycoplasma species was not detected in any of the biopsy specimens . We conclude that, with the test panel used, we have not been able to confirm that immunological factors or the presence of Chlamydia or Mycoplasma species is important in chronic prostatitis.

Geogr Med, 1983, 13, 19 - 24
{Thermal springs of Kavassila/N . Ioannina/, Greece--research study}; Karagunis MN; The thermometallic springs of Kavassila, district Ioannina, are situated at a height of 410 m in a mild intermediate microclimate . They spring forth in two groups of springs near Sarantaporos river into which they pour without proper exploitation . Examinations of the water of the springs such as microbiological, microfloric blue algae and physico-chemicals have produced mainly: supply 400 m3/h, temperature 32 degrees C, electrical conductivity 1850 mS, colourless, taste of drinkable water, no emulsion, pH 7,60-8,20, sulfuric content 175,7 mg/l, strong odour of hydrogen sulphide, radon content 13-14 MACHE . Based on the above, the springs are to be characterised as hypothermic, hydrogen suplphide and sodium chloride containing mineral water, which is very suitable for drinking and bath therapy according to the principles of hydrotherapeutics: Water bath therapy and mud bath for the following diseases: skin diseases, rheumatoarthritic, chronic gynaecological, as well as vascular diseases . Inhalation therapy for troubles such as chronic troubles of the respiratory diseases, asthma, emphysema and laryngo-faryngeal pathological condition in both smokers and non-smokers . Drinking therapy for problems arising from the gastrointestinal tract, liver, bile ducts and kidneys . Similar springs in Greece, compared and mentioned are: Thermopylae, Kaiafa, Kyllini and abroad: Apenta-Springs Hungary and Piatigorsk Russia . For the correct exploitation of the thermomineral waters in Kavassila, the build-up of a modern curative hydrotherapeutic centre is proposed, due to the quality of the springs, as well as it's good and healthpromoting climate.

Vet Med Nauki, 1983, 20(3-4), 80 - 5
{Microbiological studies of Eskimo ice cream}; Aleksieva V et al.; Studied were a total of 86 batches of Eskimo ice-cream and 101 batches of 'cream' ice-cream . It was found that 83.6 per cent of the Eskimo batches were of 0.1 coliform titers and higher, and 16.3 per cent - of 0.01 coliform titers . The total microbial contamination of 86 per cent of the batches reached 50000 g, while that of 13.9 per cent reached 50000 to 180000/g . The colititer with 98 per cent of the batches of 'cream' ice-cream was 0.1 and more 0.1, and with 1.98 per cent only was it 0.01, while the microbial count with 96 per cent of these batches was up to 50000/g, and with 3.9 per cent it was from 50000 to 118000/g . Studied was the quality of the products used to obtain the Eskimo icing . The total microbial content of the surface layer varied from 200 to 46000/g, dropping up to 100-2100/g at storage . The fresh cow sweet cream butter had a colititer above 0.1 and did not contain yeasts and moulds per 0.01/gram of produce . During production, transportation, and storing of the produced frosting the microbial count rose 7 times, on an average, and the colititer dropped from 0.1 up to 0.001 . The icing (frosting) used contributed to the rise of the microbial amount from 1.5 to 3.5 times and to the drop of the colititer of the final Eskimo product.

Microbios, 1983, 37(149-150), 161 - 75
A simple method for determining gentamicin blood levels; Mates A et al.; A simple method for the determination of gentamicin blood levels using microbiological bioassay is described . The use of finger tip blood enabled us to test the drug in a number of patients which otherwise would have been difficult . The test is reliable in the presence of other antibiotics in the serum . An assay kit was adapted so that the procedure could be performed and results read by a registered nurse within 6 h and before the administration of the next dose of the drug.

Zentralbl Gynakol, 1983, 105(13), 855 - 62
{Changes in the vaginal flora caused by supporting pessary treatment in pregnancy}; Jorde A et al.; 200 pregnant women with supporting pessary treatment because of cervical insufficiency were compared with one of normal pregnancies concerning microbiological findings and puerperal morbidity . -- 5,5% of the women in the supporting pessary group had pathogenic organisms in their cervix before first amnioscopy, compared to 2% in the control group . The different results of cultural microbiologic examinations in both groups depend on type and duration of birth as well as time of amnion rupture . Women with premature rupture of the membranes (31,0%) had more pathogenic organisms than women with rupture (2,5%) in time . There was no higher infection morbidity compared to the control group.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1983, 40, 103 - 6
Metronidazole in treatment of non-specific vaginitis . Clinical and microbiological findings in ten patients given 2 grams of metronidazole; Blackwell A et al.; A 2 gram single dose of metronidazole was given to ten patients suffering from nonspecific vaginitis . At follow-up a week later seven of these patients were clinically and microbiologically free from infection . The remaining three patients had persisting symptoms and both clinical and microbiological findings confirmed treatment failure . Despite the small numbers entered into the trial to date, a cure rate of only seven out of ten patients suggests that a 2 gram single dose of metronidazole is inadequate treatment for non-specific vaginitis.

Ann Otolaryngol Chir Cervicofac, 1983, 100(4), 239 - 41
{Antibiotic penetration into the otorhinolaryngologic system in children . I . Comparative intratonsillar penetration of ampicillin and triacetyloleandomycin . Apropos of 61 cases}; Begue P et al.; Tonsillar diffusion of two antibiotics was compared in 61 children, 26 receiving 100 mg/kg/d of ampicillin, and the other 35 being treated with 50 mg/kg/d of triacetyloleandomycin during the 24 hours preceding tonsillectomy . Drug levels were measured by a microbiological method . The mean ampicillin level in the tonsil was 0,84 mcg/ml for a serum level of 4,1 mcg/ml 90 minutes before sampling, concentrations being absent in the tonsil in 12 cases (45 p . cent) . Mean triacetyloleandomycin levels in the tonsil were 12,16 mcg/ml for a serum level of 2,27 mcg/ml 90 minutes before sampling, concentrations being absent in the tonsil in only 4 cases (11 p . cent) . Very high concentrations of triacetyloleandomycin as against low or no levels of ampicillin were therefore detected in the tonsil . This suggest that macrolides should be employed in preference to ampicillin for the treatment of recurrent sore throats, and tonsillixis, and for preventive treatment of acute rheumatic fever.

Schweiz Med Wochenschr Suppl, 1983, 14, 70 - 5
Low morbidity and mortality from infection in neutropenic patients, a possible result of multiple measures of infection prevention; Grob JP et al.; 138 patients with neutropenia (PMN's less than 1000), 66 of them with acute myelocytic leukaemia (AML), were hospitalised over a 6-year-period in reverse-barrier isolation . All had skin, orifices and gut decontamination . Fever occurred in 78% of the 216 neutropenic episodes . Overall, the incidence of septicemia during febrile episodes was 10% and the mortality from infection 7%; both figures were identical in the patients with AML and are lower than those normally found in this type of patients . Various factors that might be responsible for this low incidence of severe infections in neutropenic patients have been examined . The microbiological methods used to document infection were identical to those currently used . The severity of the underlying diseases and of neutropenia in the patients with AML was similar to that reported in other series . The measures taken for infection prevention, i.e . reverse-barrier isolation plus skin, orifices and gut decontamination, were not different than those used in many other centers, although their strict application in a small specialized unit might partially explain these favourable results . In addition the outcome of infection was analysed in relation to the response to treatment of the underlying disease . The mortality due to infection in patients with a tumor responding to chemotherapy was only 4% but was 45% in patients with end-stage malignant diseases . These results suggest therefore that infection in patients whose malignancy respond to treatment can be efficiently controlled by prompt empiric broad spectrum antibiotic therapy, and failures of antiinfectious treatment are mostly observed in patients with advanced cancer.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1983, 39, 48 - 52
Penetration of cefaclor to adenoid tissue and middle ear fluid in secretory otitis media; Eden T et al.; Seventy-nine patients that had persistent or recurrent secretory otitis media for over 3 months and were scheduled for myringotomy and/or adenoidectomy received a single dose of cefaclor (20 or 40 mg/kg) orally 0.5-4 hours before surgery . Cefaclor concentrations were determined in serum, middle ear fluid and/or blood-free adenoid tissue homogenate using microbiological methods . Concentrations in adenoid homogenate ran parallel to those in serum, indicating a rapid penetration to adenoid tissue . Penetration to middle ear fluid was delayed in comparison . In the 51 patients receiving 20 mg/kg, peak levels occurred after 0.5 hour in serum as well as in adenoid homogenate and middle ear fluid with mean values of 29, 7.5 and 5.1 mg/l, respectively . Concentrations in the middle ear fluid were greater than 2.0 mg/l from 0.5 to 3 hours after this dose . In the 28 patients receiving 40 mg/kg, concentrations levelled after 0.5 hour in serum and in adenoid homogenate, with mean values of 21-33 mg/l and 6.3-12 mg/l, respectively . Concentrations in the middle ear fluid reached 7.8 mg/l 2 hours after this dose . A dose of 20 mg/kg appears to be suitable for treatment of respiratory tract infections on a b.i.d . basis.

Arch Sci Med (Torino), 1983 Jan-Mar, 140(1), 45 - 50
{Mitomycin C: current status of knowledge and use in laryngeal tumors}; Giorgi G et al.; The Mitomycin are a family of antibiotics useful in the treatment of breast, lung, stomach, colorectal and other solid tumours . One member of the family, MC (Mitomycin C) is examined and the present biochemical, physiological, microbiological, pharmacological and clinical knowledge of the drug and its use in laryngeal tumours is reviewed.

J Assoc Off Anal Chem, 1983 Jan, 66(1), 58 - 61
Radiometric microbiological assay of vitamin B6: assay simplification and sensitivity study; Guilarte TR; Modification of a previously developed radiometric microbiological assay for vitamin B6 reduces assay complexity and time . Reduction of enzymatic treatment from 24 to 3 h essentially eliminates one day's time for the analysis of plasma samples . Use of lyophilized Kloeckera brevis cultures eliminates routine subculturing of the test organism, with no significant effect on test results . Modifications in test vial size and total volume in test vials have increased assay sensitivity to a level of 0.25 ng pyridoxine (PN), pyridoxal (PL), or pyridoxamine (PM) per vial level and decreased the amount of medium and labeled substrate (i.e., L-{1-14C}-valine), thus reducing assay cost.

Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 1983, 19(1), 1 - 98
Citrus fruits . Part II . Chemistry, technology, and quality evaluation . B . Technology; Ranganna S et al.; In Part II of this review on citrus fruits, the literature on chemistry, technology, and quality evaluation are critically considered . Sweet oranges, mandarin, grapefruit, lemon, and lime are generally used for processing . The literature on chemical components of citrus fruit which include sugars, polysaccharides, organic acids, nitrogenous constituents and lipids; carotenoids which contribute to color; vitamins and minerals and flavonoids; limonoids, some of which impart bitterness to the juice; and the volatile components which contribute to aroma were reviewed in section A . Chilled and pasteurized juices, juice concentrates, and beverages are the important products manufactured commercially, and to a limited extent powdered citrus juices, canned segments, and marmalades . The literature on the manufacture of these products also as new types of juice and oil extractors; TASTE and other types of evaporators; tank farms to store juice and concentrate in bulk; aseptic filling in bulk containers and retail packs; alternate flexible and rigid containers other than glass and tin; and recovery of volatile flavoring constituents during juice processing are some of the important technological developments in the recent past and have been discussed in this section . Bitterness in citrus juices and its control, composition of cloud, and its stability and changes during storage have been reviewed . Essential oils, pectin, frozen and dried juice sacs, dried pulp and molasses, flavonoids, seed oil, and meal are the important byproducts, the manufacture of which is given in essential details . Generally, consumers judge the product on the basis of its sensory attributes . The quality of finished product is dependent upon the raw materials used and control of processes . In section C, the U.S . Department of Agriculture (USDA) standards for different products, physicochemical and microbiological parameters prescribed as indices of quality of fruit, juice, concentrate, and other products; composition of essential oils; and aroma concentrates are discussed in relation to sensory quality . Analytical methods for compounds affecting quality, and methods for detection of adulteration in different citrus products are briefly reviewed . The importance of sensorily evaluating quality of citrus products to select and develop quality control indices is emphasized . Areas where further research are required are indicated . A comprehensive bibliography is provided to aid further study and research.

