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[Cerebrospinal fistula tight closure of dural defects using surgical adhesives. A comparative experimental study (author's transl)].

In 3 cats artificial bony and dural defects of the posterior frontal sinus walls facing the frontal brain were closed with the help of a physiologic fibrin-based adhesive system (FAS) and a synthetic tissue adhesive (N-butylcyanoacrylate) in an attempt at comparing the relative merits and demerits of the 2 techniques. The bony and dural defects were partially covered with fascial tissue. Subsequently, the defects were sealed with adhesive using cyanoacrylate for the left frontal sinus and FAS for the right one. Unless healing was complicated by wound infection, fibrous tissue was found to have bridged the defects on either side 14 days after surgery, ensuring cerebrospinal fistula tight closure. Wound infection occurred in 2 cases involving the frontal sinuses closed with FAS. Micro-organisms had apparently been introduced from the respiratory tract and, in one case, spread to the contralateral frontal sinus treated with cyanoacrylate. Thus, the risk of infection associated with FAS appears to be higher than that of conventional techniques. Germ growth was found to be inhibited in vitro by adding an antibiotic to the FAS. For this reason, we would recommend the admixture of an antibiotic to the FAS whenever the adhesive is used in surgical fields which are exposed to infection. Further sutdies are needed to find the best suited antibiotic, its optimum dosage and mode of applications.

Animals↗

[Problem of "biological compatibility" of crew members during prolonged space flight and possible directions for its solution].

The concept of biological compatibility of men can be defined as a phenomenon which includes an effect (that might be favorable or unfavorable) of one individuum on the other via trace amounts of chemicals released into their environment and micro-organisms. The paper presents the main results of studies of biological compatibility of crewmembers of space vehicles and outlines possible directions of research to be carried out in this area.

Bacteria↗

[Soil as a reservoir of opportunistic mycostic agents].

We studied the soil as a reservoir of vegetable detritus, keratinous materials of birds, terrestrial animals and micro-organisms. In the last group we can mention the bacteria and fungi. We classified the opportunistic fungi in three groups: (1) parasites of plants or growing on the vegetable detritus; (2) geophylic dermatophytes; (3) pathogenic fungi that in some cases behave like opportunistic ones. In each group we studied the opportunistic fungi of the soil, their relations with it chemical and physical composition, the mycoflora and the role of animal habitats.

Arthrodermataceae↗

Chromosomal aberrations induced by Dispersion Yellow 3 in Rana clamitans larvae during tail regeneration.

Azo dyes have been shown to be mutagenic and toxic in a variety of organisms. The azo dye, Dispersion Yellow 3 is a pollutant in the river water supply of Northern Georgia. Preliminary and definitive studies have indicated that it is mutagenic in micro-organisms and causes several malformations in chicken embryos. The present study revealed that when larvae are exposed to the dye during tail regeneration, several aberrations are seen in the squash preparations from regenerates. Included are gaps (the most frequent abnormality), dicentrics, rings and breaks. The data suggest that this azo dye deserves more detailed study to determine its mutagenicity.

Animals↗

[Soil-hygienic points of view with respect to intensive plant production in socialistic agriculture (author's transl)].

With intensified plant production, also soil-hygienic points of view must be taken into account. Measures like fertilization, irrigation, and amelioration must be carried through in such a way that any damage to human health is excluded. As factors of risk have to be regarded pathogenous micro-organisms and parasites from sewage, sludge, and liquid manure, nitrate, potassium, pesticide residues, and heavy metals from agrochemicals and manure, as well as antibiotics from therapeutic and prophylactic treatments. The necessity of precise legal regulations emphasized.

Agriculture↗

Torulopsis glabrata fungaemia. A report of two cases.

Two cases of Torulopsis glabrata fungaemia are presented. The literature on detection of micro-organisms in peripheral blood and on systemic T. glabrata infection is briefly reviewed. Microscopical examination of a buffy coat preparation, a simple and rapid procedure for diagnosing this condition, is described. A scheme of criteria which may be helpful in the diagnosis of clinically significant fungaemia is offered.

Adult↗

Cellular and humoral adjuvant activity of mistletoe extract.

The adjuvanticity of the mistletoe preparation Iscador was investigated. The cellular response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) was augmented after intracutaneous immunization with antigen and different doses of Iscador. Iscador did not change the cellular response to 2 x 10(7) intraperitoneally administered SRBC. The IgM plaque forming cell response was accelerated and followed by an augmentation of the IgG and IgA plaque forming cell response. Evidence is presented that the immunogenic and inflammatory capacities of Iscador contribute to its adjuvant activity. Both micro-organisms and soluble, filter-adherent constituents in Iscador possess adjuvant activity. The relation between the immunostimulating properties of Iscador and its anti-tumour activity is discussed.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Mycoplasma in tissue culture: overview of detection methods.

