bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interaction of sertraline and moclobemide induces the serotonin syndrome in the rat
Authors: Castle Craig , Jablonski Paula , Thomson Graeme , Taylor James , Kambourakis Anthony , Troupakis Steven
Published: August 2010

Objective

To determine if sertraline, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, and moclobemide, a reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase, are more likely to induce serious side effects when given to rats in combination than each of the drugs administered alone.

Methods

Rats were given intraperitoneal injections of one of sertraline, moclobemide, or sertraline plus moclobemide in ratios varying from 0.5:1 to 1:0.5, or solvent alone. The animals were then observed for signs of the serotonin behavioural syndrome and temperature elevation.

Results

Rats given either drug singly developed mild behavioural changes but there were no statistically significant differences from the control group. Those given drug combinations developed severe serotonin syndromes with marked behavioural changes, convulsions and hyperthermia. The effects on behaviour and temperature were significant when compared to the control group (p<0.01). Five of the six rats given full doses of both drugs either died or had to be killed prematurely in the observation period.

Conclusion

The simultaneous administration of sertraline and moclobemide has the potential to induce a severe serotonin syndrome and these drugs should not be prescribed together.
Evidence based medicine and practice guidelines for management of fever without source in young children
Authors: Smith Brendon
Published: August 2010

Objective

To assess the advantages and disadvantages of implementation of published practice guidelines’ advocating administration of antibiotics to children aged 3–36 months having high fever without apparent focus of infection.

Method

Studies were identified by Medline search, index search of major paediatric journals, The Cochrane Library, Emergency Medicine Abstracts and from citations in review articles. All relevant studies were included.

Results

The Practice Guidelines1 are based on consensus of expert opinion and not based solely on evidence. The conclusions of meta‐analyses supporting the Guidelines were not confirmed by subsequent large randomised controlled clinical trials. Original studies and reviews interpreted data in a manner that exaggerated the proposed benefit of giving ceftriaxone. Areas not adequately addressed in the Guidelines are the importance and value of clinical evaluation, adverse effects of intervention, antibiotic resistance, applicability to children vaccinated against H. influenzae type b, applicability to racial groups at lower risk of S. pneumoniae infection and meningitis than the study population, cost, patient acceptance of interventions and treatment advocated, and outcome rather than incidence of focal infection and meningitis.

Conclusions

Available evidence does not indicate a convincing benefit from giving parenteral or oral antibiotics empirically compared to no antibiotic for children aged 3–36 months presenting with high fever without apparent source. Novel approaches to better quantify risk of adverse outcome in a heterogeneous population at risk of serious infection are discussed.
The roles of the laryngeal mask airway in emergency medicine
Authors: Taylor Simon , Berry Alison
Published: August 2010

The laryngeal mask airway has a well established place in routine anaesthetic practice. Its potential role in emergency medicine is hampered by its failure to protect the airway from aspiration and to form a high pressure seal for controlled ventilation but supported by its ease of placement. This review discusses the uses of the laryngeal mask airway in the emergency situation.

The laryngeal mask airway has a role as an alternative to the face mask in resuscitation. It has roles as an alternative airway when intubation has failed and as an aid to difficult intubation. In the prehospital setting, an additional specific indication for its use may be when access to a patient is limited making tracheal intubation impossible.

Two recent modifications of the laryngeal mask airway are described. The intubating laryngeal mask airway is specifically designed for the difficult airway and the disposable laryngeal mask airway (Unique™) is undergoing trials in the UK for use by paramedical staff. The potential use of the intubating laryngeal mask airway in the emergency setting is discussed.
Slamdancing, crowd surfing and moshing: new mechanisms of injury in the 90s
Authors: Marneros Leo
Published: August 2010

Nineteen cases of injuries sustained during a rock concert and which necessitated presentation to the Emergency Department at the Gold Coast Hospital are reviewed. Eleven of these injuries were sustained by ‘crowd surfing’. The mechanism of injury was usually related to a fall, including two patients who suffered injuries from ‘crowd surfers’ falling onto them.

This study documents a new form of ‘dance’ and its consequences in terms of physical injury. Most injuries involved the extremities, but head and spinal injuries also occurred. Assaults formed the bulk of other presentations.

The study brings attention to new mechanisms by which rock concert crowds can be injured, and may be useful in promoting advocacy and policy making for this increasing, yet preventable, problem.
The Indigenisation of Psychology: Birth of a New Science or Rekindling of an Old One?
Authors: Díaz‐Loving Rolando
Published: August 2010

Les décennies récentes ont été témoins de crises récurrentes au sein même de la tradition de psychologie expérimental Euro‐Méso‐Nord Américaine et, l'extérieur, des critiques lui ont été addressées. Les problèmes relèvent, d'une part, du manque de sensibilityé aux cultures et écosystèmes et, d'autre part, de la généralisation sans discrimination des résultats à travers des cadres comportementaux. Basées sur la construction d'une nouvelle science qui intègre les modeles comportementaux et culturels, des réponses sont proposées à ce qui constitue les attributs humains universels et idéosyncra‐siques et les comportements sociaux. l'indigenisation de la psychologie en général et de l'ethnopsychologie mexicaine en particulier sont présentées comme exemples de solution à la stagnation du courant principal fondé de manière ethnocentrique.