Probl Med Wieku Rozwoj, 1983, 12, 208 - 12
{Disorders of vaginal biocenosis in women with risk of genital cancer}; Kuczynska K et al.; 473 women 38-71 years old were examined . 55 women with physiologic biocenosis of the vagina were included into control group . In remaining (418) there were detected: erosions, cancers of the cervix, hyperplasias and cancers of the endometrium of the uterine body, inflammations, leukoplakia and cancers of the vulva . Microbiological examinations consisted if indirect examinations of vaginal content and of artificial cultures on different media . Disturbances in vaginal biocenosis was diagnosed in the greater part of examined women . There were concluded that in praeneoplasie disease and in neoplasms of female genital organ inflammatory process has been . The authors suggests about necessity of prophylaxis of inflammations by microbiological examinations and treatment of women with the threat of female genital organ neoplasms.

Arzneimittelforschung, 1983, 33(11), 1609 - 12
Double-blind co-operative trial to compare trimethoprim-sulfalene and co-trimoxazole in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections; Ferlinz R et al.; Two fixed trimethoprim-sulfonamide combinations were compared in a clinical trial for their effectiveness and safety in the treatment of patients with acute lower respiratory tract infections (pneumonia, bronchopenumonia, purulent tracheobronchitis, ect.) . 46 in-patients were randomly allocated to Kelfiprim (trimethoprim 250 mg + sulfalene (sulfamethopyrazine) 200 mg) or to co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim 320 mg + sulfamethoxazole 1600 mg) and were treated for 1-2 weeks under double-blind conditions . Assessment of effectiveness was based on daily follow-up of subjective and objective signs and symptoms, on changes in X-ray picture, and on microbiological and laboratory findings . Response to therapy was excellent or good in 86% of patients receiving Kelfiprim and in 79% of those given cotrimoxazole . Transient side-effects were observed in three patients under Kelfiprim (two allergic reactions and one G.I . complaint) and in one under co-trimoxazole (altered kidney function).

Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 1983, 18(4), 313 - 86
Citrus fruits--varieties, chemistry, technology, and quality evaluation . Part II . Chemistry, technology, and quality evaluation . A . Chemistry; Ranganna S et al.; In Part 2 of this review on citrus fruits, the literature on chemistry, technology, and quality evaluation are critically considered . Sweet oranges, mandarin, grapefruit, lemon, and lime are generally used for processing . The literature on chemical components of citrus fruit which include sugars, polysaccharides, oraganic acids, nitrogenous constituents and lipids; carotenoids which contribute to color; vitamins and minerals, and flavonoids; limonoids, some of which impart bitterness to the juice; and the volatile components which contribute to aroma have been reviewed . Chilled and pasteurized juices, juice concentrates, and beverages are the important products manufactured commercially, and to a limited extent powdered citrus juices, canned segments, and marmalades . The literature on the manufacture of these products also as new types of juice and oil extractors; TASTE and other types of evaporators; tank farms to store juice and concentrate in bulk; aseptic filling in bulk containers and retail packs; alternate flexible and rigid containers other than glass and tin; and recovery of volatile flavoring constituents during juice processing are some of the important technological developments in the recent past and have been discussed . Bitterness in citrus juices and its control, composition of cloud, and its stability and changes during storage have been reviewed . Essential oils, pectin, frozen and dried juice sacs, dried pulp and molasses, flavonoids, seed oil, and meal are the important byproducts, the manufacture of which is given in essential details . Generally, consumers judge the product on the basis of its sensory attributes . The quality of finished product is dependent upon the raw materials used and control of processes . The U.S . Department of Agriculture (USDA) standards for different products, physicochemical and microbiological parameters prescribed as indices of quality of fruit, juice, concentrate, and other products; composition of essential oils; and aroma concentrates are discussed in relation to sensory quality . Analytical methods for compounds affecting quality, and methods for detection of adulteration in different citrus products are briefly reviewed . The importance of sensorily evaluating quality of citrus products to select and develop quality control indices is emphasized . Areas where further research are required are indicated . A comprehensive bibliography is provided to aid further study and research.

Anthropol Anz, 1983, 41(1), 1 - 19
{Comparative methodological contribution and critical observations on the interpretation of blood group determinations of mummies and skeletal remains}; Berg S et al.; Bone samples from autopsies, recent and subfossile samples as well as skin and muscle material from non-preserved local mummies were investigated . The material was evaluated morphologically and serologically in parallel by means of the well-known absorption-test, the agglutinin-cohesion technique with deionized concentrated EDTA extracts according to Borgognini, the absorption-elution technique according to Kind with the modification proposed by Kirst & Landes, and the immunofluorescence-histology according to Lengyel . With the latter method no specific results could be obtained at all; with the absorption and the absorption-elution tests the blood-group status of autoptic compacta material could always be estimated correctly, and also with recent bone samples an acceptable phenotype distribution was found . On the contrary, with the old-historic material consisting of 39 skeletons a reverse proportionality between the morphological preservation state and the serological results was found: the more advanced the decay of the organic matrix, the more frequent was the finding of blood-group A or B; the better preserved the bony substance, the more frequent negative (= 0 ?) results were obtained . By analogy with the findings in mummy tissue, where the tracing of A and B bloodgroup substances also prevailed in cases of extensive saprophyte contamination, the postmortal infiltration of microbiological blood-group active foreign material is discussed as a possible cause of erroneous diagnoses for bones, too . The compared methods yielded different results on the same bone in some cases, and also with the, according to our experiences, most suitable absorption-elution method contradictory blood-group findings were achieved with different bones of the same skeleton occasionally . In light of these results it seems possible to detect blood-group substances of the ABO system in bone material only under protective storage conditions, as tomb funeral, ossuaries, or reliquaries after centuries and with acceptable error quote; serological findings on subfossile materials must be valued with greatest reservation, and critical restraint should be recommended especially against the method of approach.

Nauchnye Doki Vyss Shkoly Biol Nauki, 1983, (2), 83 - 90
{Lethal and mutagenic action of solar radiation on model microbiological test systems}; Shakhnabatian LG et al.; Lethal, mutagenic and recombonogenic action of the solar radiation on the model microorganisms--phage T4, bacteria Escherichia coli and ascomycet Aspergillus nidulans--has been studied . A considerable lethal effect of the solar radiation on phage T4 and E . coli was found . An increasing of mutation frequency in E . coli and A . nidulans by sunlight was also revealed . Recombinogenic action of solar radiation has been demonstrated in the experiments with diploid A . nidulans strains . It was shown that the excision and postreplication repair systems took part in recovery of damages induced by sunlight . An important role of ultra-violet region (280-320 nm) solar radiation in induction of lethal and mutagenic effects was demonstrated for all investigated microorganisms.

Environ Health Perspect, 1983 Jan, 47, 115 - 40
Formation and fate of gaseous and particulate mutagens and carcinogens in real and simulated atmospheres; Pitts JN Jr; The growing use of coal for heating and electric power generation and diesel engines in light duty motor vehicles will increase not only the existing atmospheric concentrations of criteria pollutants such as NO2, SO2, O3 and fine particulates, but also the concentrations of a number of highly reactive gaseous copollutants such as HONO, HONO2, PAN and the nitrate radical, NO3 . These gaseous noncriteria pollutants are of interest not only because of their roles in the chemistry of the "clean" and polluted troposphere, including "acid rain," but also because they may pose health risks disproportionate to their relatively low ambient concentrations, and through complex heterogeneous reactions, they may serve as precursors or catalysts in the formation of "nonclassical" particulate mutagens and carcinogens such as certain nitroarenes associated with combustion generated particulate polycyclic organic matter (POM) . Results of research efforts to establish current ambient levels of these noncriteria pollutants and to develop an understanding of their sources, formation and sinks are reported here . First, long pathlength (greater than or equal to 1 km) infrared and UV-visible spectroscopic studies of ambient levels of gaseous HONO, NO3, HONO2, PAN, HCHO and HCOOH in southern California atmospheres are described, and data given on their ambient concentrations . Second, an integrated chemical/microbiological investigation is described . It is directed toward identifying the nature of direct-acting mutagens found in extracts of diesel and ambient POM, as well as those formed upon exposure of environmentally relevant PAH to simulated natural and polluted atmospheres . The identification of certain of these mutagens, including a newly identified class of mutagenic PAH-lactones is discussed, along with the mechanisms of their formation and fate in the natural and polluted troposphere.

J Clin Pathol, 1983 Jan, 36(1), 110 - 3
An assessment of environmental contamination arising from the use of equipment for carrying out the ELISA technique in microtitre plates; Harper GJ; The generation of aerosols and the contamination of surfaces arising from the use of equipment for the filling, diluting in, and washing of microtitre plates used in ELISA techniques have been measured . With the exception of vacuum pump outlets no significant amount of aerosol was generated by any of the equipment tested . The fitting of a small air filter to vacuum pump outlets eliminated any hazard from this source . Some low level contamination of surfaces was detected . Except when working with known, or suspected, highly infectious materials there is no evidence to support the need to operate the equipment within a microbiological safety cabinet.

Clin Ther, 1983, 6(1), 34 - 42
New beta-lactam antibiotics and hemorrhagic diathesis: comparison of moxalactam and cefotaxime; Andrassy K et al.; Two new beta-lactam antibiotics, moxalactam and cefotaxime, were administered to two groups of patients with clinical indications for cephalosporin therapy and bacteriologically confirmed infection . The ten patients receiving moxalactam included five patients with impaired renal function; the ten receiving cefotaxime included seven with impaired renal function (serum creatinine greater than 1.3 mg/dl) . Antibiotics were administered for seven days in dosages adjusted to the level of renal function . Serum trough levels, measured by microbiological assay, were within the therapeutic range: moxalactam median, 3 micrograms/ml (range, 0.6-20 micrograms/ml) and cefotaxime median, 2.9 micrograms/ml (range, 0.5-16 micrograms/ml).

Clin Neurol Neurosurg, 1983, 85(4), 245 - 53
Cerebral cladosporiosis--a neuropathological and microbiological study; Chandramukhi A et al.; Cerebral cladosporiosis is a rare mycotic infection of the brain . So far only 21 culture-proven cases of cerebral cladosporiosis have been listed in literature (FETTER et al . 1967, FETTER and KLINTWORTH, 1978) . In view of the rarity of this mycotic infection and its clinical importance we report two cases of culture-proven cerebral cladosporiosis . They presented as meningoencephalitis with extensive areas of haemorrhagic infarctions of frontoparietal lobes . Both patients were middle-aged farmers from Karnataka State, South India . The clinical, neuropathological and mycological features are presented.

