Beta-glucuronidase-producing bacteria in bile from the common bile duct in patients treated with endoscopic papillotomy for gallstone disease

This paper reports the occurrence of beta-glucuronidase-producing bacteria in the bile in gallstone patients treated with endoscopic papillotomy (EPT). The study included 36 patients--18 women and 18 men, aged 43-87 years, with a median of 72.5 years. Bile sampling was done with an endoscopic technique. All bacterial strains were tested for beta-glucuronidase activity with a rapid chromogenic tablet test, using 4-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucuronic acid as substrate. Bacterial growth was found in the bile in 35 patients. Of 103 strains isolated, 30 produced beta-glucuronidase. Twenty-five of the patients had at least one beta-glucuronidase-producing strain in the bile. All 26 strains of Escherichia coli were producing the enzyme. Both strains in the Bacteroides fragilis group and one out of two strains of Clostridium perfringens were producing beta-glucuronidase. The activity of the bacterial beta-glucuronidase was found within the pH range of the bile in these patients. A relationship between the presence of beta-glucuronidase-producing bacteria in the bile and pigment gallstone is suggested.     

Production of short chain fatty acids by the intestinal microflora during the first 2 years of human life.

We have followed the establishment of one group of intestinal microflora-associated characteristics, namely, the production of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), in 30 healthy children, by gas chromatography analysis of fecal samples taken at 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 months of age. Acetic and propionic acids were the principal SCFAs at 1 and 3 months. Successively, the production of iso- and n-butyric, valeric, and caproic acids was established. At 2 years, the absolute amounts of all SCFAs with the exception of n-valeric acid had reached adult values. However, not all children had achieved a typically adult range of stool SCFAs by the end of the study. Both absolute and relative amounts of SCFAs were influenced by exposure to foods other than breast milk and exposure to antibiotic therapy. After standardization for exposure to foods other than breast milk, a positive age factor could be seen between 0 and 1 month of age for total amounts produced of SCFAs, acetic, propionic, and n-butyric acids. After this time, however, no clear age factor could be distinguished.     

Short-chain fatty acids in the small-bowel bacterial overgrowth syndrome

The short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) have been measured by gas chromatography in fasting jejunal secretions, saliva, and feces from 8 patients with the small-bowel bacterial overgrowth syndrome (BO) and 9 control patients; in jejunal secretions and saliva from 6 healthy subjects; and in feces from 20 healthy subjects. The concentrations of SCFAs (median (range), mumol/l) in jejunal secretions of BO patients were as follows: total, 990 (210-12,370); acetic acid, 650 (170-6770); propionic acid, 110 (16-3070); isobutyric acid, 26 (1-310); n-butyric acid, 90 (12-1340); isovaleric acid, 35 (2-680); n-valeric acid, 7 (3-200). In BO patients the total concentration of SCFAs in jejunal secretions was approximately four times higher than in control patients (p less than 0.01) and in healthy subjects (p less than 0.025). The relative distribution of the acids resembled the distribution found in feces more than that of saliva or the normal jejunal secretions. These findings indicate that patients with BO have a colon-like flora in the small intestine and that the main part of the SCFAs in the jejunal secretions of these patients is produced by the altered microbial flora in the jejunum. Combined with other tests, analyses of intestinal SCFAs may prove to be valuable in the diagnosis of small-bowel bacterial overgrowth.     

Epidemiological aspects of toxoplasmosis. II. The prevalence of positive toxoplasmin reactions in naval recruits from different parts of Norway.

686 (22.5%) out of 3047 naval recruits from all parts of Norway showed positive reactions (induration greater than or equal to 2 mm) when tested with the toxoplasmin cutaneous test (TcT). The highest frequency of positive TcT was found in the south-western part of the country (34.7%). The frequency was low in the inland of Southern Norway (13.6%), and especially low in the northern part of the country (9.5%).     

Clindamycin-induced alterations in intestinal microflora-associated characteristics in rats

Conventional Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with clindamycin, 40 mg/kg/day and 0.04 mg/kg/day, for 5 days. At a dose of 40 mg/kg/day, microflora-associated characteristics (MACs), such as shape, color, and consistency of feces, proteolytic activity, electrophoretic pattern, and cholesterol and bilirubin metabolism were transformed into values like those found in germfree rats: germfree animal characteristics (GACs). The effect on the proteolytic activity lasted longest. It did not disappear until one or two enemas with cecal contents from intact conventional rats were administered. At a dose of 0.04 mg/kg/day, effects on the proteolytic activity and cholesterol metabolism were seen. With the exception of one rat, the effect on proteolytic activity did not disappear until one or two enemas were given. The results indicate that clindamycin, even in very small daily doses, has a profound and long-lasting influence on many intestinal MACs in rats.     

Comparison of tinidazole given as a single dose and on 2 consecutive days for the treatment of nonspecific bacterial vaginosis

Nonspecific bacterial vaginosis, defined as the presence of clue cells, was treated in a randomized, double-blind study with (1) tinidazole 2 g as a single dose (82 patients), (2) tinidazole 2 g on 2 consecutive days (84 patients), and (3) with placebo (81 patients). The cure rates, both clue cells and Gardnerella vaginalis absent, were 51, 74 and 4%, respectively. A closer clinical and microbiological evaluation showed the 2-day regimen to be superior.     

Comparative antibiotic sensitivity testing of bacteria with a paper disc and a tablet method

A paper disc method (AB Biodisk, Sweden) and a tablet method (Neo-Sensitabs, A/S Rosco, Denmark) for antibiotic sensitivity testing of bacteria were compared. About three fourths of the bacterial strains could be classified in the same sensitivity groups when tested with the two methods. When discrepancies were noted, they were mostly of minor size.