Recent decades have witnessed recurring crises within, and criticism from outside, the Euro‐Meso‐North‐American scientific psychological tradition. The problems are traceable to the lack of cultural and ecosystemic sensitivity on the one hand, and an attempt to indiscriminately generalise findings across behavioural settings, on the other. Based on the construction of a new science, which integrates the behavioural and cultural models, answers are offered to the question of what constitutes universal and idiosyncratic human attributes and social behaviours. The indigenisation of psychology in general and Mexican ethnopsychology in particular are offered as examples of solutions to the stagnation of the ethnocentrically based mainstream.
Isolation and characterization of 11 polymorphic microsatellite loci in the whitegirdled goby (Pterogobius zonoleucus) and cross‐species amplification in the serpentine goby (P. elapoides)
Authors: NOHARA K. , KOKITA T. , TOMINAGA O. , SEIKAI T.
Published: August 2010

Eleven polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed from a (CA)n‐enrichment library of the whitegirdled goby (Pterogobius zonoleucus). Polymorphism at these loci ranged from 2 to 12 alleles, and observed and expected heterozygosities from 0.05 to 0.90 and from 0.05 and 0.86, respectively. All loci conformed to Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, with no significant linkage disequilibrium between all locus pairs. Cross‐species amplification tests were successful in P. elapoides, and most loci were polymorphic. These microsatellite markers will be useful in further population genetic studies of both species.
Noradrenaline and angiotensin II modify vascular prostanoid release in fructose‐fed hypertensive rats
Authors: Puyó A. M. , Mayer M. A. , Giorgi S. , Gómez A. H. , Peredo H. A.
Published: August 2010

1 A fructose‐enriched diet induces hypertension, metabolic alterations and insulin resistance in rats, resembling human metabolic syndrome. Previously, we found that prostanoid production was altered in fructose‐fed rats.

2 This study analysed the effects of incubation with noradrenaline (NA) and angiotensin II (Ang II) on prostanoid release in mesenteric vascular beds from control and fructose‐fed rats. Animals which received fructose solution (10% w/v) for 22 weeks showed higher systolic blood pressure and triglyceridaemia.

3 In controls, NA increased 6‐keto‐prostaglandin (PG) F1α (prostacyclin metabolite) and thromboxane (TX) production. Ang II increased only TX release. In fructose‐fed animals, NA increased 6‐keto‐PG F1α and TX. PGF2α (vasoconstrictor) was also elevated. Ang II also increased PGF2α and PGE2 levels.

4 In conclusion, in fructose rats Ang II in vitro stimulates a vasoconstrictor prostanoid not stimulated in controls. This could be related to the observed in vivo blood pressure increase. In fructose‐fed animals, NA and Ang II also augment vasodilator prostanoids, suggesting a compensatory mechanism because of long‐term hypertension.
The Impact of Health Plan Delivery System Organization on Clinical Quality and Patient Satisfaction
Authors: Gillies Robin R. , Chenok Kate Eresian , Shortell Stephen M. , Pawlson Gregory , Wimbush Julian J.
Published: August 2010

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which measures of health plan clinical performance and measures of patient perceptions of care are associated with health plan organizational characteristics, including the percentage of care provided based on a group or staff model delivery system, for‐profit (tax) status, and affiliation with a national managed care firm.

Data Sources. Data describing health plans on region, age of health plan, for‐profit status, affiliation with a national managed care firm, percentage of Medicare business, total enrollment, ratio of primary care physicians to specialists, HMO penetration, and form of health care delivery system (e.g., IPA, network, mixed, staff, group) were obtained from InterStudy. Clinical performance measures for women's health screening rates, child and adolescent immunization rates, heart disease screening rates, diabetes screening rates, and smoking cessation were developed from HEDIS® data. Measures of patient perceptions of care are obtained from CAHPS® survey data submitted as Healthplan Employer Data and Information Set, Consumer Assessment of Health Plans 2.0 H.

Study Design. Multivariate regression cross‐sectional analysis of 272 health plans was used to evaluate the relationship of health plan characteristics with measures of clinical performance and patient perceptions of care.

Principal Findings. The form of delivery system, measured by percent of care delivered by staff and group model systems, is significantly related (p≤.05) with four of the five clinical performance indices but none of the three satisfaction performance indices. Other variables significantly associated with performance were being geographically located in the Northeast, having nonprofit status, and for patient satisfaction, not being part of a larger insurance company.

Conclusions. These comparative results provide evidence suggesting that the type of delivery system used by health plans is related to many clinical performance measures but is not related to patient perceptions of care. These findings underscore the importance of the form of the delivery system and the need for further inquiry that examines the relationship between organizational form and performance.
The Everglades Ecosystem and the Politics of Nature
Authors: OGDEN LAURA
Published: August 2010

