[Effect on carbohydrate metabolism of a new saluretic, etozolin]. The influence of Etozolin (Elkapin) on the carbohydrate metabolism was studied in 10 healthy volunteers, 6 patients with chemical diabetes and 10 with overt diabetes by blood glucose measurements and oral glucose tolerance tests with determinations of serum insulin levels. The healthy volunteers received 800 mg Etozolin per day during the treatment period of 3 days, the two groups of patients 400 mg Etozolin for 8 days. The laboratory parameters of the treatment period were compared with the corresponding values of the pre- and posttreatment periods and evaluated statistically. There was no statistically significant difference in the carbohydrate metabolism between the 3 test periods in all groups studied. As a result of the induced diuresis body weight, serum electrolytes and urine volume changed significantly during the Etozolin treatment as compared with the pre- and posttreatment values. Other changes of laboratory parameters could not be seen. In diabetic hypertensive patients a significant reduction of blood pressure was observed.


Establishment of a human lymphoblastoid cell line with specific antibody production against group A streptococcal carbohydrate. A human lymphoblastoid cell line, secreting specific antibody against Group A carbohydrate (A-CHO) was established by pre-selection of antigen binding normal human lymphocytes, followed by Epsetin Barr virus (EBV) induced immortalization. Culture supernatants were assayed for anti A-CHO antibodies by radioimmunoassay, N-acetyl-glucosamine-coupled T4-phage plaque inhibition tests and passive hemagglutination. As a rule, the supernatants contained about 10 micrograms/ml anti-A-CHO antibodies of the IgM-kappa type. The antibody was fractionated and partially purified on an N-acetyl glucosamine Sepharose 4B column with a recovery of about 3 micrograms/ml of supernatant.


Isolation of type-specific antibody to streptococcus pyogenes by affinity chromatography. Rabbit type-specific opsonic antibodies to type 1 and type 12 streptococci were isolated by affinity chromatography on immobilized phage-enzyme extract. They were tested by precipitation in gel, bactericidal test and radioimmunoassay. Only type-specific activities were demonstrated. These activities were distributed homogeneously according to avidity. No suggestion of opsonizing and precipitating activities being separable from each other was found. These highly purified rabbit antibodies were marked by radioiodination and used to titrate human anti-M antibodies by competition. These marked antibodies were also used for the study of type-specific antigenic determinants on streptococcal antigens.


Interaction of wheat-germ agglutinin with streptococci and streptococcal cell wall polymers. Wheat-germ agglutinin agglutinates all strains of group A and group C streptococci, a part of the strains tested of groups B and E and some strains of other streptococcal groups. It also agglutinates peptidoglycan of several streptococcal groups and precipitates some group-specific carbohydrates of streptococcal cell walls as well as some teichoic acid extracts. The basis for agglutination and precipitation of streptococci and streptococcal cell wall polymers appears to be the interaction of the combining sites of the agglutinin with N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues present in the cell wall polymers, either in terminal or in internal positions respectively.


[Malaria hypothesis--the significance of the hereditary red cell traits Hb S and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in malaria (author's transl)]. The high frequencies of the Hb S and G6PD-deficiency genes in the tropics are explained by their relative resistance against malarial infection. They may confer advantage through lower infection rates or through lower parasitaemia. There is evidence that heterozygote carriers of these genes are partially protected. The mechanism of resistance is known for Hb S but not completely understood for the G6PD-deficiency gene. Other red cell factors are discussed with respect to innate resistance against malaria.


[Conditions influencing the activity of fosfomycin in vitro (author's transl)]. The determination of the antibacterial activity of fosfomycin in vitro is most suitably carried out in serial dilution tests on Mueller-Hinton agar. In this, the reproducibility of the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) is the best and is the least dependent on the size of the inoculum. In addition, there is no "skip-tube" effect with this method of determination. The reproducibility of the MIC values increases for several bacterial species on addition of glucose-6-phosphate and at the same time the inhibitory values are lower. If human urine is used as the nutrient medium, the inhibitory values of fosfomycin increase for many species. The action of the antibiotic is not reduced on addition of human blood to the Mueller-Hinton agar.


[Bacteremia associated with subfebril urinary tract infections (author's transl)]. Blood samples of 115 patients of both sexes admitted to the hospital with urinary tract infections were examined for bacteremia. Out of 115 patients 12 (10%) had positive blood cultures associated with significant urinary counts (greater than or equal to 10(5) organisms/ml). Although 10% of the patients showed positive blood cultures indicating bacteremia none of them had shaking chills, fever or any other clinical signs of septicaemia. None of the patients from whom blood samples were taken had yet received antimicrobial therapy. Bacterial isolates from urine and blood were identical. Microorganisms most frequently isolated were found in the following order: E. coli, Proteus species, K. pneumoniae and coagulase negative staphylococci. Neoplasms, obstruction of the urinary tract and age were found to be high risk factors.


[Diagnosis of trichinellosis and special aspects of a modified immunofluorescence test (author's transl)]. Trichinella spiralis was detected in 1835 by Paget, an English student. Since the introduction of the meat investigation law for trichinosis in 1937 the infection with this parasites became a rare condition. The last endemies in Germany occurred in 1967 and 1977. They restimulated the discussion regarding the efficiency and sensitivity of the routinely used methods for the detection of Tr. spiralis. 69 patients, suffering from infection with Tr. spiralis were investigated using a modified IFT. This method was compared with other serological techniques for the determination of Tr. spiralis and was found very sensitive and specific. Further immunological investigations showed an increased lymphocyte stimulation with Trich. antigen in most patients suffering from trichinellosis. When added autologous serum however the proliferation of lymphocytes was inhibited. The reason for this phenomenon might be a factor with immunosuppressive property produced by the adult worms.


Serial renin-angiotensin studies in spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto normotensive rats. Transition from normal- to high-renin status during the established phase of spontaneous hypertension. To characterize the renin-angiotensin system in the Aoki-Okamoto spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) more fully, serial measurements of plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma renin concentration (PRC), renin reactivity (as relative index of circulating modifiers of the renin reaction) and renin substrate concentration were made in 6- to 64-week-old SHR and in age-matched Wistar-Kyoto normotensive rats (WKY). In the evolving phase of SHR hypertension (6 and 13 weeks of age), PRA was comparable to WKY control values, whereas mature SHR with established hypertension developed, between 13 and 35 weeks of age, a high-PRA state persisting through 64 weeks of age. In 64-week-old SHR, increased plasma volume (3.54 +/- 0.91 in SHR vs. 3.18 +/- 0.90 ml/100 g body weight in WKY, p less than 0.025), together with increased PRA (24.9 +/- 3.8 in SHR vs. 13.1 2.2 ng AI/ml plasma/hr in WKY, p less than 0.025), suggest that volume decrease cannot explain increased PRA. In 42-week-old SHR, PRA was incompletely suppressed by deoxycorticosterone acetate plus 1% saline orally for 4 days: 4.9 +/- 1.2 in SHR vs. 0.6 +/- 0.8 ng angiotensin I/ml plasma/hr in WKY, p less than 0.001. Modestly increased renin reactivity of plasma was observed in SHR at all ages studied, supporting the ubiquity of increased circulating accelerators (or decreased inhibitors) of the renin reaction in hypertensive states. However, elevated renin reactivity did not account for the transition from normal to high PRA observed in mature SHR, nor did renin substrate concentration, which was consistently lower in SHR than in age-matched WKY. Temporal patterns of, and strain differences in PRA were closely paralleled by variations in PRC but not by other reaction components. Significant elevation of serum creatinine in old SHR support the presence of renal injury. We conclude that PRA and PRC are normal in evolving SHR hypertension and progress to abnormally elevated levels after hypertension is established. We postulate that "high-renin" hypertension may develop as a consequence of the hypertensive state per se, perhaps due to nephrosclerotic vascular disease.


Plasma renin activity, reactivity, concentration and substrate following hypertension during pregnancy. Effect of oral contraceptive agents. Plasma renin activity is suppressed in approximately 25% of patients with essential hypertension, and the rate of in vitro angiotensin I production after addition of exogenous renin (renin reactivity) is increased in plasma of hypertensive patients. We have recently observed that blood pressure (116 +/- 1.5/68 +/- 1.7 mm Hg) of young women who had hypertension during a first pregnancy 3--6 years earlier (n = 63) was higher (p less than 0.005) than blood pressure (109 +/- 1.4/61 +/- 1.7 mm Hg) of women who remained normotensive during pregnancy (n = 52). To determine if alterations of the renin-angiotensin axis observed in patients with established hypertension also occur in young adults with relatively high blood pressure, plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma renin concentration (PRC), plasma renin substrate (PRS) and plasma renin reactivity (PRR) were compared in these two groups of subjects. Overall, PRA and PRC were inversely related to systolic blood pressure (p less than 0.02). Excluding women on oral contraceptive agents, the PRA response to standardized treadmill exercise was suppressed (less than 1.0 ng/ml/hr) in 19% of women with a history of hypertension during pregnancy and in no women who remained normotensive throughout a previous pregnancy; PRR did not differ (p greater than 0.8) in the two groups of young mothers (27.1 ng/ml/30 min +/- 1.2 SE VS 26.2 ng/ml/30 min +/- 0.9 SE). Thus, renin suppression, but not increased PRR, precedes the onset of hypertension. Oral contraceptive usage was associated with higher systolic blood pressures, increased PRS, and low PRC. Highest blood pressures and lowest PRA occurred in women with a history of hypertension during pregnancy who were taking oral contraceptive agents at the time of study.


