Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1982, 176(5-6), 463 - 71 {A new method for the microbiological evaluation of disinfecting laundering procedures for textiles}; Koller W et al.; A new method is described to evaluate the efficacy of disinfecting laundering processes . Testpieces (contaminated cotton fabric patches) are enclosed between a pair of membrane-filter discs . Being immersed in the wash liquor this test system acts as a perfusion chamber permeable for detergent and disinfectant solution but retaining the testbacteria to the testpieces . Tests performed in a shaking water bath as well as practical laundering processes with detergents showed the following: from contaminated test pieces wrapped in cotton fabric - as commonly used in such experiments - test bacteria can hardly be recovered even after a non-bactericidal washing process . This is a result of mechanical wash-off . In contrary, with the new method reductions of viable counts are mainly due to bactericidal effects as physical removal of testbacteria is prevented by the filter membranes . Thus, disinfecting laundering procedures are readily distinguishable from merely cleaning ones . As additional advantage the filter-method prevents test pieces from being contaminated by other bacteria carried by the wash liquor. Vet Med Nauki, 1982, 19(6), 84 - 9 {Intramammary drug forms of neotil in treating mastitis during lactation}; Donev B et al.; Technological, biopharmaceutical, and clinico-pharmacological studies were carried out on the varying composition of drug formulas that included a tylosin base and neomycin sulfate, intended for the treatment of mastitis-affected cows during the lactation period . A base was developed of suitable viscosity and physico-chemical properties, that rapidly released the active ingredients included in it and made them penetrate in depth in the udder glandular tissue . Both the base and the drug formula Neotil were shown to be well tolerated . Following the single intracisternal infusion tylosin was excreted with the milk up to fifth milking (the 60th hour), and neomycin--up to the 4th milking (the 48th hour) . When applied therapeutically in the case of clinical and subclinical mastitis Neotil led to the clinical and bacteriological recovery of 92.5 per cent of the affected quarters . Developed was a microbiological method for the analysis of the active ingredients contained in the drug formula and the milk secretion. Curr Med Res Opin, 1982, 8(4), 260 - 5 Prophylactic netilmicin in surgery; Abbas AM et al.; Seventy-seven elective or emergency surgical patients were treated with a prophylactic course of netilmicin . Netilmicin (150 mg intramuscularly) was given 1 hour prior to operation and continued 12 hourly until the patient was free of risk of post-operative infection . There was no microbiological or clinical evidence of post-operative infection in general surgical or orthopaedic patients . Netilmicin seems to be less nephrotoxic than other aminoglycosides . Netilmicin serum levels were within expected values . Netilmicin was found to be an effective and well-tolerated antibiotic, and prophylactic treatment shortened the mean patient bed-stay and hence costs incurred. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1982, 48(4), 373 - 81 Bacteriological testing of a modified laminar flow microbiological safety cabinet; Heidt PJ; A modified microbiological safety cabinet which can be used as a class II and a class III safety cabinet has been bacteriologically tested . This cabinet makes use of a high-speed down-flow air curtain in the front opening to minimize the amount of air escaping over the arms of the operator . By using artificial aerosols and a dummy or a test person placing his arms into the working opening of the cabinet, a transfer from the inside to the environment was detected only when the highest concentration of the test aerosol was used . Since the number of bacteria detected was very low, this is considered to be acceptable . When the cabinet was used as a class III type, with a glove panel mounted in the front opening, leakage from the environment occurred . This could be completely prevented by fixing tape over the hinge of the front panel . The conclusion is drawn that this type of biohazard hood can be safely used as a class II and a class III microbiological safety cabinet, provided the construction of the hinge of the front panel will be adapted to prevent transfer from the environment to the working area. Vet Med Nauki, 1982, 19(3), 56 - 64 {Cytological, microbiological and biochemical analysis of cow's milk at the beginning of lactation}; Bozhkova G et al.; Milk samples of eleven cows of first lactation and ten cows of second lactation were studied in dynamics with regard to their cytological, microbiological, and biochemical properties . The milk was ampled with all quarters individually every other day up to the 10th day, and every fifth day up to the 20th day from calving . It was found that on the second day of calving the cell content of the milk of cows of both first and second lactation was higher, showing a trend of a rapid drop and reaching 441--484 thou . per 1 cm3 by the sixth day . In the course of 20 days following calving there were essential differences in the level of infections with the cows of the two groups . On the basis of the microbiologic investigations it was considered possible to differentiate the inflammation processes of the udder from the normal status on the sixth day. Int J Environ Anal Chem, 1982, 12(2), 141 - 51 A comparative study of chemical and microbiological monitoring of pollutant hydrocarbons in urban aquatic environments; Solanas AM et al.; Conventional chemical and microbiological methods-aromatics by UV-fluorescence and the number of oil-degrading microorganisms, respectively-have been used for the monitoring of pollutant hydrocarbons in three different aquatic systems: two rivers, one harbour and three marine coastal areas . An evaluation of the first year data of such study is presented . Relative populations of total heterotrophic microorganisms and those of degrading hydrocarbons correlate satisfactorily with hydrocarbon concentrations in marine areas, where chronic pollution situations occur, whereas unreliable results were obtained in the river systems . The water temperature seems to have a positive influence on the response of microorganisms to oil pollution. Infection, 1982, 10 Suppl 2, S70 - 3 {Clinical picture of Legionnaires' disease (author's transl)}; Lode H et al.; Legionella infections can take the clinical course of a relatively harmless respiratory infection . However, serious, atypical pneumonia is a more frequent manifestation of infection with these pathogens . As yet, six different Legionella species can be identified; Legionella pneumophila appears to be the most common . Legionnaires' pneumonia is being found with increasing regularity during summer and autumn in elderly male patients with previous illnesses . The clinical picture is characterised by viral "prodrome", high fever, a dry cough, breast pain, confusion, diarrhoea, haematuria, moderate leukocytosis with lymphopenia, low concentrations of sodium in the serum and negative results from microbiological analysis of the sputum and pleural exudate . Diagnosis is confirmed culturally, microscopically and serologically; the indirect immunofluorescence test is of particular value for this purpose . Erythromycin alone or in combination with rifampicin is the treatment of choice. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Jan, 21(1), 135 - 40 Pharmacokinetics of single-dose erythromycin in normal and alcoholic liver disease subjects; Kroboth PD et al.; Six normal males and eight male subjects with alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and ascites were given a single 500-mg dose of erythromycin base . Twelve serum samples were collected at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 24 h after dosing and assayed microbiologically for erythromycin concentration . Absorption was characterized by a zero-order model for both groups . ALD subjects demonstrated a shorter lag time (2.0 versus 3.0 h), an earlier peak (4.6 versus 6.3 h, P less than 0.05), and higher peak concentrations (2.04 versus 1.50 micrograms/ml) than normal subjects . Previously unreported biphasic elimination kinetics after oral dosing were observed in five and four ALD subjects . In the ALD group, the mean half lives for the first (alpha) and terminal (beta) phases were 1.6 and 4.5 h, respectively, and in normal subjects, were 1.3 and 6.6 h . The difference in alpha between groups was significant, P less than 0.05 . The clinical significance of this finding for ALD patients receiving prolonged courses of erythromycin is discussed. Vopr Pitan, 1982 Jan-Feb, (1), 26 - 9 {Use of vitamin B12 in the combined therapy of viral hepatitis}; Komar VI; The microbiological method was used in 168 virus hepatitis patients aged 16-55 years to study the content of unbound vitamin B12 in the blood serum over the time of the disease before administration of cyanocobalamin and in the course of its application in a dose of 100 and 200 micrograms intramuscularly every other day for 3-4 weeks . In the acute stage of the disease, the patients showed an appreciable hypercyanocobalaminemia that correlated well with the disease severity and with the magnitudes of liver function tests . Cyanocobalamin administered to the patients intramuscularly in a dose of 100 micrograms every other day exerted a more remarkable normalizing effect on the level of unbound vitamin B12, bilirubin, the thymol test, aldolase and alanine aminotransferase of the blood as compared to that produced by the drug injected in a dose of 200 micrograms. J Clin Pathol, 1982 Jan, 35(1), 82 - 93 The United Kingdom national microbiological quality assessment scheme; Snell JJ et al.; A comprehensive microbiological quality assessment scheme for the benefit of all clinical microbiological laboratories in the United Kingdom was established in 1974 . The main emphasis of the scheme has been on the supply of simulated clinical material for proficiency testing . Of 494 laboratories currently participating in the scheme, 84 are abroad and over 500 specimens have been distributed between 1974 and 1980 . A wide variety of specimens are issued . These include specimens for: general bacteriology including isolation, sensitivity testing and serology; mycobacterial bacteriology; syphilis serology; virus isolation; general viral serology; rubella serology; hepatitis B antigen detection; electron microscopy; mycology; parasitology; antibiotic assay; public health specimens including milk and water . Laboratories are requested to examine the specimens using their routine procedures and report their results to the Microbiological Quality Control Laboratory (MQCL) . The reports are analysed at MQCL and the summarised results of each distribution are sent to all participants . Each participant receives details of his individual performance on current specimens and an analysis of the previous 6 months, cumulative performance . The performance of all laboratories is reviewed twice yearly and laboratories with results significantly worse than those of their peers are offered the opportunity to seek advice and help from a National Advisory Panel of their professional colleagues . The Scheme is confidential and its main role is educational. Br J Nutr, 1982 Jan, 47(1), 131 - 7 The availability to the chick of pantothenic acid in foods; Latymer EA et al.; 1 . The content of total pantothenic acid (PaA) in two foodstuffs of microbial origin was measured by standard microbiological and chick biological assays . 2 . Substantially and consistently higher values were found by the chick assay than by the microbiological determination, indicating that PaA-containing compounds were present that were not utilized by the test micro-organisms but were available for chicks . Attempts to identify these compounds did not explain the source of excess PaA activity for the chick . 3 . It is suggested that forms for PaA that are undetected by standard methods of microbiological assay differ from one food to another and require different treatments to make the vitamin available to the assay organism. Infection, 1982, 10 Suppl 2, S86 - 91 {Erythromycin versus amoxicillin for the treatment of pneumonia in children (author's transl)}; Ruhrmann H et al.; Following a study in which the etiology of nearly 70% of 142 cases of pneumonia in children could be determined using a combination of bacteriological and serological methods, the effect of erythromycin ethylsuccinate was compared with that of amoxicillin in a randomized study on 120 cases of pneumonia . We first examined the tracheal secretion microbiologically and determined other serological parameters and clinical data . The tracheal secretion was sterile in only 19% of the cases . We were able to identify the etiology in 64% of the cases using a combination of microbiological and serological methods . A discontinuation of therapy and acceptable side-effects were considerably more frequent with amoxicillin than with erythromycin ethylsuccinate (75 mg/kg body weight) . The advantages of erythromycin, especially for the initial therapy of pneumonia, and the improvements in diagnosis resulting from the examination of the tracheal secretion will be discussed. Poumon Coeur, 1982, 38(1), 11 - 5 {Contribution of contra-immunoelectrophoresis to the diagnosis of acute pneumococcal pneumopathies: report on 37 cases (author's transl)}; Lepilliez A et al.; Employed since 1971, contra-immunoelectrophoresis is a microbiological technique now recognised as being of increasing value . Used in 37 cases of pneumococcal lung infections its diagnostic reliability was 81% the technique being of particular interest in that it enabled a positive diagnosis in lung infections previously treated by antibiotics . Though performed in only a small number of cases, this method was able to confirm the frequency of pneumococcal infections . The technique can now be considered to be well established, the production of specific anti-serums, approaching type-specificity, being possible . Fairly simple to perform, and giving rapid results (within hour) it requires a minimum of apparatus and is a standard procedure that should be employed in all microbiological medical laboratories . Of undeniable diagnostic value, it should be associated with conventional bacteriological tests, which though essential sometimes give insufficient data. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Jan, 21(1), 19 - 25 Performance characteristics of bioassay, radioenzymatic assay, homogeneous enzyme immunoassay, and high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of serum gentamicin; Delaney CJ et al.; We compared the accuracy, precision, and between-method error of the microbiological assay, the radioenzymatic assay, the homogeneous enzyme immunoassay, and the high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for the quantitation of gentamicin in serum . Precision and accuracy were evaluated by reference samples prepared to contain 0.0 to 32.7 micrograms of gentamicin per ml . Correlations between the methods utilized patient sera with gentamicin concentrations ranging from 0.6 to 13.3 micrograms/ml . All methods were reliable within acceptable limits for routine clinical use; intermethod correlation coefficients exceeded 0.96 . Relative to the microbiological assay, the alternative methods offer the advantage of rapid analysis . The elapsed times for acquiring data on a set of 10 specimens under routine operating conditions were 0.5 h by the enzyme immunoassay, 4 h by the radioenzymatic assay, 5 h by the high-performance liquid chromatographic assay, and 10 h by the microbiological assay. J Assoc Off Anal Chem, 1982 Jan, 65(1), 85 - 8 Radioisotope dilution technique for determination of vitamin B12 in foods; Casey PJ et al.; A radioisotope dilution (RID) method for the determination of vitamin B12 is presented . The method combines a standard extraction procedure (AOAC 43.108, 12th ed.) with a commercially available RID assay kit . The method was evaluated on a wide range of fortified and unfortified food products . Recovery studies on both groups yielded average recoveries of 98.1 and 95.8%, respectively . Reproducibility data generated from replicate analyses on both groups gave a relative standard deviation of 6.9% for the fortified group and 9.2% for the unfortified group . For the samples studied, the mean vitamin B12 content determined by the RID method was 8.01 micrograms/100 g vs a mean of 7.54 micrograms/100 g by the AOAC microbiological method; the correlation coefficient was r = 0.983. Arch Oral Biol, 1982, 27(1), 21 - 31 Plaque sampling and telemetry for monitoring acid production on human buccal tooth surfaces; Jensen ME et al.; The plaque sampling method and wire telemetry using miniature, glass pH electrodes on the buccal surface of mandibular first permanent molars, compared human dental plaque pH responses to a 10 per cent solution of sucrose . Nine subjects abstained from oral hygiene and were tested in morning sessions on 5 consecutive days . The mean resting plaque pH value for all sessions by plaque sampling was 6.60 +/- 0.18 (mean +/- SD) and by telemetry was 6.56 +/- 0.19 . After a 1 min sucrose rinse, 1-day-old plaque showed a decrease in pH approx . 5.5 by both methods . The 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-day-old plaque, the mean minimum pH achieved was 4.69 +/- 0.28 as measured by sampling and 3.94 +/- 0.49 as determined by telemetry . The times taken to reach minimum pH as determined by the two methods were almost identical . The electrode calibration data showed that all the telemetry electrodes responded consistently for all 5 days of study . Scanning electron microscopy and microbiological analysis of electrode tips and enamel replicas revealed that plaque accumulated on glass at the same rate with a similar bacterial composition to plaque formed on clean enamel . It is proposed that glass microelectrodes and wire telemetry are a reasonable means for continuously monitoring plaque pH in situ . Comparison with plaque sampling suggested that telemetric responses reflect the type of plaque which accumulates at particular sites on the dentition. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 1982, 18(1), 1 - 58 Post-mortem stimulation of carcasses: effects on biochemistry, biophysics, microbiology, and quality of meat; Asghar A et al.; The influence of post-mortem electrical stimulation of carcasses on the physicochemical, ultrastructural, microbiological, and quality characteristics of meat have been described at length . The latest views, based on the physiological, biochemical, and mechanical models that have been extended to explain the development of tension (contraction) in muscle are presented . The mechanisms by which electrical stimulation causes improvement in certain quality characteristics of meat are considered with some new thoughts . The significance of the mode of electrical flow through the carcass and how the various electrical parameters (electrode-carcass contact, type of current, voltage, pulse characteristics) affect the rate of glycolysis have been explained . The commercial implications of electrical stimulation in the meat industry are highlighted giving special emphasis to hot-boning, energy conservation, and operator safety. Ann Biol Clin (Paris), 1982, 40(3), 209 - 19 {Non-ventilatory functions of the cells of the respiratory system}; Bignon J et al.; The physiology of the respiratory system was limited until recently to study of the structures subjected to simple physical laws and involved in gas exchanges only . Today, the airways and lung itself are conceived as complex living structures adapted to defence against exogenous, microbiological, organic and inorganic substances which reach the respiratory epithelium, contained in the 10 to 12 m3 of air entering and leaving the lungs daily . In addition, the considerable surface area represented by the endothelium of the pulmonary circulation is a site of synthesis and elimination, the implications of which are increasingly important in the area of the metabolism of endogenous substances: prostaglandins, vasomotor substances and the bioconversion of drugs and toxic agents . This is an increasingly large area of research and investigation, the clinical applications of which appear to be more and more frequent and important. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol, 1982, 4(4), 249 - 53 An evaluation of the homogeneous substrate-labeled fluorescent immunoassay for tobramycin in serum; Belpaire FM et al.; The homogeneous substrate-labeled fluorescent immunoassay for tobramycin in serum was evaluated . Standard curves are linear and reproducible . The within-run coefficient of variation for control samples containing low, medium and high concentrations of tobramycin ranged from 1.9 to 6.5%; the between-run coefficient of variation was 11% for a control sample at low concentration . The accuracy measured on spiked samples was good and comparable to the accuracy measured by a microbiological assay; it was somewhat better than for the radioimmunoassay . For patient samples, the results with this method correlated well (r - 0.914) with results obtained by radioimmunoassay. Arzneimittelforschung, 1982, 32(10), 1319 - 21 Cefotaxime in human lung tissue; Blind R et al.; In the course of thoracic surgery in 79 patients lung tissue samples were taken up to around 2 and 4 h, respectively, after i.v . injection of 1 (n = 22) or 2 g cefotaxime (n = 57) . In these samples cefotaxime levels were measured using a microbiological method . About 1 h after injection 1.6 and 5.1 microgram/g (median values), respectively, were found . Even later after injection cefotaxime could still be detected . These results are evaluated with respect to the problem encountered in the biological measurement of concentrations of ester cephalosporins in tissue due to desacetylation by hemolytic samples. Ann Rech Vet, 1982, 12(4), 403 - 11 {Frequency of enteropathogenic K99+ ST+ Escherichia coli and rotaviruses in neonatal diarrhea of calves . Survey of a veterinarian's clientele in Sarthe}; De Rycke J et al.; A clinical and microbiological study was carried out on 21 diarrhoeic calves less than 20 days old, belonging to 20 different farms in the French department of Sarthe . Each diarrhoeic calf was compared with a clinically healthy calf of the same age, from the same farm . Two visits were made : one during the acute phase of diarrhoea, the other 10 to 15 days later . Of the 21 diarrhoeic calves, nine died . On the first visit, rotavirus was found in faeces of 11 diarrhoeic calves and E . coli K99+ ST+ in faeces of three diarrhoeic calves, in two cases together with rotavirus . At the same time, rotavirus was found in the faeces of five control calves whereas E . coli K99+ ST+ was not present . On the second visit, rotavirus was detected in the faeces of one of the 12 surviving diarrhoeic calves and in the faeces of two control calves . No E . coli K99+ and ST+ was found in any of the two groups . Short duration antibiotic treatment (sulfonamide + colistin) carried out on the first visit did not result in increased resistance of E . coli to the ten antibiotics tested . On the contrary, cases of resistance to certain of these antibiotics were more frequent during the acute phase of illness (and before any treatment) than 10 to 15 days later . This fact was explained by the presence, in at least five cases, of multiresistant E . coli strains which disappeared with recovery. Infection, 1982, 10 Suppl 3, S201 - 3 {Pharmacokinetic investigations on the penetration of mezlocillin into the pleural fluid}; Welter J et al.; 5 g of mezlocillin were administered by a 30 minute drip infusion to each of ten patients (mean age 59.4 years) . Antibiotic concentrations in serum and pleural fluid were assayed microbiologically at regular intervals . The antibiotic concentrations determined 1.5 and 8 hours after beginning the infusion were between 83.9 and 4.0 mg/l in the serum and 53.1 and 6.5 mg/l in the pleural fluid . A comparison of the mean antibiotic concentration found in the pleural secretions (22 mg/l) with the minimal inhibitory concentrations of clinically relevant pathogens shows that mezlocillin covers 69% to 84% of the pathogen spectrum . Mezlocillin can thus be used in the therapy of infectious pleural effusions. J Environ Sci Health B, 1982, 17(2), 171 - 82 The effect of fonofos and carbofuran on microbiological population, and persistence of fonofos in four organic soils infested with onion maggot; Belanger A et al.; One hundred days after field-application of fonofos as bands under the onion seed, 39 to 59% of that material was present in 3 moderately humified organic soils of pH varying from 5.4 to 6.7 . In a low humified organic soil, only 21 to 24% of the applied fonofos remained . Thus humus enhanced the persistence of fonofos and curtailed the stimulating effect of fonofos on soil microbial populations . An assessment of low damage caused by onion maggot was found in a poorly humified soil with an even higher natural infestation than in a moderately humified soil . The effects of fonofos in other soils and of the low rate of carbofuran applied to four different types of soils on the numbers of fungi, bacteria, and actinomycetes were difficult to assess. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1981 Dec, 174(4), 375 - 82 {Microbial settlement of paint- and building-materials in the sphere of drinking water . 9 . Communication: experimental examination of cement mortar for the lining with tiles (author's transl)}; Schoenen D et al.; The observation of a microbial growth in form of macrocolonies upon the joints of a tiled drinking water reservoir caused the microbiological testing of different pure mineral and some plastic containing cement mortar . Besides the conditions allowing the growth of macrocolonies on tiled plates with a construction like in a reservoir were examined. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1981 Dec, (12), 47 - 50 {Biochemical characteristics of pneumococcal reference strains}; Klimenko TV et al.; The results of the study of the enzymatic properties of pneumococcal collection strains belonging to 83 K-types, their sensitivity to optochine and their facility of lysis under the action of bile indicate that the strains in the collection belong to the species Str . pneumoniae, which makes this collection suitable for obtaining diagnostic preparations, as well as for other microbiological, immunological and genetic studies. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1981 Dec, (12), 43 - 7 {Microbiological methods of diagnosing pneumococcal infection in acute and chronic inflammatory lung disease}; Faustova ME et al.; The simultaneous microbiological study of sputum and bronchial washings from 440 patients with acute and chronic inflammatory pulmonary diseases has revealed that pneumococci can be isolated most frequently from both these materials or sputum alone . The isolation of pneumococci by the inoculation of the pathological materials or sputum alone . The isolation of pneumococci by the inoculation of the pathological material into solid culture media is practically as effective as the inoculation of white mice with this material, but the former method accelerates the isolation of Str . pneumoniae and allows one to determine the content of these organisms in the initial material . The appearance and the size of pneumococcal colonies depend on the composition of the culture medium, the biological properties and the amount of Str . pneumoniae and other microorganisms in the material under study . The identification of the S-forms of pneumococci is based on their cultural and morphological properties and carried out by one test or by a complex of tests . 