In this article, I offer an institutional history of the ecosystem concept, tracing shifts in its meaning and application as it has become the key organizing principle for the Everglades restoration program in Florida. Two institutional forms are analyzed here: (1) quasi‐governmental organizations, a term I use to describe interagency science collaboratives and community stakeholder organizations, and (2) government bureaucracies, which are the administrative agencies tasked with Everglades restoration planning and implementation. In analyzing these knowledge trajectories, I both document the complex networks of relations that facilitate the ecosystem's emergence as an object of knowledge and examine the bureaucratic claims to authority that circumscribe the ecosystem's transformation into policy.
The Low‐Wage Conservationist: Biodiversity and Perversities of Value in Madagascar
Authors: Sodikoff Genese
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACT In the early 1990s, donors began to implement “integrated conservation and development projects” (ICDPs) in Madagascar to stem deforestation, develop ecotourism, and promote forest conservation practices in rural areas. ICDPs recruited agrarian labor to groom and police parks and disseminate rules. In this article, I present a Marxian analysis of biodiversity's value in the global north, focusing on the role of manual workers in a Biosphere Reserve. I argue that ICDP's reliance on cheap local labor has maintained the historical interdependency of “slash‐and‐burn” agriculture, wage work, and forest conservation. By facilitating the discovery of species while unintentionally perpetuating the conditions of habitat endangerment, the conservation labor process creates forms of rain forest value.
Precarious Subjects: Anticipating Neoliberalism in Northern Italy's Workplace
Authors: Molé Noelle J.
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACT In Italy, the termprecarizzazione(precarious‐ization) refers to the process of implementing neoliberal policies to transition toward a semipermanent and privatized labor regime but also to the normalization of psychic uncertainty and hypervigilance of worker‐citizens. In this article, I examine “precarious workers” and a psychological harassment called “mobbing,” specifically, and suggest that these practices of labor exclusion of a transitional work regime produce emergent subjectivities through an analytics of anticipation. I illustrate the social, political, and psychic effects of imagining neoliberalism, as Italians do in this context, not as complete but, rather, as a metadiscursive object of emotionally charged apprehension and anticipation.
A Moment Dead, a Moment Alive: How a Situational Personhood Emerges in the Vegetative State in an Israeli Hospital Unit
Authors: Bird‐David Nurit , Israeli Tal
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACT  Here we address the personhood of patients in a permanent vegetative state (PVS), who fall outside categories of “alive” or “dead” and “subject” or “object.” Drawing on fieldwork in an Israeli hospital, we examine multiple and shifting approaches to PVS patients, which are articulated in the course of caring for and living with them. We argue that, alongside the institutional definition of these patients as being in a PVS, which, as Kaufman showed, evokes irresolvable confusion as to their ontological nature, there appear and disappear other senses of their personhood. Allying with other studies of cognitively impaired patients (e.g., those with dementia and Alzheimer's), we explore this relational person‐concept while demonstrating its situational nature. We analyze patients’ admission to the hospital, showing how their essentialistic personhood is “emptied” and how and when their fluid, relational personhood appears and disappears, further showing how this personhood is reified by imagined life stories.
Producing Absolute Truth: CSI Science as Wishful Thinking
Authors: Kruse Corinna
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACT  Forensic science has come to be assigned an important role in contemporary crime fiction. In this article, I analyze the cultural repertoire of forensic science conveyed by the popular television show Crime Scene Investigation (CSI). I argue that CSI science, in delivering an absolute “truth” about how and by whom crimes have been committed, is equated with justice, effectively superseding nonfictional forensic science as well as nonfictional judicature as a whole. Thus, CSI as a cultural performance adds to the mediascape a repertoire of wishful‐thinking science with which to think about perceptions of and desires for crime and justice in nonfictional society. This repertoire seems to be considered relevant enough to nonfictional society to cause concern about the judicial system, as expressed in discussions of the so‐called “CSI effect.”
Glandular elements around the intrahepatic bile ducts in man; their morphology and distribution in normal livers
Authors: Terada Tadashi , Nakanuma Yasuni , Ohta Goroku
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACT— The morphology and distribution of the glandular elements around the intrahepatic bile ducts, hitherto poorly described, were examined in autopsied human livers with the aid of postmortem cholangiographs. The glands could be divided into intramural and extramural. The former were small in number, scattered within the bile duct walls, and were simple tubular mucous glands. The latter were more abundant, located in the periductal connective tissue, and were branched tubuloalveolar seromucous glands. Serial section observations revealed that neither gland communicated with the hepatic parenchyma, and the extramural glands drained into the large bile duct lumina via the conduits. The mucous cells of both glands contained neutral, carboxylated and sulfated glycoproteins. The extramural glands were distributed from the hepatic to the segment ducts in almost all livers, and were also discerned around the area ducts in two‐fifths of the livers. The glands seemed to decrease in number as the bile ducts became more branched.
QUANTITATIVE STUDIES OF DIRECT AND INDIRECT IMMUNOFLUORESCENT STAINING OF SALMONELLA BACTERIA
Authors: KARLSSON K.‐A. , THORE A. , KUDYNOWSKI J.
Published: August 2010

Salmonella bacteria were stained with serial dilutions of anti‐Salmonella conjugates of different F/P ratios and the staining intensity was measured quantitatively in an ultramicrofluorometer. In any given dilution of the conjugates, a stronger fluorescence was obtained with the more highly labelled conjugates. The dependence of fluorescence intensity on F/P ratio varied with the dilution of the conjugate. Similar results were obtained by the indirect immunofluorescence method. In four bacterial systems the direct and indirect immunofluorescent staining methods were compared quantitatively. The indirect method was 5 to 30 times more sensitive than the direct comparing the last dilutions giving a positive reaction by visual observations. The standard deviation of the intensity values of the stained bacterial cells was between 10 and 40 per cent of the mean. Different sources of variation in the quantitative measurement technique are discussed.
STUDIES ON THE PATHOGENICITY FOR RAT OF A MYCOPLASMA ISOLATED FROM RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Authors: Jansson Elli , Reinius Saara , Rimaila‐Pärnänen Eija , Tuuri Sirkka
Published: August 2010

