Cellular fatty acid composition of organisms frequently associated with human infections resulting from dog bites: Pasteurella multocida and groups of EF-4, IIj, M-5, and DF-2

The cellular fatty acid composition of Pasteurella multocida and four unclassified groups of gram-negative bacteria (EF-4, M-5, IIj, and DF-2) which are frequently associated with human dog-bite infections was determined by gas-liquid chromatography. Strains of P. multocida were readily distinguished from the unclassified groups by the presence of 3-hydroxy myristic acid (3-OH- 14:0). Groups M-5 and EF-4 were characterized by the presence of 3-hydroxy lauric (3-OH-12:0) acid. Only group EF-4 organisms contained 2-OH-16:0, a-17:0, and 17:0 cyclopropane acids. Groups IIj and DF-2 differed from the other groups by the presence of large amounts of a branched-chain 15-carbon acid (i-15:0); they differed from each other by the presence of i-2-OH-15:0 and i-17:1 acids in IIj, which were absent in DF-2. The data indicate that gas-liquid chromatographic analysis for cellular fatty acids provides an additional test for rapid differentiation of these gram-negative organisms associated with dog-bite infections. Similarities observed in the fatty acid compositions of Flavobacterium, IIj, and DF-2 suggest that these two unclassified groups may be additional species of Flavobacterium.

Necrotizing enterocolitis. Epidemic following an outbreak of Enterobacter cloacae type 3305573 in a neonatal intensive care unit

Twelve cases of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) occurred within three weeks in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with 325 annual admissions. Enterobacter cloacae type 3305573 was found in stool and/or blood cultures from affected babies prior to the onset of the disease. This bacterium could not be grown in cultures from infants in the same NICU six weeks later. A causal relationship between E cloacae and the epidemic of NEC is suggested.

The effect of ampicillin on oral contraceptive effectiveness

The effectiveness of oral contraceptives with concomitant use of ampicillin has been questioned. Eleven volunteer subjects were studied during 2 consecutive menstrual cycles; they were given Demulen with placebo or ampicillin during each of the cycles. Serum estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were evaluated on days 13 and 19 of each cycle. Testosterone-binding globulin (TeBG) capacity and ferning of cervical mucus were evaluated on day 13 of each cycle. Subjective symptoms were recorded. All cycles appeared to be anovulatory. Steroid suppression was present in 10 of 11 patients during both cycles. Estrogen-dependent TeBG was not affected by ampicillin. It is possible that cervical mucus ferning was improved by concurrent ampicillin administration. Ampicillin appears unlikely to diminish the effectiveness of the oral contraceptive studied.

Binuclear palladium complexes of 3,5-disubstituted pyrazoles

A series of binuclear palladium 3,5-disubstituted pyrazole complexes of the general formulation [(CH3−nXnCO2)(pzH)Pd(µ-pz)]2 where pz = 3,5-dimethyl or 3,5-diphenylpyrazole, X = F, Cl, Br, C6H5, n = 0–3, were prepared. These complexes are unique in that they contain both bridging pyrazolyl and monodentate pyrazole groups.

Factors affecting neonatal jaundice

Plasma bilirubin was estimated on 690 term infants on about the 6th day of life. Perinatal factors were recorded and the results analysed. Hyperbilirubinaemia was defined as a level greater than 205 micromol/1 (12 mg/100 ml) and this was present in 20% of cases. Three factors--epidural analgesia, breast feeding, and poor weight recovery--showed highly significant associations with jaundice. The relative importance of these is discussed and compared with recent reports. Induction of labour, for reasons other than postmaturity, and a gestational age less than 39 weeks showed a slightly increased incidence of jaundice. There was no correlation with other factors tested including oxytocic drug administration. Despite the high incidence (20%) of hyperbilirubinaemia, only 2.5% infants needed treatment and none required exchange transfusion. Radical changes in obstetric management or infant feeding are not indicated.