4 criteria allowing to determine the etiological importance of pneumococci isolated from patients are proposed. Int J Cancer, 1981 Nov 15, 28(5), 551 - 7 Morphological and microbiological signs of endogenous C-virus in human oocytes; Larsson E et al.; Human oocytes in different stages of maturation were obtained by follicular aspiration from women given Clomovid and Gonadex . Particles similar to type-C virus were observed in three out of 16 oocytes . The particles were irregularly distributed along the oocyte membrane . They were seen both in a state of budding and lying free in the perivitelline space . Reverse transcriptase activity was detected in three out of nine samples of follicular fluid obtained from women other than those donating the oocytes . The supernatants from bat lung cells and dog thymus cells cultivated with oocytes or follicular fluids were tested for reverse transcriptase . An increased activity was observed only transiently in one case . It is assumed that these findings indicate the expression of endogenous retroviruses in human oocytes. Bull Soc Pathol Exot Filiales, 1981 Nov-Dec, 74(6), 714 - 21 {Supervision of the antibiotic therapy in tropical areas (author's transl)}; Ricosse JH et al.; The use of antibiotics in tropical areas is coming up against many various problems . It is necessary to organize a supervision of the antibiotic therapy, which must be more severe . The diagnosis of bacterial diseases should be carried out in small laboratories, in rural regions . Microbiological researches, adapted to every country, are devoted to national laboratories . For the latter, collaborating regularly with international reference centres is very helpful . So it is easy to assure a continuous epidemiological surveillance of the major disease and to study bacteria, in order to find out resistant strains. J Clin Pharmacol, 1981 Nov-Dec, 21(11-12 Pt 1), 477 - 83 A study of the transplacental transfer and the mammary excretion of cefoxitin in humans; Dubois M et al.; Cefoxitin is a new semisynthetic cephamycin derivative with broad bactericidal activities . In order to determine the extent of the transplacental transfer of cefoxitin, 35 pregnant women received 1 Gm cefoxitin intramuscularly 15 to 180 minutes before normal or Caesarean delivery . Cefoxitin was measured microbiologically in maternal blood (multiple-time samples), umbilical blood (one-time sample), and amniotic fluid in the cases of Caesarean sections . The mammary excretion of cefoxitin injected at the same dose was investigated by measuring cefoxitin in the milk of 16 nursing mothers . In the maternal blood, a peak plasma level of approximately 25 microgram/ml was reached 30 minutes after the 1-Gm intramuscular injection . A clear-cut passage of cefoxitin in the umbilical cord blood was demonstrated . In the fetal blood, a peak level of 15 microgram/ml was obtained 45 minutes after the injection . No cefoxitin was detectable in any of the milk samples from 30 minutes to 24 hours after the 1-Gm intramuscular injection. Mikrobiologiia, 1981 Nov-Dec, 50(6), 1105 - 8 {Complex effect of surface-active substances on the process of microbiological hydrocarbon oxidation}; Kucher RV et al.; The object of this work is to study the effect of various emulsifiers on microbiological oxidation of n-alkanes . The detergents improved permeability of cellular membranes and increased the activity of dehydrogenase . A considerable effect was observed in the presence of anionic (sodium laurylsulfate and ammonium alkylpyrophosphate) and nonionogenic (Tween 85, Syntanol DS-10) surfactants. Infect Immun, 1981 Nov, 34(2), 605 - 9 Clinical microbiological, and histological manifestations of Streptobacillus moniliformis-induced arthritis in mice; Savage NL et al.; Intravenous inoculation of Streptobacillus moniliformis into mice resulted in an infection in which the predominant feature was progressive polyarthritis that rendered some joints immobile within 6 months . No migration of arthritis from joint to joint or remission and exacerbation were apparent . Viable organisms were apparently removed by the host from blood, liver, and spleen within 28 days post inoculation but persisted in joints for approximately 6 months in some animals . Specific antibody was detectable by complement fixation 7 days post-inoculation and persisted throughout the course of the disease . The inflammatory responses, which was initiated by the appearance of neutrophils in the joint space within 24 h of inoculation, culminated in obliteration of the joint space by fibrosis and exostosis. Am J Hosp Pharm, 1981 Nov, 38(11), 1737 - 42 Compatibility of netilmicin sulfate injection with commonly used intravenous injections and additives; Chaudry IA et al.; The compatibility and stability of netilmicin sulfate in a concentration of 3 mg/ml in 37 intravenous injections and in 5% dextrose and 0.9% sodium chloride injection with 26 commonly used additives were studied . Compatibility between an intravenous administration set and selected admixtures were also evaluated . The admixtures were stored at 4 and 25 degrees C for seven days . After mixing and on days 1, 3, and 7, all admixtures were evaluated for netilmicin potency, pH, color, osmolarity, and clarity . A microbiological assay was used to measure netilmicin potency . No changes in netilmicin potency, pH, osmolarity, color, or clarity were observed in any of the 37 netilmicin sulfate admixtures . Similarly, no changes in pH, osmolarity, or clarity were seen in the admixtures of netilmicin sulfate with a second additive . Netilmicin activity was retained for seven days in 22 of the 26 admixtures with a second additive . Netilmicin sulfate in admixtures with multivitamin injection or vitamin B complex (Upjohn) was stable for only one day; with diphenhydramine hydrochloride or neostigmine methylsulfate, for only three days . No incompatibilities between the intravenous infusion set and admixtures of netilmicin sulfate were apparent . Netilmicin sulfate injection is compatible and stable for at least seven days stored at 4 and 25 degrees C when mixed in 37 intravenous injections, and when mixed individually with 22 additives in 5% dextrose and 0.9% sodium chloride injection. J Chromatogr, 1981 Oct 9, 225(2), 417 - 26 Micro-determination of tobramycin in serum by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection; Barends DM et al.; A procedure for the high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of tobramycin in serum is described using pre-column derivatisation with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and subsequent chromatographic analysis on a reversed-phase column with ultraviolet detection . Gentamicin is used as the internal standard . The sensitivity is 0.5 mg/l with 50-microliters samples . Precision, expressed as the coefficient of variation, is 3% or better in the concentration range 0.5-16 mg/l . The absolute recovery of tobramycin is 41% . The analyses of serum samples obtained in an in vivo experiment correlated well with the results from a microbiological assay . The influence of variation of derivatisation conditions and the implications for the reliability of the internal standardisation were studied . The 2,4-dinitrophenyl tobramycin derivative was synthesized and its structure was proved to be the fully derivatized tobramycin . Side-products of the derivatisation reaction were isolated. Br J Vener Dis, 1981 Oct, 57(5), 327 - 33 Clinical and microbiological study of non-gonococcal urethritis with particular reference to non-chlamydial disease; Munday PE et al.; A double-blind placebo-controlled study of minocycline in 221 men with non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) was undertaken . Techniques were used which enabled diagnoses of chlamydial and mycoplasmal infections to be made within 24 hours of a patient attending a clinic . All patients from whom Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated were treated with minocycline, while patients from whom Ureaplasma urealyticum or Mycoplasma hominis was isolated, or from whom no micro-organisms were isolated, were treated on a double-blind basis with either minocycline or placebo . Chlamydia were isolated from 77 (35%) patients and were eradicated by minocycline from 76 (99%) . Ureaplasmas were isolated initially from 96 (43%) patients . Treatment with minocycline eradicated them from 43 of 52 (83%) patients, and they disappeared from six of 31 (19%) patients who were treated with placebo . After one week significantly more patients had responded clinically to minocycline than to placebo . The response to minocycline was not influenced by the microbiological status of the patients, which suggests that ureaplasmas are playing a similar role to chlamydia in the pathogenesis of the disease and that an antibiotic-sensitive micro-organism may be producing disease in the isolate-negative group . An immunological approach is required to resolve the problem of the persistent urethral inflammation which occurred despite eradication of the micro-organisms. J Hyg (Lond), 1981 Oct, 87(2), 313 - 9 Virus diarrhoea associated with pale fatty faeces; Thomas ME et al.; Steatorrhoea was a significant feature in an outbreak of rotavirus gastroenteritis which affected adults and infants in hospital . Fat globules or fatty acid crystals were obvious by light microscopy (LM) in faeces from 14 of 25 patients examined . Ten of the fatty stools and two of the remainder were very pale . By electron microscopy (EM) a rotavirus was seen in 11 of the 14 fatty faeces and in only two of 11 specimens without visible fat . In a further study of pale or fatty faeces 20 such specimens sent for laboratory examination from patients not involved in the hospital outbreak were compared microbiologically with a similar number which were neither pale nor fatty . Viruses were found by EM in 11 (55%) of the pale or fatty stools; eight rotaviruses, two astroviruses and an uncultivable adenovirus were seen; one further patient had acute jaundice . In contrast, no viruses were seen by EM in the twenty specimens which were normally pigmented and without evident fat . Steatorrhoea was significantly associated with rotavirus infection of the alimentary tract which usually presented as a fatty enteritis . We conclude that rotaviruses certainly, and other viruses possibly, can impede both the digestion of fat and the pigmentation of the faeces . Inspection and LM of faeces are easy . In acute enteritis a fatty or pale stool is an indication for virological examination. J Neurochem, 1981 Sep, 37(3), 709 - 13 Inhibitors of a rat brain enkephalin aminopeptidase; Wagner GW et al.; Eight protease inhibitors of microbiological origin were examined as potential inhibitors of a homogeneous rat brain enkephalin aminopeptidase . Bestatin {(2S,3R)-3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutanoyl}-L-leucine and analogs of bestatin having basic, acid, and other neutral amino acids substituted for the Leu residue exhibited inhibition constants ranging from 3.3 X 10(-5) to 8.3 X 10(-8) M . The best inhibitor had a positively charged amino acid (Lys) substituted for Leu . A series of phenylalanyl dipeptides were examined as substrates with the aminopeptidase . The amino acid residue on the carboxyl side of the peptide bond undergoing cleavage was varied systematically in the dipeptides to include neutral, acidic, and basic residues . Again, a positively charged amino acid (Arg) adjacent to the bond undergoing scission was kinetically preferred . These results may be used to design highly specific inhibitors of the enkephalin aminopeptidase. Surg Gynecol Obstet, 1981 Sep, 153(3), 374 - 6 Surgical management of burn wound sepsis; Parks DH et al.; Twenty-two burned pediatric patients were diagnosed as having wound sepsis confirmed histologically and microbiologically . The availability of histologic and quantitative microbiologic data based upon biopsy data has permitted an early, accurate method of detecting burn wound sepsis . The histologic data have been of greatest value because of their prompt availability and accuracy . All patients underwent tangential debridement or surgical excision to fascia based upon the assessment of the wound by the surgeon . Two patients died at two and five days postoperatively of sepsis attributable to the burn wound . A third patient died at 56 days of sepsis originating at a site other than the burn wound . Thus, the over-all mortality, including the third patient, was 14 per cent . Children surviving the septic episodes showed a marked improvement in the clinical course shortly after undergoing therapeutic surgical excision . Since initiation of surgical intervention in burn wound sepsis, the over-all mortality has decreased from an average annual rate of 11.2 to 2.8 per cent. Andrologia, 1981 Sep-Oct, 13(5), 440 - 4 Survey of carnitine content of human semen using a semiquantitative auxanographic method: decreased semen total carnitine concentration in patients with azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia; Soffer Y et al.; A microbiological method, using the carnitine-requiring yeast, Torulopsis bovina ATCC 26014, was developed to identify samples of human semen which contained low levels (less than 250 micron M) of total carnitine . Of 399 semen samples from a male infertility clinic which were tested, 30 (7.5%) were low in carnitine . Of these, 14 were azoospermic and 16 were severely oligozoospermic . Some azoospermic samples (19 = 58%) and severely oligozoospermic samples (51 = 79%) did not give evidence of low carnitine concentrations . These results indicate that decreased total carnitine concentration in semen occurs in certain classes of azoospermic and severely oligozoospermic patients. Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1981 Sep-Oct, 132B(2), 257 - 65 Semi-quantification of a microbiological method using beta-lactamases in detecting the hydrolysis of beta-lactam antibiotics; Labia R et al.; The so-called "double disc" technique of Masuda et al . for detecting the hydrolysis of beta-lactams by beta-lactamases was semi-quantified . This semi-quantification consisted of using beta-lactamase preparations progressively diluted by a factor of ten . The last dilution producing a detectable hydrolysis of the antibiotic was thus noted . By using the species Escherichia coli (potentially cephalosporinase producer) as a model, we studied the possible applications of this method . Due to its great sensitivity it was possible to analyse and appreciate the degradation of some cephalosporins reputedly resistant to beta-lactamases, such as cefoxitin, cefuroxime, cefamandole and cefotaxime . The carboxy-penicillins (carbenicillin and ticarcillin) were the most stable beta-lactams towards the cephalosporinase of E . coli 0002. Am J Clin Nutr, 1981 Sep, 34(9), 1837 - 48 Long-term feeding of unavailable carbohydrate gelling agents . Influence of dietary concentration and microbiological degradation on adaptive responses in the rat; Elsenhans B et al.; Guaran, tragacanth, gum arabic, carrageenan, gum karaya, and methylcellulose were used in a long-term feeding study to evaluate their effects upon adaptive responses of nutritionally controlled parameters in rats by feeding a fiber-free diet containing increasing additions of polysaccharides . In general, supplements reduced weight increases due to lower energy intakes . Only in the case of microbiologically inert polysaccharides the dilution of the the energy density was partially compensated by an increased food intake . Neither of the polysaccharides fed, however, decreased energy utilization . All polysaccharides similarily increased small intestinal length up to about 30% without grossly altering mucosal protein and DNA per unit of length . Concerning their effects on the colon and the cecum, polysaccharides behaved differentially according to their accessibility to microbiological degradation . Inert polysaccharides exerted a more pronounced effect on the colon whereas the others mainly increased cecum weight . Degree and locus of the observed changes are determined mainly by the dietary concentration of the polysaccharides and their accessibility to bacterial degradation within the intestinal tract. Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd, 1981 Aug, 179(2), 102 - 8 {Damage caused by wearing contact lenses throughout the day}; Bernd HJ; Seventy-eight contact lens patients issued with soft HEMA lenses were examined in order to establish reasons for intolerance . The examination was carried out in conjunction with a questionnaire designed to furnish information about the habits of the contact lens patients . Less than 50% of the patients had been advised to have their lenses checked . Almost all the patients wore their contact lenses all day without interruption . On average they had been wearing the lenses for up to 17 hours per day over a 3.3 year period . In approximately 2/3 of the cases the eye had suffered some damage and in approximately 1/3 of the cases the effects were more serious . Patients who had worn their lenses for even longer periods of time had suffered still more severe eye damage . However, microbiological findings, allergies to the cleaning fluids, reduced tear production, incorrect lens fit and severe deterioration of the lens material were not found to be the prime causes of intolerance . Photographs shot by SEM showed evidence of defects of the corneal surface after the HEMA lens had been worn 18 hours. J Chem Inf Comput Sci, 1981 Aug, 21(3), 124 - 7 Patent coverage by abstracting services . 4 . Coverage of microbiological patents; Oppenheim C et al.; The paper reports a study on the coverage by seven major abstracting services in the field of microbiology in regard to patents . Only three of the services--Chemical Abstracts, Microbiology Abstracts, Section A, and Food Science and Technology Abstracts--cover patents at all . We assessed the three services in terms of the information they provide about patents and then in terms of their performance in retrieving patents taken from a master list of patents on genetic engineering and Vitamin D, obtained by searches on World Patents Index . Timeliness of the three services was also assessed . We found that none of the standard abstracting services in the field cover patents satisfactorily and they are slow in picking up patents . The research demonstrates that by scanning just Japanese, Soviet, U.S., and British patents, both timely and comprehensive coverage of the microbiological patent literature can be obtained. Br J Vener Dis, 1981 Aug, 57(4), 263 - 7 Fluorimetric and microbiological assays of erythromycin concentrations in plasma and vaginal washings; Iliopoulou A et al.; Using a microbiological and a fluorimetric assay to determine penetration of erythromycin into vaginal fluids, concentrations were measured in plasma from nine men one hour after a single oral dose of erythromycin stearate 2 g and in vaginal washings and plasma samples taken simultaneously from 11 women two hours after the last dose of a 10-day course of erythromycin stearate (250 mg four times daily) . Both assay methods gave accurate and reproducible results in plasma but only the fluorimetric method was capable of measuring concentrations of erythromycin in vaginal washings . The latter method had many advantages in estimating drug concentrations in body fluids such as vaginal washings and the results from it may provide an index of tissue penetration and of patient compliance in adhering to drug regimens. Br J Ophthalmol, 1981 Aug, 65(8), 549 - 52 A double-blind comparison of topical therapy of chlamydial ocular infection (TRIC infection) with rifampicin or chlortetracycline; Darougar S et al.; A double-blind stratified trial was carried out on 85 patients to assess the efficacy of topical therapy with 1% chlortetracycline eye ointment in comparison with 1% rifampicin eye ointment in the treatment of chlamydial ocular infection of sexually transmitted origin (paratrachoma) . Patients included were selected on the basis of positive culture for Chlamydia trachomatis . A 6-week course of treatment with chlortetracycline or rifampicin 3 times daily gave a clinical cure rate of 80% and 75% and a microbiological cure rate of 93% and 86% respectively . In patients who were not cured the intensity of inflammatory responses was considerably reduced. Ann Thorac Surg, 1981 Aug, 32(2), 146 - 53 Prospective evaluation of aspiration needle, cutting needle, transbronchial, and open lung biopsy in patients with pulmonary infiltrates; Burt ME et al.; Twenty consecutive patients with pulmonary infiltrates undiagnosed by routine, noninvasive methods were entered into a prospective study designed to evaluate the diagnostic yield of four methods of lung biopsy . Percutaneous aspiration needle, cutting needle, transbronchial, and open (anterior thoracotomy) biopsy were performed synchronously on all patients . Specimens were evaluated by microbiological, virological, and pathological methods . The diagnostic yields of the four methods were as follows: aspiration needle, 29%; cutting needle, 53%; transbronchial, 59%; and open lung biopsy, 94% . Open lung biopsy was significantly better in yielding a diagnosis than aspiration needle (p less than 0.001), cutting needle (p less than 0.001), and transbronchial biopsy (p less than 0.04). Br Med J (Clin Res Ed), 1981 Jul 4, 283(6283), 29 - 32 Sexually transmitted diseases in a defined population of women; Adler MW et al.; A study was conducted to identify and estimate the proportion of patients suffering from gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis, and candidosis, both with and without symptoms, seeking care or failing to seek care at all . Samples women in a defined population were studied in antenatal, gynaecology, family planning, and sexually transmitted diseases clinics and in general practice . The incidence rates varied according to the conditions and to whether cases not proved microbiologically were included or excluded . The incidence rate may be less important than the prevalence rate since the former takes into account patients who have sought care whereas the latter is largely contributed by asymptomatic women who do not consult . The highest prevalence rates, in different agencies, were found for candidosis followed by trichomoniasis, with very low or zero rates for gonorrhoea . In view of these results general practitioners could treat women with genital symptoms empirically so long as accurate sexual histories are taken and follow-up were guaranteed . There is no place for wide-scale screening for gonorrhoea, but limited screening for trichomoniasis in antenatal, gynaecology, and hospital family planning clinics should be encouraged. G Batteriol Virol Immunol, 1981 Jul-Dec, 74(7-12), 239 - 49 {Experimental research on microbiological profile of josamycin . II: Findings on the phenomenon of resistance in comparison with other macrolides}; Maury F et al.; The interactions between josamycin, other macrolides and lincomycin have been considered as far as the microbic resistance phenomenon is concerned, in relation to Staph . aureus strains . It has been possible to give rise to resistance to josamycin as well as to erythromycin even though the daily average increase is far lower for josamycin . Subinhibitory concentrations of josamycin have not provoked resistance in relation to other macrolides while this phenomenon has been observed as far as the use of erythromycin is concerned. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1981 Jul, 20(1), 25 - 9 Fluorimetric determination of cefuroxime in body fluids; Al-Rawi ZH et al.; A simple and accurate fluorimetric procedure for measuring cefuroxime in body fluids is described . A fluorescent product was produced by addition of hydrochloric acid, heating, and cooling, followed by addition of sodium hydroxide and further heating at 100 degree C . The fluorescence intensity of the final solution was measured in a fluorimeter at an excitation wavelength of 375 nm and an emission wavelength of 440 nm and related to the antibiotic concentration . Thin-layer chromatography of the final solution showed a single fluorescent spot (Rf value, 0.6) . Freedom from interference from other therapeutic agents and endogenous substances, as well as the close correlation between this method and the standard microbiological assay method, was demonstrated . The simplicity and reliability of the fluorimetric assay method make it particularly suitable for clinical use. Infect Immun, 1981 Jul, 33(1), 292 - 6 Pathogenicity of Spiroplasma sp . strain SMCA in rabbits: clinical, microbiological, and histological aspects; Kirchhoff H et al.; Newborn rabbits inoculated intracerebrally with early-passaged broth cultures of Spiroplasma strain SMCA (suckling mouse cataract agent) either died or developed eye disease . Death occurred 4 to 12 days after infection . Rabbits which died showed hemorrhages throughout the brain, especially in areas leading to the optic nerve, and hemorrhages in the liver . SMCA could be reisolated from brain, liver, and eyes . Rabbits with eye disease did not open their eyes during an observation time of 3 to 4 months . Pathological examination revealed marked microophthalmia and severe cataract formation characterized by complete degeneration of lens fibers and liquefaction and mineralization of the lens . Other ocular changes were chronic panophthalmitis with complete destruction of the retina . Neither eye disease nor death could be induced by inoculating SMCA subcutaneously into newborn rabbits . In adult rabbits, no disease occurred after intravenous or subcutaneous injection or after inoculation into the conjunctival sac. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1981 Jul, 42(1), 159 - 67 Effect of turbidity on chlorination efficiency and bacterial persistence in drinking water; LeChevallier MW et al.; To define interrelationships between elevated turbidities and the efficiency of chlorination in drinking water, experiments were performed to measure bacterial survival, chlorine demand, and interference with microbiological determinations . Experiments were conducted on the surface water supplies for communities which practice chlorination as the only treatment . Therefore, the conclusions of this study apply only to such systems . Results indicated that disinfection efficiency (log10 of the decrease in coliform numbers) was negatively correlated with turbidity and was influenced by season, chlorine demand of the samples, and the initial coliform level . Total organic carbon was found to be associated with turbidity and was shown to interfere with maintenance of a free chlorine residual by creating a chlorine demand . Interference with coliform detection in turbid waters could be demonstrated by the recovery of typical coliforms from apparently negative filters . The incidence of coliform masking in the membrane filter technique was found to increase as the turbidity of the chlorinated samples increased . the magnitude of coliform masking in the membrane filter technique increased from less than 1 coliform per 100 ml in water samples of less than 5 nephelometric turbidity units to greater than 1 coliform per 100 ml in water samples of greater than 5 nephelometric turbidity units . Statistical models were developed to predict the impact of turbidity on drinking water quality . The results justify maximum contaminant levels for turbidity in water entering a distribution system as stated in the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Am J Clin Nutr, 1981 Jul, 34(7), 1321 - 7 The metabolism of 3H-pyridoxine in rat liver and brain; Segalman TY et al.; A study of the metabolism and distribution of 3H-pyridoxine in normal rat liver and brain was done in animals given small single doses of the labeled vitamin intraperitoneally . Liver and brain tissues were collected from 1 h to 14 days . Perchloric acid extracts of tissues were fractionated by an ion exchange chromatographic procedure and six B6 vitamers were separated and assayed for radioactivity and microbiological activity . In liver 3H-pyridoxal phosphate peaked at 1 h after the administration of 3H-pyridoxine; however, the accumulation of total isotope in combined vitamers continued slowly until 4 h . During the first 4 h, about 50% of the tritium resided in the supernatant fraction of liver . In the brain, tritium accumulated slowly and reached a peak at day 7 . Nearly 90% of the vitamin in the brain was in the form of pyridoxal phosphate and pyridoxamine phosphate . The concentrations of the total microbiologically active vitamin in the liver and brain were 35 to 40 and 20 to 25 nmol/g, respectively . However, the maximum amount of tritium in the brain was less than 10% of that in the liver . These data indicate that uptake and turnover of vitamin B6 in brain studied with tracer doses was very much slower than previously reported from studies with larger doses. Clin Chem, 1981 Jul, 27(7), 1256 - 61 Evaluation of a method for enzymic radiochemical assay of tobramycin and amikacin in serum; McKnight RP et al.; This enzymic radiochemical procedure for measuring tobramycin and amikacin in serum is based on the transfer of the 14C-acetyl group from {14C}acetyl-coenzyme A to the 6' nitrogen atom of the drug by the enzyme kanamycin 6'-acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.55) . The transfer, stoichiometric and quantitative, is complete after 10-min incubation at 37 degrees C . The labeled acetylaminoglycoside is adsorbed onto phosphocellulose paper discs, which are washed to removed any unreacted {14C}acetyl-coenzyme A . The radioactivity is then eluted into liquid scintillation counting vials and counted for 1 min each . The assay detects as little as 2 ng of either drug and the standard curve is linear into the toxic range of concentrations . Most of the commonly administered aminoglycosides act as substrates in the assay, except for the C1 component of gentamicin C complex . Neither hemolysis, lipemia, nor icterus interfere with the assay . Results compare favorably with those determined by radioimmunoassay and a microbiological method. Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1981 Jul-Aug, 132B(1), 101 - 22 Short-term variations of microbiological and physicochemical parameters in submersion water over a rice field; Baldensperger JF; Diurnal variations of the number of colony-forming bacteria and total bacteria and of some physicochemical parameters (temperature, pH, redox potential, oxygen concentration, carbonates and total alkalinity) have been studied in the flood layer over the rice field . Confidence limits (95%) around means were evaluated according to accuracy of plate and microscopic counts and to patchiness within the rice field . Bacterial clumping both at the meter and the millimeter scale has been evidenced, and transformation of raw data was necessary to normalize counts . Seven per cent of total bacteria enumerated by epifluorescence microscopy could develop colonies on agar plates . Significant variations of numbers of colony-forming bacteria and bacterial biomass (evaluated to 0.016 mg/l dry-weight) were not correlated with physicochemical parameters within the flood layer, indicating additional influence of grazing and exchange with sediment interface. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1981 Jul, 20(1), 81 - 7 Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole therapy of experimental Escherichia coli meningitis in rabbits; Mylotte JM et al.; We used two strains of ampicillin-susceptible Escherichia coli to produce meningitis in rabbits and utilized these models (i) to compare the killing effects of parenteral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) and ampicillin on E . coli in cerebrospinal fluid after 8 h of treatment and (ii) to measure the penetration of TMP-SMZ and ampicillin into cerebrospinal fluid and the brain . At 16 h after intracisternal inoculation with a test strain, rabbits were treated with TMP (6 mg/kg per h) and SMZ (30 mg/kg per h), ampicillin (40 mg/kg per h), or saline intravenously for 8 h . TMP-SMZ levels were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography, and ampicillin levels were measured by microbiological assay . Mean +/- standard deviation concentrations of TMP, SMZ, and ampicillin in cerebrospinal fluid (mean percent penetration) at the completion of 8 h of therapy were 0.80 +/- 0.41 (18%), 15.7 +/- 21.1 (27.2%), and 2.6 +/- 1.7 (8.9%) microgram/ml, respectively . TMP, SMZ, and ampicillin levels in brain homogenate after 8 h of therapy were 0.23 +/- 0.07 (6.6%), 3.31 +/- 3.3 (5.5%), and 0.6 +/- 4.53 (1.9%) microgram/g, respectively . TMP-SMZ infusion for 8 h produced a significant reduction in mean bacterial counts in cerebrospinal fluid in both models of meningitis compared with saline controls . The decrease in mean bacterial counts with TMP-SMZ therapy was equivalent to that produced by ampicillin. G Batteriol Virol Immunol, 1981 Jul-Dec, 74(7-12), 202 - 8 Microbiological research on specimens (dusts) drawn from the Holy Shroud; Martinetto P et al.; The Holy Shroud is a relic of great historical importance that, according to catholic tradition, represents the "Sudarium" i.e . the "Sindon" of Jesus Christ . By several techniques, the most recent studies try to establish a well defined dating of the Holy Shroud . In addition an attempt is also made to find out the best mean to preserve the relic . We have to this purpose performed microbiological tests on specimens (Dusts) from the Holy Shroud establishing the microbic content in various spots . Besides few exceptions, the bacteria and fungi found on the Shroud and related objects are common and spread in all the areas examined. MMW Munch Med Wochenschr, 1981 Jun 12, 123(24), 1001 - 4 {The problem patient in dermatological practice . Psychomatic aspects (author's transl)}; Maass G; In an exemplary case (44 year old female patient with pruritus) the priority of somatic aspects of an "organized disease" is questioned . The conception of a "total diagnosis" on the basis of a "pluriperspective complementary medicine" taking into consideration genetic, anatomic, physiologic, biochemical, microbiological, psychological and sociocultural facts is presented as the antithesis . Besides a somatic diagnosis the aim of medical procedure is the recognition ("reference diagnosis") of a "reference disturbance" in the doctor-patient relationship in which the "fundamental disturbance" of the patient is recalled from early childhood . This reference diagnosis can be learned by dermatologists and general practitioners in Balint groups. Nouv Presse Med, 1981 Jun 6, 10(25), 2089 - 91 {A study of the diffusion of cefamandole into bronchial secretions (author's transl)}; Bergogne-Berezin E et al.; The penetration of cefamandole into bronchial secretions was investigated in 5 tracheostomized patients with respiratory tract infections and purulent or mucopurulent expectorations . Bronchial secretions were collected by aspiration through the cannula at successive predetermined times after an intravenous injection of 1.5 g of the drug . Cefamandole concentrations in simultaneous samples of serum and bronchial secretions were measured by the agar diffusion microbiological method . Useful concentrations of cefamandole were obtained in bronchial secretions, with an early peak (mean: 1.97 microgram/ml; range: 0.5 -- 4.6 microgram/ml) one hour after the injection . The ratio of bronchial concentration to simultaneous serum concentration reached 24% six hours after the injection . These results show that cefamandole achieves bronchial concentrations which are superior, or at least equal, to the MICs of organisms responsible for respiratory infections . This and the resistance of cefamandole to beta -lactamases suggest that this second generation cephalosporin can be valuable in acute bronchopulmonary infections. Arch Latinoam Nutr, 1981 Jun, 31(2), 337 - 49 {Formulation of a rice-based beverage of high nutritive value}; Guerra MJ et al.; The purpose of this work was the production of a beverage with a nutritive value similar to that of milk, but available at a lower cost . A traditional beverage in Venezuela, "Chicha de Arroz" (Rice Chicha), was chosen . The various formulas studied were based on rice, non-fat milk and different kinds of soy flour, in addition to sugar, vegetable oil, vitamins, ferrous sulfate and different flavors . A product with protein and caloric values similar to those of milk was obtained . Twenty formulas were prepared and submitted to physico-chemical, microbiological and sensorial evaluations with respect to flavor, color, viscosity and stability during period of refrigeration . The most adequate formula was prepared on a pilot-plant scale . Rat assays gave the same PER results as those of casein . Consumer acceptability was tested on 1,080 school children, and showed to be greater than 95% . The stability was superior to that of milk and the cost, approximately three-fourths that of the latter . In the school-snack program of the National Institute of Nutrition, milk is now being replaced by this Chicha. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1981 May, 19(5), 930 - 3 Evaluation of a new latex agglutination inhibition card test for determining serum gentamicin levels; Doern GV et al.; A new latex agglutination inhibition card test was compared with a microbiological method and radioimmunoassay for determining serum gentamicin levels . When 60 sera, each containing a known concentration of gentamicin, were analyzed by the microbiological method and by radioimmunoassay, both methods were found to yield accurate and precise results . Analysis of the same 60 sera with the latex agglutination inhibition card test revealed significant variability over a wide range of serum gentamicin concentrations. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol, 1981 May-Jun, 3(3), 179 - 82 Comparison of microbiological and high pressure liquid chromatographic assays of the new cephalosporin cefroxadine; Bergan T et al.; A method employing high pressure liquid chromatography has been developed for the new cephalosporin cefroxadine (CGP 9000) . This uses Lichrosorb RP-8 5 micron as the stationary phase and 2 mM phosphoric acid mixed with methanol in the ratio 72:28 for the mobile phase . The retention time is 6.5 minutes . The procedure has a correlation with microbiological assay of r = 0.968 for sera after oral dosage and r = 0.944 after intravenous doses . Correlations in sera from each individual has ranged from 0.957 to 0.998 . A protein binding of 5 per cent was found for a concentration of 10 microgram/ml and of 7.5 per cent at 2 microgram/ml . The HPLC method had a recovery of 92.5 at a low level of 2 microgram/ml and 95 per cent at 10 microgram/ml. Vopr Pitan, 1981 May-Jun, (3), 14 - 7 {Effect of Vitalact humanized milk varying in carbohydrate composition on the development of intestinal bifid flora in nursing infants}; Shvedova LV; In the course of feeding infants with "Vitalact-DM" and "Vitalact I" with the increased content of dextrin-maltose (1.5%) and "Vitalact III" supplemented with lactulose (1%), the characteristics of the infants' physical development correlated with the age norm and indicated high food and biological value of the test products . In being fed with experimental varieties of "Vitalact" milk the infants received 3.5-4.5 g protein, 6-7.2 g fat, 14-14.8 g carbohydrates, 125-136 kcal/kg bw . Microbiological studies have demonstrated that in feeding infants with "Vitalact I" and "Vitalact III" the intestine manifested a high level of bifidoflora in 45.7 and 78.3% of the cases, respectively (in 36.8% of the cases of controls) . The results of the studies formed the basis for the development of a new humanized product "Vitalact enriched" (TS 49 435-77) which was approved by the Ministry of Health of the Ukrainian SSR . At present it is manufactured by the Gnedynsk infant and dietetic food pilot plant . It is recommended that, "Vitalact enriched" be widely used in formula . mixed and dietetic feeding, particularly in feeding premature and weakened infants. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1981 May, 34(5), 567 - 75 Microbiological ring expansion of penicillin N; Felix HR et al.; A mutant of Cephalosporium acremonium producing high amounts of penicillin N was isolated . This antibiotic was purified and characterized . It was possible to convert this penicillin N to deacetoxycephalosporin C enzymatically . The reaction could be carried out with enzyme systems prepared from C . acremonium mutants producing either no beta-lactam antibiotics or excreting only penicillin N . It was surprising that a high level of transformation capacity was just found in a cephem negative mutant which overproduces penicillin N . For that reason the inability of the latter mutant to produce cephem compounds cannot be explained by a functional block of the ring expanding enzyme complex . The enzyme preparations used to carry out this reaction were made by ether-treatment or sonication of C . acraemonium cells, or by submitting them to osmotic shock . The ring expanding enzyme system is strongly dependent on ATP and behaves as a 2-oxoglutarate dependent dioxygenase. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd, 1981 May, 41(5), 343 - 6 {Endometritis--a diagnostic problem . Differentialdiagnostical considerations including histological and microbiological methods (author's transl)}; Meinen K et al.; In 100 patients with the assumed diagnosis "endometritis" an examination program including histological and microbiological methods was conducted . In only 73% of these, the histological examination confirmed the assumed diagnosis, and only in 3% concerning the microbiological tests; therefore other diagnoses such as peritoneal irritation at ovulation, adenomyosis uteri and spastic pelviopathias were dominant . The diagnosis of an endometritis therefore is often an exclusive one and should induce subtle examination methods before an unspecific antibiotic therapy is begun . This procedure is absolutely possible regarding out-patients. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol Suppl, 1981 May-Jun, 90(3 Pt 3), 44 - 7 Pharmacokinetics of cefaclor in chronic middle ear effusions; Lildholdt T et al.; Fifty children aged 1 to 13 years with chronic or recurrent otitis media with effusion received a single dose of cefaclor (15 mg/kg body weight) by the oral route 30 minutes to seven hours before the removal of middle ear effusion and insertion of tympanostomy tubes . Serum and middle ear aspirate concentrations of the antibiotic were determined employing a microbiological assay technique by a disk diffusion method . Middle ear specimens were also cultured for aerobic bacteria . The mean peak serum concentration level (8.49 +/- 7.89 micrograms/ml) was observed after 30 minutes, whereas the middle ear peak level (0.47 +/- 0.78 micrograms/ml) occurred after one hour . Of the 87 middle ear specimens, 37 had cefaclor concentrations which were detectable within the resolution of the bioassay method (greater than 0.16 micrograms/ml) . There was no correlation between the type of middle ear effusion (mucoid or serous) and the concentration of cefaclor in the middle ear . Only 18% of the middle ear cultures were positive for aerobic bacteria; Hemophilus influenzae was the most common organism. Antibiotiki, 1981 May, 26(5), 367 - 70 {Rapid microbiological method of determining the gentamicin, sisomicin and kanamycin concentrations in patients' serum}; Goncharskaia TIa et al.; A modification of the microbiological agar-diffusion method for rapid determination of gentamicin, sisomycin and kanamycin levels in the blood serum of patients is described . The decrease in the time for determination of the antibiotic levels in the serum specimens with the modified method was provided by the use of a higher inoculation dose of the test microbe, higher levels of the incubation temperature and an enriched nutrient medium . The assay time was decreased from 18 to 3--4 hours as compared to the routine agar-diffusion method. Arch Androl, 1981 May, 6(3), 189 - 96 Andrological evaluation of oligozoospermic men for AIH; Hermanns U et al.; A protocol for the assessment of oligozoospermia prior to AIH is presented . Three to six carefully performed semen analyses at optimal intervals are required to confirm oligozoospermia . Routine semen analysis consist of volume, pH, viscosity, sperm count, motility, morphology, agglutination, fructose content, and leukocytes . Because of the high incidence of reproductive tract infection and chromosomal abnormalities in oligozoospermic men, microbiological investigation and full chromosomal analyses should be performed in all cases with sperm counts below 10 million/ml . Chromosomal abnormalities are an indication to reject a couple from AIH . Genital tract infections must be treated prior to insemination . Only sperm counts below 10 million/ml require the estimation of FSH levels . The existence of an oligozoospermia group with pituitary adenoma justifies routine PRL measurements in all cases of oligozoospermia and further investigations such as visual field examination and sella tomogram in case of hyperprolactinemia . Testicular biopsy may indicate an epididymal block that can be surgically repaired . Simultaneous in-depth evaluation of the female partner is emphasized, as oligozoospermia in the man does not rule out the possibility of an additional infertility factor in his partner . It is still controversial whether or not AIH, as compared to intercourse, will improve the conception rate for oligozoospermic men. Fortschr Med, 1981 Apr 16, 99(15), 541 - 4 {Drug therapy in surgical biliary diseases . A microbiological and animal experiment study}; Wacha H; In this study type and occurrence of microorganisms in gallbladder and choledochal bile are compared to results of other authors . The value of antibiotic therapy in acute cystic duct obstruction in a clinical study and in animal experiments are discussed . Efficacy of different antibiotic substances (mezlocillin, cefazolin, cefotaxim, rolitetracyclin and aminoglycosides) are measured by means of the reduction in colony count in T-tube bile . Antibiotic effect was least when tetracyclines and aminoglycosides were given . Beta-lactam antibiotics caused marked reduction and even elimination of bacteria in choledochal bile . Antibiotic therapy for the treatment of bacterial infection of the bile is reasonable only after decompression of the biliary tract in the presence of obstructive jaundice . In case of cystic duct obstruction antibiotic therapy is uncertain. Biochem J, 1981 Apr 15, 196(1), 369 - 71 Mechanism of hydroxylation of biphenyl by Cunninghamella echinulata; Smith RV et al.; The hydroxylation of {U-2H}biphenyl and {2,2',3,3',5,5',6,6'-2H}biphenyl by Cunninghamella echinulata A.T.C.C . 9244 has been studied . G.l.c.-mass-spectrometry analyses indicate the lack of an isotope effect during the hydroxylation of the perdeuterated substrate . Both g.l.c.-mass spectrometry and 1H n.m.r . were used to definitively demonstrate the presence of a 1,2-hydride-shift during the microbiological hydroxylation of {2,2',3,3',5,5',6,6'-2H}biphenyl. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1981 Apr, 19(4), 508 - 12 Comparison of five methods for the assay of serum gentamicin; Ratcliff RM et al.; The microbiological bioassay, the adenylation method, and the radiometric, enzyme, and fluorescent immunoassay methods for assaying serum gentamicin were compared . The precision, reproducibility, and specificity of each method was assessed and proved satisfactory, with the exception of the radioimmunoassay, which gave artificially high results . Good correlations between the other four methods was obtained in a comparison involving 103 patient sera . The other aspects of performance were also compared, namely, simplicity, speed, cost, ease of automation, and application to large and small workloads . The enzyme immunoassay performed best in this comparison, being accurate, specific, rapid, and very simple to perform . However, other laboratories might find that workload, staffing, and available equipment make other methods more attractive. J Infect Dis, 1981 Apr, 143(4), 578 - 84 Evaluation of commercially available diagnostic test kits for rubella; Castellano GA et al.; Three standard hemagglutination-inhibition (HAI) methods were compared with 11 commercially available diagnostic test kits for determination of immunity and serologic diagnosis of rubella using a panel of 100 sera . The three standard HAI methods involved removal of serum inhibitors with kaolin, heparin-MnCl2, or dextran sulfate-CaCl2 . The HAI kaolin (Flow Laboratories, McLean, Virginia) and Rubelisa (Microbiological Associates Bioproducts, Walkersville, Maryland) kits gave the best specificity as judged by the absence of false-positive results . Rubacell (Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, Illinois), Rubindex (Ortho Diagnostics, Raritan, New Jersey), Fiax (International Diagnostic Technology, Santa Clara, California), and Rubesure (Calbiochem-Behring, La Jolla, California) gave the best sensitivity as judged by the absence of false-negative results . The kits with the highest degree of both specificity and sensitivity were HAI kaolin (Flow), HAI heparin-MnCl2 (Flow), Rubacell (Abbott), and Rubindex (Ortho) . In paired sera from five patients with clinical rubella, seroconversions were shown by seven of the kits . One of the kits, Cordia R (Cordis Laboratories, Miami, Florida), showed no significant rise in antibody titer with one pair of sera . Antibody titers in the same serum varied widely between the different kits. J Clin Pathol, 1981 Apr, 34(4), 357 - 60 Comparison of serum vitamin B12 estimation by saturation analysis with intrinsic factor and with R-protein as binding agents; Zacharakis R et al.; It has been reported that serum vitamin B12 levels assayed by saturation analysis methods may give misleadingly high results, so much so that the diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency may be obscured . This defect was ascribed largely to assays using a vitamin B12 binder other than pure intrinsic factor . To test out this hypothesis two assays were set up, one using saliva (non-intrinsic factor R-binder) and the other using human gastric (intrinsic factor) as B12-binding agents . Both assays were able to differentiate sera from patients with pernicious anaemia from those from control subjects . Published results accumulated over the past 10 years indicate that properly designed and performed saturation analysis vitamin B12 assays are as reliable as microbiological assay methods for detecting low serum B12 levels . The failure of some methods to do does not appear to be due to the nature of the B12-binding agent. Clin Nephrol, 1981 Apr, 15(4), 175 - 80 Gentamicin and ticarcillin in subjects with end-stage renal disease . Comparison of two assay methods and evaluation of inactivation rate; Russo ME et al.; Eight subjects with end-stage renal disease were given gentamicin alone (single dose) and in combination with ticarcillin (multiple doses) to determine to what extent ticarcillin inactivates gentamicin in vivo and when this inactivation becomes significant . Gentamicin serum concentrations were performed by both a rapid radioimmunoassay (1 1/2 hours) and a conventional bioassay (8 hours) to determine whether the bioassay results would be falsely lowered by ticarcillin . The results of the study showed that ticarcillin inactivates gentamicin in vivo with an inactivation rate of 0.01 hours(-1) . This was demonstrated by a decrease in serum gentamicin levels which became significant at 12 hours after gentamicin was given, and a decrease in gentamicin half-life from 46 to 28 hours during ticarcillin administration . Ticarcillin did not interfere with the bioassay method of measuring gentamicin levels . Although ticarcillin inactivates gentamicin in subjects with end-stage renal disease, the serum level data of gentamicin suggest that supplemental doses of the aminoglycoside are not necessary for 48 hours after a single loading dose of gentamicin . Widely used microbiological assay procedures are reliable in determining gentamicin levels and do not appear to be falsely lowered by concurrent ticarcillin administration. Sci Total Environ, 1981 Apr, 18, 205 - 17 Report of the NATO/CCMS drinking water pilot study on health aspects of drinking water contaminants; Borzelleca JF; Various methods of disinfection are being successfully used to control water borne diseases due to biological contaminants in water (viruses, bacteria, protozoa) . These methods of chemical control are adding chemical contaminants to the drinking water . For example, trihalomethanes may be formed by the interaction of chlorine with humic and/or fulvic acids . In addition, chemical contaminants may arise from natural, agricultural, industrial or distributional sources . Acute or chronic exposures to these chemicals may result in adverse health effects that are immediate or delayed, reversible or irreversible . Since these contaminants rarely occur singly, chemical interactions (additives, synergistic, antagonistic) must be considered . The nature of the adverse health effects can usually be determined from properly designed and executed animal experiments and/or human epidemiological studies . Potentially toxic agents may also be identified by the use of short term or in vitro tests . Other methods of identification of potentially toxic agents include chemical similarity with known toxicants . Attempts should be made to reduce the number of potentially toxic chemical contaminants but the microbiological quality of drinking water must not be compromised. J Nutr, 1981 Apr, 111(4), 610 - 7 Effects of vitamin B-6 deficiency during lactation on the vitamin B-6 content of milk, liver and muscle of rats; Felice JH et al.; Effects of a dietary deficiency of vitamin B-6 imposed during the lactation period on the level of this vitamin in milk, liver and muscle were assessed in rats . A control diet (vitamin B-6 free basal diet supplemented with 10 mg pyridoxine . HCl/kg) was fed to all rats just before and during the gestation period . On day 1 of lactation, dams were randomly assigned to three dietary treatment groups: deficient (vitamin B-6 free basal diet), control or restricted control (control diet restricted in quantity to that consumed by the deficient group) . Levels of total vitamin B-6 in milk, liver and muscle were determined by microbiological assay on days 1, 6, 16 and 21 of lactation . On day 6, the concentration of vitamin B-6 in milk of deficient dams was less than 20% of control or restricted control values . The low level of vitamin B-6 in milk of the deficient group continued to be evident on days 16 and 21 whereas in control and restricted control groups the vitamin content increased on days 16 and 21 compared to the values