The pathogenicity for rat of M. arthritidis strain Jasmin and strain 20‐P from rheumatoid synovial tissue were studied. Only strain Jasmin produced signs of illness in four of the 12 rats infected. A mycoplasma was isolated from three tissue specimens. Ten of the 48 rats investigated showed mycoplasma antibodies. Five rats showed minor inflammatory changes in the distal joints of the limbs. The failure to induce arthritic symptoms in rats inoculated with strain 20‐P from rheumatoid arthritis may be due to its 10‐year long storage outside the animal host.
DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN PSEUDOMONAS CEPACIA AND PSEUDOMONAS PSEUDOMALLEI IN CLINICAL BACTERIOLOGY
Authors: BREMMELGAARD ANNIE
Published: August 2010

If only conventional laboratory tests are used, the widely occurring species Pseudomonas cepacia may, due to its variability, sometimes be difficult to differentiate from the dangerous pathogen Pseudomonas pseudomallei. In a comparative study using fresh isolates it is shown that animal inoculation seems to be a useful additional method in the differentiation. Also the determination of the ability to utilize selected carbon sources such as starch, hydroxybenzoate and uracil is helpful in reaching a correct identification.
THE OCCURRENCE OF TWITCHING MOTILITY AMONG GRAM‐NEGATIVE BACTERIA
Authors: HENRICHSEN JøRGEN
Published: August 2010

Almost 1000 strains representing well above 50 different species or groups of gram‐negative bacteria were examined for twitching motility. This kind of motility was mainly found in strictly aerobic cocci and rods (viz. Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Moraxella spp., Neisseria gonorrhoeae, N. meningitidis, Pseudomonas spp., phenon 3 of Thornley that is closely related to Acinetobacter, and marine, yellow‐pigmented rods), but also in the facultative Eikenella corrodens and in anaerobic strains presumptively identified as “Bacteroides corrodens” earlier. Strains of species known to possess polar fimbriae were shown to exhibit twitching motility. None of the strains of species known to possess peritrichously arranged fimbriae exhibited twitching motility.
THE INFLUENCE OF CHANGES IN THE ENVIRONMENT ON TWITCHING MOTILITY
Authors: HENRICHSEN JØRGEN
Published: August 2010

By examining medium composition and cultural conditions quantitatively it was possible to define conditions suitable to bring twitching motility about. Such conditions include the use of freshly poured, relatively thick and only slightly dried plates of a dilute medium in which the agar concentration is not too high. Incubation should take place in a humid atmosphere. In fact, everything points to the humidity as a factor of the utmost importance. Using strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, it was found that a pH value of the medium adjusted to 9.0 enhances twitching motility. Spreading growth was not produced if agarose was applied instead of ordinary agars. Twitching motility was inhibited by a number of different chlorides, potassium nitrate, Tween 80 and sodium taurocholate. Possible interpretations of these observations are discussed.
A STUDY OF THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE BUFFALO POX VIRUS
Authors: BLOCH BUCHARDT , LAL SHEO MOHAN
Published: August 2010

Buffalo pox virus (strain BP 4) has been studied by electron microscopy of sections of infected chorioallantoic membrane cells. The ultrastructure of the virus has been described and compared with the ultrastructure of vaccinia virus. No differences between the two viruses were found. In relation to the ways of release two forms of mature virions have been described. These are probably analogous to the previously described C‐ and M‐form of vaccinia.
STUDIES ON POLYSACCHARIDE C OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS EPIDERMIDIS
Authors: JOHNSEN GRETHE SKOGE , GROV A. , OEDING P.
Published: August 2010

The antigenic properties of polysaccharide C (poly C) of S. epidermidis strongly support the analytical indications that it is an N‐acetylglucosaminylglycerol teichoic acid with 1:3‐phosphodiester linkages. The major antigenic determinant is N‐acetylglucosamine, predominantly present in the β‐configuration. Also anti‐glycerophosphate antibodies are produced, apparently dependent on the degree of glycosylation. Purified poly C was unable to sensitize either normal or tanned sheep erythrocytes for agglutination in antisera.
THE SEROLOGY OF PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA ANALYSED BY MEANS OF QUANTITATIVE IMMUNOELECTROPHORETIC METHODS
Authors: HØIBY NIELS
Published: August 2010

Serologic cross‐reactions between 26 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa representing 13 O groups were studied by various quantitative immunoelectrophoretic techniques. As reference system was used a polyvalent Ps. aeruginosa antigen and a corresponding rabbit antiserum. Fifty‐one (93 per cent) of the 55 Ps. aeruginosa antigens in the reference system were present in all the strains and corresponding antibodies in the reference system could be completely absorbed by all the strains. Complete cross‐reactivity was also found between antigens of the reference system and 3 of the 4 antigens present only in some of the strains. The last of the 4 antigens not present in all the strains could only absorb part of the corresponding antibodies in the reference system. Absorption experiments with whole heat‐killed bacteria indicate that this antigen is related to the O group antigens of Ps. aeruginosa. None of the antigens of the reference system were related to the mucoid substance produced by some strains of this bacterium.
PURINE METABOLISM IN NEISSERIA MENINGITIDIS
Authors: JYSSUM SIDSEL
Published: August 2010