Mycoplasma contamination of tissue cultures is too costly, scientifically damaging and inappropriate, and perhaps, even medically hazardous to be ignored. Prevention by continuous surveillance demands adequate mycoplasma testing procedures. Despite a proliferation of indirect methods, the present consensus indicates that careful and extensive microbiological testing is still the cornerstone of any mycoplasma detection program. The finding of 'non-cultivable' or possible tissue-adapted micro-organisms plus the variability in microbiological expertise of many laboratories, makes the selection of at least one additional method imperative. At the present, though no one test will prove 100% satisfactory and selection should partly depend on available expertise, the method based on the ratio of the specific activities of incorporated radio-labelled uridine to uracil into RNA appears to be an acceptable choice due to its simplicity and general validity.

Bacteriological Techniques↗

Scanning electron microscopy of a bacterial infection of the human nasal mucosa.

Scanning electron micrographs of a bacterial infection of the human nasal mucosa indicate that the surface attachment of bacteria to epithelial cells is of significance for their pathogeneity in the airways. It is suggested that further scanning electron microscopic studies of natural and experimental infected human nasal mucosa can give valuable information about the initial interaction between micro-organisms and host cell and add to our understanding of airways infections.

Adult↗

[Hygienic problems in intensive care units (author's transl)].

Microbiological tests have established that intensive care units act as a reservoir from which hospital infections spread. The mode of their spread is reviewed. The increased incidence of nosocomial infections to intensive care wards is attributable partly to deficient antisepsis and asepsis and partly to inadequate planning of the building and organization of these wards. Plans for two intensive care wards are put forward which would reduce the risk of contact, smear and air-borne infections. In the planning of these units greater attention than has so far been the case should be paid to preventing the spread of pathogenic micro-organisms.

Air Microbiology↗

Antimicrobial properties of some West African medicinal plants iv. Antimicrobial activity of xylopic acid and other constituente of the fruits of Xylopia aethiopica (Annonaceae).

Xylopic acid and four other isolates from the fresh ripe fruits of Xylopia aethiopica a common ingredient in several Ghanaian folklore medicines and foods, have been examined for antimicrobial activity against five micro-organisms, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. Xylopic acid and two other diterpene isolates were found to have antimicrobial properties.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

[Influence of N-serve on mineral nitrogen forms and microorganisms of the soil (author's transl)].

In a model experiment with soil, 2 stages of nitrogen (without additional N and with 200 kg N/ha in the form of ammonia) and 3 N-Serve stages (without inhibitor and with 0.25 per cent and 1 per cent of inhibitor, relative to 200 kg of N/ha) were followed up over a period of 3 and 6 weeks, respectively, with respect to the dynamics of the nitrification process, the saprophytic soil microorganisms, and the autotrophic nitrifiers. In a second experiment, the ammonia form of nitrogen was substituted by the nitrate and nitrite form, respectively. No serious influence on the heterotrophic soil micro-organisms could be detected in any experimental variant; N-Serve was slightly stimulating, the autotrophic nitrifiers were noticeably depressed by N-Serve. The nitrification process could clearly be proved after 3 weeks already; by N-Serve it was remarkably delayed. Nitrite that had been added to the soil was scarcely transformed into nitrate, whereas it was somewhat more ammonified. The high loss of nitrogen in the nitrite variant cannot be caused by denitrification alone. When nitrate was used, the nitrification was not delayed.

Ammonia↗

[Effect of gum guar in diet on nitrogen balance, protein metabolism and food transit time in rats].

The addition of 5% gum guar to a diet containing 10% casein did not change the overall N retention of young rats but induced a significant shift in the N excretion from urine to feces, resulting in a markedly decreased apparent protein digestibility. The increase in total fecal dry matter over control values accounted for only 30% of the ingested gum guar implying that 70% was absorbed, possibly after being degraded by intestinal micro-organisms. The elimination of 14C activity following oral application of 14C protein indicated an accelerated turnover of amino acids during the first 3 h. After 25 h no difference between experimental and control animals was evident with respect to 14C activity remaining in the carcass. The transit time of food, as determined by neutron activation analysis of an Ytterbium marker, was somewhat decreased in the presence of gum guar.

Amino Acids↗

Studies on gallium accumulation in inflammatory lesions: II. Uptake by Staphylococcus aureus: concise communication.