on day 6 . In contrast to the low level of vitamin B-6 content observed in milk on day 6 in the deficient group, the vitamin content in liver of this group was approximately 75% of control or restricted control values, and the vitamin content in muscle was not significantly altered by the deficiency . Hence, milk was effected sooner by the deficiency and was an earlier indicator of impending vitamin B-6 deficiency than was liver or muscle tissues. Arch Sci Med (Torino), 1981 Apr-Jun, 138(2), 209 - 42 {Aerobic bacterial flora in cutaneous lesions and in venous catheters of severely burned patients}; Angela GC et al.; Bearing in mind the complexity of the topic and its variability owing to the progress made in antibiotic management, and the development of many concepts concerning the pathogenesis and biochemistry of major burns, the already massive literature is supplemented by the addition of relatively recent data to enable comparisons to be made with regard to the quality and frequency of isolation of the bacterial flora observed in such patients, and above all their sensitivity to currently employed antibiotics . The investigation was conducted on patients admitted to the Turin CTO Major Burns Centre between 1972 and 1977 . Initially (1972-1975), a microbiological examination was made of purulent secretions from wounds . Subsequently, management was prevalently directed to the early excision of injured surfaces, and attention was therefore directed to the indwelling venous catheters used in treatment and parenteral alimentation . In cases examined in parallel, moreover, there was often a substantial similarity between wound and catheter flora, and when only one species was present in the wounds, the catheter was often sterile . Furthermore, numerous data were collected from antibiograms relating to the most frequently encountered micro-organisms . These usually displayed wide resistance spectra, especially with respect to the most commonly used of historically oldest antibiotics, whereas their resistance to those recently introduced was generally lower . The question of provenance (from the patient himself, the hospital or its medical and paramedical staff) is also examined . Reference is made to a point that has recently become important in the treatment of burns, namely the ascertainment of the degree of contamination not only on the surface, but also in the immediate sub-surface of the lesions, so as to permit a suitable excision of the eschar and skin transplantation . When a sufficient number of findings exist to support this new concept, it will certainly give rise to further studies and research aimed at bringing new, important data to this so rich and multiform topic. J Clin Pathol, 1981 Apr, 34(4), 351 - 6 Use of an improved E . coli method for the measurement of cobalamin in serum: comparison with the E . gracilis assay results; Sourial NA; Owing to the higher serum cobalamin results that are obtained by R-binder radioisotopic dilution assay compared to microbiological assays (E . gracilis and L . leichmannii) it was suggested that serum contained a cobamide(s) that could not be detected by the more specific microbiological assays and that a much less specific test organism, which responds to most naturally occurring cobamides, such as the cobamide-dependent E . coli mutant, might respond to these cobamide(s) in serum . In an attempt to investigate this possibility an improved and simplified E . coli assay for the measurement of cobamide in serum was developed . The method is described, and the results obtained in normal subjects, in patients with megaloblastic anemia, and in anaemic pregnant women not suffering from megaloblastic anaemia are reported and compared with E . gracilis assay results. Am J Surg, 1981 Apr, 141(4), 460 - 4 Application of polyethylene glycol turbidity assay to detection of circulating immune complexes in cancer patients; Rayner AA et al.; A rapid, reproducible immune complex screening assay was used to quantitate levels of circulating immune complexes in the sera of normal subjects, patients with documented increases in immune complexes from rheumatoid arthritis, patients with clinically or microbiologically documented infections, and patients with cancer . Although wide variations in individual values within the groups were noted and the concurrent elevation of polyethylene glycol-circulating immune complex levels by infection was documented as expected, significant differences were found in the values in patients with cancer compared with those in normal subjects . The overall clinical application of polyethylene glycol-circulating immune complex screening is discussed and current application of screening of serial sera samples from individual patients for correlation with measurable tumor volume is proposed. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1981 Apr 1, 178(7), 700 - 3 Abortion and death in goats inoculated with Sarcocystis sporocysts from coyote feces; Dubey JP; Ten 75- to 105-day-pregnant does each were inoculated orally within 1 million (2 does), 10,000 (4 does), or 1,000 (4 does) sporocysts of Sarcocystis from coyote feces . Two does not inoculated with sporocysts served as controls . The 2 does inoculated with 1 million sporocysts died from acute sarcocystosis 21 and 22 days after inoculation (DAI), and each had 2 dead fetuses . The 4 does inoculated with 10,000 sporocysts were ill 19 to 33 DAI but survived; 1 aborted at 33 DAI, 1 had a live kid that died within 2 hours of birth 31 DAI, 1 aborted 2 dead fetuses 23 DAI, and 1 had a normal kid 56 DAI . The 4 does inoculated with 1,000 sporocysts and the 2 control does remained clinically normal and had normal kids . Does and their offspring were killed within 24 hours of parturition, and their tissues were examined histologically and microbiologically . Meronts of Sarcocystis were found in the maternal placenta of does inoculated with 1 million sporocysts . Sarcocystis was not found in the placenta, fetuses, or tissues of kids from does inoculated with 10,000 or 1,000 sporocysts, or from control does . Other abortifacient agents were not found in the placenta, fetuses, or kids from any does. Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper, 1981 Mar 30, 57(6), 614 - 20 {Application of the biotic index and the diversity index to the study of macro-benthons in a river}; Castagna A et al.; Using the Biotic Index and the Diversity Index the results are analysed of a study of the macrobenthic community sampled in the course of one year at three stations along he lowest-lying stretch of the River Simeto . The results obtained from applying the two different indices are not in perfect agreement one with the other . Whereas with the Biotic Index one could be led to consider the fluvial environment situation a good one, the Diversity Index shows the environment to be partially compromised by organic substances . On the basis of results of chemico-physico-microbiological analyses as well as data concerning the nutritive habits of the species found, we conclude that the Diversity Index is a more suitable instrument for measuring the biological reality of the Simeto. Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1981 Feb 7, 111(6), 190 - 1 {Oral ketoconazole therapy of a case of pulmonary histoplasmosis}; Zellweger JP; A 46-year-old man with recurrent pulmonary histoplasmosis was given oral treatment with ketoconazole (a new imidazole derivative related to miconazole) in a dose of 400 mg/day for 3 months, followed by 200 mg daily for 6 months . The clinical and microbiological signs disappeared and the chest X-ray cleared . The drug was well tolerated without clinical or biological side-effects . The pharmacology of ketoconazole, its indications and the results of treatment of other deep mycoses are discussed . Unlike amphotericin B, ketoconazole can be administered orally without noticeable toxicity and appears to have approximately the same fungicidal activity. Br J Vener Dis, 1981 Feb, 57(1), 36 - 40 Microbiological, serological, and histopathological features of experimental Chlamydia trachomatis urethritis in chimpanzees; Taylor-Robinson D et al.; A laboratory-passaged genital strain of Chlamydia trachomatis and two unpassaged genital strains from patients with nongonococcal urethritis were inoculated intraurethrally into three young male chimpanzees . Chlamydia were recovered from the urethra of two animals and specific antibody responses were detected in all of them . Furthermore, a urethral polymorphonuclear leucocyte response, but not an overt discharge, occurred in all the chimpanzees about 1-2 weeks after inoculation . None of these events occurred in a chimpanzee inoculated with medium only . At necropsy three months after inoculation the submucosa of the urethra of one chimpanzee was densely infiltrated with small round cells . This suggests that a similar chronic lymphocytic response may occur in human chlamydial infection of the urethra. Aust J Ophthalmol, 1981 Feb, 9(1), 27 - 32 Vitrectomy in the management of endophthalmitis; Hadden OB; Four cases of endophthalmitis were managed with pars plana vitrectomy and intravitreal antibiotics . All four cases made a good structural recovery, but the only cases which regained good vision were the two which had vitrectomy within three days of the first signs of endophthalmitis . The vitreous aspirate in all four cases showed polymorphonuclear leukocytes, but in only one case were organisms cultured . Vitrectomy is a means of removing the bulk of the infected material, of allowing dispersion of intra-ocular antibiotic, of removing membranes which may lead to later traction detachment of the ciliary body or retina, and of clearing the visual pathway . Microbiological diagnosis is best made by culture of vitreous aspirate . Retinal function is affected early in the course of the inflammatory process . Vitrectomy is recommended as the emergency primary treatment of acute endophthalmitis. Arch Microbiol, 1981 Feb, 128(4), 355 - 9 Evaluation of kappa carrageenan as a substitute for agar in microbiological media; Abbott IA et al.; Seventy-one samples of the colloid kappa-carrageenan extracted from 12 seaweed species were subjected to a number of standard physical demands of solid bacteriological culture media . All samples had a lower melting temperature (less than 67 degrees C) than agar and a gelling (setting) temperature between l6 degrees C and 51 degrees C, some the same and others lower or higher than agar . Temperature spreads were narrow (ca 10 degrees C) to broad (ca 30 degrees C), depending on the seaweed source, but none were as broad as that of agar (ca 40 degrees C) . The majority of commercially prepared samples held a slant when incubated at 37 degrees C, but California seaweed colloids were best at 28 degrees C in this test . The majority of samples released little to no water of syneresis in slant tests as well as in plates . Some plates prepared with the colloid were crystal clear as compared to agar plates . All test microorganisms grew as well on kappa-carrageenan media s on agar media . Some media responses could be attributable to the seaweed species, but others could be traced to chemical extraction methods and modification of the colloid. Steroids, 1981 Feb, 37(2), 177 - 94 Synthesis of 16 alpha-3H androgen and estrogen substrates for 16 alpha-hydroxylase; Cantineau R et al.; The synthesis of 16 alpha-3H androgens and estrogens is described . 1-(3H)-Acetic acid in the presence of zinc dust reacts with 16 alpha-bromo-17-ketosteroids to produce 16 alpha-3H-17-ketosteroids . This chemical reaction was used to prepare 16 alpha-3H-dehydroepiandrosterone (I) and 16 alpha-3H-estrone acetate (XI) from 16 alpha-bromo-dehydroepiandrosterone (X) and from 16 alpha-bromo-estrone acetate (XII), respectively . Using appropriate microbiological techniques, it was possible to convert these radiolabelled substrates into 16 alpha-3H-androstenedione (II) and 16 alpha-3H-estradiol-17 beta (VII) . 