Escherichia coli antibodies in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Sera from 30 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (16 with Crohn's disease (CD) and 14 with ulcerative colitis (UC) were assayed for the presence of antibodies against 159 Escherichia coli O-antigens and compared with sera from 16 matched control subjects. The majority of patients with IBD had agglutinating antibodies to a higher number of Escherichia coli O-antigens and in higher titres than the control group. The number of positive agglutinins was O-33 mean 13.8 in CD, O-26 mean 7.9 for UC, and O-7 mean 1.5 in controls. Eight patients with IBD and arthropathy had antibodies to fewer O-antigens (O-7 mean 3.2). The antibodies were in the IgG and IgM, in titres corresponding to original values. No specific O-serotypes were associated with IBD. Common serotypes, R-plasmid carrying serotypes, and those associated with shigella-like adult diarrhoea were detected. O14 was detected only in five patients and O119 in none. There was no correlation between the number of Escherichia coli agglutinins and the site and severity of the disease or type of therapy. It is suggested that the presence of the high numbers of Escherichia coli antibodies is secondary to the disease process and is unlikely to be causally involved in the pathogenesis of the disease, but may play a role in the perpetuation of the disease and in the extraintestinal complications.     

Veränderungen ophthalmodynamographischer Meßwerte unter CO2- und O2-Atmung

Zusammenfassung Durch die Inhalation CO₂-haltiger Gasgemische gelang bei 12 jungen lungengesunden Probanden die Erzeugung verschieden hoher CO₂-Spannungen im Blute (paCO₂). Es zeigte sich, daß mit dem Anstieg des paCO₂ eine Zunahme des Orbitalen Pulsationsvolumens (PV) verbunden war. Zugleich nahm der Blutdruck sowohl in der Arteria ophthalmica als auch in der Arteria brachialis signifikant zu. Die ODG-faßbaren Reaktionen der Orbitalen Gefäße entsprechen somit unter CO₂-Atmung den aus experimentellen Untersuchungen bekannten Effekten des CO₂ auf den Gehirnkreislauf.Durch die in der gleichen Versuchsreihe mittels O₂-Inhalation erzeugten O₂-Spannungsänderungen (paO₂) wurden — entgegen den Erwartungen — jedoch ebenfalls Zunahmen der Orbitalen Pulsationsvolumina (PV) erzielt. Mit dem Anstieg der O₂-Spannung im arteriellen Blut (paO₂) ging jeweils eine Zunahme der PV-Werte wie auch der Blutdruckwerte in der A. ophthalmica und der A. brachialis einher. Die erhobenen ODG-Befunde entsprechen also nicht den aus experimentellen Untersuchungen bekannten Effekten des paO₂ auf die cerebralen Gefäße.

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Variations of ophthalmodynamographic values during inhalation of carbon dioxide and oxygen

Summary In 12 healthy subjects, inhalation of gas mixtures containing carbon dioxide produced varying degrees of carbon dioxide partial pressures in the arterial blood (paCO₂). Increased values of paCO₂ were always connected with increased values for orbital volume of pulsation and the orbital blood pressure as well as with increased brachial blood pressure. Thus orbital vascular reactions during inhalation of carbon dioxide as substantiated by ophthalmodynamography (ODG) are similar to cerebral vascular reactions during inhalation of carbondioxide.In the same study, changes of oxygen partial pressures in the arterial blood were produced by oxygen inhalation. Increased paO₂ values were always followed by increased values for orbital and brachial blood pressure and volume of pulsation. There is no correlation between the ODG findings during inhalation of oxygen and the effects of paO₂ on the cerebral vessels.

     

Serotypes of antibiotic resistant Escherichia coli isolated from the sewage of Palmerston North (New Zealand).

Antibiotic resistant strains of Escherichia coli were isolated from the domestic sewage of Palmerston North. The ability of these strains to transfer the drug resistance markers to two different recipient E. coli strains was assessed. The 'O' and 'H' serotypes of all strains were determined and attempts at correlation with the drug resistance studies were made. Some typically 'human' serotypes were found as well as a number of rarely described ones. No correlation between serotype and resistance pattern was observed.     

Small-angle light-scattering patterns of corneas of different species.

Light-scattering patterns of corneas of different species have been obtained. The different small-angle light-scattering (SALS) patterns were classified into four groups on the basis of the angular dependence of the intensity of light scattered in the I+ and I modes. At present, only two types of patterns can be explained on the basis of theoretical models. The need to develop a general model that can account for all four types of SALS patterns is discussed.     

The distribution of serotypes of Escherichia coli in cow-pats and other animal material compared with serotypes of E. coli isolated from human sources.

The serotypes of 13,139 strains of Escherichia coli isolated from humans were compared with the serotypes of 1076 strains isolated from animals. 689 of these strains were isolated from fresh cow-pats on 22 sites in England and Wales. 708 different O/H combinations were found. Of these, 520 were found in human strains only, 130 from animal strains only and 58 O/H serotypes from humans and animals. Approximately half of the animal strains could not be typed with the full set of sera used.