Extracellular Enzyme Activities by Basidiobolus and Conidiobolus Isolates on Solid Media./Extrazelluläre Enzymaktivitäten bei Basidiobolus- und Condiobolus-Isólaten auf festen Medien

Summary: Fifty-seven isolates of Basidiobolus from reptiles and amphibians, and 7 other obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) in Maryland were studied for their extracellular enzyme activities on solid media. The Conidiobolus isolates studied included 4 recovered from Nigerian soil and additional 4 obtained from the ATCC All these isolates produced active extracellular lipase and protease and failed to exhibit amylase, deoxyribonuclease and ribonuclease activities. The significance of the findings is discussed.
Zusammenfassung: Fünfundsiebzig Basidiobolus-Isolate aus Reptilien und Amphibien und sieben weitere aus der American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) in Maryland wurden auf Aktivtäten extrazellulärer Enzyme auf festen Medien untersucht Die untersuchten Conidiobolus-Isolate schlossen vier aus nigerianischen Böden und vier weitere aus der ATCC ein. Alle Isolate zeigten extrazellulär Lipase- und Proteaseaktivität Amylase-, Desoxyribonuclease- und Ribonucleaseaktivität war jedoch nicht nachzuweisen. Die Bedeutung dieser Befunde wird diskutiert.     

Female alcoholics. V: The relationship between family history of alcoholism and outcome 3-10 years after treatment

In a long-term follow-up study of 44 female alcoholics, a family history of alcoholism was related to younger age of onset of problem drinking, but did not necessarily imply a poorer outcome within this highly selected group of individuals. Alcoholism in father and his family was not related to either antisocial or borderline personality disorder nor outcome. However, alcoholism in mother and her family correlated with both borderline personality disorder and a significantly poorer outcome. The findings are discussed within different frames of reference, considering genetic mechanisms, psychodynamic factors and family systems theory.     

Determinants of physician visit rates among joggers: multivariate analysis of 4000 participants in a popular race

In a large sample of joggers, endurance capacity was inversely, but weekly mileage, competitive training motive, and female gender were positively and independently related to use of ambulatory care. Despite the significance of regression models, sports activity and psychological characteristics of the joggers explained only a modest part of their low overall physician visit rates.     

Zinc feeding and fertility of male rats

Supplementation of the diet of adult male rats with 4,000 ppm zinc as ZnSO4 for 30 to 32 days increased the zinc content in the testis and sperm by 25 and 18 per cent respectively, but did not change the same in accessory reproductive tissues, e.g. epididymis, seminal vesicle and prostate. The incidence of conception from mating between normal females and zinc fed males was lower as compared to mating between normal females and control males. This observation indicated reduced fertility of the males resulting from additional zinc ingestion. Motility of the sperm collected from the epididymis (tail) of the zinc treated rats was found to be inhibited. It has been suggested that excess zinc in the sperm was responsible for their poor motility and hence a reduced fertilising capacity.     

Production of elastase and other exoproducts by environmental isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from environmental sources and bacteremic patients were compared for their levels of elastolytic activity. No significant differences were found. The incidence of production of toxin A, phospholipase C, alkaline protease, and elastase among the environmental strains was also as high as that previously reported for clinical isolates.     

An unusual case of cutaneous listeriosis.

Listeria monocytogenes was identified as the etiological agent in the cutaneous and febrile illness of a 64-year-old male who acquired the organism as a result of contact with the genital tract of a cow while assisting in the delivery of a stillborn calf.