Gynecol Obstet Invest, 1983, 16(5), 261 - 8
Immunological and microbiological studies of midtrimester amniotic fluid; Davis LE et al.; Midtrimester amniotic fluids (MAF) from 73 women undergoing an amniocentesis were studied . The mean immunoglobin G (IgG) level was 34 +/- 14 mg/dl, which is higher than that reported in the third trimester . The maternal serum:MAF IgG ratio was 29 suggesting the blood:MAF barrier is less restrictive than others like the blood:cerebrospinal fluid barrier . Antibodies to herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 were detected in 78% of the MAF and the maternal serum:MAF HSV antibody titer ratio was 33 . Antibodies to cytomegalovirus (CMV) were found in 84% of the MAF and the maternal serum:MAF CMV antibody titer ration was 40 . Whenever either antibody was detected in the maternal serum it was also found in the MAF . No viruses, bacteria, mycoplasma, fungi and chlamyidae were isolated from MAF.

Avian Dis, 1983 Jan-Mar, 27(1), 301 - 3
Hepatic intranuclear inclusion bodies in a cockatoo bird (Cacatua sulphurea); Dharma DN et al.; One hundred and nineteen cockatoos (Cacatua sulphurea) were kept at the Animal Quarantine Station in Denpasar, Indonesia . These birds were intended to be exported overseas . Nine birds were found dead in a period of 17 days . Necropsies were performed on three, and tissues were taken for microbiological and histopathological examination . Examinations revealed that two birds had both Newcastle disease and aspergillosis, and one bird was found to contain hepatic intranuclear inclusion bodies suggestive of Pacheco's parrot disease . Newcastle disease and aspergillosis in cockatoos have frequently been diagnosed in our laboratory . However, the finding of hepatic intranuclear inclusion bodies in a cockatoo is considered to be the first in Indonesia.

Infection, 1983 Jan-Feb, 11(1), 41 - 6
The granuloma pouch: an in vivo model for pharmacokinetic and chemotherapeutic investigations . II . Microbiological characterization; Dalhoff A et al.; In this paper we have described the microbiology of the granuloma pouch model in rats . We studied the biochemical parameters of pouch exudates infected with Escherichia coli . Data revealed that the inflammatory response increased during the course of infection since lactate dehydrogenase levels as well as alpha 2 and gamma-globulin fractions were increased in comparison to uninfected controls . Infection of the pouches did not spread . We also monitored the growth characteristics of four different E . coli strains . In vitro incubation of these strains in human and rat serum as well as in pouch exudate, and the in vivo growth rate in infected pouches revealed that the degree of serum sensitivity was clearly related to viability in vivo . Serum-resistant strains grew well in pouch exudate, whereas serum-sensitive strains were eliminated from the infected pouches . Since elimination of these strains was dependent on the challenge dose, we concluded that cellular and/or humoral host defense mechanisms became locally exhausted or inactivated . Thus, the granuloma pouch represents a local bacterial infection of a poorly defended, inflamed body cavity.

JAMA, 1982 Dec 10, 248(22), 2980 - 2
Disseminated Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare infection in homosexual men dying of acquired immunodeficiency; Zakowski P et al.; Five homosexual men dying at UCLA Center for the Health Sciences, Los Angeles, with acquired immunodeficiency and Pneumocystis pneumonia, Kaposi's sarcoma, or cryptosporidiosis since May 1981 have all had mycobacteria of the Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex cultured from tissues taken just before death or at postmortem examination . Each man had histological evidence of disseminated mycobacterial infection . Acid-fast organisms were seen in macrophages in the lung, spleen, and lymph nodes in all cases and in a variety of additional organs in two cases . Other severe infections were always found at postmortem examination--cytomegalovirus, cryptosporidiosis, and Pneumocystis . Disseminated M avium-intracellulare infection has been so striking in homosexual males dying with acquired immunodeficiency at our institution that we believe a vigorous search for mycobacteria should be made in all such patients . Empiric therapy for mycobacterial infection may be justified in selected cases of immunodeficiency before a specific microbiological diagnosis.

Cancer Res, 1982 Dec, 42(12), 5030 - 7
Positive correlation between high aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity and primary lung cancer as analyzed in cryopreserved lymphocytes; Kouri RE et al.; Blood samples from closely monitored patients at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Houston, Texas, were collected, coded, and sent to Microbiological Associates over an 8-month period . Lymphocytes were isolated and cryopreserved at -190 degrees . Lymphocyte samples were simultaneously thawed, phytohemagglutinin activated, and analyzed for benz(a)anthracene-induced aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) levels, {3H}thymidine incorporation, and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent cytochrome b5 (cytochrome c) reductase activity . Determinations were made at both 96 and 120 hr in culture, and peak activities were compared among a total of 51 individuals who expressed such lesions as squamous cell carcinomas (22%), adenocarcinomas (14%), oat cell carcinomas (6%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (22%), and other nonmalignant diseases . Of the 14 highest AHH/cytochrome c activities observed, all were found in patients with primary lung cancer . Mean AHH/cytochrome c activities were 0.89 for lung cancer patients (a total of 21) and 0.47 for noncancer patients (a total of 30) (p less than 0.001) . No relationship was observed between AHH/cytochrome c activity and age of patient, numbers of cigarettes smoked, family history of cancer, location or histological type of tumor, or level of phytohemagglutinin blastogenesis ({3H}thymidine cpm/cytochrome c) . Whether the higher AHH levels are the cause or the result of the primary lung cancer remains to be determined.

Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 1982 Nov 19, 107(46), 1747 - 50
{Effects of long-term ventilation on the bronchial system . Bronchoscopic, cytologic and microbiological findings}; Worth H et al.; The effects of longterm ventilation were evaluated in 50 patients from a medical intensive care unit . The bronchial tract was investigated using repeated bronchoscopy and assessed by semiquantitative scoring . Prior to each endoscopy tracheal secretions were obtained for microbiological and cytological evaluation, in 20 patients histological analysis of the bronchial mucosa was done in addition . Results: 1 . Within 24-48 hours after initiation of respirator ventilation alterations of the bronchial mucosa occur . The extent progresses rapidly, however no further increase of progression is to be observed after ventilation of approximately 150-200 hours . 2 . Endoscopic assessment of the severity of mucosal changes correlates well with cytological and histologic results . 3 . In 34 patients microbial agents could be demonstrated . In 8 of them mucosal changes preceded demonstration of microbial organisms . The extent of mucosal changes is independent of category or count of pathogen . Endoscopic follow-up investigations of the bronchial tract affected by long-term ventilation serve both direct bronchial clearing and control of position of the intubation tube as well as assessment of mucosal alterations and control of treatment of bronchial infection.

Nouv Presse Med, 1982 Nov 18, 11(46), 3405 - 9
{Critical analysis of the different methods for the determination of aminoglycosides . Application to follow-up of treatment}; Flandrois JP et al.; A serum aminoglycoside assay is indicated so that there will be no loss of efficacy resulting from insufficient dosages chosen to reduce the risks of toxicity inherent in this type of antibiotics . It is also indicated so that excessive dosages and their resulting toxicity may be avoided . There are different assay methods for each one, the cost, reproducibility, sensitivity and specificity should be considered at the time of selection . Among methods which do not use radioactive material, the EMIT and TDA systems are more or less similar in terms of the above points and could soon be used for dibekacine assays . The microbiological method rivals all other methods in every way except in regard to speed . But it cost less and enables a "genuine" appraisal of the antibiotic.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1982 Nov, 44(5), 1244 - 5
High-temperature tenderizing of beef sides: bacterial considerations; Wilhelm KE et al.; A microbiological study of an experimental beef-tenderizing treatment, in which lean sides are held at 37 degrees C until transfer to a chiller at 3 h postmortem, was made . The treatment did not cause a significant increase in bacterial numbers or a proliferation of potential pathogens or food-spoiling organisms.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Nov, 22(5), 848 - 51
High-pressure liquid chromatographic method for determination of Sch 29482 in human serum; Kim H et al.; A high-pressure liquid chromatographic method was developed for quantitative determination in human serum of a new penem antibiotic known as Sch 29482 (5R,6S,8R-2-ethylthio-6(1-hydroxyethyl)penem-3-carboxylic acid) . The method involves serum extraction at an acid pH with ether, followed by separation on a reverse-phase column and UV light detection at 254 nm . This technique produced a good linear relationship between the peak height ratio and the Sch 29482 concentration, which ranged from 0.09 to 35.64 micrograms/ml . In addition, this procedure proved to be quite specific for Sch 29482, since all beta-lactam antibiotics tested did not interfere with the assay . For high concentrations (greater than 0.5 micrograms/ml), the mean values obtained from the high-pressure liquid chromatographic method correlated very well (r = 0.997) with those obtained from a microbiological assay . This method is accurate and reproducible, with a sensitivity of about 0.09 micrograms per ml of serum . It is useful for monitoring serum drug levels in animals and humans and can also be used for drug pharmacokinetic studies in humans.

J Assoc Off Anal Chem, 1982 Nov, 65(6), 1505 - 8
Infant food problems and analytical aspects of providing safe and wholesome infant foods; Read RB Jr; The technology of milk and infant food production, storage, and handling has advanced to the point that infant foods have had an excellent record of being free of recognized health hazards . The Infant Formula Council has published methods specifically for these foods . Methods are included from Standard Methods for the Examination of Dairy Products, Official Methods of Analysis, Bacteriological Analytical Manual, the Manual of Clinical Microbiology, and the U.S . Pharmacopeia . Criteria for microbiological quality have been issued by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the International Commission for Microbiological Specifications for Foods, and the Public Health Service . Surveys in the United States and Canada have shown that sanitary standards are met with ease.

J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Nov, 16(5), 895 - 900
Long-term clinical, microbiological, and immunological observations of a volunteer repeatedly infected with Chlamydia trachomatis; Hanna L et al.; A blind volunteer was inoculated in one eye with an isolate of Chlamydia trachomatis in 1961 and followed for 20 years . During this time, many observations were made of his clinical responses to the first inoculation and several subsequent inoculations with the same and other strains, chlamydial shedding, and antibody and cell-mediated immune responses . Evidence is presented that partial resistance to chlamydial eye infection developed during repeated infections and that antibodies, cell-mediated immune reactions, and specific antigen in conjunctival cells persisted for many years after the last infection . The antibody response was directed mainly against the original infecting immunotype, regardless of whether the response was restimulated by infection with the same immunotype or with other immunotypes . The lymphocyte stimulation response appeared to be species specific.