Glomerular and renal hemodynamics during converting enzyme inhibition (SQ20,881) in the dog. It has been suggested that intrarenal levels of angiotensin II may preferentially control efferent arteriolar resistance or may influence the glomerular filtration coefficient (Kf). To examine these possibilities, micropuncture and clearance experiments were performed on nine anesthetized dogs evaluating renal and glomerular hemodynamics before and during the administration of an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (SQ20,881). During the micropuncture measurements, renal arterial pressure was reduced to range of 85 to 90 mm Hg in order to maximize renin secretion and intrarenal formation of angiotensin II. Also, this procedure minimizes potential errors in the determination of single nephron glomerular filtration rate (SNGFR) and of glomerular pressure when estimated by techniques that require complete blockade of proximal tubule fluid flow. During the administration of SQ20,881, a converting enzyme inhibitor (CEI), renal blood flow increased significantly by 13%, but GFR was not altered. There were no significant alterations in SNGFR, proximal tubule pressure, peritubular capillary pressure or estimated glomerular pressure. By using the micropressure measurements in combination with the whole kidney hemodynamic data, it was estimated that afferent resistance was reduced 23%. Although significant decreases in efferent resistance could not be documented, there was a tendency for this variable to decrease also. Neither Kf nor effective filtration pressure were altered significantly by CEI. These results do not support the contention that intrarenal effects of angiotensin II are exerted predominantly on the efferent arteriolar resistance segments; rather, they suggest that angiotensin may exert a modest tonic effect on both pre- and postglomerular resistance elements in the anesthetized hydropenic dog.


Factors controlling plasma renin and aldosterone during pregnancy. The response of plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma aldosterone (PA) to change in sodium intake was evaluated in pregnant women during the third trimester. After 7 days on a 10 mEq sodium diet, PRA rose from 20.6 +/- 6.2 to 59.6 +/- 11.6 ng/ml/hr and PA from 47 +/- 11 to 127 +/- 27 ng% in pregnant women compared to PRA from 5 +/- 1.2 to 18.9 +/- 5.2 ng/ml/hr and PA from 7.7 +/- 1 to 42 +/- 3 ng% in nonpregnant controls. Pregnant women conserved sodium normally with urinary sodium excretion and weight loss similar to nonpregnant women. After 6 days on a 300 mEq sodium intake, PRA and PA in pregnant women were significantly higher, 10.2 +/- 1.4 ng/ml/hr and 22 +/- 3 ng%, respectively, compared to 1.5 +/- 0.3 ng/ml/hr and 7.3 +/- 1 ng% in controls. On both low- and high sodium intake there was a positive correlation between PRA and PA in pregnant women. Plasma prostaglandin E (PGE) was 0.45 +/- 0.06 ng/ml in pregnant women compared to 0.1 +/- 0.01 ng/ml in control women (p less than 0.01) and urinary PGE excretion was 2780 +/- 357 ng/24 hr in 28 pregnant women compared to 1191 +/- 142 ng/24 hrs (p less than 0.01) in 14 nonpregnant controls. These findings indicate that although renin and aldosterone secretion respond to change in sodium intake in pregnancy, the cause of the increased renin secretion of pregnancy may be secondary to the increase that occurs in prostaglandin synthesis.


[Therapeutic problems after massive blood transfusions]. The term of massive blood transfusion is still today not clearly defined. Through the introduction of microfilters, however, the clinical problems were decisively reduced. Nevertheless, a persistent shock may also today lead to acute respiratory disease. Further difficulties present the buffering, the slow activation of erythrocyte function in stored blood, the sufficient fluid and electrolyte substitution as well as the observation of renal function and coagulation disturbance. The problems of rewarming the patient and warming the stored blood before transfusion are discussed. Special regard must be paid to early and long enough ventilation during and after massive blood transfusion.


Genetic influences on renin, aldosterone, and the renal excretion of sodium and potassium following volume expansion and contraction in normal man. To investigate the influence of hereditary on plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma aldosterone concentrations (PAC), blood pressure, and the renal excretion of sodium and potassium following volume expansion and contraction in normal man, we studied 37 pairs of monozygotic (MZ) and 18 pairs of dizygotic (DZ) twins. Volume expansion was achieved by the intravenous infusion of 2L normal saline; volume contraction was accomplished by a low-sodium diet and 120 mg oral furosemide. The presence of genetic variance was tested by calculating the within pair and among component estimates of genetic variance. Outpatient 24-hour-urine collections suggested that MZ and DZ twins ingested diets similar in sodium and potassium content, and failed to reveal genetic influences on the dietary preferences for these electrolytes. The PRA values suggested heritable influences during both the volume expanded and contracted state with the added stimulus of upright posture. Heritable influences were observed on PAC and were most apparent in the basal state on the day of volume expansion. An influence of heredity on blood pressure was most apparent during volume contraction. Urinary sodium excretion (UNaV), urinary potassium excretion (UKV), fractional excretion of sodium (FENa), and fractional excretion of potassium (FEK) revealed evidence of significant genetic variance under the condition of volume expansion. in that state, systolic blood pressure was directly correlated with PRA, PAC, and inversely with FENa. The data suggest that the renal regulation of sodium and potassium excretion is in part influenced by heritable factors that may in turn contribute to the development of hypertension in some individuals.


Changes in renal vascular sensitivity and arterial pressure associated with sodium intake during long-term intrarenal norepinephrine infusion in dogs. Experiments were performed on conscious uninephrectomized dogs to determine the comparative effects of chronic intrarenal and intravenous norephrine (NE) infusion (0.27 microgram/kg/min) on the steady-state values for arterial pressure, plasma renin activity (PRA), and renal function at four levels of sodium intake (5, 40, 120 and 240 mEq/day). Arterial pressure was monitored continuously 24 hr/day with on-line computer techniques. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR), effective renal plasma flow (ERPF), and plasma renin activity (PRA) were determined after sodium and water balance was achieved. During intrarenal NE infusion, ERPF and GFR decreased progressively from 15% to 30% and from 24% to 46% respectively, while renal vascular resistance increased progressively from 40% to 140% as sodium intake was increased from 10 to 240 mEq/day. Both ERPF and renal resistance, but not GFR, returned to control levels during intravenous NE infusion at each level of sodium intake and after terminating NE infusion. During intrarenal NE infusion the steady-state value for mean arterial pressure increased from a control of 105 to 118 mm Hg when the sodium intake was 10 mEq/day. Pressure then increased progressively from 118 to 135 mm Hg as the sodium intake was elevated from 10 to 240 mEq/day. Increases in arterial pressure associated with intravenous NE infusion were significantly smaller at each sodium level than those achieved with intrarenal NE infusion. At each level of sodium intake, PRA was elevated during intrarenal NE infusion and returned to control after NE infusion. Intravenous NE infusion did not increase PRA above control levels. The data are compatible with the concept that enhanced renal adrenergic activity could initiate and sustain hypertension chronically by basic alterations in renal function.


Some theories of hypertension: fact and fancy. 1. Various theories on the origin and development of hypertension offered over the years have been assessed critically. 2. It is concluded that no one theory is adequate at the present time to encompass all the known facts. 3. Continuously expanded understanding of hypertensive mechanisms, however, help in the individualization and therefore the improvement of various modalities of therapy, including treatment with presently available agents, as well as with those which may be developed in the future.


[Motion sickness (author's transl)].

[Motion sickness (author's transl)]. A short introduction to motion sickness is followed by a historical survey of the various theories, with special reference to those concerning the inner ear. The symptomatology and the consequences of the disease are discussed. Prevention and therapy are considered.


[Bullous dermatoses in otorhinolaryngology (author's transl)]. The early clinical and histological diagnosis of acquired bullous dermatoses (pemphigus, bullous pemphigoid and the cicatricical pemphigoid of mucous membranes) may prove to be difficult when the disease is confined to the upper air and food passages. Histological differentiation between these diseases can also be difficult. In a number of cases it could be shown that the first signs of the disease were frequently mistaken for inflammatory conditions and that routine histological examination rarely confirmed the diagnosis. Only after immunohistological and immunoserological examination could the diagnosis be confirmed. In pemphigus, the treatment can be individually adapted to the titre of antibodies. The typical otorhinolaryngological findings in each of the three diseases are described.


A stereological study of the trophic effects of the renin-angiotensin system on the rat adrenal zona glomerulosa. Left renal artery stenosis increased and timolol maleate chronic administration decreased systolic blood pressure, plasma renin activity, and plasma aldosterone concentration, in adult male rats. In the hypertensive animals the volume of the zona glomerulosa, the volume and number of zona glomerulosa cells, as well as the volume of the mitochondrial compartment and the surface area of SER and mitochondrial cristae, were significantly increased. The volume of the lipid compartment was reduced, and several clumps of electron-dense granules appeared at the juxta-sinusoidal pole of the cells. Opposite results were found in the zona glomerulosa of the hypotensive rats, with the exception that the volume of the lipid compartment showed no significant change. These findings suggest that the renin-angiotensin system is involved in the maintenance and stimulation of the growth in the zona glomerulosa. Since in the hypertensive rats the increase in the volume density of electron-dense granules fits well with that in the intracellular concentration of aldosterone, the working hypothesis is that these granules are aldosterone-containing secretory organelles.


A comparative study of canine and human breast cancer. The incidence of mammary tumours in the bitch is probably three times as great as in women. While many of these tumours are mixed mammary tumours about one-third are carcinomas which resemble human breast carcinomas. Allowing for differences in life span, the age at onset is similar in both species. The World Health Organization classification of tumours and dysplasias of the canine mammary gland follows as far as possible the WHO classification for human breast tumours. Clinical staging of canine mammary tumours has now been completed. Some prognostic factors are similar in both species but regional lymph node metastasis does not seem to be of major importance in the bitch; mitotic activity may also not be as important as in women. Metastatic spread is broadly similar in both species except that involvement of the liver and skeleton is not as common in the bitch as in women. In older normal Beagles hyperplastic and neoplastic nodules commonly appear in the mammary gland, and they occur earlier in animals receiving large doses of progestogens. This has produced problems for the drug industry when conducting long-term carcinogenicity tests on progestogens present in the human contraceptive pill. Despite considerable endocrinological differences between the two species, oophorectomy is sparing for breast cancer in both. As in women, oestrogen and progesterone receptors have been detected in mammary carcinomas in bitches. Canine tumours can be grown in tissue culture but cloned cell lines have not yet been obtained. Transplantation can be made into nude mice and immunosuppressed neonatal dogs. The prognosis following mastectomy for invasive tubular adenocarcinoma and invasive solid carcinoma in the bitch is poor and these histological types make the best models for breast cancer in women. International trials are planned using chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy following mastectomy and, as results can be obtained within 3 years of commencement, it is expected that canine mammary tumours will play an increasingly important role in research which may lead to improved methods of treatment in human breast cancer.