Whole cells of Neisseria meningitidis have been found to utilize exogenous radioactive hypoxanthine, guanine and xanthine. When hypoxanthine was the precursor, the pools of both the adenine and the guanine 5′‐ribonucleotides were labelled. Guanine and xanthine were utilized with labelling of the pool of the guanine 5′‐ribonucleotides only. Crude extracts from N. meningitidis were found to have activities corresponding to hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl‐transferase (EC 2.4.2.8.) and another phosphoribosyltransferase which seems to exhibit specificity for guanine and xanthine. Crude extracts phosphorylated guanosine 5′‐monophosphate to guanosine 5′‐triphosphate in the presence of adenosine 5′‐triphosphate (ATP) and MgCl2.
EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF THE VELVET PAD RINSE TECHNIQUE AS A MICROBIOLOGICAL SAMPLING METHOD
Authors: RAAHAVE D.
Published: August 2010

The use of velvet pads glued to aluminium foil has been evaluated as a microbiological sampling method in quantitative bacterial recovery experiments, and the efficiency and precision have been determined. The velvet pad uptake of Staphylococcus epidermidis was 0.93 (or 93 per cent) after sampling from a test surface on blood agar, while the release by subsequent imprinting on blood agar was 0.02, the median effective transfer being 0.02. A mechanical rinse and shake procedure of the velvet pad in 0.9 per cent saline followed by centrifugation and surface plating significantly increased the median release to 0.66, the median effective transfer being 0.61. There was no difference in uptake, release and effective transfer between a pure culture of S. epidermidis and a mixed culture of S. epidermidis and Escherichia coli. Storage of the velvet pad in 0.9 per cent saline for 2 h at room temperature did not influence bacterial recovery significantly, in contrast to a significant decrease after storage in saline for 24 h or storage in a dry Petri dish for 2 h. The high and fairly constant efficiency of bacterial recovery of the velvet pad rinse technique suggests that it could be employed clinically.
THE ULTRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE MACROGAMETE AND FORMATION OF THE OOCYST WALL OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII
Authors: FERGUSON D. J. P. , HUTCHISON W. M. , SIIM J. CHR.
Published: August 2010

The macrogametes of Toxoplasma gondii develop within the epithelial cells of the cat ileum. As they develop the nucleus enlarges and dense patches of chromatin which were present in the nucleoplasm, disappear. Polysaccharide granules and lipid globules appear in the cytoplasm and increase in number during development. The wall‐forming bodies of Type I (WFB I) appear before the wall‐forming bodies of Type II (WFB II); WFB I are smaller, more osmiophilic and more numerous than the WFB II. The WFB I appear to form from vesicles produced by the smooth endoplasmic reticulum, and the WFB II form within the lacunae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Double membraned vacuoles appear to form from the nuclear membranes but the function of these is unknown. Throughout development the macrogamete retains a normal pellicle which possesses numerous micropores. The first evidence of oocyst wall formation is the appearance of participate matter in the parasitophorous vacuole which precipitates to form Layer 1 of the oocyst wall. Layers 2 and 3 are unit membranes which form between Layer 1 and the pellicle. During this development the organism has an organelle complement similar to that of the macrogamete. Layers 4 and 5 form between Layer 3 and the pellicle. Layer 4 is osmiophilic and its formation is accompanied by the disappearance of WFB I. Layer 5 is less osmiophilic than Layer 4 and its formation is accompanied by the disappearance of WFB II. The two innermost layers (Layers 4 &5) in the oocyst wall of Toxoplasma are similar to those found in Isospora spp. and Eimeria spp.. Toxoplasma seems to be unusual in that, firstly, it possesses an additional 3 layers and, secondly, all 5 layers are formed outside the pellicle of the original macrogamete.
ON THE FUNCTION OF THE POLYPEPTIDE ANTIBIOTIC BACITRACIN IN THE PRODUCER STRAIN BACILLUS LICHENIFORMIS
Authors: HAAVIK HANS I.
Published: August 2010

The growth of the bacitracin producing strain Bacillus licheniformis AL and the bacitracinnegative mutant SB 319 have been compared at different cultural conditions. Concentrations of the metal chelator EDTA which strongly inhibited the growth of the non‐producer only slightly inhibited the growth of the bacitracin producer. The inhibitory effect of EDTA upon SB 319 was reversed by the addition of excess manganese(II)ions, cobalt(II)ions, or zinc(II)ions to the culture. The addition of several other ions had no such effect. The addition of bacitracin to the EDTA inhibited mutant also promoted growth. When the non‐producer was mutated back to bacitracin production, the inhibitory effect of EDTA was lost. It is suggested that bacitracin may normally promote the uptake of several trace metals during growth of the producer organism.
THE SEROLOGY OF BORDETELLA BRONCHISEPTICA ISOLATED FROM PIGS COMPARED WITH STRAINS FROM OTHER ANIMAL SPECIES
Authors: PEDERSEN KNUD BØRGE
Published: August 2010