Am J Hosp Pharm, 1982 Nov, 39(11), 1925 - 30
Evaluation of antacid suspensions containing aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide; Hem SL et al.; Liquid antacid suspensions containing aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide were evaluated for composition, antacid properties, and product quality . The equivalent aluminum oxide and magnesium hydroxide content was determined by chelatometric titration, and sodium content was determined by flame photometry . Antacid properties measured were acid-consuming capacity, antacid effectiveness (preliminary antacid test, acid-neutralizing capacity test), and pH-stat titration . Content uniformity, consistency of the antacid properties, and microbiological content were examined for each product . Data are presented for 36 products for which samples from four or more lots were obtained . The ratio of percentage of equivalent aluminum oxide to percentage of magnesium hydroxide ranged from 1:0.6 to 1:3.5; this range allows for selection of the desired balance between the laxative effect of magnesium hydroxide and the constipating effect of aluminum hydroxide . Based on a daily dose of 280 meq of antacid, the sodium content of the products tested ranged from less than 2% to approximately 45% of the 500 mg per day of sodium allowed in a sodium-restricted diet . The concept of bioavailability was related to the amount of the antacid reacting at pH 3, 37 degrees C during the estimated gastric residence time of 15 minutes . Antacid suspensions are available which will react almost completely (neutralizing greater than 90% of the theoretical quantity of acid) during the estimated gastric residence time . Approximately 4% of the samples contained unacceptable numbers of bacteria . An antacid suspension cannot be adequately evaluated by a single test; choice of a product should be based on an evaluation that integrates several characteristics including sodium content, time and volume required to neutralize a given amount of acid, and uniformity of content.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1982 Nov, 78(5), 753 - 5
Lack of clinical relevance in routine final subcultures of radiometrically negative BACTEC blood culture vials; Plorde JJ et al.; During a 38-month period, 10,106 blood specimens were received in the laboratory for culture . These were inoculated into 26,424 vials and processed using the BACTEC radiometric detection system . Of these vials, 1,914 were eventually found to be microbiologically positive . Isolates from 836 vials were judged to be contaminants . In the remaining 1,078 vials, growth was first detected visually or radiometrically in 1,062 and by final subculture in 16 . Growth from these sixteen bottles represented 12 clinically significant bacteremic episodes in as many patients . In nine of these episodes, other culture vials from the same patient were positive radiometrically . Therefore, 358 of 361 (99.2%) bacteremic episodes were detected without the benefit of routine final subcultures . The three patients whose bacteremia was missed were diagnosed clinically and placed on appropriate therapy prior to the detection of the bacteremias by final subculture.

J Am Diet Assoc, 1982 Nov, 81(5), 562 - 7
Use of a branch and bound algorithm to schedule food production in a semi-conventional food service system; Stinson JP et al.; A new computerized technique for solving the problem of production scheduling in a semi-conventional food service system was found to be a branch and bound algorithm . The primary objective was to minimize, on a daily basis, the overall time required for noon-time production from the start of hot food preparation to the completion of all menu items . The second objective was, through modification of the algorithm, to produce right-through modification of the algorithm, to produce right-shifted schedules so that all menu items would be completed as close to meal time as possible . Benefits of the computerized procedure include increased productivity through more efficient utilization of resources and enhancement of nutritional, organoleptic, and microbiological properties of foods.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1982 Nov, 92(5), 1599 - 605
The preparation of puromycin antibody and its use in enzyme immunoassay for the quantification using beta-D-galactosidase as a label; Fujiwara K et al.; An antibody specific for puromycin (PU) was prepared by immunization of rabbits with a PU conjugate of bovine serum albumin, which was newly synthesized by coupling PU to mercaptosuccinylated bovine serum albumin via a cross-linker, N-(gamma-maleimidobutyryloxy)succinimide . Enzyme labeling of PU was performed using beta-D-galactosidase {EC 3.2.1.23} via N-(m-maleimidobenzoyloxy) succinimide . An ultrasensitive and specific enzyme immunoassay for PU was developed utilizing these reagents by a double antibody technique . The standard curve of the assay was linear in the range of 2 pg to 100 pg, and the lower limit of detection was 28.2 pm (2 pg/tube); so the enzyme immunoassay was found to be approximately 326,000 times more sensitive than a microbiological assay . Further, the enzyme immunoassay is free from interference by any purine or pyrimidine analogs, or by other drugs commonly used for the inhibition of protein synthesis . Using this assay, drug levels were easily determined in rat tissue following PU administration . Since PU is extensively available as an inhibitor of protein synthesis, the enzyme immunoassay should provide useful tool for developing biochemical and toxicity studies of PU.

Vet Med (Praha), 1982 Nov, 27(11), 641 - 9
{The epizootiological significance of positive bacteriological findings on Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis in humans}; Pavlas M et al.; The relation between the active form of tuberculosis in persons working in agriculture and incidence of tuberculosis in cattle was analyzed in 1974 to 1978, i.e . in the period after the elimination of bovine tuberculosis in Czechoslovakia (in 1968) . M . tuberculosis was isolated in 15 cases and M . bovis in four cases of persons employed by the farms on which the Regional Hygienic Station, Brno, was responsible for the microbiological diagnostics of tuberculosis . Direct contact with animals was demonstrated in eight patients; M . tuberculosis was isolated from seven of these patients and M . bovis from one . Seven cattle herds were exposed to spontaneous infection by M . tuberculosis and in one of them tuberculosis was not demonstrated during complex examination . In three herds the examination revealed only a sensitivity of cattle to mammalian tuberculin . In other three herds tuberculosis was detected by allergic tests, patho-anatomic examination and bacteriological examination . M . tuberculosis in cattle was detected in two herds . The occurrence of bovine tuberculosis caused by a cattle tender with a positive finding of M . bovis in sputum was demonstrated in one herd . Virulence for the tested cattle was found in one strain (isolated from a mesenterial lymph node of cattle) of the four strains of M . tuberculosis used for the experimental infection of 17 animals . On the other hand, in three strains of M . tuberculosis, trials with experimental infection demonstrated only allergy to mammalian tuberculin and changes at the sites of subcutaneous inoculation of mycobacteria of regressive nature; these mostly disappeared within 90 days from infection.

Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1982 Nov 1, 144(5), 546 - 50
Maternal and fetal pharmacokinetics of moxalactam given intrapartum; Bawdon RE et al.; Two grams of moxalactam was given intravenously to 28 women at high risk for infection following cesarean delivery . After a mean time of 48 minutes from infusion, maternal sera, cord sera, and uterine tissue obtained at delivery had concentrations of moxalactam of 62 micrograms/ml, 22.2 micrograms/ml, and 9.6 micrograms/gm, respectively . The maternal serum half-time was calculated to b e 2.1 hours . R and S epimeric distribution was determined in these sera and tissues, and the mean R/S ratios were 0.95, 0.93, and 1.22 for the three groups, respectively . The significance of these observations is discussed . A new method in which a high-pressure liquid chromatographic assay is used is described, and results are compared to those obtained with the microbiological assay . The high-pressure liquid chromatographic method was found to be quick, accurate, an reproducible.

Trop Doct, 1982 Oct, 12(4 Pt 2), 208 - 10
Sexually transmitted diseases in Sudanese males; Omer EE et al.; One hundred and thirty-eight male adult patients were examined clinically for STD in two VD clinics in Khartoum Province . Specimens were collected for microbiological investigations . NGU was the commonest STD encountered (35.1%) . Next came gonorrhoea (25.9%) and other STD . Syphilis accounted for only 1.3% of the cases investigated . Most of the patients with STD were in the age range 20-39 years . Of the infected patients 49.3% had their infections from prostitutes . Nearly half the patients examined and found infected with STD were in the low-paid socioeconomic group; and 71.4% of them were single . The social and cultural factors related to these results were discussed in the report.

Arch Sci Med (Torino), 1982 Oct-Dec, 139(4), 463 - 5
{Pseudomonas: microbiological aspects and sensitivity to tobramycin and gentamycin}; Ceruti T et al.; 97 Strains of Pseudomonas, which were isolated from patients at the hospital of Cremona, have been examined in order to evaluate the validity of some identification tests together with the API 20 system . The authors have also compared the activity of gentamicin with that of tobramycin against these strains isolated recently and strains that had been previously isolated (1976) at the same hospital . The decrease in tobramycin's activity was higher than that of gentamicin.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1982 Oct, 30(8), 703 - 6
{Comparative study of two microbiological assay methods of serum isoniazid}; Borderon E et al.; Two microbiological assay techniques for estimation of biologically active isoniazid concentrations in human serum were compared : the vertical diffusion method and a large plate method similar to that commonly used for the antibiotics . Four hundred seventy four tests were carried out on the serum from 133 patients . Parallel titrations were determined by two biologists on the same serum samples, with the same standard solutions, by the two methods performed rapidly after the collection of specimens and after they have been stored in the frozen state during one week and were compared . It was found that the variability obtained in these conditions was 26 per cent for the vertical diffusion method and 14 per cent for the large plate method . The correlation coefficients were 0,87 and 0,95 respectively . Also it will be noted that the large plate method is faster, of lower cost and require smaller volumes of serum . However, it also failed to detect levels lower than 0,5 and upper than 2 micrograms/ml, the standard curve is not stable and must be run with each assay and it is also subject to interference by other antibiotics.

Arch Androl, 1982 Sep, 9(2), 175 - 81
Anaerobic and aerobic bacteria in secretions of prostate and seminal vesicles of infertile men; Colpi GM et al.; A cytological and bacteriological study was made of prostatic (EPS) and vesicular (EVS) secretions from 123 infertile men who were suspected of having chronic genital tract inflammation and from 31 men with premature ejaculation (1,12,16) . In the microbiological investigations samples were inoculated within 10 min on various culture media and incubated under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions . Bacterial loads of more than 10,000 colony-forming units of a single species or genus per milliliter of EPS or EVS were considered to be pathological . In the infertile subjects with proven inflammation of the seminal accessory glands, the EPS and the EVS that gave positive cultures and had bacterial loads defined as pathological contained large numbers of anaerobic or microaerophilic organisms (EPS: 51 of the 63 bacterial strains found, congruent to 81%; EVS: 19 of the 20 bacterial strains found, congruent to 95%).

HNO, 1982 Sep, 30(9), 350 - 3
{Clinical observations of tuberculous infection of the middle ear}; Kamio T et al.; Since fifty years, three main infection routes of otitis media tuberculosa have been advocated by the literature . In childhood it was considered to be limited to haematogenic or primary infection, because the tuberculous focus was not found in the lung or in other parts of the body . Two own observations of children with tuberculosis of the middle ear were reported by the authors . Histological examination of the granulation tissue, taken from the mastoid cavities, showed Langhans cells . Also tuberculosis was verified by microbiological examination . When adenotomy was performed one month after the ear operation, also the adenoid tissues showed typical tuberculosis . The authors suggest the possibility of tubal infections from the adenoid tissue into the middle ear.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1982 Sep, 44(3), 627 - 30
Microbiological quality of some spices and herbs in retail markets; Schwab AH et al.; The microbiological quality of 10 spices or herbs was determined by a national survey at the retail level . Aerobic plate count values for the 10 products ranged from less than 100 to 3.1 X 10(8) per g; mean values of the individual spices or herbs ranged from 1,400 to 820,000 per g . Coliform counts ranged from less than 3 to 1.1 X 10(6) per g; however, mean values were less than 20 per g for all products . Escherichia coli counts ranged from less than 3 to 2,300 per g . Except for celery seed, which had a mean value of 7 per g, all mean values were less than 3 per g . Yeast and mold counts were made for 5 of the 10 products . Mean values were generally low; the highest mean (290 per g) was obtained for cinnamon.

J Pharm Sci, 1982 Sep, 71(9), 987 - 91
Chromatographic assay of neomycin B and C in neomycin sulfate powders; Decoster W et al.; A chromatographic assay of neomycin sulfate powders on strongly alkaline ion-exchange resin (hydroxide form) is described . D-(+)-alpha,alpha-Trehalose was used as an internal standard . The amount of neomycin B and C in commercial samples was determined with the proposed method, and the results are compared with those obtained by microbiological assay . In addition, minor neomycin components were estimated by TLC and GLC methods.

Res Vet Sci, 1982 Sep, 33(2), 170 - 82
A search for new microorganisms in calf pneumonia by the inoculation of gnotobiotic calves; Thomas LH et al.; In a detailed microbiological and pathological study of eight outbreaks of calf pneumonia, which included the inoculation of respiratory material into 18 gnotobiotic calves, a total of five viruses, four species of mycoplasma and 19 species of bacteria were identified . The only microorganism not previously associated with bovine respiratory disease was a coronavirus . The experimental disease produced in the majority of the gnotobiotic calves by the intratracheal inoculation of unpassaged respiratory material, closely resembled the natural disease . However statistical analysis of the results could not ascribe the disease seen to a single microorganism or to a particular combination of microorganisms . Assuming therefore that no microorganisms were missed in the study, it was concluded that the microbiological cause of the experimental disease lay amongst the organisms already found and that one or more of three other factors, discussed in the paper, accounted for the experimental disease produced.