16 alpha-3H-Estrone (VI) was obtained by the chemical hydrolysis of 16 alpha-3H-estrone acetate . The label distribution as determined by microbiological 16 alpha-hydroxylations indicated a specific labelling of 77% for androgens and 65% for estrogens in the 16 alpha position . These substrates can be used for measuring the 16 alpha hydroxylase activity, an important step in the biosynthesis of estriol (VIII) and estetrol (IX). Clin Chem, 1981 Feb, 27(2), 249 - 52 Double-antibody fluorescence immunoassay of tobramycin; Karnes HT et al.; This heterogeneous assay for tobramycin involves fluorescein-labeled tobramycin, which competes with native unlabeled tobramycin for anti-tobramycin binding sites . Bound and free labeled antigen are separated by precipitation with a second antibody . Fluorescence intensity of the resuspended precipitate is inversely proportional to native tobramycin concentration . Background interference was consistently about 10% of the total fluorescence precipitated . Assay sensitivity was sufficient to detect nanogram quantities of tobramycin per assay tube . Correlation coefficients (r) were 0.96 and 0.98 for comparisons of this assay with a microbiological assay and a radioimmunoassay, respectively . Mean analytical recovery was 101% and the CV was less than 10% throughout the therapeutic range. J Pharm Sci, 1981 Feb, 70(2), 186 - 9 Fluorometric determination of tetracyclines in small blood and tissue samples; van den Bogert C et al.; A reported fluorometric method to determine tetracycline in biological material was modified to determine low levels of the antibiotics when using only small amounts of starting material . The method is applicable to tissue distribution studies in small experimental animals and also can be used for serial determinations in blood samples of these animals and for biopsy material . The tetracyclines are extracted in the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, and the phosphate precipitation steps are omitted . This omission makes the procedures considerably less time consuming . The recoveries of the tetracyclines, oxytetracycline and doxycycline, are approximately 80-100% . The values obtained by this method were consistent with those from microbiological assays, and its reliability was shown further in a comparison with the fate of radioactive tetracycline. Clin Chem, 1981 Feb, 27(2), 263 - 7 Radioassay for cobalamin (vitamin B12) requiring no pretreatment of serum; Houts TM et al.; We describe a radioassay for cobalamin (vitamin B12) in human serum or plasma that requires no boiling or other pretreatment of the sample . Normal chicken serum covalently coupled to magnetizable particles is used as the binding agent . The assay is performed at pH 12.9, at which pH all cobalamin in human serum is released from its binding proteins, whereas the binding agent maintains a high affinity for cobalamin (Ka 1.7 x 10(10) L/mol) . Under these assay conditions the binding protein shows a specificity for cobalamin similar to that of purified intrinsic factor . The assay is simple, rapid, and precise, and results correlate well with those of the Euglena gracilis microbiological assay and an intrinsic-factor binding assay. Med Pediatr Oncol, 1981, 9(1), 23 - 34 Protected environments in cancer chemotherapy: design and function of a large unit; Bodey GP et al.; The construction of a new hospital building permitted the design of a new protected environment unit . The design and operating procedures of this unit are described . Microbiological monitoring has been conducted using air sampling, floor sampling, and settling plates . Microbial contamination is substantially lower in the protected environment unit than in comparable locations elsewhere in the hospital. Br J Ophthalmol, 1981 Jan, 65(1), 10 - 3 Lacrimal canaliculitis due to Arachnia (Actinomyces) propionica; Seal DV et al.; The clinical and microbiological findings in a chronic case of lacrimal canaliculitis due to Arachnia propionica are described . Bacterial culture and identification should be performed in the investigation of the disease in order to establish the role of A . propionica and other specific actinomycetes at the acute as well as at the chronic stage. Acta Paediatr Acad Sci Hung, 1981, 22(4), 359 - 62 Rapid diagnosis of bacterial meningitis by counter-immunoelectrophoresis; Storm W; Counterimmunoelectrophoresis is described as a rapid and specific method for the early detection of causative organisms in bacterial meningitis . This technique was applied to CFS samples from 213 patients in whom neonatal septicaemia and/or meningitis or bacterial meningitis was suspected . Out of 14 patients with meningitis all but one bacterial organism could be detected by CIE, long before results of routine microbiological cultures were available . CIE was especially helpful in children treated with antibiotics prior to admission . Despite some shortcomings of the method, CIE is a useful diagnostic tool for the early determination of the aetiology of bacterial meningitis. Natl Inst Anim Health Q (Tokyo), 1981 Winter, 21(4), 163 - 74 Occurrence of bovine dermatophilosis in the southernmost islands of Japan; Kinjo E et al.; Such cutaneous symptoms as characteristic incrustation and alopecia were noticed in 25 calves of the indigenous Japanese Black breed grazing on subtropical islands in Japan over a period of April, 1978 to February, 1980 . These islands were Ishigaki, Kuro, Yonaguni and Tarama belonging to the Sakishima Islands . Microbiological and pathological examination on three of these calves revealed that the calves were affected with dermatophilosis caused by Dermatophilus congolensis . The disease in these calves seemed to be the same as that reported previously in other countries, since it attacked young calves in a humid district with an abundant rainfall . It broke out first on Ishigaki Island and subsequently on the other islands in 3 years . Discussion was made on factors inducing these outbreaks. Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1981, 21(7), 555 - 62 Microbiological implications of electric field effects . III . Stimulation of yeast protoplast fusion by electric field pulses; Weber H et al.; Prototrophic colonies could be selected on minimal medium after mixing of protoplasts from diauxotrophic mutants of the yeasts Saccharomycopsis lipolytica and/or Lodderomyces elongisporus and treatment with polyethylene glycol (PEG) in the presence of calcium chloride . This is the result of protoplast fusion and complementation of auxotrophic deficiencies . Under identical conditions an electric field pulse in the mus-range applied via an electric discharge to the protoplast-PEG mixture resulted in a drastic enhancement of the protoplast fusion rate . The presence of polyethylene glycol was demonstrated to be a prerequisite for fusion in this case, too . The frequency of hybrid formation detected a prototrophic colonies could be increased in the case of intraspecific fusion at initial electric field strengths between 2.5 and 5 kV . cm-1 . The application of an electric field pulse of proper strength and duration to a yeast protoplast suspension turned out to be a more effective tool in production of fusion products that conventional methods . Large numbers of parasexual hybrids for different selection programmes in yeast genetics and for industrial purpose may be delivered by this technique. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1981, 173(3-4), 197 - 203 {Microbial settlement of paint- and building-materials in the sphere of drinking-water . 6 . Communication: Experimental examination of chlorcaoutchouc paints under working conditions and in laboratory tests (author's transl)}; Schoenen D et al.; Five different chlorcaoutchouc coating materials were microbiologically tested . All materials showed a visible microbial growth on the surface . The amount of slime decreased with the increase of age of the coat of paint . After a period of 1 to 1 1/2 years no visible microbial growth could be observed . The decrease of microbial growth on the coat of paint is independent on having been in contact with water or air before . One can say that the main compound of the coating material does not itself produce the visible microbial growth, but additions like volatile compounds. Z Erkr Atmungsorgane, 1981, 156(3), 246 - 54 {A computerized information system of bacillary tuberculosis in the Czech Socialist Republic (author's transl)}; Kubin M et al.; The automated information system for bacillary tuberculosis is based on the registration of all positive mycobacterial examinations in the 43 tuberculosis laboratories in CSR . Data on the patient, the health service reporting, the kind of the material examined, and the actual microbiological examination including the identification of species and sensibility to antituberculotics are surrendered to the computer by means of a punched card or tape . On the base of the entrance information all sources are collected in the computer the data input being checked in regard to accuracy of the parts and logical relationship to the various variables . All sources of information of the data bank, made actual concerning the mycobacterial examinations are available to the programme . Another programme is supplementing the information on tests for identification and antituberculotic sensibility of the mycobacteria . With the aid of other programmes regular monthly summaries are done by the data bank for the cooperating laboratories and the specialists in the districts and countries . Finally another programme answers the evaluation of the annual reports of the mycobacterial investigations and reports on the epidemiological data of the diseased persons . In 1977 13,909 notifications of tuberculosis findings were analysed, coming from 3,782 persons . This analysis made evident the following conclusions reflecting the recent situation of mycobacteriologic diagnostics and the significance of the tuberculosis problem in communities with a low tuberculosis prevalence: a) The prevalence of bacillary tuberculosis in CSR (37/100,000) is ranging in the various districts between 27 and 44/100,000 . The prevalence of persons with proof of mycobacteria already by smear amounts to 10/100,000 inhabitants . b) The highest portion of bacillary tuberculosis comes from persons with symptoms (45%), it amounts to 17% in persons with active tuberculosis already in dispensary care, to 15% in persons with fibrotic lesions and 14% in recidives . After a five year experience with the computerized information system of bacillary tuberculosis the authors recommended to centralize and to combine it with the central state tuberculosis register in order to utilize the data and evaluated in the level of the districts and countries as well for the management of the tuberculosis control programme in the level of the whole state. Infect Immun, 1981 Jan, 31(1), 445 - 52 Pathogenicity of Spiroplasma sp . strain SMCA in Syrian hamsters: clinical, microbiological, and histological aspects; Kirchhoff H et al.; The intracerebral inoculation of newborn Syrian hamsters with pure cultures of Spiroplasma sp . strain SMCA caused severe, prolonged disease involving the central nervous system, culminating in death . The disease was characterized by spasms, muscular tremors, disturbances in motor control, inability to feed, dramatic loss of weight, and runting . The effect ws dose related, with the largest numbers of viable spiroplasmas producing the highest incidence of disease and death in the shortest period of time . Severe hemorrhaging developed throughout the brain, liver, and spleen, and spiroplasmas were readily recovered from these organs, indicating that the agent disseminated from the initial site of infection to distant host tissues . Newborn animals were susceptible, but adults were resistant; these findings are similar to those reported for newborn mice and rats . Unlike mice and rats, hamsters did not develop cataracts visible to the unaided eye . The histopathological features of eye disease in hamsters were different from those in rats and were characterized by microophthalmia (especially in runted hamsters) and abnormal proliferation, disorientation, and disorganization of corneal, lens, and retinal tissues . The significance of these findings is discussed. Arzneimittelforschung, 1981, 31(8A), 1353 - 9 {Penetration and antifungal activity of ciclopiroxolamine in hornified tissue (author's transl)}; Dittmar W; A brief survey is given on microbiological methods commonly used in investigations on the penetration of effective amounts of antimycotics into the epidermis . By means of more recent and widely improved techniques, 6-cyclohexyl-1-hydroxy-4-methyl-2(1H)-pyridone, 2-aminoethanol salt (ciclopiroxolamine, Batrafen) when applied in a sufficient amount--was shown to penetrate (enter) to an exceptional extent both average and very thick horny layers of skin as well as compact horny material. Arzneimittelforschung, 1981, 31(8A), 1317 - 22 {Microbiological laboratory studies with ciclopiroxolamine (author's transl)}; Dittmar W et al.; A survey is given on the microbiological laboratory results obtained up to date with 6-cyclohexyl-1-hydroxy-4-methyl-2(1H)-pyridone, 2-aminoethanol salt (ciclopiroxolamine, Cic, Hoe 296, Batrafen) . The activity spectrum of the drug on fungi, bacteria and other organisms is described . Various properties by which Cic differs from commercial antimycotics are mentioned . They concern the great uniformity of MICs in pathogenic fungi, their consistency under various test conditions, the importance of the nutrient medium for the level of in vitro activity, and the steepness of dose-response curves . In addition, previously described properties of Cic are summarized, including findings on its mode of action in fungi, its effect in model mycoses, and its high efficacy in hornified skin types . The relevance of laboratory findings for therapy is discussed. Zentralbl Gynakol, 1981, 103(13), 732 - 9 {Use of metronidazole in treatment of postoperative obstetric infections (author's transl)}; Amon K et al.; Thirteen patients with abscess of the abdominal wall, including one case of endomyometritis following caesarean section, received metronidazole treatment (Vagimid), on the first two days of therapeutic action . The dosage was 500 mg twice per days, some of the applications combined with antibiotics . Proper healing was achieved in the majority of the cases . Clinical symptoms improved very soon, and hospitalisation could be shortened . Metronidazole was well tolerated . Microbiological tests were undertaken, and gas chromatography was used to establish from pus anaerobic metabolic products. Acta Vitaminol Enzymol, 1981, 3(4), 205 - 13 {Methods of determination of vitamin B 12}; Scandurra R et al.; A brief review on the methods for vitamin B12 determination is presented . The most appropriate utilization of each method based on its sensitivity, on the availability of the sample and on practical difficulties has been indicated . The methods have been divided into: a) physico-chemical methods, where the vitamin is identified spectrophotometrically; b) microbiological methods, where the vitamin is determined quantitatively by means of the growth of cobalamine dependent bacterial strains; c) kinetic methods, based on the different rate of conversion of the different cobalamines into dicyanocobalamine in the presence of an alkaline solution of cyanide; d) enzymatic methods, where activation of apodioldehydrase is used for the quantitative determination of adenosylcobalamine; e) chromatographic methods, where the separation of the cobalamines is obtained by chromatography and the