The serology of freshly isolated strains of Bordetella bronchiseptica from pigs and some other animal species was studied by the agglutination and agglutinin absorption tests. Differentiation was made between heat stable O‐antigens and heat labile K‐antigens. All the strains examined contained a common O‐antigen (1). In addition, three heat stable antigens were detected. The heat labile antigens of freshly isolated strains were found to be very different. The major antigens 2 and 3 were not found in combination. A common weak K‐antigen (1) was found in all strains. The pig strains were found to be serologically identical (0 1, 2; K 1, 2). The same serotype was isolated from a rabbit. Another rabbit strain was found to be similar to a strain isolated from an SPF‐rat (O 1, 3; K 1, 3, 4). The antigenic pattern found in two cat strains was O 1, 3; K 1, 3. Typing of freshly isolated strains from pigs with monospecific factor sera confirmed that all the strains so far examined were serologically identical. This uniform serology hampers epidemiological studies of porcine bordetellosis by antigenic analysis. The occurrence of serologically different serotypes of B. bronchiseptica is of significance in the diagnostic bacteriology since the final diagnosis must be confirmed by a serological test.
A COMPARISON OF ANTIGENIC STRUCTURE AND PHAGE PATTERN WITH BIOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS STRAINS ISOLATED FROM SHEEP
Authors: Oeding P. , Hájek V. , Maršálek E.
Published: August 2010

Of 84 Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from the anterior nares of healthy sheep and from the udders of ewes suffering from purulent mastitis the 89 per cent belonging to the C biotype contained agglutinogen h2 as well as polysaccharide Aβ. Ninety‐five per cent of the C biotype strains were lysed by the bovine phage 78, the human phage set giving only weak reactions at RTD X 100. Two pigment‐negative deficit variants as well as three unclassified strains gave similar results while three A biotype strains and one E biotype strain were definitely different. The close correlation between biochemistry, serology and phage typing substantiates the practical usefulness of the subdivision of S. aureus into biotypes.
GROUPING OF BETA‐HAEMOLYTIC STREPTOCOCCI BY USING COAGGLUTINATION, PRECIPITATION OR BACITRACIN SENSITIVITY
Authors: Arvilommi Heikki
Published: August 2010

This study was made to compare coagglutination to precipitin test in grouping beta‐haemolytic streptococci from clinical specimens and to investigate the accuracy of the bacitracin test in identification of group A streptococci. Results of grouping 126 strains with coagglutination and precipitation were identical in all except two cases. These two strains were nongroupable with precipitation but appeared as group B and C by coagglutination. When the distribution of group A, B, C and G streptococci in various clinical sources was investigated it was found that group B strains were the most frequently (41 per cent) isolated streptococci and even in isolates from pharyngeal swabs their proportion was 33 per cent. The accuracy of the bacitracin test in identification of group A streptococci was unsatisfactory as 26/62 (42 per cent) strains reported as group A by using this test were in fact group B, C or G streptococci. One of the reasons for this high number of false positives appeared to be the medium used for the preparation of the blood agar plates. In view of the frequent occurrence of non‐A‐streptococci in clinical specimens and high incidence of false positive in the bacitracin test it is suggested that this test should be replaced by a more efficient method of serological grouping.
THE TAXONOMY OF HAEMOPHILI ISOLATED FROM CONJUNCTIVAE
Authors: Kilian M. , Mordhorst C.‐H. , Dawson C. R. , Lautrop H.
Published: August 2010

The paper provides a description of 112 Haemophilus strains isolated from cases of conjunctivitis in Egypt, Tunisia, Denmark, and the U.S.A., and aims at a clarification of the taxonomy of haemophili implicated in conjunctivitis. Although the study confirms the diversity of haemophili which can be isolated from inflamed conjunctivae, the vast majority of strains could be assigned to either biotype II or III of H. influenzae. Thirteen strains possessed all the characteristics of the Koch‐Weeks bacillus. However, judged by the findings the recognition of the Koch‐Weeks bacillus as a separate species does not seem tenable. It is suggested that this organism is considered a haemagglutinating variety of H. influenzae biotype III. The study indicates that the haemagglutinating ability per se, which can be found in strains of several taxa of Haemophilus, is associated with a special pathogenic potential.
IDENTIFICATION OF NEISSERIA GONORRHOEAE IN CULTURES FROM TONSILLO‐PHARYNGEAL SPECIMENS BY MEANS OF A SLIDE CO‐AGGLUTINATION TEST (PHADEBACT® GONOCOCCUS TEST)
Authors: Menck Henrik
Published: August 2010

A slide co‐agglutination test (Phadebact® Gonococcus Test) for the serological identification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae was assessed on gonococcal‐like, oxidase positive colonies from 120 cultures, originating from about 6,500 consecutive tonsillo‐pharyngeal specimens received at the Neisseria Department, Statens Seruminstitut. The test was performed after subculture on a serum‐free medium, since this procedure was found to reduce the number of strains showing inconclusive reactions (pseudo co‐agglutination). If this pseudo co‐agglutination does occur, however, the test can be repeated with the addition of trypsin to the test system. This causes the previously inconclusive reactions to be reverted to clearly positive reactions in the case of gonococci, and to clearly negative reactions in more than half of the previously inconclusive reactions with other bacterial strains. The results obtained by the Phadebact Gonococcus Test were compared with those obtained by bacteriological identification procedures. Fifty‐six of the 120 cultures examined contained gonococci, and all strains were identified by the slide co‐agglutination test (five strains with the addition of trypsin). The remaining 64 cultures were negative or exhibited consistently pseudo co‐agglutination (eight strains). The specificity and sensitivity of the reagent was further confirmed by the examination of 53 strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and 50 strains representing Neisseria species commonly occurring in tonsillo‐pharyngeal specimens. The Phadebact Gonococcus Test was considered to be a reliable alternative to routine bacteriological identification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
THE DIAGNOSTIC VALUE OF DETERMINATION OF IgM ANTIBODIES AGAINST MYCOPLASMA PNEUMONIAE BY THE INDIRECT IMMUNOFLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TEST
Authors: Skaug Kjell , Eng Jan , Örstavik Ivar , Haug Kari W.
Published: August 2010