Res Vet Sci, 1982 Sep, 33(2), 152 - 8
Clinical and pathological observations on spontaneous bovine respiratory syncytial virus infections in calves; Van Den Ingh TS et al.; A clinical, pathological and microbiological study was made of acute spontaneous bovine respiratory syncytial virus infection in calves . Characteristic features were atelectatic areas, which had an exudative and, or, necrotising bronchiolitis with syncytial giant cells in the epithelial lining and in the lumina of these bronchioles . Restricted to these areas both bronchiolar and alveolar immunofluorescence for bovine respiratory syncytial virus were seen . Complications were severe interstitial oedema, interstitial emphysema and a catarrhal or fibrinous pneumonia due to secondary bacterial invasion.

Pharm Weekbl Sci, 1982 Aug 20, 4(4), 104 - 11
The determination of aminoglycoside antibiotics in serum: a comparison of a high performance liquid chromatographic method with a microbiological assay; Barends DM et al.; A high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the determination of gentamicin and tobramycin in serum is compared with a microbiological method . The determination of gentamicin by chromatographic methods is complicated by the fact that gentamicin is a mixture of related compounds, giving rise to several chromatographic peaks . Good results were obtained when the sum of the peak heights of the chromatographic peaks corresponding with the gentamicin components are taken as a measure for the gentamicin concentration . Accuracy, precision and selectivity of the methods are discussed.

J Nutr, 1982 Aug, 112(8), 1643 - 7
Relative activity of the nonphosphorylated B-6 vitamers for Saccharomyces uvarum and Kloeckera brevis in vitamin B-6 microbiological assay; Gregory JF 3rd; Accuracy in the microbiological assay of vitamin B-6 is dependent, in part, on equivalent response to each form of the vitamin by the assay organism . Recently, Kloeckera brevis (ATCC 9774) has been suggested as an alternative to Saccharomyces uvarum (ATCC 9080) because of its reported equivalent response to pyridoxine (PN), pyridoxal (PL), and pyridoxamine (PM) in turbidimetric yeast growth assays . Evaluation of the merits of these yeasts in our laboratory yielded contrasting results . As widely reported, S . uvarum exhibited greater growth response with PN than with equivalent molar concentrations of PL or PM . K . brevis exhibited an even greater disparity . Pronounced concentration dependence was observed for the response differences among vitaminers with each organism . On the basis of the variable specificity of K . brevis, this organism is not preferable to S . uvarum for the microbiological determination of total vitamin B-6.

J Chir (Paris), 1982 Aug-Sep, 119(8-9), 503 - 12
{Microbiological contamination of enclosed air spaces . Origin, methods for studying}; Isoard P et al.; The authors make a bibliographical review of methods for studying the microbiological contamination of closed atmosphere . In a first part, they study the origins of bacterial emission (emissions from nose and pharynx, aerosolization by hospital hands manipulations, skin's emissions) . In a second part, the study concern the measure of atmospheric contamination . The authors insist on the correlation may be existed between the counting of all dimensions particles and the bacteria's presence in air . They analyse in details the biological methods of measure (sedimentation, centrifugation, filtration impact) and suggest a room classification according to theirs biological contaminations.

Arch Dis Child, 1982 Jul, 57(7), 528 - 35
Antenatal infections with Candida species; Whyte RK et al.; The clinical, pathological, and microbiological features of 18 pregnancies complicated by intrauterine infection with Candida sp . are described . Chorioamnionitis with Candida sp . can be recognised macroscopically at birth . Penetration of the umbilical cord and membranes is associated with an intense fetal inflammatory response . The infection characteristically presents in infants of very low birthweight as pneumonia or a skin infection . In nearly every case the organism can be recovered from the gastric aspirate . A case control study showed that there is a striking association between chorioamnionitis caused by Candida sp . and the presence of a foreign body (an intrauterine contraceptive device or a cervical suture) in the mother's genital tract in pregnancy . This feature in the perinatal history of an infant of short gestation who exhibits a very high neutrophil count should alert the clinician to the possible presence of chorioamnionitis due to Candida sp.

J Clin Periodontol, 1982 Jul, 9(4), 337 - 45
Gingival bleeding after chlorhexidine mouthrinses; Ainamo J et al.; During a clinical trial for evaluating the antiplaque effect of two flavoured chlorhexidine rinses, the observation was made that bleeding after gentle massage of the gingival margin occurred more often after chemical than after mechanical oral hygiene measures . In order to ascertain the validity of this unexpected observation, the same dental students participated in a repetition of the trial 18 months later . The results of the two trials indicate that gingival bleeding after gentle massage of the margin with the side of a periodontal probe actually occurs more frequently after rinsing twice daily with a 0.2% aqueous chlorhexidine solution for 1 week than after meticulous mechanical oral hygiene measures during an equally long time period . The average frequency of bleeding, in per cent of all examined gingival units, ranged from 1.3% after mechanical cleaning of the teeth to 5.4% after rinsing with chlorhexidine for 1 week . Neither the frequency of bleeding nor the difference between mechanical and chemical plaque control were considered to be of clinical significance . Further microbiological and histological studies are being conducted in an attempt to clarify the reason for the observed bleeding tendency.

Br J Clin Pharmacol, 1982 Jul, 14(1), 43 - 8
The effects of ampicillin oral contraceptive steroids in women; Back DJ et al.; PIP: The authors report on a study of women taking oral contraceptives (OCs) to examine the effect of coadministration of the antibiotic ampicillin and to study the mechanism of interaction seen . 7 women between the ages of 19-27 were studied; all were on long-term OC therapy (5 with Eugynon 30, 1 with Ovranette, and 1 with Minovlar) . 500 mg 3 times daily for 8 days was prescribed when 4 patients presented with cystitis and 3 patients with acute bronchitis . 6 volunteers between ages 21-24 who had been on long-term OC therapy for at least 3 months (5 with Eugynon 30 and 1 with Ovran) were studied . An identical dose regimen was provided for this group as well . Blood samples were centrifuged for 10 minutes at 2000 rev/minute . Plasma concentrations of ethinyl estradiol (EE), progesterone, FSH, and Ng were measured . Ampicillin concentrations in plasma were measured by a standard microbiological cup plate assay . No subjects displayed any side effects nor was there any evidence of disturbance in cycle control . Among the patients, the mean EE concentration was 46.4 +or- 15.2 pg/ml during ampicillin therapy and 60.2 +or- 4.8 pg/ml after ampicillin, a difference which is not statistically significant . Plasma levonorgestrel concentration was 2.0 +or- 0.3 ng/ml during ampicillin treatment and 2.05 +or- 0.4 ng/ml after (P0.05) . FSH concentration during ampicillin was 2.1 +or- 0.3 mIU/ml and 2.05 +or- 0.5 mIU/ml (P0.05) after . Plasma progesterone concentrations did not exceed 200 pg/ml . Ampicillin concentration was not detectable in 4 of the patients . Among the volunteers, the mean plasma EE concentration was 31.4 +or- 5.0 pg/ml before ampicillin while it was 28.2 +or- 2.8 pg/ml during ampicillin therapy . Mean plasma levonorgestrel was 2.13 +or- 0.63 ng/ml before ampicillin and 2.00 +or- 0.59 ng/ml during ampicillin treatment . FSH concentration before ampicillin treatment was 1.12 +or- 0.23 mIU/ml while during ampicillin treatment, the figure was 0.93 +or- 0.27 mIU/ml . In this study, ampicillin had no significant effect on plasma concentrations of EE and levonorgestrel in women taking OCs . 2 recent studies have shown that ampicillin does not significantly interfere with OC therapy . It did not lower plasma OC concentrations and based on this, women taking OCs do not require alternative contraceptive precautions when taking ampicillin .

Am J Phys Anthropol, 1982 Jul, 58(3), 243 - 54
Unusual osteolytic defects in ancient South Dakota skulls; Gregg JB et al.; Unusual osteolytic defects in eight skulls culled from over 4000 ancient South Dakota burials are presented, discussed briefly, and assigned to what we think is their most likely cause . Because these are collection skeletons, histological and microbiological and microbiological confirmation of interpretations concerning specific lesions are not possible . Corroboration of our opinions has been sought through radiographs and by expert consultation elsewhere . Although our opinions are interpretative and subject to rebuttal, they can serve as a base for future research if and when similar specimens are discovered elsewhere . In addition, these specimens are indicators of other than usual ancient skull pathology from a limited geographic area, representing people who lived there during a known time frame.

Am J Med Technol, 1982 Jul, 48(7), 609 - 12
Differential microbiological diagnosis of protothecosis from non-human sources; Berkhoff HA et al.; Primary isolation of Prototheca was accomplished on MacConkey's, sheep blood agar, and Sabouraud dextrose agar . Prototheca was differentiated from similar organisms by its ability to grow on MacConkey's agar, and by its colonial morphology . Further differentiation was based on staining procedures to reveal the characteristic microscopic morphology . In the process of identification of several isolates of Prototheca zophii obtained from animal sources, a simple guideline for isolation and identification of these organisms was developed.

Fortschr Med, 1982 Jun 24, 100(24), 1169 - 71
{Effect of a secretolytic agent (bromhexine) on the penetration of erythromycin into bronchial secretions}; Bergogne-Berezin E et al.; The authors report the results of a double blind study in 22 patients on the penetration of erythromycin into bronchial secretion . The antibiotic erythromycin was administered in combination with bromhexine, which is known to disrupt mucopolysaccharide fibers in respiratory secretions . The objective of the study was to demonstrate the possible increase of the rate of penetration of erythromycin when combined with bromhexine . The study was carried out in a double blind experiment; bronchial secretions were obtained from patients with bronchial hypersecretion by means of fiberoptic bronchoscopy . The assessment of erythromycin concentrations in all samples was performed by means of microbiological agar diffusion method . The results of the investigation show a significant increase of the ratios between bronchial levels and simultaneous serum concentrations of erythromycin when administered in combination with bromhexine . The results of this preliminary study suggest the continuation of similar investigations with other antibiotics usually administered for the treatment of respiratory infections.