Early intermediates in the biosynthesis of ansamycins. II. Isolation and identification of proansamycin B-M1 and protorifamycin i-M1. Proansamycin B-M1 and protorifamycin I-M1 were isolated as minor compounds from fermentations of the protorifamycin I producing strain Nocardia mediterranei F 1/24, identified by means of chemical and spectroscopic methods and shown to be degradation products of the hypothetical proansamycin B postulated in part I of this series of papers and of protorifamycin I, respectively.


Binding of tobramycin to Escherichia coli ribosomes: characteristics and equilibrium of the reaction. A sample of [3H] tobramycin (5,000 Ci/Mole) has been synthetized and incubated with the bacterial ribosome and its subunits. The results obtained show that this antibiotic has two types of binding sites. The primary one is probably responsible for the inhibition of protein synthesis whereas the secondary one is probably related to the misreading and reading through of the messenger RNA.


Acute phase reactant proteins as aids to monitoring disease. The plasma acute phase reactant proteins are a group consisting mainly of glycosialated proteins, whose levels rise in response to a wide variety of injuries. This review discusses how by considering several APRPs coincidentally the pattern of change can have a discriminant function which can be used alone or to enhance other biochemical tests, especially in the monitoring of disease.


The role of radiosensitizing drugs in the management of cancer. This paper discusses the role of radiosensitizers not only as adjuncts in the radiotherapy of local neoplastic disease but also in the potential management of metastases by virtue of their direct cytotoxic effects upon hypoxic cells.


Comparative bactericidal effect of ceforanide (BL-S 786) and five other cephalosporins in an in vitro pharmacokinetic model. The bactericidal activity of ceforanide was compared, in an in vitro kinetic model, with that of five other cephalosproins: cephalothin, cefazolin, cefamandole, cefuroxime, and cefoxitin. Cultures of various pathogens in 95% human serum were incubated for 12 hours in the presence of the cephalosporins whose concentrations were modified periodically-by addition of a concentrated solution of drug or dilution with unmedicated serum-in order to simulate the variation of antibiotic concentration in human blood after one-gram intramuscular dose. One Gram-positive strain and six Gram-negative strains were used. Bactericidal activity was assessed by monitoring changes in the number of colony-forming units. Tests showed that against Klebsiella pneumoniae, ceforanide was the most active of the six cephalosporins. Proteus mirabilis was more susceptible to ceforanide and cefuroxime than to the other compounds; Enterobacter cloacae to ceforanide, cefuroxime, and cefamandole; Escherichia coli to ceforanide, cefuroxime, cefamandole, and cefazolin. The number of viable cells of Staphylococcus aureus was reduced below detectable levels by all cephalosporins except cefoxitin. On the other hand, Providencia stuartii was virtually unaffected by all of the cephalosporins except cefoxitin.


Insulin stimulation of glucose entry in cultured human fibroblasts. The effect of insulin on glucose entry has been studied in monolayer cultures of human diploid fibroblastic cells. Influence of insulin on total cell glucose incorporation was evaluated using [14C] glucose. Glucose incorporation was increased up to two-fold in the presence of insulin. Insulin action occurred within 30 minutes and could be observed with insulin concentrations as low as 10(-10) M (10 microU)ml). The action of insulin was enhanced by preincubation in glucose-free medium. After glucose starvation the cells converted glucose primarily to glycogen and nucleotides, and the stimulation by insulin was observed equally in both fractions. Influence of insulin on the kinetics of hexose transport was studied using 2-deoxyglucose and 3-0-methyl glucose. A large diffusion component was corrected using rho-chloromercuribenzoic acid or phloridzin. Km for facilitated diffusion averaged 1.9 mM for 2-deoxyglucose and 5.3 mM for 3-O-methyl glucose, and Vmax ranged from 10-24 nmoles/min/mg cell protein. Insulin resulted in a 150% increase in Vmax with no significant change in Km. The data suggest that human diploid fibroblasts can be a useful system for the study of insulin's glucoregulatory action.


[Angiographic exploration of endocrine tumours of the pancreas. Arteriography and phlebography (author's transl)]. The authors report their procedure of angiographic localization of endocrine tumors of the pancreas: arteriography and subselective pancreatic phlebography (by transcutaneous transhepatic route) with intrapancreatic venous hormonal assays. This technic is the only one able to localize microscopic secreting tumors (under 2mm diameter in 3 cases on 20 examinations). Interpretation of hormonal data is discussed.


Plaque growth while chewing sorbitol and xylitol simultaneously with sucrose flavored gum. In a recent study, sorbitol flavored chewing gum was found neither to increase nor decrease the normal rate of plaque formation, whereas high plaque scores were obtained with sucrose gum during 4 days of no mechanical tooth cleaning. The aim of the present study was to see if chewing sorbitol or xylitol flavored gum together with sucrose gum would affect the growth rate of plaque and whether chewing of xylitol flavored gum could reduce the amount of already formed plaque. Twenty-seven dental students refrained from mechanical oral hygiene measures from Monday to Friday morning for 3 weeks. The students were randomly divided into three groups. A three time crossed-over double-blind approach was used. During each test period one group chewed a combination of one piece sorbitol and one piece sucrose flavored gum five times per day, the second group correspondingly chewed xylitol and sucrose flavored gum, while the third group served as a no hygiene control group. After each test period the students in the control group chewed one piece of xylitol gum every 15 minutes for 2.5 hours. The participants started out each week with clean teeth and were at the end of each test period scored for visible plaque on the facial, mesial and lingual surfaces of their teeth. There was somewhat more plaque after 4 days of chewing sucrose-sorbitol and sucrose-xylitol gum combinations than after no oral hygiene alone. There was no difference between the two test treatments. The 2.5-hour chewing of xylitol flavored gum after the no oral hygiene period did not result in a reduction of the 4-day-old plaque.


Immuno-enzymatic assay for the detection of Schistosoma mansoni antigens in serum of mice harbouring bisexual or unisexual light worm infections. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) double antibody technique was standardized for detecting S. mansoni polysaccharide and protein antigens in serum of infected mice. Anti-sera specific for either worm components were obtained in sheep and peroxidase conjugates prepared from each serum. The immunoenzimatic test for protein could detect as little as 6 micrograms/ml antigens, and the test for polysaccharides 3 micrograms/ml. Both bisexual and unisexual male worm low infections were produced, and studied for as long as 27 weeks post-exposure. Worm components were found in serum from both types of infections and in progressively higher percentages of animals until the end of the 27 weeks observation period. For unisexual male infections this percentage reached from about 50% to 60% of mice, and 100% for bisexual infections. Significantly higher antigen concentrations in serum were found at 27 weeks for bisexual infections, no antigen increase being detected in relation to starting egg secretion, which occurred at 5 week infections.


The serodiagnosis of human hydatid disease: 2. Additional studies on selected sera using indirect haemagglutination (IHA), enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and defined antigen substrate spheres (DASS). Sixty-one serum samples selected on the basis of reactivity in the complement fixation (CF) and latex agglutination (LA) test, were further examined for sensitivity and specificity by indirect haemagglutination (IHA), enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and defined antigen substrate spheres (DASS). Twenty sera from healthy Europeans and 48 samples from patients with either schistosomiasis or trichinosis were also tested. Comparable levels of sensitivity were found between the CF and LA positive sera and IHA, ELISA and DASS. Of the CF positive LA negative group of sera, many were positive by DASS but only a few reacted in IHA and ELISA. Some cross reactivity was also observed in the schistosomiasis sera tested by IHA and ELISA.


Opsonic specificity of human antibody to the type III polysaccharide of group B Streptococcus. The functional significance of vaccine-induced or naturally acquired antibody to the capsular polysaccharide of type III group B Streptococcus was determined in human sera by means of an opsonophagocytic assay. Sera containing a sufficient concentration of type-specific antibody and endogenous serum complement caused a significant reduction (greater than 1 log10) in colony-forming units for each of 22 type III clinical isolates after incubation for 40 min. In contrast, serum with a very low concentration of antibody (0.4 micrograms/ml) killed only one isolate. Absorption of serum containing vaccine-induced antibody with purified native type III polysaccharide decreased opsonophagocytosis by a mean of 1.2 log10 for 11 selected type III strains. These results indicate a lack of major antigenic differences among a wide spectrum of type III strains, since bactericidal activity of human serum is uniformly observed in the presence of complement and sufficient concentrations of antibody to the type III polysaccharide.


Evaluation of a neuraminidase-specific influenza A virus vaccine in children: antibody responses and effects on two successive outbreaks of natural infection. Three groups of children were immunized with an inactivated Port Chalmers (H3ChN2Ch) influenza vaccine (group A), a neuraminidase-specific (Heq1N2Ch) influenza vaccine (group B), or a placebo. Immunization induced seroconversion for H3Ch and N2Ch-specific antibody in group A and for N2Ch antibody in group B. The protective efficacies observed against naturally acquired illness with the Port Chalmers strain of influneza A virus were 68.7% and 37.4% in groups A and B, respectively, in comparison to the placebo group, and those against illness produced by the subsequent outbreak of the Victoria strain were 80.0% and 72.7%. These data support the role of neuraminidase-specific immunization in protection against influenza. Although the degree of protection after vaccination with the Heq1N2Ch vaccine was less than that provided by the biphasic H3ChN2Ch vaccine against the Port Chalmers strain, it appeared to be similar in the two vaccine study groups against the Victoria strain.


Diagnosis of Salmonella infections: specificity of indirect immunofluorescence for rapid identification of Salmonella enteritidis and usefulness of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. An indirect immunofluorescence (IFL) method was used for diagnosis of infections caused by Salmonella enteritdis during an epidemic. Antiserum prepared against the synthetic disaccharide tyvelose 1 leads to alpha 3 D-mannose, representative of salmonella O antigen 9, covalently linked to bovine serum albumin, was used. Of 43 decal samples examined, 28 were positive for S. enteritidis by culture. IFL was applied (1) directly on fecal smears, (2) on enrichment broth cultures after incubation for 18-24 hr, and (3) on agar-grown colonies after incubation for 18-48 hr. The percentage of correctly identified Salmonella and the approximate gain of time for IFL as compared with conventional culture were 75% and 72 hr for (1), 89% and 48 hr for (2), and 100% and 24 hr for (3). Serum samples from 26 of the Salmonella-infected patients were examined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Twenty-four (92%) of the 26 patients acquired elevated ELISA titers of antibody to lipopolysaccharide, representative of Salmonella serogroup D.