The indirect fluorescent antibody technique for specific IgM and IgG antibodies was applied to paired sera from 33 patients with a current M. pneumoniae infection, along with the complement fixation test. A roughly parallel increase in antibody titres in all the three tests was observed; the ratio of IgM/IgG titres was, however, higher in patients below 20 years of age than in older patients. Rises in antibody titres were regularly observed in spite of the fact that most of the patients were treated with tetracycline or erythromycin during the acute phase of the disease. Serum specimens from 15 other patients lacking clinical data of a recent M. pneumoniae infection, but with stationary complement fixation titres, all showed IgG antibodies with stationary titres and, with the exception of three patients, a negative IgM fluorescent antibody test. Sera from 20 individuals lacking complement fixing antibodies were also without demonstrable IgG and IgM antibodies. Sampling of serum from 9 of the pneumonia patients was repeated. The last IgM positive sample was collected up to six months after onset of the disease and all were found to be negative in the IgM test 8 to 10 months after onset of the illness in these treated patients. The implications of these findings for the serological diagnosis of M. pneumoniae infections are discussed.
AMPICILLIN SENSITIVITY AND BIOTYPES OF RECENT DANISH ISOLATES OF HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE
Authors: Bruun Brita , Friis‐Møller Alice
Published: August 2010

Among 148 strains of Haemophilus influenzae isolated in 1975 from different localities in Denmark, none was found to be resistant to ampicillin. A majority of the strains belonged to bio‐types I, II and III and the presence of a partial correlation between biotype and origin was confirmed.
THE BACTERICIDAL ACTION OF BENZOIC ACID AND SODIUM ACETATE ON THE GRAM‐NEGATIVE FLORA OF DIALYSIS FLUID
Authors: Kolmos Hans Jørn
Published: August 2010

Benzoic acid in concentrations from 0.18 per cent and upwards exerted a bactericidal action on the gram‐negative flora of dialysis fluid at pH 4.75 in vitro. At a concentration of 0.32 per cent, a reduction of 105 was obtained within 24 hours. Sulphonamide resistance did not affect the bactericidal action. The killing effect was hardly more than directly proportional to the concentration of benzoic acid. Increasing inoculum decreased the bactericidal effect. Therefore, benzoic acid should not be used as an artificial kidney disinfectant when the concentration of microorganisms exceeded 105.5/0.1 ml.
THE EFFECT OF ASCORBIC ACID ON PRODUCTION OF HUMAN INTERFERON AND THE ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY IN VITRO
Authors: Dahl Helen , Degré Miklos
Published: August 2010

The effects of ascorbic acid on interferon production and on the antiviral effect of interferon in cultures of human cells were investigated. Ascorbic acid enhanced the interferon levels produced by human embryo skin and human embryo lung fibroblasts, induced by Newcastle disease virus and by polyinosinic‐polycytidylic acid. The same concentrations of ascorbic acid had no effect on interferon production in two lymphoblastoid cell lines induced by Sendai virus. Leucocyte interferon assayed in lung fibroblasts titrated 0.2–0.3 log10 units higher in the presence of 5 μg ascorbic acid than in the absence of the latter.
ISOLATION OF YERSINIA ENTEROCOLITICA FROM DANISH SWINE AND DOGS
Authors: Pedersen Knud Børge
Published: August 2010

Seventeen strains of Yersinia enterocolitica were isolated on examination of the caecal contents from 100 bacon pigs at slaughter. In another material consisting of 222 pigs with various diseases, the bacterium was found in 12 cases. Three out of 40 dogs were positive for the bacterium. Seven of the porcine and one of the canine strains belonged to serotype O 3, which is a human pathogen.
A SIMPLE PROCEDURE FOR THE PURIFICATION OF STAPHYLOCOCCAL α‐TOXIN
Authors: Dalen A. B.
Published: August 2010

Staphylococcal α‐toxin was produced in a fluid medium based on acid hydrolysed casein using strain Wood 46. α‐Toxin and several other proteins were precipitated from bacteria‐free culture supernatants by heating at 60° C for 20 min. The process was influenced by the pH of the solution. The toxin was completely inactivated and the precipitate contained a number of proteins if the pH of the solution was adjusted to 4.0–5.0. Heat precipitation of solutions having a pH of 6.0–7.0‐ resulted in a partial inactivation of α‐toxin. The precipitates at this pH contained less of the additional proteins and had higher relative amounts of α‐toxin than precipitates formed at a lower pH. The precipitate was dissolved in 8 M urea with the resultant activation of the haemolysin. Pure α‐toxin with a molecular weight of 39,000 was obtained by electrophoresis in 8 M urea at pH 8.6 in ordinary tubes for polyacrylamide electrophoresis. The separation time was 45 min. The minor component of α‐toxin with a pI of 7.4 could be demonstrated by the same method. A non‐haemolytic protein with a molecular weight of 27,500 which existed in at least two charged forms, was shown to have an antigenic relationship to the toxin with a molecular weight of 39,000.
THE HAEMOLYTIC ACTIVITY OF HAEMOPHILUS SPECIES
Authors: Kilian Mognis
Published: August 2010

