Variations in antibiograms and plasmid profiles among multiple isolates of Staphylococcus intermedius from pyoderma in dogs.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to K Pedersen.
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A method was developed to follow a lactic acid bacterial strain, Enterococcus faecium Cernelle 68, with respect to adhesion, multiplication, colonization, and persistence in the digestive tract of mink. Also the spread of the strain in the cage was examined. When adding 5 x 10(9) c.f.u. of a rifampicin resistant mutant per kg feed, high viable counts were registered throughout the digestive tract, apart from the oesophagus. Counts were increasing in the aboral direction, suggesting some multiplication in the intestine. It was possible to detect the strain in the intestinal tract 4 days after discontinuation of administration. Neither culture nor scanning electron microscopy gave evidence to suggest that E. faecium Cernelle 68 adhered to the mucosa. The spread of the E. faecium strain was observed in the environment. Counts of E. coli, lactobacilli, staphylococci, and clostridia were low, and none of these bacteria were constant findings.
The bacterial lactose operator (lacO) was introduced into the PstI site of the long terminal repeat of the SL3-3 murine leukemia virus, generating a virus, SL3-3lacO, that can replicate in NIH3T3 cell cultures. DNA sequences harboring the lacO sequence might be recovered by molecular cloning in Escherichia coli lac+ lacZ+ using bacteriophage lambda or plasmid vectors. The high copy numbers of the lacO sequence titrate out the lac repressor, leading to the induction of the lac operon in the host. We show here that the lacO and the proviral sequences are carried stably together in the genomes of SL3-3lacO-infected cell cultures and in viral particles. This system is designed to facilitate studies on the provirus and the site of viral integration.
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Okadaic acid and dinophysistoxin-1, the principal toxic components in diarrhetic shellfish poisoning, may be detected by high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorometric measurement as 9-anthrylmethyl esters. However, "greasy" samples may occur and the fluorescent reagent 9-anthryldiazomethane may decompose during storage, resulting in impurities that may seriously interfere with quantitative determination. Ultrasonic treatment of the samples during derivatization with 9-anthryldiazomethane was found to improve reproducibility. This may result from increased access to reactive sites on toxins by 9-anthryldiazomethane due to disruption of micelles formed by toxins and other partly hydrophobic compounds. A procedure for cleaning the derivatized samples, using a 0.1 g silica cartridge column and different eluent compositions from that reported by LEE et al. (1987), was found to facilitate chromatogram interpretation. Deoxycholic acid, a commercial available bile acid, was found to be an acceptable internal standard. The 9-anthrylmethyl esters of okadaic acid, dinophysistoxin-1 and deoxycholic acid, were stable at 4 degrees C for at least seven days when stored dry or in methanol.
Extracts of "diarrhetic" shellfish toxins from the edible mussel (Mytilus edulis) were tested with biological and chemical assays to determine toxin content. When tested with the standard mouse bioassay, a higher toxicity was detected in most samples compared to that revealed from detection of the diarrhea-causing substances okadaic acid and dinophysistoxin-1 by high-performance liquid chromatography. Routine extraction of toxins for the two assays was carried out with two different solvents, acetone versus aqueous methanol. Accordingly, we questioned whether the variation in results between the methods could be due to differences in chemical properties of these two solvents. When tested, the two solvent systems showed practically the same efficiency concerning the extraction of okadaic acid and dinophysistoxin-1. This demonstrated that toxins other than those causing diarrhea were present in the samples, and that the mouse bioassay was sensitive to these additional toxins. Subsequent testing of the samples with the mouse bioassay, employing both acetone and methanol extracts, revealed that at least two classes of toxins were present in the mussel samples in addition to okadaic acid and dinophysistoxin-1. It is unclear whether the shellfish toxins revealed in this study are partially from known, nondiarrhetic types, such as pectenotoxins or yessotoxins, or from unknown toxin groups exhibiting ichthyotoxic and hemolytic properties.
A simple and convenient colorimetric assay for the quantification of non-specific esterase is described. The assay takes advantage of the microtitration plate format, and the high capacity of repetitive dispensers and the microplate reader for this format. The assay is well suited for the quantification changes in the esterase activity in homogeneous cell populations like monocytes maturing into macrophages.
The relationship between self-assessed hearing handicap and audiometric measures using pure-tone and speech audiometry was studied in a group of elderly persons representative of an urban Swedish population. The study population consisted of two cohorts, one of which was followed longitudinally. Significant correlations between measured and self-assessed hearing were found. Speech discrimination scores showed lower correlations with the self-estimated hearing than pure-tone averages and speech reception threshold. Questions concerning conversation with one person and concerning difficulty in hearing the doorbell showed lower correlations with measured hearing than the other questions. The discrimination score test is an inadequate tool for measuring hearing handicap.
The article describes a radiological information system (RIS) developed by members of the medical staff at a university hospital. Software has been developed on the basis of the two common databases; dBASE III plus and Clipper. The system is modular constructed. Each module can be operated individually, but best function is obtained by networking in a Ethernet (3Com). The article describes the different modules, user experience and future plans for development.
In a longitudinal and an age cohort comparing study the influence of aging and occupational noise exposure on hearing sensitivity was studied. The participants of the longitudinal study were studied at 70, 75, and 79 years of age. Seventy year old men exposed to occupational noise had 10 to 15 dB poorer hearing in the high frequency range than nonexposed men. The difference in hearing acuity decreased with increasing age. The differences between exposed and nonexposed older persons was no longer significant at age 79. In women there were no differences in hearing sensitivity between those exposed to noise and those not exposed to noise. Men not exposed to noise had 10 to 15 dB poorer hearing at 4 kHz compared with women of the same age also not exposed to noise.