Single-radial-hemolysis test for the assay of rubella antibody in antenatal, vaccinated, and rubella virus-infected patients. The single-radial-hemolysis test (SRHT) is a simple, convenient, and sensitive method that provides accurate measurement of IgG antibody to rubella virus. Lipoprotein inhibitors of rubella hemagglutination do not interfere with the SRHT; thus the assay of low levels of antibody is more reliable by SRHT than by the rubella hemagglutination-inhibition test (RHIT). The technique for the SRHT in a form suitable for large numbers of tests is detailed and compared with that of the RHIT, and the reproducibility of the SRHT in routine operation is assessed. Results obtained by testing various populations in Western Australia are used to show the application of the SRHT in the diagnosis of rubella and in the monitoring of rubella vaccination programs.


Identification of species of Candida, Cryptococcus, and Torulopsis by gas-liquid chromatography. Gas-liquid chromatography was used to identify species of Candida, Cryptococcus, and Torulopsis by fatty-acid analysis of the whole-cell hydrolysate. Candida albicans characteristically revealed 2-OH C14:0 and C19:0 (chain length:number of double bonds); these were absent in other organisms. Candida curvata was characterized by a ratio of C16:1 to C16:0 of greater than 1.0. Candida guilliermondii contained C10:0, and Candida tropicalis had no C12:0, these features were used for their identification. Cryptococcus was characterized by the absence of C16:1. Torulopsis was characterized by a C16:1 to C16:0 ratio of greater than 10 accompanied by the presence of one unidentified fatty acid. These data suggested that certain Candida, Cryptococcus, and Torulopsis (the clinically important yeast-like organisms) may be identified by gas-liquid chromatography.


Detection of specific IgG antibody in sera from patients infected with Bacteroides fragilis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. During a period of 13 months, 28 serious infections caused by Bacteroides were seen in 27 patients. Sixteen patients yielded Bacteroides fragilis; sera from 13 (81%) of these 16 had increased levels of IgG specific for B. fragilis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antigens by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Sera from 20 normal controls did not have increased specific IgG. Sera from 22 of 23 patients with bacteremia caused by other gram-negative rods also failed to yield increased levels of specific antibody (P less than 0.0012). Analysis of sera from patients with B. fragilis infections disclosed a significant correlation between the levels of specific IgG to B. fragilis LPS measured by ELISA and the IgG antibody to the infecting B. fragilis by indirect immunofluorescence (r = 0.84, P less than 0.012). Two of the remaining 12 infections caused by Bacteroides not apparently due to B. fragilis organisms were also associated with increased levels of specific IgG to B. fragilis LPS antigens. Specific IgG antibody response may be an important adjunct in diagnosis of common B. fragilis infections and may allow better management of antimicrobial agents.


The effect of some protease substrates and inhibitors on chemotaxis and protease activity of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Both low- and high-molecular-weight inhibitors of serine proteases were found to inhibit chemotaxis by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes totally at widely varying concentrations. Synthetic low-molecular-weight substrates with trypsin-like or chymotrypsin-like specificity were also shown to be potent inhibitors of chemotaxis. Chemotactic inhibition was reversible except with a titrant for the active site of a serine protease. N-acetyl-L-tyrosine ethyl ester was found to be a suitable substrate for measuring protease activity of polymorphonuclear leukocyte. Concentrations of the various protease inhibitors that caused 100% chemotactic inhibition caused 80%-100% inhibition of protease activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes.


Methionine transport in Salmonella typhimurium: evidence for at least one low-affinity transport system. The systems which transport methionine in Salmonella typhimurium LT2 have been studied. Fourteen mutants, isolated by three different selection procedures, had similar growth characteristics and defects in the specific transport process showing a Km of 0.3 microM for L-methionine, and therefore lack the high-affinity, metP transport system. The sites of mutation in four of the mutants were shown by P1-mediated transduction to be linked (0.3 to 1.1%) with a proline marker located at unit 7 on the S. typhimurium chromosome. The high-affinity system was subject to both repression and transinhibition by methionine, and it may also be regulated by the metJ and metK genes. There appeared to be at least two additional transport systems with relatively low affinities for methionine in the metP763 mutant strain, with apparent Km values for methionine of 24 microM and approximately 1.8 mM. The latter system, with a very low affinity for methionine, was inhibited by leucine. In addition, methionine inhibited leucine transport, suggesting that one of the low-affinity methionine transport systems may actually be a leucine transport system.


Phenotypes of double conidiation mutants of Aspergillus nidulans. A series of strains, doubly mutant at conidiation loci, have been made. The phenotypes of these strains reflected the epistasy of earlier blocking mutants over later ones and confirmed the order of gene sequence predicted from the phenotypes of single mutants. Oligosporogenous mutants gave complex interactions, especially between brl and med mutants. These results indicated that (i) gene action overlapped in time, (ii) several parts of the conidial apparatus were interchangeable and (iii) nuclei leaving the vesicle were not irreversibly programmed. Structures produced by mutants were reminiscent of the conidial apparatus of other Aspergillus species and of related genera.


The effect of reducing and other agents on the motility of Treponema pallidum in an acellular culture medium. The maintenance of Treponema pallidum motility was investigated in an acellular medium based on T. pallidum immobilization test medium. The acellular medium contained cysteine, glutathione, thioglycollate and dithiothreitol as reducing agents and had a redox potential of -275 +/- 25 mV at pH 7.3. In an atomosphere containing 3% O2, motile treponemes survived four times longer when calf serum and bovine serum albumin were added to the medium. The selective omission of glutathione and, particularly, thioglycollate prolonged the survival of motile treponemes almost fivefold. In addition, stored medium, in which thioglycollate had become inactive, sustained motile treponemes for longer than did freshly prepared medium. Thus, thioglycollate is toxic for the organisms. It may be omitted from the medium because low redox potentials can be achieved without it.


Recombinant plasmids formed in vivo carrying and expressing two incompatibility regions. The formation in vivo of recombinants between a plasmid of incompatibility group N (R1010-10) and plasmids of groups P (R751) and W (R388) is described. From examination of the molecular weights of these recombinant plasmids, they appear to be cointegrates. These cointegrates have the incompatibility properties of both 'parent' plasmids.


Evidence that p-fluorophenylalanine has a direct effect on tubulin in Aspergillus nidulans. Three temperature-sensitive alleles of benA (benA11, 17 and 21) confer resistance to growth inhibition by p-fluorophenylalanine (FPA). FPA resistance cosegregates with the benA gene. Two back-mutations in benA which cause loss of temperature sensitivity cause loss of FPA resistance, and two indirect suppressors of benA temperature sensitivity also cause FPA resistance to be lost. These results indicate that FPA resistance is an intrinsic property of the benA mutations. The intracellular phenylalanine concentrations of these strains are normal as is their ability to take up phenylalanine from the medium. We conclude that FPA must inhibit growth and cause non-disjunction by a direct effect on the polymerization of tubulin.


The spread of a pathogenic and an apathogenic strain of Newcastle disease virus in the chick embryo as depending on the protease sensitivity of the virus glycoproteins. The pathogenic strain Italien and the apathogenic strain Ulster of Newcastle disease virus have been compared with respect to organ tropism and spread of infection in 11-day-old chick embryos. After infection of the endodermal layer of the chorioallantoic membrane by intra-allantoic inoculation with strain Italien, high virus titres are found in all extra-embryonic membranes and fluids and in the embryo itself. Infection results in early death of the embryo. In contrast, after infection with strain Ulster by the same route of inoculation, high virus titres are found only in the allantoic sac and embryos are not killed. Inoculations with strain Italien on to the ectodermal layer through an artificial air sac results in rapid spread of infection in the chorioallantoic membrane and the embryo dies before the virus invades other tissues including the embryo. Under the same conditions of infection, strain Ulster neither spreads within chorioallantoic membrane nor does it kill the embryo. Virus spread in each germinal layer of the chorioallantoic membrane was analysed by immune fluorescence. These studies showed that endoderm as well as mesoderm and ectoderm allowed the spread of strain Italien, whereas only the endoderm is permissive for strain Ulster. These differences in host range are based upon differential activation of the virus glycoproteins by proteolytic cleavage. The glycoproteins of strain Italien are cleaved in each germinal layer, whereas those of strain Ulster are cleaved only in endoderm. These studies demonstrate that, in the system analysed here, spread of infection and organ tropism are important factors for pathogenicity and both of these factors are determined by the susceptibility of the virus glycoproteins to proteolytic cleavage.


In vitro packaging of exogenous DNA by Salmonella phage P22. We describe in vitro conditions for packaging of exogenous DNA of Salmonella phage P22 which has terminally redundant, circularly permuted DNA. The method is a modification of the Kaiser-Masuda procedure. The most important aspect is to prepare all components (proheads, enzymes and concatemeric DNA) in end- cells. The influence of several factors such as DNA- and Mg2+ concentration and kinetics has been investigated.


Ligands for antibody to M-protein are exposed at the surface of influenza virions: effect of proteolytic treatment on their activity. Antiserum to pure M-protein extracted from PR8 virions neutralized the infectivity and inhibited the haemagglutinating activity of various influenza A virions. It agglutinated concentrated suspensions of these virions and fixed complement in their presence. Antibodies to M-protein were readily absorbed by intact virions or by spikeless particles obtained after proteolytic treatment, giving clear evidence that M-protein is exposed at the surface of the virus envelope. The data suggest that when antibodies to M-protein occupy specific ligands exposed at the surface of the virion they interfere with sites critical for infectivity and haemagglutinating activity.


Proteus mirabilis phage 5006M: a physical characterization. This report deals with physical characterization of the generalized transducing Proteus mirabilis phage 5006M. The morphology of the phage is presented, the buoyant density was determined (1.491 g/ml) and the G + C content of the phage DNA was found to be 44%. The phage genome has a length of 14.8 micrometers and mol. wt. of 30.7 x 10(6). Denaturation mapping revealed non-random circular permutation of the phage DNA. The genome exhibits 3.6% terminal redundancy as shown by homoduplex analysis. The existence of concatemeric precursors of phage 5006M DNA is inferred and the results are interpreted in terms of a sequential headful packaging mechanism.