The importance of the species of blood employed for detection of haemolysis in seventy‐seven Haemophilus strains of human and porcine origin was studied. Significant differences in the visibility of haemolytic zones obtained on the different blood agar media were observed. In decreasing order, the suitability of the species of blood was: calf, sheep, human, rabbit, poultry and horse blood. On plates containing washed sheep or calf red cells the haemolysin of all 36 strains of Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae acted synergistically with the β‐toxin of the Staphylococcus aureus strain used as “feeder strain”, giving rise to a lytic phenomenon resembling the CAMP reaction.
EFFECT OF ANTIBIOTICS ON INTERFERON PRODUCTION IN MICE
Authors: Rollag Halvor , Degré Miklos
Published: August 2010

Neomycin, chloramphenicol, gentamycin, rifampicin and oxytetracycline were tested for their influence on virusinduced interferon (IF) production in mice. Repeated intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of antibiotics were given to produce significant serum concentrations during the time of IF production, induced by i.p. injections of Newcastle disease virus (NDV). IF titres in antibiotic‐treated mice determined 6 hours after induction were compared to titres in control mice given NDV only. The IF production was not significantly modified in most of the antibiotic treated mice. Only the highest dose of chloramphenicol (2500 μg/mouse) appeared to cause a reduction in IF production (p<0.10). Addition of antibiotics in vitro did not alter the antiviral titres of IF.
ACQUIRED RESISTANCE AGAINST LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES IN RED MICE AND CF1 MICE IMMUNIZED WITH STRAINS OF BCG OR MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS
Authors: Jespersen Andr.
Published: August 2010

Groups of red mice and CF1 mice immunized intravenously with varying doses of a weak or a strong strain of BCG or a strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were challenged 3 weeks after immunization with 0.1 or 0.2 ml 10‐2Listeria monocytogenes injected intravenously, simultaneously with a non‐immunized control group. The acquired resistance was determined on the basis of the number of survivors and the survival times of the animals that died spontaneously. In the red mice, the strong BCG strain induced a definitely higher resistance than the weak strain, and the M. tuberculosis strain a slightly higher resistance than the BCG strains. As in red mice, the resistance of CF1 mice was higher in animals immunized with M. tuberculosis than in those immunized with the BCG strains. However, the difference in the survival times of mice immunized with the two strains of BCG was much less than in red mice, and was only clearly significant as regards one of the doses used. The relationship between the virulence of a mycobacterial strain and its ability to induce acquired resistance against an infection with listeria or against an infection with virulent tubercle bacilli is discussed. It is concluded that red mice are more suitable than CF1 mice for evaluation of the protective potency of a BCG strain.
CROSSED IMMUNOELECTROPHORETIC ANALYSIS OF BORDETELLA PERTUSSIS ANTIGENS AND OF CORRESPONDING ANTIBODIES IN HUMAN SERA
Authors: Hertz J. B. , Høiby N. , Andersen V. , Bækgaard P.
Published: August 2010

Forty‐four antigens were demonstrated in sonicated preparations of Bordetella pertussis (B.p.), using crossed immunoelectrophoresis against antiserum obtained from rabbits. No qualitative differences between the four strains of the Danish pertussis vaccine were found. In preparations of B.p. culture medium, purified with respect to Lymphocytosis Promoting Factor (LPF) activity, one antigen was possibly related to LPF. In human sera, antibodies against five of the B.p. antigens were demonstrated by means of crossed immunoelectrophoresis with intermediate gel. Antibody production was demonstrable in children during the pertussis vaccination period and was most marked after the second vaccination.
CROSS‐REACTIONS BETWEEN BORDETELLA PERTUSSIS AND TWENTY‐EIGHT OTHER BACTERIAL SPECIES
Authors: Høiby Niels , Hertz Jesper B. , Andersen Vagn
Published: August 2010

Cross‐reactions between B. pertussis and 28 other bacterial species were studied by various quantitative immunoelectrophoretic methods. A sonicated B. pertussis antigen preparation and a corresponding pooled rabbit antiserum were used as reference system. Two of the B. pertussis antigens were cross‐reactive with antigens from 17, respectively 19, other bacterial species, mainly gram‐negative species. As judged by absorption of antibodies, the degree of cross‐reactivity of these B. pertussis antigens with antigens from other species was found to be in the range 25–50 per cent. Antigens from B. parapertussis and B. bronchiseptica were found to cross‐react very extensively with B. pertussis, and only 4, respectively 2, of the 44 antigens of the B. pertussis reference system could not be absorbed with antigens from these two Bordetella species.
AN ENTEROTOXIN PRODUCED BY CLOSTRIDIUM PERFRINGENS TYPE D. PURIFICATION BY AFFINITY CHROMATOGRAPHY
Authors: Uemura Takashi , Skjelkvåle Reidar
Published: August 2010

Clostridium perfringens type D 9867 produced enterotoxin immunologically identical to that produced by types A and C which are responsible for C. perfringens food poisoning. Enterotoxin from type C 5386 and type D 9867 was produced in Duncan og Strong sporulation medium (DS medium). The supernatant fluid from DS‐cultures was used for purification of the enterotoxin by affinity chromatography on a monospecific anti‐enterotoxin‐coupled CNBr activated‐Sepharose 4B and activated CH‐Sepharose 4B column. The enterotoxin purified by this one‐step procedure proved to be of a purity comparable to that obtained by conventional methods, and possessed lethal activity in mice.