Parasitology, 1982 Jun, 84(Pt 3), 481 - 90
Miracidia infective for snails derived from eggs laid by adult Schistosoma mansoni in vitro; Newport GR et al.; Various biological mixtures commonly used as microbiological nutrients were added to a chemically defined medium, containing 0.2% (w/v) albumin, in order to assess their ability to support maturation of eggs deposited by adult Schistosoma mansoni in vitro . Of the supplements tested, only lactalbumin hydrolysate and casein hydrolysate stimulated egg deposition and subsequent egg development in vitro . Upon addition of foetal calf serum, further stimulation was noted only in casein hydrolysate-containing media . The addition of mouse red blood cells did not significantly improve the system . Some miracidia which hatched from eggs derived from casein hydrolysate-fortified cultures displayed normal behavioural characteristics, penetrated susceptible snails and established patent infections . These results provide and experimental system for exploring the nutritional requirements of developing miracidia, and the physiological determinants that influence miracidial penetrating capacity and subsequent ability to develop in a susceptible intermediate host.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1982 Jun, 30(6 Pt 2), 501 - 5
{Penetration of cefotaxime into bronchial secretions}; Bergogne-Berezin E et al.; The objective of this study was to evaluate the penetration into bronchial secretions, of cefotaxime, a new highly-active cephalosporin . The study was performed in 45 patients with respiratory infections . The doses and the route of administration of the drug were different in 3 groups of patients: 10 patients received 0.750 g and 20 received 1 g intramuscularly; 10 patients received a 30 min IV Infusion of 2 g of cefotaxime . Bronchial samples were taken by means of fiberoptic bronchoscopy, after a single dose in all patients, and, respectively, after 3 and 7 days treatment in 30 and 15 patients . Simultaneous serum samples were collected in order to determine relationship between bronchial and corresponding serum levels . Assays were performed by means of the microbiological agar diffusion technique . In 30 cases bacteriological analysis was performed in order to determine the MICs for cefotaxime of the bacteria isolated in sputum . The results of the study showed a mean bronchial peak reaching about 2 microgram/ml at the 3d h . Individual concentrations were varying according to doses, route of administration and underlying pathology; the ratios between bronchial and corresponding serum levels were about 15 to 23 p . cent as usual for other cephalosporins . This study indicates that cefotaxime realizes significant bronchial amounts superior to MICs of microorganisms responsible for respiratory infections.

J Clin Lab Immunol, 1982 Jun, 8(2), 133 - 6
Spontaneous circulating immune complex like material in Brown-Norway rats . Role of environmental factors; Bellon B et al.; Brown-Norway rats maintained under conventional housing conditions showed a significant increase in the C1q binding activity of serum and to a lesser extent of the Raji cell assay whereas no change was observed, in BN rats maintained under specific pathogen free (SPF) conditions . Glomerular IgG deposits were encountered among rats with circulating immune complexes (CIC) . This suggests that microbiological environment is a major factor in the spontaneous appearance of CIC which could be of pathogenic significance.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1982 May, 176(2-3), 134 - 41
{Hygienic precautions and microbiological quality control during the manufacturing of sterile drugs}; Zuge R; By the use of an example such as the production of a sterile solution, the hygienic precautions and control procedures required in the pharmaceutical industry are described . Starting materials should be free of germs and pyrogens . During production experimentally tested cleaning procedures for equipment are to be observed . A critical production step is the filtration . The time limits between starting and sterilizing the solution as well as the leakproofness of the filters have to be tested microbiological . --Special microbiological requirements exist for rooms, surfaces and clothes . Process-sterility control is carried out by periodic filling of ampules with nutrient broth . After running through the "compact unit" of the aseptic filling line the ampules contaminated before with endotoxin, are free of pyrogens . --Sterility depends on the count and kind of germs before sterilization procedure . The probability of survival of microorganismen should be less than 1:1 million.

Rev Esp Enferm Apar Dig, 1982 May, 61(5), 440 - 3
{Abdomino-pelvic actinomycosis associated with an intrauterine device . Apropos of a case}; Domecq G et al.; PIP: Although over 300 cases of pelvic actinomycosis have been published, it was not until 1973 that the 1st case of pelvic actinomycosis associated with the new generation of IUDs was described . Data is provided in this article on the causative agent, laboratory procedures, surgical excision, and pathological studies in 1 case of abdominal-pelvic actinomycosis, and the findings are compared to other reports in the English and Spanish literature . A multipara of 25 years with fever, metrorrhagia, and painful tumoration began to suffer dysmenorrhea in June 1980 but attributed the symptoms to the Copper 250 Multiload IUD she had used since July 1979 . A laparotomy in December 1980 disclosed the infection, and pathological tests confirmed the diagnosis . The exact incidence of the association of actinomycosis and the IUD is not known, but the microorganism, Actinomyces-Israeli, is more common in wearers of IUDs than in other women . The diagnosis of actinomycosis is confirmed through microbiological study and histological identification . Treatment since 1945 has consisted of large doses of penicillin over long periods of time, but the use of other antibiotics including tetracycline and erythromycin has been introduced . The abscess or abscesses should be excised and the IUD removed in cases where a relationship is suspected .

Br J Dermatol, 1982 May, 106(5), 529 - 34
Primary onycholysis of the big toenails: a review of 113 cases; Baran R et al.; We have reviewed the clinical and microbiological features of 113 cases of idiopathic onycholysis primarily affecting the great toenails . It is suggested that the majority of these cases were traumatic in origin . Although dermatophytes and potentially pathogenic bacteria were frequently found in the lesions, they were thought to be commensal in most cases . This is of considerable significance with regard to the selection of appropriate therapy.

Ann Emerg Med, 1982 May, 11(5), 248 - 51
Prophylactic oxacillin in dog bite wounds; Elenbaas RM et al.; This prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was undertaken to determine the value of prophylactic oxacillin in dog bites . Adult patients with uninfected full-thickness wounds presenting within 24 hours of injury were considered . Management consisted of cleansing, irrigation, debridement, and closure as indicated; no topical antibiotics were applied . Patients were randomly assigned to receive oxacillin 500 mg QID x 5 days or identically appearing placebo . Home wound care was standardized an patients were observed at least every 2 days . Clinical assessment of infection was confirmed microbiologically . Sixty-three patients were admitted and 46 completed the study . Oxacillin (22) and placebo (24) groups were identical in sex, age, number of wounds per patient, wound location and type, number of open and closed wounds, delay to presentation, length of follow-up observation, medication compliance, and adequacy of patient wound care . Two infections of the hand occurred in patients receiving oxacillin; no infections were seen among placebo-treated patients (P = NS) . Prophylactic oxacillin was not associated with improved outcome . We do not advise the use of prophylactic antibiotics in dog bite injuries treated within 24 hours of accident.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 May, 21(5), 740 - 3
High-performance liquid chromatographic method for determination of cefmetazole in human serum; Sekine M et al.; A fast, specific, sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of cefmetazole in human serum was developed . The serum samples were deproteinized by adding 5% trichloroacetic acid in methanol containing barbital as an internal standard and were injected onto a reverse-phase column (mu-Bondapak C18) with a mobile phase of 10 to 15% acetonitrile in 0.005 M citrate buffer (pH 5.4) . Eluted components were detected by UV absorption at 254 nm . Cefmetazole and the internal standard were separated from interfering serum components by this method . The peak height ratio of cefmetazole to the internal standard was proportional to the cefmetazole concentration in the range from 0.4 to 100 micrograms/ml . Serum samples obtained from three patients after a single intravenous injection of cefmetazole were assayed by this method and by a microbiological method . There was a good correlation between two assay methods (correlation, coefficient, 0.98) . The stability of cefmetazole in human serum was (correlation coefficient, 0.98) . The stability of cefmetazole in human serum was also determined by this method . Cefmetazole was stable in human serum for 2 weeks at 4 degrees C or for at least 8 weeks if it was kept frozen . As the high-performance liquid chromatography method is simple, specific, accurate, and reproducible, it appears to be more suitable for routine assay of cephalosporins than other assay methods.

J Clin Microbiol, 1982 May, 15(5), 795 - 801
Comparison of different tobramycin assays; Stobberingh EE et al.; Three commercial available tobramycin assays, the fluorescent immunoassay (AMES), the Diagnostic Products Corp . radioimmunoassay, and the Nuclear Medical System radioimmunoassay, were compared with the microbiological assay and the chemical assay involving high-performance liquid chromatography . The results obtained with each assay were evaluated in terms of usefulness, reproducibility, and cost-effectiveness.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1982 May, 35(5), 1229 - 32
{Evaluation of enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique for gentamicin assay . Comparison with bioassay}; Sakata H et al.; To assess an enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT) for determination of gentamicin, comparison was done with a microbiological bioassay . Twenty-nine samples from 5 patients and 1 volunteer were assayed by both EMIT and bioassay methods . Concentrations of gentamicin obtained with EMIT were compared with those with bioassay . Statistical calculation resulted in a regression line with a correlation coefficient of 0.9496, a slope of 0.735 and an ordinate intercept of 0.878 . To test the specificity of EMIT, serum controls which contain a constant quantity of gentamicin and a variable quantity of ampicillin concomitantly were assayed for gentamicin concentrations by both EMIT and bioassay . This test demonstrated that EMIT is free from interference of ampicillin while bioassay is vulnerable to interference . To conclude, EMIT proved to be a practical alternative to current bioassays for determination of serum gentamicin concentrations.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1982 Apr, 43(4), 884 - 90
Microbial transformations of warfarin: stereoselective reduction by Nocardia corallina and Arthrobacter species; Davis PJ et al.; The microbiological metabolism of warfarin was examined as a model of metabolism in higher organisms, including humans, and to determine the chirality of microbial reductases for application in organic synthesis . Nineteen cultures were examined based on their reported abilities to reduce ketonic substrates, and several were shown to catalyze the desired reaction . Nocardia corallina (ATCC 19070) exhibited complete substrate and product stereoselectivity as it reduced S-warfarin to the corresponding S-alcohol . Arthrobacter species (ATCC 19140) exhibited marked substrate and complete product stereoselectivity since S-warfarin, and to a lesser extent R-warfarin, were reduced to the corresponding S-alcohols . These reductions parallel those reported to occur in mammalian species.

Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol, 1982 Apr, 36(1), 165 - 8
Lysozyme, intradermal diffusion of india ink and peritoneal capillary permeability in mice; Bianchi C et al.; Hen egg white lysozyme injected intracutaneously into mice inhibits the intradermal diffusion of India Ink . The effect of lysozyme persists in presence of hyaluronidase . Lysozyme injected i.p . into mice inhibits acetic acid (i.p.) induced leakage of Pontamine Sky Blue into the abdominal cavity . The data suggest that lysozyme might be tried for applications outside the microbiological field.

J Clin Pathol, 1982 Apr, 35(4), 390 - 4
Synovial fluid lactic acid measurement in the diagnosis and management of septic arthritis; Riordan T et al.; An improved method of lactic acid estimation by gas liquid chromatography (GLC) is described . Synovial fluid lactic acid estimation was performed on 52 patients (15 with septic arthritis and 37 with non-septic arthropathies) and compared to routine microbiological methods and white cell counts . Lactic acid was found to be a useful and rapid test for differentiating between septic and non-septic arthritis being markedly raised (greater than 12 mmol/l) in all the septic joints . Raised lactic acid concentrations were of particular diagnostic value in patients in whom antibiotic therapy had commenced before joint aspiration . The results of lactic acid estimation on sequential samples were helpful in assessing the response of septic arthritis to treatment.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1982 Apr, 77(4), 443 - 6
Improving communication of microbiology test results; Lee A et al.; A number of basic guidelines for the reporting of microbiological data are presented . These guidelines were generated as part of a project investigating the communication gap between the microbiology laboratory and the clinician . A series of interviews and workshops were held with senior medical and microbiology staff from a number of major hospitals . A major finding of this project was that insufficient time was considered to be given to the reporting of laboratory data compared to generation of that data; also, the laboratory should take greater responsibility for interpretative comments . These guidelines are presented as a basis for review of laboratory reporting practices.

Br J Vener Dis, 1982 Apr, 58(2), 113 - 6
Epidemiological treatment gonorrhoea and non-specific genital infection in female sexual contacts . Current practices in STD clinics in England and Wales; Belsey EM; In a study to quantify epidemiological treatment given to female contracts for gonorrhoea and non-specific genital infection in STD clinics in England and Wales two-thirds of women treated for gonorrhoea during 1978 were named contacts, a quarter of whom received epidemiological treatment . Only 35% of cases treated in this way were subsequently confirmed microbiologically, but nearly 1000 unconfirmed cases were returned as if they were true cases of gonorrhoea . In view of modern culture techniques and the low default rates found in this study, there seems to be little justification for the use of epidemiological treatment for gonorrhoea . Of women who gave a history of exposure to non-specific urethritis, 86% received epidemiological treatment . The variation in diagnostic and notification criteria for non-specific genital infection results in virtually worthless statistics for female cases treated.