Growth phase related loss of measles virus surface-associated antigens and cytotoxic susceptibility in persistently infected cells. Fluctuations in the expression of measles virus surface-associated antigens in persistently infected human Lu 106 cells were analysed by the use of human sera which preferentially reacted with the haemolysin or haemagglutinin component. The variations observed correlated with the proportion of cells expressing surface-antigen, as examined in population analysis by indirect immunofluorescence, a radio-labelled antiglobulin technique and a cytotoxicity assay. Microfluorometric analysis revealed no changes in antigen expression at the single-cell level. The number of cells that were positive by immunofluorescence among exponentially growing, low density cells remained relatively constant. These cells were more susceptible to cytotoxicity mediated by both antisera and complement than cells seeded at high density and kept in the stationary phase. The percentage of fluorescent cells among the latter cells gradually decreased. Thus cytotoxic susceptibility was related to the proportion of the total cell population that was antigen-bearing, rather than to variations in the expression of antigen at the single-cell level. In mitotic cells, polarization of antigen, as measured by indirect immunofluorescence of pre-fixed cells, was frequently seen. Often only one of the daughter cells expressed surface antigen. The results imply that cells in stationary phase may lose antigen from their surface, possibly by shedding, and furthermore that re-expression would demand a new cell cycle.


[Heterozygote detection in phenylketonuria by means of an oral load of phenylalanine]. The testing of heterozygosity for PKU by mean of an oral load of phenylalanine is a widely used method. In this paper, the need of a genetic counselling for two adults, with family story of PKU, lead us to reinvestigate criteria of heterozygote recognition. With all variables of the phenylalanine tolerance test, overlapping and mis classification occured. Probability density functions plotting, as proposed by GOLD, illustrated well the genetic risk of a patient. However, in practice, the heterozygote likelihood ratio determination seemed to be the best way to avoid possibly erroneous categoric statement by correcting the ratio for the a priori probability of heterozygosity.


[The status of chromosome mapping in man. II. Results and applications]. In the first part, the authors review the different methods used in gene mapping studies. In the second part, human chromosomes map is studied in details. The scientific usefulness of the map is summed up and the first applications in the field of genetic counselling are mentioned. Finally the forthcoming therapeutic applications are being planned at the time.


Aggregations of synaptic vesicles on the exposed inner membrane of presynaptic mitochondria in brain. Fragments of rat cerebral cortex have been incubated under various conditions. When divalent cations are present, patches of the external membrane of some mitochondria are disassembled leaving the inner mitochondrial membrane exposed to the cytoplasm. Sometimes the entire external membrane is missing. In presynaptic bulbs the synaptic vesicles are attracted and adhere to the exposed outer face of the inner mitochondrial membrane. The mode of attraction and adhesion of the vesicles is discussed. Possibly this could serve as a model for further investigation of the attraction of vesicles to the active zone of the presynaptic membrane.


Demonstration of lactoferrin in tumor tissue from two patients with positive gallium scans. We have detected lactoferrin in tumor tissue from a patient with Hodgkin's disease and a patient with Burkitt's lymphoma. Both patients had radiogallium scans demonstrating increased uptake in the tumor tissue subsequently found to contain lactoferrin. Tissue assay for lactoferrin was performed by the indirect immunofluorescence method. Control splenic tissue showed either slight lactoferrin content or none.


Biochemical and histological studies on thiamine-deficient and ethanol-fed rats. Rats were separated into four groups and four different liquid diets were given to each group. Group 1: thiamine-sufficient diet with no ethanol, group 2: thiamine-sufficient diet with ethanol, group 3: thiamine-deficient diet with no ethanol, group 4: thiamine-deficient diet with ethanol. After four weeks, all rats were fasted for 24 hr and then ethanol was given orally to every rat. After one hour, every rat was sacrificed and biochemical and histological analyses were carried out. Transketolase activity in brain and liver decreased in groups 2, 3 and 4. There was significant decrease in transketolase activity in ethanol-fed groups (groups 2 and 4) as compared to control groups (groups 1 and 3). Ethanol concentrations in blood, liver and heart of rats in groups 2 and 4 were higher than in groups 1 and 3. When comparison was made between the thiamine-deficient groups and the corresponding thiamine-sufficient groups, ethanol concentrations in liver and heart were higher in the thiamine-deficient groups. Alcohol dehydrogenase activity in liver decreased significantly in groups 2 and 4. By histological analyses, fatty degeneration was observed in the livers of groups 2 and 4. The degeneration was more prominent in group 4 than group 2. These findings suggest that chronic ethanol administration may impair the ability to metabolize ethanol and the impairment may increase when rats are in the condition of thiamine deficiency.


Is the injection of DNA enough to cause bacteriophage P22-induced changes in the cellular transport process of Salmonella typhimurium? It was demonstrated earlier in this laboratory that phage P22 induces a transient depression in the cellular transport processes of the host Salmonella typhimurium immediately after infection and that an effective injection process is enough to cause the depression. By using defective phage particles that contain host DNA instead of phage DNA for infection, it has been demonstrated that the injection of phage-specific DNA is essential for this. The defective particles adsorbed to the host and injected their DNA, but the cellular transport processes of the host were not altered. Thus, the injection of host DNA by the phage fails to affect the transport process. Insensitivity of the phage DNA-induced depression in transport to chloramphenicol rules out the involvement of newly synthesized protein in this change and indirectly suggests the possible role of phage DNA-associated internal proteins of P22.


Regulation of late functions in Salmonella bacteriophages P22 and L studied by assaying endolysin synthesis. The rate of endolysin synthesis in Salmonella typhimurium cells infected by bacteriophage P22 or L was taken as a measure for the activity of 23 gene product (the positive regulator for the "late" genes of P22 and L). Endolysin in coded for by gene 19. The amber mutations in gene 23 of P22 and L, used in this study, reduced the rate of endolysin synthesis by a factor of ca. 90 for P22 and of ca. 20 for L. In mixed infections with 19- and 23- mutants the 23 gene products of P22 and L ACT As positive regulators for the respective gene 19 in cis and in trans. Cross-specificity of the 23 gene products, i.e., turning on expression of gene 19 on a chromosome of the other species, could not be demonstrated.


Pathophysiological studies on hypertension induced in rats by kidney extract and salt. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, electrolyte and water balance, body fluid, and neurogenic tone and reactivity of the vasculature were studied in hypertension induced in uninephrectomized rats by repeated injection of renin-rich kidney extract and 1% saline drinking. The control rats were injected with physiological saline. Various measurements were made in conscious rats on the 10th day of the treatment. As compared with the control, plasma renin concentration and serum sodium increased significantly, while plasma aldosterone and renal excretory function did not differ. Blood volume (BV) expressed as per body weight increased significantly, but absolute BV, absolute or body weight-related plasma volume and hematocrit were not significantly different. The hypotensive effect of 1-Sar-8-Ile-angiotensin II was negligible 12 hours after the preceding injection of kidney extract. It was small but significant 1 hour after the injection. Increase in water turn-over and fractional sodium excretion occurred during the development of hypertension. Spironolactone did not significantly modify the developmental course. We observed increased depressor response to hexamethonium and increased reactivities to noradrenaline and angiotensin II (A II); these response curves relatively resembled those of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Hypertensive vascular changes were seen in the kidney and heart by histology. Thus, it was suggested that a direct vascular action of A II played a partial role in this hypertensive process while aldosterone played little role. The significance of BV increase and possible contribution of A II's other actions were discussed.


Relationship between renin activity and aldosterone release in the patients with low cardiac output syndrome after open cardiac surgery. Plasma renin activity and aldosterone concentration were measured by radioimmunoassay technique in seven patients with low cardiac output syndrome after open cardiac surgery. Plasma renin activity and aldosterone concentration markedly increased, and plasma renin activity was well correlated with plasma aldosterone concentration. Plasma renin activity and aldosterone concentration, however, had no direct correlation with plasma sodium and potassium concentration or administered doses of inotropic agent, potassium and diuretic. Sodium and potassium balance was closely correlated with plasma aldosterone concentration. In the present study, it was suggested that the secondary hyperaldosteronism following low cardiac output syndrome after open cardiac surgery was mainly induced by the increased release of renin and that it influenced on the balance of sodium and potassium metabolism under such disturbed circulatory circumstances.


Chemotherapy of falciparum malaria: regional differences in responsiveness to treatment. A review of chloroquine and sulfa-antifol combination treated falciparum malaria patients revealed a high incidence of chloroquine-resistance, wither R1 or R2, in patients infected in Southeast Asia or Oceania. In addition, more than one tenth of the patients infected in Laos or Thailand were resistant to sulfa-antifol combinations. Chloroquine-resistant cases were sensitive to sulfa-antifol combinations. On the other hand, while all patients treated in Tokyo who had been infected in Africa or Sri Lanka were sensitive to chloroquine, a field study suggested the presence of chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum in the area near Kaduna, Nigeria. One patient infected in Nigeria showed partial resistance to the MP (sulfamonomethoxine-pyrimethamine) combination, and another patient infected in the Central African Empire showed resistance to the MP combination, increasing from R1 to R3 within a short period. The incidence of resistance to sulfa-antifol combination therapy was high in the West African tropical region. The continent, county and area of infection should be taken in consideration when selecting antimalarial drug(s) for the treatment and suppression of falciparum malaria.


Effect of platinum compounds on murine lymphocyte mitogenesis. Polyclonal activation of T and B lymphocytes by concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide mitogens, respectively, was used to study the effect of iv injection of the following platinum compounds: cis-dichlorodiammine platinum, dichloro 1,2 benzenediamine N,N' platinum, cis-dichlorobis(cyclohexylamine) platinum, and cis-dichlorobis(cyclopentylamine) platinum, on murine T and B splenic lymphocytes. The results indicated that platinum compounds were more toxic to T-lymphocyte function than to B-lymphocyte function. These results were from both single-dose-time-course analysis and dose-response studies.


Laboratory assessment of the molluscicidal activity of B-2, a new chemical against Oncomelania nosophora. Laboratory trials of sodium 2.5 dichloro-4-bromophenol named B-2 for the molluscicidal effect against Oncomelania nasophora were carried out by Komiya's immersion technique. The values of LC50 of B-2 varied from 0.38 ppm to 0.54 ppm depending on the collection time of the snail. They were almost equal to those of NaPCP, but lower than those of Niclosamide. In the tests of toxicity to carp, rainbow trout and killifish, B-2 showed lower toxicity than NaPCP. Some aspects of mollusciciding application of the chemical were discussed.


