Collaborative Evaluation of a Proposed Reference Dilution Method of Susceptibility Testing of Anaerobic Bacteria

An agar dilution method for susceptibility testing of anaerobic bacteria was evaluated to determine whether results obtained would be consistent enough to recommend it as a reference method. The study was conducted in 10 laboratories where the minimum inhibitory concentrations of six antibiotics (carbenicillin, cefoxitin, chloramphenicol, clindamycin, penicillin G, and tetracycline) were determined against 10 bacterial strains on Wilkins-Chalgren agar prepared by three manufacturers. Minimum inhibitory concentrations falling on the modes varied from 57 to 80% of all determinations and on the mode or within +/-1 log(2) dilution of the mode from 87 to 100% within each laboratory. When data from all laboratories were pooled, minimum inhibitory concentrations from each laboratory agreed with the overall mode 48 to 71% of the time, with an overall agreement at +/-1 log(2) dilution of 96%. This degree of reproducibility allows for recommendation of the procedure as a reference method. Results with three of the test strains were very consistent, and these strains are recommended as control strains: Clostridium perfringens ATCC 13124, Bacteroides fragilis ATCC 25285 and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron ATCC 29741. The minimum inhibitory concentrations for these strains were on the mode or within +/-1 log(2) dilution of the mode 98, 99, and 99% of the time, respectively. The remaining anaerobic bacteria are recommended as reference strains.     

Über einen die Fettsäuresynthese steigernden Faktor der Leber

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SYNTHESIS AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF TUFTSIN AND OF [O=CTHR1]-TUFTSIN

The cyclization, under alkaline conditions, of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-threonine and of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-serine to produce 5-methyl-2-oxo-oxazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (O=CThr)and 2-oxo-oxazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (O=CSer), respectively, was investigated and found to be efficient and racemization-free. Similar was the cyclization which accompanied the basic hydrolysis of N-benzyl-oxycarbonyl-L-threonyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester and of N-benzyloxy-carbonyl-L-seryl-DL-valine ethyl ester, and which resulted in the formation of L-O=CThr-L-Phe and L-O=CSer-DL-Val, respectively. The reaction was applied to the synthesis of [O=CThr¹] tuftsin, an active analog of the phagocytosis stimulating peptide tuftsin. A new synthetic route to tuftsin is also described.     

Autotransfusion in hepatic transplantation

Hepatic transplantation is often accompanied by a large volume of intraoperative blood loss which may place extraordinary transfusion demands on a community blood bank. In an effort to conserve blood bank resources, intraoperative autotransfusion has recently been used in our adult patients undergoing orthotopic hepatic transplantation. A group of seven patients receiving autotransfusion was studied and compared to another group of five patients who did not receive autotransfusion. In spite of receiving more blood during the transplant procedure, the autotransfusion group required a mean of 7.9 units less banked blood. Post-transplant transfusion requirements and bleeding complications were similar in both groups. Hematocrit and total bilirubin were not adversely affected, while transient elevation of BUN and serum creatinine appeared to be unrelated to the salvage process. This procedure was found to be safe and cost-effective, while conserving blood bank resources.     

Effect of fluoridated milk on caries: 3-year results

The effect of fluoridated milk consumption has been investigated in a follow-up study of 269 children aged 3-9 years. Children consumed 200 ml of milk daily, fluoridated in the groups 3-5 years with 0.4 mg F-, and in those aged 6-9 years with 0.75 mg F-, for 300 days yearly. The caries data were analyzed with special regard to changes in the DMF values of the permanent first molars, the yearly examination data of the corresponding age groups compared and correlated with the length of fluoridated milk consumption. Statistical analysis of the permanent first molar data showed significant negative correlation between DMF means and length of fluoridated milk consumption in children 5-6 years old at the time of evaluation. The caries reduction after 3 years was 74% and statistically significant (P less than 0.001). In children 7-9 years old the caries reduction of the permanent first molars was less, and statistically not significant. A slight reduction of DMFS mean values in the front teeth of this group could be observed.     

Origins of the sympathetic innervation of the cervical end of the uterus in the rat

A retrograde neuronal tracer (Fast Blue) was injected in the cervical end of the uterine horn of virgin rats. The majority of the retrogradely labeled post-ganglionic sympathetic neurons were found in the sympathetic chain (74%). The superior mesenteric ganglia, inferior mesenteric ganglia and suprarenal ganglia accounted for 22, 3 and <1%, respectively. The distribution of neurons in the sympathetic chain labeled from the uterus resembles that described for other pelvic organs.     

Biofeedback training in children with functional constipation

Many uncontrolled studies suggest that biofeedback training is an effective adjunctive therapy in improving the outcome of functional constipation and/or encopresis in children. This could not be confirmed in controlled studies. Adding biofeedback training after conventional treatment had failed did not provide benefits. The results of biofeedback treatment in children with functional constipation and/or encopresis are disappointing.     

Wave parameters of the sperm flagellum as predictors of human spermatozoa motility

Summary. We characterized the undulatory movement of the sperm's flagellum as a sigmoid wave by measuring the absolute and linear speed of the sperm, period, amplitude and length of the flagellum's wave, and the segment comprised between the head and the origin of the movement in the flagellum. These parameters were correlated with traditional ones used to determine the pattern of movement of the sperm. Our results show that wave parameters are useful predictors of sperm motility. They correlate among themselves, and thus, a few wave parameters may characterize the sperm motility. The advantage of wave parameters is that they can be easily obtained and can be eventually associated to the sperms' internal morphology.     

Gonococcal infection in pregnancy

256 pregnant women were studied for the presence of Neisseria gonorrhea in the endocervical canal of the uterus. Those who had positive cultures also had cultures taken from the rectum and the pharynx before administering treatment. 7 days after treatment, control cultures were taken to confirm the effectiveness of the therapy. The cultures were taken at the Diagnostic Center of the Catholic University of Chile. The treatment consisted of two intramuscular doses of a mixture of clemizol penicillin (400,000 IU) and penicillin sodium (3,600,000 IU). The prevalence of endocervical infection for gonorrhea amounted to 4 cases (1.56%). They presented bacteria in the rectum and one of them presented bacteria in the pharynx. All cultures were negative 7 days after treatment. There were significantly fewer first-trimester pregnancy cases (58) compared to second-trimester (90) and third-trimester (108) cases. There were 116 primiparas and 140 multiparas. As to the couples, 65.6% of the female population and 61.3% of the male population was concentrated in the 21-30 age group. 87.9% of the population was married; 11.3% was single; and 0.8% was widowed. 48.9% of the pregnant women were exclusively housewives; 23.9% were employed in technical or university professions; 7.4% were engaged in commerce; 3.9% were employees; 4.7% were students; and 1.9% were laborers. Their average age was 26.4 years, while the average age of the healthy population was 26.7 years.