Bacterial antigen detection in body fluids: methods for rapid antigen concentration and reduction of nonspecific reactions.

We sought procedures which would allow a rapid concentration in high yield of bacterial antigens from tissue fluids of patients and which could be applied also to protein-rich fluids like serum. Ethanol precipitation at a subzero temperature with albumin added as an antigen coprecipitant made it possible to achieve a more than 20-fold concentration of antigen in 15 min and a 200-fold concentration in 45 min. Heat-stable antigens could be concentrated from protein-rich fluids (like serum) after the sample had been deproteinized by boiling. Such heating (100 degrees C, 3 min) also liberated bacterial polysaccharides from antibody complexes and elminated the nonspecific interference of serum in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.     

Diatrizoate enemas: facts and fallacies of colonic toxicity

Rats were given enemas of Gastrografin in two strengths, Renografin--76, and Tween--80 in a 10% dilution. There were no deleterious effects on the colons with these media used in volumes to fill the colon. Severe changes resulted from volumes which produced overdistention.     

Relative Bioavailability of Phenoxymethylpenicillin Preparations in a Cross-Over Study

Abstract In a cross-over study on 6 healthy volunteers, the serum concentrations and the bioavailability of 16 oral phenoxymethylpenicillin preparations have been compared. The dissolution rates of the tablets and capsules were studied. The preparations included 5 aquous solutions, 7 tablets or capsules, and 4 suspensions. The highest bioavailability was seen with the aquous solutions and the tablets or capsules containing the potassium salt of phenoxymethylpenicillin. Two calcium salt tablet brands showed lower serum mean concentrations and bioavailability than the other, potassium salt, tablets and capsules, but the differences were only statistically significant for one of the calcium salt tablets as compared to the tablet with the highest mean concentrations. The poorer bioavailability of the calcium salt tablets was reflected in longer dissolution times. The suspensions intended for paediatric use were significantly inferior to most of the other preparations. The lowest bioavailability was observed with a suspension containing the poorly soluble benzathine phenoxymethylpenicillin.     

Simultaneous intermittent bleomycin and radiological treatment of laryngeal cancer.

Bleomycin has been shown to have a significant effect on squamous cell carcinomas, particularly on highly differentiated types. Applying combined bleomycin and x-rays simultaneously in an intermittent schedule, a synergistic effect was obtained. It was possible to lower the dosage of each and still achieve remarkable therapeutic responses. At the same time the side effects were reduced. The total dosages have been bleomycin 180 mg and x-rays 4.200 r skin dose, tumor dose approximately 2.500 r. Eighty-two laryngeal cases received such treatment. Altogether a complete regression was achieved in 62 per cent. Glottic tumors showed complete regression in 85 per cent. In six out of 10 inoperable cases, the tumor became surgically accessible by laryngectomy. In successfully treated patients characteristic histological changes were found, consisting in unusually large amounts of fully keratinized cells.     

Workplace conditions predict the risk of premature death and functional dependence after retirement—results of a gerontological follow-up study in Germany

Between 1983 and 1985, 595 employees who were entering retirement in East Germany were given a medical examination and asked to assess their workplace conditions. Ten years later, we examined whether occupational predictors were associated with death and functional dependence among the study participants and assessed how the surviving pensioners coped with activities and instrumental activities of daily living. We assigned the occupational factors reported between 1983 and 1985 to two scales: demands and resources. Multiple logistic regression analyses were carried out to examine the association of occupational and medical predictors with the outcome variables death and functional dependence. Workplace resources but not demands were significantly associated with a reduced chance of death in women, independent of medical diagnoses. For men neither of these associations were verified. Concerning functional dependence individual items such as ‘control over work content’ (for both sexes) significantly reduced the risk of developing ADL-dependence. The associations remained stable after medical diagnoses were additionally taken into consideration. The results of our study highlight the influence of occupational factors beyond working life and support the importance of starting geriatric health promotion before retirement age. Public Health (2001) 115, 345–349.     

Postnatal Msx1 expression pattern in craniofacial, axial, and appendicular skeleton of transgenic mice from the first week until the second year.

Phenotypes associated with Msx1 mutations have established the prominent role of this divergent homeogene in skeletal patterning. Previous studies have been achieved during antenatal development in relation with the early death of null mutant mice. Therefore, the present study is devoted to Msx1 homeogene in the postnatal craniofacial, axial, and appendicular skeleton. A knock-in transgenic mouse line was studied from the first postnatal week until 15 months. Whole-mount beta-galactosidase enzymology identified Msx1 protein expression pattern. Maintained expression of Msx1 was observed in growing and adult mice, specifically in the sites where Msx1 plays an early morphogenetic role during initial skeletal patterning. These included the craniofacial sutures, autopodium, mandible, and alveolar bone. Furthermore, active membranous and endochondral bone formation involved Msx1 in the entire skeleton. Histologic sections showed that progenitor as well as differentiating and differentiated cells of all the bone cell lineages could express the Msx1 protein (chondrocytes, osteoblasts, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase positive osteoclasts and chondroclasts). Recent developments in the genetic and developmental biology of skeletal morphogenesis demonstrate that genes critical for development are jointly expressed in discrete embryonic signalling and growth centers, the enamel knot in teeth, the cranial suture in skull morphogenesis, and the progress zone in the limb buds. The present study suggests that these signalling pathways are jointly important throughout the entire lifetime with an exquisite site-specificity spatially related to early patterning.     

Bone Formation in the Context of Growth Retardation Induced by hIGFBP-1 Overexpression in Transgenic Mice

In humans, intrauterine growth retardation (hIUGR) is correlated with an overexpression of insulin-like growthfactor binding protein 1 (IGFBP-1). The affected children also present a delay in bone mineralization. In this study, transgenic 12-day-old mutant mice overexpressing human IGFBP-1 hepatospecifically showed a severe growth retardation. Alcian blue and alizarin red S staining of the skeleton revealed mineralization defects at the posterior level of the skull (delayed suture closure) and in appendicular and axial skeleton. Furthermore, microradiographic analysis showed a reduced bone density in the same areas. Thus, overexpressing of hIGFBP-1 demonstrates early postnatal life growth retardation and a delay in mineralization in transgenic mutant mice. These data show the involvement of the IGF/IGFBP system and more particularly IGFBP-1 in the biomineralization process.