Lung vascular permeability: inferences from measurements of plasma to lung lymph protein transport. In chronically instrumented unanesthetized sheep, we measured steady-state hemodynamic and lung lymph responses to mechanically increased pressure and to intravenous infusions of histamine, Pseudomonas bacteria and E. coli endotoxin. Histamine, Pseudomonas bacteria and E. coli endotoxin caused exchanging vessel permeability to increase, as evidenced by high flows of protein rich lung lymph. This contrasts to the effects of increased pressure where lymph protein concentration falls as lymph flow increases. Microvascular sieving of proteins less than 100 Angstrom radius persisted in all increased permeability states, but with endotoxin, lymph clearance of larger proteins increased much more than with histamine or Pseudomonas. We compared several approaches to quantitative interpretations of lymph data and found that direct methods for calculating permeability-surface area products and reflection coefficients for proteins produced values which were difficult to interpret, probably because fundamental assumptions of the methods were violated in our experiments. A mathematical model based on multiple pore theory produced more plausible coefficients.


[Origin of malignant tumors of the upper respiratory and digestive tracts and the ear. 3. Malignant tumors caused by irradiation. general part (author's transl)]. In this part the biophysical and biochemical elements or radiation energy and the effects on tissue are discussed: 1. physical problems, 2. the cell nucleus and other cell organells as primary object of irradiation, 3. varying stages of tumor development caused by irradiation, 4. summation of radiation effects and syncarcinogenesis, 5. the stage of latency in relation to radiation-dosis and other factors, 6. immune depression caused by irradiation.


[Multiple malignant tumours in patients with laryngeal cancers (author's transl)]. Of 496 patients with laryngeal cancer, 45 developed second primary cancers in other organs. In 7 patients triple primary tumours were detected. Multiple malignant tumours in the region of the upper respiratory and alimentary tracts were frequent; especially noticeable was the combination of larynx- and lung tumours. The prognosis of the second cancers is bad, since these tumours are diagnosed late and the patients are usually very old. Of patients, who were cured of the first cancers, one in five developed a new cancer after the five year limit. The follow up examinations must therefore be continued beyond the five year limit.


[The earwig (author's transl)].

[The earwig (author's transl)]. It is still a common belief that the earwig likes to penetrate into the external auditory canal. This paper is concerned with the question, whether the name of the animal is justified and what was written about it in former centuries.


Induction of UV-resistant DNA replication in Escherichia coli: induced stable DNA replication as an SOS function. The striking similarity between the treatments that induce SOS functions and those that result in stable DNA replication (continuous DNA replication in the absence of protein synthesis) prompted us to examine the possibility of stable DNA replication being a recA+ lexA+-dependent SOS function. In addition to the treatments previously reported, ultraviolet (UV) irradiation or treatment with mitomycin C was also found to induce stable DNA replication. The thermal treatment of tif-1 strains did not result in detectable levels of stable DNA replication, but nalidixic acid readily induced the activity in these strains. The induction of stable DNA replication with malidixic acid was severely suppressed in tif-1 lexA mutant strains. The inhibitory activity of lexA3 was negated by the presence of the spr-51 mutation, an intragenic suppressor of lexA3. Induced stable DNA replication was found to be considerably more resistant to UV irradiation than normal replication both in a uvrA6 strain and a uvr+ strain. The UV-resistant replication occurred mostly in the semiconservative manner. The possible roles of stable DNA replication in repair of damaged DNA are discussed.


A cold-sensitive beta subunit mutant RNA polymerase from Escherichia coli with defects in promoter opening in vitro. A cold-sensitive mutation in the rpoB gene for the RNA polymerase beta subunit increasing the temperature of promoter opening on T2 phage DNA was obtained in Escherichia coli. The mutation also affects the stages preceding promoter opening by increasing the dissociation rate of RNA polymerase--DNA closed complexes. The affinity of RNA polymerase to T2 and lambda DNA is differentially changed by the mutation. The relative efficiency of transcription of these two templates is also changed. These results suggest a participation of the RNA polymerase beta subunit in the interaction with promoters.


ColE1 DNA sequences interacting in cis, essential for mitomycin-C induced lethality. Protein synthesis and survival of colicinogenic bacteria carrying different ColE1 deletion and insertion mutants, were followed in presence or absence of the inducing agent mitomycin-C. It is concluded that active colicin is not involved in the process leading to death of the induced colicinogenic cell. The region of ColE1, essential for cell induced lethality, is carried on the DNA between map positions 0.74 to 0.27. In this region the DNA sequences carried between 0.74 to 0.79 and 0.0 to 0.27 are essential, while those located between 0.79 to 0.0 are nonessential for commitment to death. A cis interaction of the ColE1 DNA sequences in the essential regions is probably necessary for cell induced lethality. Some possibilities for such a cis interaction are suggested and discussed.


Identification of a mutation affecting an alanine-alpha-ketoisovalerate transaminase activity in Escherichia coli K-12. A mutation affecting alanine-alpha-ketoisovalerate transaminase activity has been shown to be cotransducible with ilv gene cluster. The transaminase deficiency results in conditional isoleucine auxotrophy in the presence of alanine.


Nalidixic acid causes a transient G1 arrest in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The addition of nalidixic acid to growing cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae resulted in a transient depression in the rate of ribosomal precursor RNA production and a transient arrest of cells in G1. Protein synthesis rates were less affected. Lower concentrations of nalidixic acid also affected RNA synthesis and progression through G1 but had no effect on protein synthesis rates. We suggest that nalidixic acid has a primary effect on RNA synthesis leading to a G1 arrest.


Formation and fate of cross-links induced by polyfunctional anticancer drugs in yeast. A method to detect low levels of interstrand cross-links in DNA of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is described. Isopycnic ultracentrifugation of alkali-treated, unpurified Eaton press homogenates allows the detection of less than one cross-link per yeast chromosome. Efficient separation of single- and double-stranded DNA requires low cell density and addition of glycerol during homogenization. Using a yeast strain defective in excision repair, a dose dependent formation of interstrand cross-links after treatment of cells with biological doses of nitrogen mustard, Triaziquone and Chloramubil could be demonstrated. The most powerful of these alkylating agents is Triziquone: half of the DNA molecules are shown to be cross-linked after a 12 min exposure to 9 X 10(-9) g/ml of the drug. The cross-linking reaction continues after excessive alkylating agent is removed. After having reached a maximum the fraction of renaturable DNA decreases upon further incubation. The speed of this "after-reaction" depends on temperature: 48 h after the end of treatment renaturability of DNA has almost completely disappeared when cells are kept at 36 degrees C.


Temperature-sensitive mutants in cysteinyl-tRNA ligase of E. coli K-12. Two mutants with a defective cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase have been found in a collection of spontaneous temperature sensitive mutants. The mutated gene, which is designated cysS, is closely cotransduced with purE.


The effect of beta-glucuronidase and chitinase on the cell wall of Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus fumigatus. The effects of beta-glucuronidase and chitinase have been tested on the hydrolysis of the cell walls of the economically important fungi, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus fumigatus. The extent of wall hydrolysis was measured by assaying for total reducing sugars, N-acetyl sugars and protoplast production. Maximum reducing sugar release was attained after 40 min incubation, both with beta-glucuronidase supplemented with chitinase and beta-glucuronidase alone, whereas N-acetyl sugar release reached a maximum at 80 min incubation. beta-Glucuronidase was effective in releasing protoplasts from both species of Aspergillus. This release was enhanced by adding chitinase to the incubation medium at 0 and 20 min, but with addition at 60, 80 and 100 min increase in protoplast yield was much reduced. The results of re-incubation experiments with chitinase suggest that this enzyme may in some way be inhibited during the later stages of incubation. Pronase used in combination with beta-glucuronidase slightly enhanced protoplast release.


Release of alkaline phosphatase activity by aqueous-ether treatment of whole cells of Serratia marcescens. The effect of aqueous-ether treatment according to the method of Ribi et al. (1961) on the release of alkaline phosphatase from cells of two strains of Serratia marcescens was studied. By this method, lipopolysaccharide-protein (endotoxin) complexes associated with alkaline phosphatase activities were released from both strain 08 and strain Bizio. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by enzymatic assay showed the presence of two active components in each strain. Fractions released from strain 08 contained alkaline phosphatase A (140,000 dalton) and alkaline phosphatase B (110,000) daltons) while those from strain Bizio contained alkaline phosphatase A' (190,000 daltons) and alkaline phosphatase B (110,000 daltons). Although it is known that saline plays a role in the release of alkaline phosphatase activities from cell envelope of Gram-negative bacteria the presence of saline in the extracting medium affects only slightly the chemical composition and not at all on the enzymatic nature of the released components. By comparing the enzymatic profiles of the materials released by other techniques, such as polymyxin B treatment and osmotic shock, it appears that alkaline phosphatase activities released by aqueous-ether treatment of whole cells of S. marcescens originate from the periplasmic space.


The induction of germ tubes in Candida albicans by an intrinsic factor. The formation of germ tubes in Candida albicans can be initiated by variations in the growth medium and in other environmental factors. Cell-to-cell interaction can also be an essential factor in cell morphogenesis. The crowding together of blastopores of some strains of C. albicans stimulates the development of germ tubes without the addition of extrinsic factors.


[Sampling techniques in quantitative morphology (author's transl)]. Adequate methods of sampling are by far the most neglected procedures in stereological work. This is true of both theory and practice. Indeed, it is often forgotten that Delesse not only introduced the stereological method, but also specified the necessary conditions for its use. To help make good this deficiency methods of stereological sampling are reviewed. In particular, the ratio estimate is discussed and examples are given. Estimation of the percentages of each cell class in populations of blood cells and cells from vaginal smears have problems in common. In most cases the bias of the ratio estimate is trivial. The formula for approximate calculation of the standard error of the ratio estimate requires more sampling units than most people realize. In addition, in artifical smears, a more even distribution of the cells is recommended.