Plasmid profiling was used to distinguish strains of lactobacilli inhabiting the digestive tract of piglets and the feces of sows. Fifteen plasmid profile types were detected among 328 isolates of lactobacilli. Plasmid profiling of lactobacilli permitted the following conclusions to be made: the maternal feces were a major source of lactobacilli colonizing the piglet digestive tract; the lactobacillus population of the gastric region of the piglet digestive tract was composed of lactobacillus strains different from those present in the rectal population; and a lactobacillus succession was observed in the digestive tract of piglets drawn from a single litter, and one plasmid profile type became dominant in the gastric region of these animals.
Transrectal ultrasonography (US) was used to predict tumor stage prior to radical prostatectomy in 59 patients with clinically localized carcinoma of the prostate. In 35 cases, US-guided biopsy was done. Histopathological examination of whole tissue mounts was compared with US findings in 49 cases. The remaining 10 had US-guided biopsies proving extracapsular extension of the tumor. Tumor size, as measured by US, was inadequate to distinguish between organ-confined disease and locally advanced tumor. Strategically taken US-guided biopsies of the periprostatic tissue or seminal vesicles were necessary. In the first 30 (group I) in this series of 59 cases, 18 of 22 tumors with extraprostatic spread (pT3) were understaged. In the last 29 cases (group II) only 6 of 19 pT3 tumors were understaged. After an initial training period, transrectal US, in combination with US-guided biopsy, can prove valuable for the pretherapeutic assessment of local spread of prostatic cancer, and can thus aid in the choice of appropriate treatment.
Of 9,008 males, aged 50-69 years, 1,494 were randomly selected and invited to participate in a screening programme for carcinoma of the prostate; 1,163 (78 per cent) accepted. Rectal examination was performed independently by a GP and by a urologist at the GP's surgery. Carcinoma of the prostate was suspected by one or both physicians in 45 cases, and subsequently confirmed by cytological investigation in 13 cases. Ten patients underwent radical prostatectomy, one received radiation treatment, one case was too advanced for curative treatment, and one was scheduled for subsequent reassessment. Screening for early diagnosis of carcinoma of the prostate either by a urologist or by a GP, using digital rectal examination, would thus appear to be a cost-effective procedure, though the question remains whether it will promote prolongation of survival.
A case of intrauterine tachycardia is presented. The case was primarily diagnosed as one of foetal death. The correct diagnosis was established by ultrasonic scanning. During the neonatal period, the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome was diagnosed. This is a common cause of intrauterine tachycardia.
The dynamics of microbial growth in metal-working fluids (MWF) and the effect of the addition of biocides were studied in large fluid systems, in this case, one central tank which holds 150 m3. In this system, populations of Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes (greater than 10(8) CFU/ml) were sustained for a year, although large quantities of biocides were added. Quantitation of 3-OH lauric acid, a marker for many Pseudomonas spp., by gas chromatography indicated that the bacterial biomass exceeded the viable counts by approximately 15 times. Fungi were grown on several occasions, the dominating genera being Fusarium and Candida. Soon after the old MWF was removed and the tank was provided with fresh MWF, which consisted of an emulsion of mineral oil in water, there was a massive growth of P. pseudoalcaligenes that reached levels of greater than 10(8) bacteria per ml. Initially, only low concentrations of other species were found for some weeks. After this period, different enterobacteria and other gram-negative rods often appeared at high concentrations (10(7) and 10(8) bacteria per ml, respectively). Bacteria identified as P. pseudoalcaligenes showed great variation with respect to colony morphology and a certain heterogeneity with respect to biochemical characteristics. Certain bacterial species grew as microcolonies on metal strips immersed in the circulating MWF, but P. pseudoalcaligenes was not recovered from this habitat. The total bacterial count in the air surrounding the machines in the metal-working shop showed an inverse relation to increasing distance from the machine. The concentration of bacteria in the air varied because of the number of machines in use, temperature, and humidity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Eight strains of lactobacillus isolated from the porcine gastrointestinal tract were tested for their ability to adhere in vitro to cells collected from stratified squamous epithelium in the digestive tracts of newborn piglets. Piglets were inoculated with individual strains, and their digestive tracts were sampled at intervals to determine the colonizing ability of the lactobacilli. The results of the in vitro test did not predict whether a lactobacillus strain would associate with stratified squamous epithelium in the piglet digestive tract, but epithelial association in vivo appeared to be an important factor in the maintenance of lactobacillus populations in the tract. None of the lactobacillus strains used as inocula was numerically dominant in the tract 7 days after inoculation of the piglets with a single dose of the bacteria.
24 men suffering from localized prostatic cancer undergoing radical retropubic nerve-sparing prostatectomy were investigated by the following electrophysiological methods: Bulbocavernosus reflexes elicited from the penile skin or the posterior urethra, sensory thresholds in the posterior urethra, cerebral evoked potentials after stimulation of the pudendal nerve or the posterior urethra. 15 men were examined 4-33 months postoperatively only, 5 men were examined only preoperatively and 4 men were examined both pre- and postoperatively. 10 men suffering from minor problems due to benign prostatic hyperplasia served as controls. In patients with localized cancer of the prostate, the findings did not differ from those in the control group. In the operated group the findings were pathological in a large proportion of the patients, indicating injuries both to nervous pathways running through the pelvic nerve plexus and in the pudendal nerve. The conclusions were: Localized cancer of the prostate has minimal or no risk at all of impaired functioning in the pelvic nervous pathways. Radical retropubic prostatectomy may in some cases be undertaken without any objective evidence of injury to these nervous pathways, but is often followed by findings indicating such injury. The dorsal nerve of the penis may be affected by the operation. Transcranial stimulation of the motor cortex is a useful method in the evaluation of prolonged or absent bulbocavernosus reflexes.