Gallium-67 was demonstrated to be taken up in significant amounts by a number of common micro-organisms. The mechanism of gallium-67 uptake was studied in S. aureus. It is found to involve two separate processes. One is insensitive to temperature or metabolic inhibitors, and is not inhibited by a high concentration of nonradioactive gallium. This process probably operates through nonspecific binding of Ga-67 to components of S. aureus. The second process is not inhibited by metabolic inhibitors either, but it is temperature-sensitive and is inhibited by high concentrations of stable gallium. This component of the Ga-67 uptake is most likely due to a carrier-mediated transport system (facilitated transfer).

Antimetabolites↗

[Studies on the Microbiological Quality of Mammary Gland Tissues (author's transl)].

During the period from August to December 1976, 239 bovine udders were examined for their microbiological quality. Counts were made of the total number of aerobes, anaerobes, Enterobacteriaceae, coliform micro-organisms and staphylococci positive for coagulas and DNA-ase. The udders were examined for the presence or absence of Salmonella, E. coli and haemolytic streptococci. In addition, the Enterobacteriaceae were identified. The udders examined were from animals brought up for slaughter from all over the country. The studies were designed to examine whether udders are suited as raw material for products to be consumed by human individuals. The number of pathogenic bacteria isolated was found to be considerable and the average bacterial counts were rather high. The studies showed that the bacterial content of mammary-gland tissues has an adverse effect on the quality of raw meats made from these tissues so that they are not aceptable from the point of view of public health. Even when they are used as raw material for heated products, the risk of food poisoning caused by toxin produced by staphylococci cannot be entirely ruled out.

Animals↗

Secretory antibody responses in axenic mice to perorally administered Staphylococcus aureus.

Topical oral immunization of axenic mice with non-replicating Staphylococcus aureus resulted in the production of both serum and salivary agglutinins. A latent period of approximately 5 days was noted before salivary antibodies were detected against both a carbohydrate (ChoA) and a protein (PrA) antigen isolated from this micro-organism. The local response to ChoA exhibited a linear increase until day 9 when the reciprocal titres reached a plateau [32 (16--64)]. Salivary antibodies to PrA peaked by day 13 at a mean reciprocal titre of 60 (32--128). The agglutinin response in saliva was found to be initially IgG; however, by day 9 of a 14-day-immunization regimen, IgA became the predominant class of exocrine anti-S. aureus antibodies. The serum agglutinin response followed that found in saliva by approximately 2--4 days. By day 14, all sera (6/6) contained PrA agglutinins, while 4/6 sera agglutinated sheep erythrocytes coated with ChoA. Serum antibodies to ChoA were exclusively IgM, in contrast to IgM and IgA agglutinins elicited by PrA. Absorption studies provided evidence of a specific local and systemic immune response to both ChoA and PrA antigens of perorally administered S. aureus.

Agglutinins↗

Microbial secondary metabolites with potential use in cancer treatment. (Plasmid involvement in biosynthesis and compounds.

Antibiotics and small molecular enzyme inhibitors produced by micro-organisms are microbial secondary metabolites which have no obvious function in the growth of microorganisms. Involvement of plasmids in their biosyntheses has been studied and the structure of the microbial world where various compounds with widely varying structures have been found has been shown to be due to the presence of a great variety of plasmids. On the basis of this structure of microbial world, the author has found the microbial products which have various activities useful in treatment of cancer or in suppression of carcinogenesis. In this paper, the author reviewed his following studies: the plasmid involvement in biosyntheses of bioactive microbial secondary metabolites; the mechanism of therapeutic effect of bleomycin, and the development of useful analogs and derivatives of bleomycin and anthracyclic antibiotics; the screening method to find compounds affecting immune system, and the action of bestatin in enhancing delayed-type hypersensitivity and therapeutic effects of anticancer agents; enzyme inhibitors with potential utility in treatment or prevention of cancer.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗

[Immunotherapy of malignant growths (author's transl)].

Our knowledge of antigens which are associated with different types of malignant tumours is steadily increasing. These antigens exist in considerable numbers, but, so far with few exceptions, only their presence can be demonstrated by certain methods; to isolate and identify them has not yet been possible. These antigens are, therefore, suitable not so much for the primary diagnosis, but rather, like the carcinoembryonic antigen, the tissue-polypeptide antigen or the alpha-feto-protein, for assessing the success of treatment. Active immunization has recently received a fresh impulse by the use of the enzyme neuraminidase, derived from Vibrio cholerae, in the treatment of tumour cells. There is no passive specific immunotherapy in human cancer. As to specific active immunotherapy BCG, Corynebacterium parvum and preparations of these and other micro-organisms together with polynucleotides, levamisol, statolon, tilorone have been employed. Although the results are not uniform they are promising. Attempts at cellular transfer of immunity are not very encouraging. It should be emphasized that the findings apply to human cancer. Experimental studies have produced very interesting results.

Animals↗