[Recent developments of instrument assisted chromosome analysis with Quantimet 720 (author's transl)]. The system looks in a short time automatically for good metaphase spreadings. Two routines are described which evaluate the relocated metaphases in a semi-automatic way. One routine classifies human chromosomes, using the chromosome area and area ratio of the chromosome arms. The other routine classifies the chromosomes of the chinese hamster. In this routine statistical inputs for chromosome aberrations are possible.


[Problems of object recognition].

[Problems of object recognition]. Various methods for automatic thresholding and their performance in routine work are discussed with lung and bone sections serving as examples. This includes the special cases of interference by small particles of intensities comparable to the phase of interest and the detection of a phase with small area density.


Anesthesia and the development of surgery (1846-1896). The hypothesis that the introduction of anesthesia in 1846 accelerated the development of surgery was tested by compiling statistics on the types of operations performed in this country and abroad in the absence of anesthesia (prior to 1846) and over the 50-year period after 1846. Prior to 1846, surgery involved the extremities and superficial parts of the body almost exclusively. The same was generally true for 50 years following 1846. The introduction of anesthesia was necessary before surgery could advance, but control of infection, establishment of the sciences of pathology and physiology, and development of professionalism in clinical medicine and surgery based on research and teaching were also required. Almost a half-century lapsed after the introduction of anesthesia before surgery advanced significantly beyond the stage it was at prior to the introduction of anesthesia in 1846.


Malignant hyperthermia.

Malignant hyperthermia. A short review of the history, incidence, and present-day concept of the etiology of malignant hyperthermia is presented. Protocols for diagnosis, treatment of the unexpected occurrence, and management of known malignant hyperthermic patients is presented. The exact etiology of the syndrome is still unknown.


Deletion mutants from R plasmids with increased copy number. Rms 201-12 and Rms 201-46  are R mutants with increased copy number, and are derived from a conjugative plasmid Rms 201 that encodes resistance to five drugs, ampicillin (Apc), tetracycline (Tc), chloramphenicol (Cm), streptomycin (Sm), and sulfonamides (Sa). The mutants expressed increased levels of resistance to Apc, Sm, and Cm, and a decreased level of resistance to Tc than those of the parent Rms 201 plasmid. When the Rms 201-12+ or Rms 201-46+ cells were inoculated onto plates containing a high concentration of Tc, colonies developed on the plate at a frequency of 10-3 to 10-4 after overnight incubation. The cells grown on the Tc plate carried a tet (Tc gene)-deleted R mutant besides tet-possessing Rms 201-12 or Rms 201-46, and we isolated the tet-deleted R mutant by purifying the R+ cells on drug-free plates. On the other hand, various deletion mutants possessing tet were isolated by prolonged culture of the cells. We have presented a circular gene order of Rms 201 by comparing the genetic markers of all deletion mutants derived from Rms 201, Rms 201-46, and Rms 201-12. The gene(s) regulating the copy number was closely linked to the rep gene. The gene(s) specifying entry exclusion was jointly lost with the tra region.


Histiocytosis X: clinical trial of chlorambucil: a report from Childrens Cancer Study Group. A prospective study for histiocytosis X was designed to determine whether "good risk" patients, ie, those without evidence of dysfunction of liver, lung, or hemopoietic system, would respond to single agent therapy; in this case chlorambucil (CMB) used in a dose of 5 mgm/m2/day. If there was no response after an adequate trial period, treatment was initiated with four drugs using a combination of prednisone, vinblastine, cyclophosphamide and methotrexate. There were 26 evaluable patients, 57% of whom were less than two years of age at onset of therapy. There were three complete and four partial responses to CMB for a response rate of 26.9%. Sixteen patients received an adequate trial of four-drug therapy with three complete and two partial responses for a response rate of 33%. These responses were inferior to those previously reported for either single agents or combined therapy in histiocytosis X.


[Yeasts in waste water from sewage treatment plants]. The authors have studied the influence of sewage treatment plants over the yeast population in the waste waters coming from towns. Quantitatively, the number of microorganisms shows a 90% decrease in the process of the treatment. 49 different species have been identified. Evidence of pollution coming from human being has been particularly looked for. The authors point out the different ways of detecting the Candida albicans.


Anti-tumor antibodies in lung cancer patients. Immunofluorescence study using various indicator cells. By means of indirect immunofluorescence a number of primary lung cancer patient sera and control sera were tested for anti-tumor antibody activity on living tumor cells as a substrate. Antibodies against surface antigens were the most frequently detected in autologous system (in 65%) on cells derived from fresh surgical material of lung cancer. They were also found in 50% of cases using tumor cells from primary short-term culture. When established cell line of lung cancer was used (E-14) in allogeneic system, the antibodies were detected in only 22% of examined lung cancer sera. Absorption of positive sera with homogenates of normal tissues did not abolish their specific activity. Positive reactions were confined to squamous cell type of bronchogenic carcinoma.


A guide to the recent literature on aspergillosis as caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, a fungus frequently found in self-heating organic matter. Spores of Aspergillus fumigatus have been found to be abundantly present in the outdoor air at a site where large scale experimental composting of sewage sludge is in progress at Beltsville, Maryland. The health significance of this finding, for that site and for others in the future, is still only incompletely understood. Further studies are in progress to characterize absolute concentrations of the spores of the fungus in air at the site, spore dispersal by air from composting operations, and background environmental spore levels in air. The present paper contains a list of references to papers on health effects of A. fumigatus, many published in the past ten years, along with a review of the same designed to assist the reader in finding information on particular aspects of the subject in the literature. It is intended primarily as an aid to individuals interested in sludge composting and wishing to attain an insight into the A. fumigatus-composting situation, but it may also interest others concerned with other substrates which become moldy at 40--50 C. A. fumigatus has been found in great numbers in naturally and artificially heated environments such as decaying leaves, compost heaps, solar heated sloughs, cooling canals for nuclear power generators, silos, grain storage bins, boiler rooms, detritus around steam turbines and sauna baths. The evident practical merits of sludge composting have been described elsewhere; the information presented here has its main significance in respect to requirements for choice of locations for composting sites and to process and design criteria.


Neurobehavioral evidence for the involvement of the vomeronasal system in mammalian reproduction. Jacobson's organ of the vomeronasal system is found in every order of mammals with the possible exception of Cetacea. The equivocal evidence claiming a vestigial or absent organ in humans is reviewed. Based upon anatomical considerations, the sensory epithelium of Jacobson's organ is one of five possible sensory components within the nasal cavity. Many methods designed to test the role of olfaction (sensu strictu) in physiology and behavior do not discriminate among the possible systems. Therefore, erroneous conclusions may have been drawn from the results of intervention experiments. The central neuroanatomical projections of the vomeronasal and olfactory systems are different and relatively independent of each other. The vomeronasal system reciprocally communicates with central areas concerned with reproductive events. On the other hand, the olfactory system may subserve individual maintenance tasks (e.g., feeding). As a periscope from the diencephalon, the vomeronasal system may monitor exogenous hormones, "pheromones".


Clinical applications of a computer-assisted eye model. A computer-assisted mathematical model of ocular movement has been developed. The model is binocular in operation and allows variation of multiple parameters including: muscle insertions, innervations, length and contractures as well as passive tissue forces. The model can be used in interpretation of clinical findings, such as fourth nerve palsies with contracture of the antagonist inferior oblique.


Corneal edema in essential iris atrophy. In a clinical study of the essential iris atrophies, corneal edema occurred in 49 of 90 patients, and a characteristic hammered-silver appearance of the posterior cornea was visible in 54 cases. Intraocular pressure in the eyes with corneal edema ranged from normal to extreme elevation with glaucomatous damage, and lowering the pressure relieved the corneal edema in many cases with penetrating keratoplasty being effective when other measures failed. Electron microscopy of two keratoplasty specimens revealed extremely few, distinctly abnormal cells lining a collagenous layer posterior to Descemet's membrane.


Hyoid arch transposition.

Hyoid arch transposition. The historical aspects of the use of hyoid bone autografts are reviewed. The technique of hyoid bone transposition is described. The graft has proved to be an excellent adjunct in the repair of glottic and subglottic stenosis and for the reconstruction of small anterior tracheal defects.


Problems involved in the specification and interpretation of quantitative structure-activity relationships. Part 1: A modified type of structure-activity equations. It has been demonstrated that ordinary regression coefficients of a quantitative structure-activity equation depend strongly on the scaling both of the biological parameter and the explanatory variables (regressors). Even in the case of only two regressors this fact may lead to challengable interpretations regarding the relative performances of the explanatory variables, say physicochemical parameters. The use of standardized variables and, consequently, of standardized regression coefficients is proposed in order to get a better insight into the mechanistic features of the mode of action of the congeneric series under investigation. The procedure has been illustrated with examples adapted from the literature.


[Operative castration in sexual delinquency--a survey of topical literature and an attempt at forming an opinion]. An attempt is made to form an opinion regarding the indication of operative castration for sexual delinquents, from a survey of recent literature dealing with methods of treatment for cases of sexual deviation/sexual delinquency (operative/medicinal castration, combined psychotherapy and medicinal castration, stereotactic operation on the hypothalamus).


[The Rodewisch theses of 1963--the legacy and duty, the acknowledgment and realization]. Address to mark the 15th anniversary of the "Rodewisch theses" adopted during the 1st International Symposium on Psychiatric Rehabilitation of the European socialist countries in 1963. The author deals with the events leading up to the Symposium and its importance. An analysis is made of how the essential theses of development are being put into practice. Challenges facing psychiatry in future are outlined.


[Psychogymnastics in group psychotherapy for in-patients]. The author describes specific problems arising in the use of psychogymnastics as a part of group psychotherapy for in-patients. She also discusses sociometric, diagnostic and therapeutic aims, and the potential and limitations of the method.


[Evaluation of two miniaturized systems widely used in the laboratories for the identification of the "Enterobacteriaceae" (author's transl)]. We have attended to a comparative research between two commercial microsystems: Enterotube and Minitek in order identify the Enterobacteriaceae and a reference system given by the combination of the usual macromethods already used in our laboratory. We have examined 401 bacterial cultures of Gram bacillus which we trought to belong to Enterobacteriums, coming from clinical material (excrements, urine, pharyngeal swabs, vaginal swabs, urethral swabs and espectoration) we have received for the bacteriological diagnosis. 390 of 401 cultures have shown to be Enterobacteriums. The biochemical reactions they have given show that the Enterotube and the Minitek have, with the usual system a good accordance for the following tests: dextrose (acid and gaz) lysin and ornithine decarboxylase, production of H2S and indole, phenylalanine deaminase and urease; while we have some statistically significant discordances for the fermenting of lactose and the use of citrate. We have also significant discordances E/C for the fermenting of dulcitole while the ones of Minitek are acceptables. The notes recommend the use, in the specialized bacteriological laboratories, of the conventional tests.