J Clin Pathol, 1982 Apr, 35(4), 444 - 51
A microcomputer system for the collection and analysis of antibiotic sensitivity test data; Clarkson DM et al.; A microcomputer system for the routine collection and analysis of microbiological data is described . A digitising tablet is used as a method of data input . A series of analysis programmes was developed to allow investigation of the distribution of organisms in relation to the type of specimen in which they occur, the origin of the specimen and also to examine their associated sensitivity patterns . In this instance a Commodore PET was used, though other microcomputers could be similarly employed with equal facility.

Int J Oral Surg, 1982 Apr, 11(2), 122 - 6
An investigation into the reduction of tooth contamination in delayed transplantation; Comfort MB; 90 unerupted human teeth were removed surgically and were cultured for between 1 and 5 weeks in one of three storage media supplemented with different combination of antibiotics . Each tooth was screened for microbiological contamination after culture . Medium 199 with benzyl penicillin, cephaloridine and gentamicin gave the highest % of sterile teeth (82.1%) . Discriminant analysis showed that the addition of antibiotics to the culture medium was the main factor contributing to sterility; irrigation with sterile saline during tooth removal, ultrasonic treatment before culture and the pre-operative tooth position were also found to be important.

Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh), 1982 Apr, 60(2), 213 - 22
Bacterial contamination of drops and dropper tips of in-use multidose eye drop bottles; Hovding G et al.; The type and frequency of bacterial contamination of 638 in-use multidose eye drop bottles are reported . By dripping, bacteria were recovered from 82 bottles (12.9%) . Bacterial growth considered to be clinically and microbiologically significant were found in 12 cases (1.9%) . The swabbings from 38 of 180 dropper tips (21.1%) yielded bacteria, while none of the pipette aspirates from 196 bottles were positive . The flora obtained by dripping and swabbing was very similar to the normal conjunctival and skin flora . It is suggested that microorganisms isolated by dripping often originate from contaminated dropper tips . The frequency of contaminated drops did not increase with increasing duration of use of the bottles . Repeated examinations and inoculation studies indicated that the solutions were self-sterilizing . This indicates that multidose eye drop bottles preserved and dispensed as in the present study may be used for more than the usual 4 weeks without increasing the risk of ocular infection.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Apr, 21(4), 628 - 33
Anion-exchange extraction of cephapirin, cefotaxime, and cefoxitin from serum for liquid chromatography; Fasching CE et al.; An anion-exchange column technique for extraction of antibiotics from serum proteins has been developed for use in the assay of cephapirin, cefotaxime, and cefoxitin by high-pressure liquid chromatography . Anion-exchange extraction of cephapirin from serum samples by this technique was compared with protein precipitation methods, using 6% trichloroacetic acid or absolute ethanol . Column extraction gave improved quantitative drug recovery and reduced background serum interferences in the resultant chromatograms when evaluated against protein precipitation . Comparisons of this method with microbiological assay gave statistically equivalent results . Twelve patient samples were assayed for cephapirin, and no interferences were encountered from the 22 systemic agents these subjects were receiving . The anion-exchange technique for antibiotic extraction provides a rapid, precise, and quantitative antibiotic assay when used with liquid chromatography.

Avian Dis, 1982 Apr-Jun, 26(2), 227 - 33
Efficacy of lincomycin-spectinomycin water medication on Mycoplasma meleagridis airsacculitis in commercially reared turkey poults; Hamdy AH et al.; A field trial was conducted to compare the efficacy of a combination of the drugs lincomycin and spectinomycin (LS) with Tylan (tylosin, T) against Mycoplasma meleagridis (MM) airsacculitis in 50,320 commercially reared turkey poults in Ohio . Both drugs were administered at 2 g per gallon of drinking water for the first 5 days of life . The poults were allotted randomly to two treatment groups with 8 or 5 replicates each . Initially, 250 poults were weighed, necropsied, and examined microbiologically and grossly for airsacculitis . At 3 weeks of age, 33 poults from each replicate were randomly selected, necropsied, and examined for airsacculitis . The data indicate that LS is superior to T as an aid in the control of MM airsacculitis in poults, as reflected by fewer air-sac lesions and greater improvement in weight gain (P less than 0.05).

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Apr, 21(4), 601 - 3
Comparative penetration of metronidazole, clindamycin, chloramphenicol, cefoxitin, ticarcillin, and moxalactam into bone; Summersgill JT et al.; The concentrations of metronidazole, clindamycin, chloramphenicol, cefoxitin, ticarcillin, and moxalactam in the serum, femurs, and scapulae of normal rats were measured microbiologically 0.5, 1, 1, and 4 h after intravenous injection of 15-, 15-, 20-, 40-, 75-, and 30-mg/kg doses of the respective drugs . By 0.5 h metronidazole reached levels of 3.0 micrograms/g in compact femoral bone and 2.7 micrograms/g in cancellous scapular bone . Clindamycin and chloramphenicol reached levels of 8.1 and 6.1 micrograms/g, respectively, at 0.5 h . Cefoxitin penetrated bone to a level of 2.6 micrograms/g, whereas ticarcillin and moxalactam failed to reach significant levels in bone after single intravenous doses.

Fortschr Med, 1982 Mar 11, 100(10), 393 - 5
{Advantages of short-term therapy in vaginal mycoses from a socio-psychological viewpoint}; Rausch KD et al.; As has become evident from an interview of 161 patients affected by vaginal mycosis, the subjective experience of the disease must be seen in relation to the sociopsychological problems involved . Assumed negative reactions to the disease in the patient's social environment as well as fear and uncertainty regarding the aetiology of the disease make it hard for the patient to accept her disease, which would surely favour a steadfast therapeutic behaviour . For the gynaecologist the finding of a "vaginal mycosis" represents an unproblematic affection since it is easily controllable with antimycotics . The result of this different approach to the disease by doctor and patient is non-compliance of the vaginal mycosis patient: the patient goes to see her doctor soon after the appearance of complaints, but tends to terminate treatment prematurely when the subjective complaints subside, in order to avoid a further confrontation with the disease . An adequate, short-term treatment of vaginal mycosis, the course of which is supervised both clinically and microbiologically, thus appears to be the right way of solving the problem of non-compliance.

Am J Gastroenterol, 1982 Mar, 77(3), 146 - 8
Does spontaneous bacterial peritonitis occur in malignant ascites?
Kurtz RC, Bronzo RL.
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is a well-described entity estimated to occur in 8% of patients with cirrhotic ascites . Characteristic clinical findings may often be absent and the only manifestation may be decompensation of liver function . Ascites at Memorial Hospital is most commonly related to malignancy . We reviewed the records of 101 patients with ascitic fluid cytology positive for malignancy during the calendar year 1979 . The most common malignant cytological diagnosis was adenocarcinoma, seen in 76 patients . Of the 101 patients with positive ascitic fluid cytology, 65 fluid specimens had microbiological studies performed which included aerobic, anerobic, fungal, and acid fast bacterial cultures . Only three patients had positive ascitic fluid cultures . We believe that these three patients had other reasons for peritonitis and do not represent true spontaneous bacterial peritonitis . Ascites alone, without liver disease, seem to predispose to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis . Perhaps, the presence of liver disease with less than normally effective hepatic reticuloendothelial function and portasystemic shunting is needed for the development of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

J Pediatr, 1982 Mar, 100(3), 339 - 50
Acute salpingitis in the adolescent female; Shafer MA et al.; Acute salpingitis is an important complication of sexually transmitted disease in young women and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain in all young women . Many organisms, in addition to N . gonorrhoeae, have been associated with this tubal infection giving support to polymicrobial etiology . However, the exact pathophysiologic role of these organisms needs to be clearly defined . The microbiology of acute salpingitis, through direct culture from the site of infection, the fallopian tubes, needs to be clearly elucidated . Early recognition and treatment of acute salpingitis is essential in preventing the major long-term problem, involuntary infertility . Curran has estimated the reproductive outcome for a cohort of adolescent women reaching reproductive age in 1970 . By the year 2000, there will have been one episode of salpingitis for every two women; 15% will be hospitalized for salpingitis with over half of these women requiring major gynecologic surgery; 10% will be rendered nonsurgically sterile; and 3% will have experienced an ectopic pregnancy . Adolescent females may be more susceptible to upper genital tract infection than older women due to possible unique biologic characteristics and sexual behaviors . Prospective microbiologically controlled studies of women with salpingitis using laparoscopy need to be developed to evaluate treatment regimens . Until such studies are undertaken, diagnosis, treatment, and fertility in women with acute salpingitis will remain unsatisfactory.

Arch Latinoam Nutr, 1982 Mar, 32(1), 79 - 86
{Colorimetric determination of tryptophan in foods}; Mondragon MC et al.; A modification of the method of Spies and Chambers for the determination of tryptophan in food products is described . The results were compared with those obtained with the microbiological method and gave identical results . The results on tryptophan content of bean broth were consistently higher than expected . Apparently, bean broth contains certain factors, which interfere with both procedures . In summary, the modified method is simple and easy to perform in large numbers of samples.

Nippon Sanka Fujinka Gakkai Zasshi, 1982 Mar, 34(3), 325 - 34
{A study of 16 alpha OH-DHA and 16 alpha OH-pregnenolone in feto-placental unit (author's transl)}; Gothoda Y et al.; Serum levels of total 16 alpha-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone (16 alpha-OH-DHA) and 16 alpha-hydroxy-pregnenolone (16 alpha-OH-P5) which are considered to be a fetal origin have not been well documented . Radioimmunoassays using specific antisera against 16 alpha-PH-DHA-7-CMO-BSA and 16 alpha-OH-P5-#-succinate-BSA were developed and serum concentrations of these steroids in normal men and women, maternal peripheral vein (MV) during pregnancy, umbilical artery and umbilical vein at delivery were measured . Labeled 16 alpha-hydroxylated steroids were synthesized by microbiological method . The concentrations of 16 alpha-OH-delta 5-steroids were increased as pregnancy progresses . Both steroid levels in cord serum were statistically higher than those in MV . In the case of intrauterine fetal death and anencephalic pregnancy, significantly low levels of both steroids in MV and cord blood were found . On the other hand, pregnancy with placental sulfatase deficiency, showed high levels both in MV and cord vein . It is interesting to not that in normal pregnancy, maternal 16 alpha-OH-DHA levels correlated well with that of 16 alpha-OH-P5 . However, in pregnancy with anencephalic fetus, there was no correlation between the levels of two steroids . From the results of in vitro experiment using placental tissue, 16 alpha-OH-progesterone was formed from labeled 16 alpha-OH-P5, whereas no metabolite was noticed when fetal adrenal tissue was used . From these in vitro and in vivo studies, a significance of the measuring of serum 16 alpha-OH-DHA and 16 alpha-OH-P5 during pregnancy is discussed.

Vet Microbiol, 1982 Mar, 7(1), 51 - 60
Interaction of rotavirus and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in conventionally-reared dairy calves; Snodgrass DR et al.; A study was made of the effects of rotavirus and/or enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) on dairy calves born and suckled on the farm and subsequently reared in isolation . Calves were orally inoculated at 6 days old with either rotavirus (5), ETEC (7), rotavirus and ETEC (5) or remained uninoculated controls (4), and their reactions were recorded by clinical, microbiological, and pathological observations . Rotavirus infection consistently produced diarrhoea, while ETEC inoculated alone did not colonise the intestine . In dual infections, both rotavirus and ETEC multiplied, although the severity of diarrhoea was not greater than that caused by rotavirus alone . Some ETEC-inoculated calves developed subsequent naturally-acquired rotavirus infections, but in these no ETEC multiplication occurred . The results suggest that prior or simultaneous rotavirus infection is necessary to enable ETEC colonisation of the intestine in conventional calves of this age.

Wien Med Wochenschr, 1982 Feb 28, 132(4), 87 - 90
{Microbial sources of antigens in the environment of farmer's lung patients (author's transl)}; Frank A et al.; The actinomycetes Micropolyspora faeni and Thermoactinomyces vulgaris are important sources of antigens in extrinsic allergic alveolitis, the deuteromycete Aspergillus fumigatus is it to a lesser extent . These microorganisms have been sought in hay samples obtained from farmers who on the one hand show farmer's lung symptoms and on the other antibodies to these microorganisms . A relatively good correlation has been found between the immunological and microbiological findings . The conditions necessary for the occurrence of antigen sources in farmer's lung disease are discussed, and the need for prophylactic measures is pointed out.

Vet Rec, 1982 Feb 27, 110(9), 192 - 4
Bovine leptospirosis: microbiological and serological findings in normal fetuses removed from the uteri after slaughter; Ellis WA et al.; Leptospires were demonstrated by a combination of the direct fluorescent antibody technique and culture in six (4.6 per cent) of 130 fetuses from apparently normal uteri collected at an abattoir . Fetal ages ranged from the fifth to the seventh months . In addition, leptospires were isolated from the oviducts of two uteri whose fetuses were not infected . All the strains isolated were similar antigenically to serovar hardjo . Leptospiral antibodies were not detected in any of the fetuses.

Vet Rec, 1982 Feb 13, 110(7), 147 - 50
Bovine leptospirosis: microbiological and serological findings in aborted fetuses; Ellis WA et al.; Leptospiral infection was diagnosed in 41.6 per cent of 245 randomly selected aborted bovine fetuses and 68.9 per cent of 103 aborted fetuses from farms with abortion problems . Diagnosis was based on combined leptospiral isolates from fetal kidney and eye, and fetal serology and immunofluorescence . Fifty-six of the 58 strains of leptospira isolated belonged to the Hebdomadis serogroup and were similar to serovar hardjo while one of the remaining two strains belonged to the Icterohaemorrhagiae serogroup and the other to the Canicola serogroup . These findings indicate that serovar hardjo infection is a major factor in the aetiology of bovine abortion and that it is possible to isolate this organism from fetal kidney by the careful application of dilution culture technique.

Nouv Presse Med, 1982 Feb 4, 11(5 Pt 2), 365 - 7
{Penetration of mezlocillin into bronchial secretions (author's transl)}; Morel C et al.; The penetration of mezlocillin into bronchial secretions collected by fiberoscopy was determined in 18 hospital patients with acute-on-chronic bronchial infection . Samples of blood and bronchial mucus were collected simultaneously 3 hours after each 12-hourly intramuscular injection of 1 g mezlocillin . Antibiotic concentrations were measured by the microbiological method . Mezlocillin concentrations in bronchial secretions averaged 50 % of concomitant serum concentrations . The rate of penetration of the drug was higher than that observed with ampicillin in similar conditions . The mean bronchial level of 3 micrograms/ml was indicative of a high therapeutic index in relation to the MICs of the pathogens isolated in these patients . It is concluded that intramuscular mezlocillin is indicated for the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic bronchial infections due to highly sensitive organisms.

Nouv Presse Med, 1982 Feb 4, 11(5 Pt 2), 335 - 9
{Pharmacokinetics of intravenous mezlocillin in patients with normal and impaired renal function (author's transl)}; Cano JP et al.; The pharmacokinetics of mezlocillin after intravenous infusion of 5 g over 30 minutes was compared in 15 patients divided into 3 groups . Group I patients had normal renal function, group II patients had moderate chronic renal impairment and group III patients were under haemodialysis . Plasma mezlocillin levels were measured by the microbiological method . Plasma kinetic values were calculated from a linear two-compartment model, using global estimation of macroconstants by the non-linear least square method . The elimination half-life was 1.19 +/- 0.107 h in group I patients 1.98 +/- 0.19 h in group II patients and 2.34 +/- 0.11 h in group III patients . Renal impairment did not significantly alter the apparent volume of distribution but influenced the total plasma clearance which was 139 +/- 9 ml/min, 87 +/- 9 ml/min and 61 +/- 8 ml/min in groups I, II and III patients respectively . There was a slight decrease of V1 (central compartment) and a noticeable increase of V2 (peripheral compartment), depending on the degree of renal impairment . The total volume of distribution (V1 + V2) remained relatively constant between 12 and 14 litres . Homogeneous results were obtained in each group of patients, thus confirming the regularity of the mezlocillin kinetic model at the dose administered . This should enable dosage adjustment according to renal function, as assessed by laboratory criteria.

Can J Neurol Sci, 1982 Feb, 9(1), 37 - 9
Cerebrospinal fluid and blood thiamine concentrations in phenytoin-treated epileptics; Botez MI et al.; Thiamine and folate levels in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were determined by microbiological assays in 23 control subjects and 11 phenytoin-treated epileptics . There was no significant difference between the two groups for serum and CSF folate levels . There was, however, a statistically significant difference between the groups for both whole blood thiamine and CSF thiamine levels . Epileptic patients being treated with phenytoin had lower values than control subjects.

J Steroid Biochem, 1982 Feb, 16(2), 157 - 63
Aromatization of 15 alpha and 16 alpha hydroxylated androgens in the human placental using {1,2-3H}-substrates; Cantineau R et al.; This in vitro study reports data on the aromatization of {1,2-3H}-C19 steroids in the human term placenta {androstenedione (III), testosterone (IV), 15 alpha-hydroxy-androstenedione (V), 15 alpha-hydroxy-testosterone (VI), 16 alpha-hydroxy-androstenedione (VII)} . The hydroxylated androgens were microbiologically synthesized from commercially radiolabelled {1,2-3H}-androstenedione and testosterone . Androstenedione and testosterone were good substrates for the human placental aromatase (low Km values, high Vmax); they strongly inhibited the 15 and 16 hydroxylated androgens aromatizations . On the other hand, these hydroxylated compounds acted as poor substrates and were only non-competitive inhibitors of the androstenedione and testosterone aromatizations . However, 15 alpha-hydroxy-androstenedione could not be disregarded as a potential precursor of 15 alpha-hydroxylated estrogens in the human placenta.

Antibiotiki, 1982 Feb, 27(2), 105 - 17
{Cooperative functioning of 2 systems of protection against its own antibiotic in Str . erythreus 1571, a superproducer of erythromycin}; Griaznova NS et al.; Protein synthesis in the mycelium of various ages and the protoplasts of Str . erythreus 1571 was slightly sensitive even to high concentrations of erythromycin and lincomycin . Oxytetracycline and neomycin in low concentrations induced marked inhibition of the protein synthesis . 14C-Erythromycin was binding with the mycelium of the organism producing it in much lower amounts than with the mycelium of Str . roseolus, a lincomycin-producing culture . No products of erythromycin biotransformation by the cell-free preparations of Str . erythreus containing cofactors for enzymatic phosphorylation and demethylation were detected with the methods of microbiological titration and radiochromatography . Enzymatic N-demethylation of lincomycin was observed in the cell-free preparations of Str . erythreus . Erythromycin and lincomycin had practically no effect on polylysine synthesis in the cell-free system of Str . erythreus with poly-A and inhibited the synthesis of this polypeptide in the cell-free systems of E . coli MRE 600 and B . subtilis ATCC 6633 . These antibiotics had either no effect on the fragment (puromycin) reaction with the ribosomes of Str . erythreus . In case of the ribosomes of E . coli MRE 600 the fragment reaction was sensitive to lincomycin but not to erythromycin . The ribosomes isolated from Str . erythreus and their 50S subunits bound 14C-erythromycin in much lower amounts than those isolated from E . coli and their 50S subunits . The data are indicative of the presence of 2 systems protecting the culture from erythromycin in Str . erythreus 1571, i.e . at the level of ribosomes and at the level of the cytoplasmic membrane.

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol, 1982 Feb, 13(1), 31 - 41
IUD and salpingitis: a prospective study of pathomorphological changes in the oviducts in IUD-users; Beerthuizen RJ et al.; A prospective study on pathomorphological changes in the oviducts in 253 women who underwent voluntary sterilization via posterior colpotomy performed at the Catharina Ziekenhuis, Eindhoven, was performed in order to investigate the effect of the intrauterine device (IUD) . Some form of salpingitis was found in 54% of the IUD-group and in only 6% of the control group (P less than 10(-6), four-fold table, chi-squared test.) Microbiological study in 51 patients did not explain the pathoanatomical changes . As the IUD-and control-groups were comparable in all investigated parameters, the inflammatory reaction must be caused by the method of contraception.

J Clin Pathol, 1982 Feb, 35(2), 211 - 4
Diagnosis of Legionella pneumophila infections by means of formolised yolk sac antigens; Harrison TG et al.; Formolised yolk sac antigens of Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1-6 were used to test 1792 serum specimens from 1431 patients with respiratory illness of serological evidence of Legionnaires' disease (LD) . Thirty-five patients showed titres against the serogroup 1 antigen diagnostic for LD . Only two further cases were considered to have non-serogroup I infections (both serogroup 4) indicating that such infections are rare . Titres of greater than 1/16 against the serogroup 1 antigen occur in only 3% of subjects without LD and thus the demonstration of such a titre in patients with pneumonia during the early phase of illness can alert the clinician to the likelihood of LD . The supply of serogroup 1 antigen from the Division of Microbiological Reagents and Quality Control to routine diagnostic laboratories will be continued and monovalent serogroup 2-6 antigens will continue to be made available to reference laboratories.

Am J Clin Nutr, 1982 Feb, 35(2), 381 - 97
History and current status of infant formulas; Anderson SA et al.; Formulas that approximate the composition of human milk are widely used as the sole source of nutrients for infants during the first months of life . Such formulas contain milk, soy, or meal proteins, or protein hydrolysates together with those forms of fat carbohydrate, vitamins, and minerals shown to be bioavailable to the infant . Legislation concerning nutrient composition and quality assurance of products labeled as infant formulas has been enacted by Congress . Governmental and industrial standards also help to assure microbiological safety and stability . Problems of nutrient composition and adverse reactions have occurred during the evolution and development of infant formulas . Problems concerning nutrient deficiency are now almost unknown, but adverse reactions of individuals to specific formula ingredients continue . Accurate information on composition and related nutritional properties of infant formulas is essential for their effective use and for the avoidance of undesirable complications.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1982, 176(5-6), 525 - 9
{Microbial colonization of lining materials and building materials in the drinking water supply . 10 . The behavior of a polyamide pipe in use and under laboratory conditions}; Schoenen D et al.; After the installation of a new rising-pipe the count of bacteria in the water of a well increased temporarily . After a working period of 25 months the pipe was removed and microbiologically examined . On the inside and the outside of the pipe surface microbial growth could be observed . After the first increase of colony count in the water a comparable polyamid-pipe was tested microbiologically under laboratory conditions . In this case growth on the surface could also be found at 3 successive inspections.

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