Oxygen isotope fractionation during respiration for different temperatures of T. utilis and E. coli K12. The temperature dependence of the oxygen isotope fractionation factor during respiration has been examined for two different microorganisms, namely Torulopsis utilis and Escherichia coli K12 representing a yeast and a bacterium, respectively. The investigation covered a temperature range of 18 degrees C, that is from 16 degrees C to 34 degrees C for T. utilis and from 19 degrees C to 37 degrees C for E. coli K12. Within this temperature range the fractionation factor of T. utilis increases by 0.18% an insignificant change (delta delta 10 degrees C = 0.063%; r = 0.067), whereas with E. coli K12 an increase of 1.12% has been observed (delta delta  10 degrees C = 0.6%; r = 0.55).


The actions of prostaglandins I2 and E2 on arrhythmias produced by coronary occlusion in the rat and dog. Prostaglandins E2 and I2 were compared with known antiarrhythmics for their actions against arrhythmias produced by occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery in the anaesthetised rat while PGI2 was also examined in the dog. PGI2 in the dog suppressed early arrhythmias produced during occlusion but did not influence those produced by occlusion-release or those occurring 24 hours after a permanent occlusion; none of the A,B,C or D series prostaglandins tested markedly reduced 24 hour arrhythmias. In the rat PGE2 was antiarrhythmic against early occlusion arrhythmias (30 minutes occlusion) in a dose related manner (infusions of 1-4 microgram/kg/min) whereas PGI2 infusions potentiated the arrhythmogenic effect of occlusion. PGE2 was as effective an antiarrhythmic as 10mg/kg Org. 6001 which was more effective in this test situtation than dl-propranolol. No obvious mechanisms for the actions of PGE2 or PGI2 were apparent although both agents lowered blood pressure and reduced the size of the occluded zone produced by ligation.


Measurement of 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha in human plasma using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The plasma concentration of the prostacyclin (PGI2) hydration product 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha has been assayed by stable isotope dilution GC-MS in six normal volunteers infused with increasing doses of PGI2 intravenously. The predosing levels of 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha ranged between 114 and 266 pg/ml. Infusion of PGI2 increased 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha concentration in plasma but the increments were lower than expected suggesting less conversion of the PGI2 to 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha at high infusion rates.


[Cartesian implication of the bucco-dental nosology of Pierre Fauchard (1678-1761-1978)]. Fauchard's 103 dental diseases can be reduced to 20. The other are clinical variations of the same disease, or deductions from erroneous ideas of ancient or cartesian physio-pathology. In 1778 Plenk describes more than 200 diseases but the same year J. Hunter sets up the foundations of modern classification: dental caries and its complications, diseases of the parodontium, dental anomalies and malocclusions.


[Studies on the persistence of the infectivity of Trypanosoma cruzi. II. Persistence of infectivity of T. cruzi in dead bugs (author's transl)]. Investigations into the viability time of T. cruzi in dead bugs experimentally infected with "Peru" strain showed a maximum of 9 days for Dipetalogaster maximus and 8 for Triatoma infestans maintained at ambient temperature (26 degrees C). On refrigeration survival was increased to 60 days. In routine xenodiagnosis in the refrigerator 90 day survival was noted of both T. cruzi and the vector bug.


Liquid holding recovery in E. coli K12. II. Role of cellular multiplication. When UV-irradiated, wild-type E. coli cells are incubated in buffer before plating, consequent survival increases cannot be explained by repair mechanisms alone. Regardless of UV-dose, survival after 48-hours incubation reaches a "plateau" at 10(-1) survival level. An important fraction of the irradiated cells is capable of multiplying during buffer incubation, and the same phenomenon is observed with unirradiated E. coli whenever culture concentration is lower than 10(7) cells/ml. Protein contents per viable cell decreases significantly during buffer incubation. A similar phenomenon was observed in an excision deficient strain. Macromolecule biosynthesis was also observed during buffer incubation. We conclude that, under most experimental conditions, cellular multiplication plays a very important role in liquid holding recovery experiments.


[Glomerular immunopathology: comparative study with immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase (author's transl)]. In order to evaluate the reliability of immunoperoxidase technic (IP) for immuno-deposits in frozen renal tissue, a single blind study was done comparing it with immunofluorescent technic (IF). Fifty renal biopsies were studied. Ten there were no deposits by IF or IP. In 40 of them the results showed the same specificity and greater intensity for IP. There were 25 cases with IgG, 22 with IgM, 9 with IgA, 3 with Clq, 27 with C3 and 3 with HbsAg. We concluded that IP can be used in place of IF for detection of the immune deposits in renal biopsies and that it offers an easier observation than the later.


Effect of sodium and osmolarity on renin secretion. The effect of changes in sodium and osmolarity on renin secretion has been studied in the isolated perfused rat kidney. Perfusion with low sodium buffer (110 mM/l) produced a significant increase in renin secretion compared with control experiments (Na+:135 mM/l). Since the presence of tubules seems necessary for such an effect to take place, it suggests that the high renin secretion stimulated by a low sodium buffer centers in the Macula densa. Perfusion with high sodium buffer (170 mM/l; osmolarity 350 mOs/l) induces a stimulation on renin release. However, a greater rise in renin is achieved in control experiments if choline chloride increases the osmolarity from 300 to 350 mOs/l. All this suggests that high sodium buffer, independently of its osmotic effect, has an inhibitory role on renin release.


The distribution of immunoglobulin-containing cells in canine small intestine. Peroxidase conjugated antisera to canine immunoglobulins G and A and to human immunoglobulin M, have been used to study the distribution of immunoglobulin-containing cells in the small intestine of the young and adult dog. At all levels of the small bowel of the adult dog, IgA:IgM:IgG cells have a 2:1:1 ratio while the greatest number of immunocytes is found in the duodenum and decreases towards the distal portion of the small intestine. The young puppy shows a predominance of IgM-containing cells in the small intestinal lamina propria during early life but the adult pattern of immunocyte distribution has been achieved by weaning.


Duration of anti-adhesive and bactericidal activities of milk from vaccinated sows on Escherichia coli O149 in the digestive tract of piglets during the nursing period. Piglets were exposed orogastrically to Escherichia coli to enable study of the duration of anti-adhesive and bactericidal activities of milk of sows vaccinated with a K88 enriched E coli vaccine. There was a marked increase in the number of the challenge strain in the digestive tract of weaned piglets of all ages (between 888 and 2144 per cent). In contrast, there was a decrease in their number (75 per cent) in the day-old colostrum-fed piglets. When the piglets were two weeks old milk was still capable of reducing the rate of proliferation of the pathogen but at five weeks it proliferated at equal rates in the digestive tract of both suckling and weaned litter-mates. The rate of adhesion of the K88 positive E coli to the small intestine of colostrum deprived piglets was high (5 x 108/g). Rate of adhesion fell gradually in weaned piglets from 5.4 x 107/g at two weeks to 2.0 x 106/g at four to five weeks of age. In contrast, resistance of the small intestine of suckling pigs to adhesion by K88-positive E coli remained relatively stable through the five week period of nursing bacterial counts ranging from 5 x 104/g to 3 x 104/g of tissue.


A method for the measurement of the gingival sulcus of sheep. A method for measuring and comparing the depths of the gingival sulcus of sheep in the incisor region at necropsy is described. The method was devised to assess and compare dental health in groups of sheep with and without premature loss of incisor teeth (broken mouth). The technique involves the use of paper spills in combination with dental plaster models.


Non-specific resistance of mice to Pasteurella haemolytica. A technique for challenge infection of mice with Pasteurella haemolytica is described. Mice were challenged intraperitoneally with P haemolytica in gastric mucin, and viable counts were performed 6 h later on liver suspensions. Viable counts of P haemolytica in the livers of unvaccinated control mice had increased 6 h after infection. Mice were injected subcutaneously with a commercial pasteurella vaccine at various time intervals before challenge. In those given vaccine two weeks, one week, 48 h and 1 h before challenge, viable counts of P haemolytica in the liver increased as for control mice. However, if the time interval between administration of vaccine and challenge was 12 or 24h, viable counts of P haemolytica in the liver decreased after challenge. Subcutaneous inoculation with the nonbacterial components of the vaccine 24 h before challenge did not cause such an effect. Inobulation with the vaccine 24h before challenge with Escherichia coli resulted in an increase in the LD50 for that organism, indicating that the effect is probably non-specific.


The effects and significance of subminimal inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics. Subminimal inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics cause structural alterations in gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and, in certain instances, reduce growth of bacteria, enhance phagocytosis, increase the bactericidal activity of human serum, and induce production of beta-lactamase from gram-negative bacilli. Extrapolation of these in vitro effects to infection in humans is difficult but appears to be most appropriate in patients who receive synergistic combinations of antibiotics.


Suppression of bacterial adherence by subminimal inhibitory concentrations of beta-lactam and aminoglycoside antibiotics. Nonseptate filaments of Escherichia coli obtained by growth of a temperature-sensitive mutant of the organism at its restrictive temperature in the absence of antibiotics or at its permissive temperature in the presence of approximately one-half the MIC of penicillin (27 micrograms/ml; MIC of penicillin, 50 micrograms/ml) lacked the ability both to bind to mannose and to adhere to host tissues. Addition of low concentrations (0.5-10 micrograms/ml) of streptomycin to cultures of E. coli resulted in marked suppression of the mannose-binding and adhering ability of streptomycin-sensitive E. coli (MIC, 30 micrograms/ml). In contrast, up to 5,000 microgram of streptomycin/ml had no effect on an isogenic streptomycin-resistant mutant of E. coli (MIC, 20,000 micrograms/ml). No concentration of penicillin or streptomycin that was tested was able to suppress either the mannose-binding or the adhering ability of E. coli once those activities had been acquired by the organism. These results suggest that subminimal inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics suppress the ability of bacteria to adhere to cells.