Grass pollen content of the air in the Bristol Channel region in 1976

The grass pollen content of the air at four sites bordering the Bristol Channel (at Bristol, Cardiff, Penarth and Penmaen) was studied. The trap at Penmaen was situated at an official climatological station which provided the meteorological data used in the surveys. Although at certain times large differences could be seen between the concentrations of grass pollen at the different sites, overall the findings for the four sites were similar. Changes in the atmospheric pollen concentration related to variations in meteorological conditions. At the peak of the season high concentrations of grass pollen persisted throughout the night.

Prospects for District Heating in the United States

Large-scale district heating, using waste heat rejected by electric power plants and other sources, is presented as a means of reducing significantly the amount of fossil fuel consumed for residential and commercial space and water heating in the United States. Analysis of the technical and economic aspects of model district heating systems for nine U.S. urban areas shows that district heat service to residential and commercial consumers would be economically attractive. Projections of national service levels show that up to half of the U.S. population could be served by district heating at costs that are competitive with the present costs of imported oil and also with projected costs of new energy forms. An advantage of district heat over the latter is that it is a proved, simple technology.

Fetal exposure to 1:8 dihydroxyanthraquinone

A survey of 160 consecutive maternity cases showed that a high percentage of mothers had exposed their fetus to laxatives of the anthraquinone type at some stage during the pregnancy. Administration of 1:8 dihydroxyanthraquinone at the time of induction of labour with estimation of the substance in maternal urine, amniotic fluid and the first urine obtained from the baby, indicated that the substance is absorbed from the maternal gut, crosses the placenta and is excreted via the fetal kidney into the liquor. In mothers and babies most of the drug appeared as glucuronide. Fetal catharsis did not appear to occur and the reasons for this are discussed.

A prolonged course of cyclophosphamide as an adjunct to mastectomy in the primary treatment of breast carcinoma

Cyclophosphamide given after mastectomy for 4-6 months to a consecutive series of patients seen in one surgical practice in the years 1964 and 1965 significantly improved the 10-year survival rate of the treated patients as compared with the patients seen consecutively in the same surgical practice in the years 1957-63. Staging showed that the improvement was due to a significant increase in the survival rate in the patients with histologically negative axillary nodes (P less than 0-01). There was no significant difference in survival in the node positive or advanced disease groups.

Intercostal nerve conduction and posterior rhizotomy in the diagnosis and treatment of thoracic radiculopathy

Intercostal nerve conduction study has proved to be an accurate technique in diagnosis of thoracic radiculopathy in 161 patients, 80 of whom had subsequent posterior rhizotomy with relief of pain in 81% of those undergoing surgery. The only significant complication of intercostal nerve conduction study is an 8·8% incidence of pneumothorax.

Further N.M.R. Studies of the Dynamic Stereochemistry of π-Allylic Palladium(II) – Tertiary Phosphine Systems

A series of cations of the type 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane(π-all)palladium(II) (all = allyl, 2-methylallyl, 2-tert-butylallyl, 1-methylallyl, 1,1-dimethylallyl, syn-1-tert-butyl-2-methylallyl) have been isolated as PF6− and/or BF4− salts. Variable temperature n.m.r. data fully substantiate the proposal that pyridine promoted exchange of syn and anti proton sites in such complexes occurs via a π → σ → π mechanism that involves consecutive SN2 ligand substitutions. Comparison of this variable temperature n.m.r. data with that obtained for the complexes 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane(π-all)palladium(II) chloride (prepared in situ) has shown that the chloride ion, functioning as a nucleophile, is also effective in promoting π → σ → π reactions. Studies of bis(dimethylphenylphosphine) (π-1,1-dimethylallyl)palladium(II) chloride in CDCl3 below −30° have shown that rapid consecutive SN2 substitution reactions, in which chloride acts as a nucleophile, are also occurring in systems containing monodentate tertiary phosphine ligands. As such the PR3 promoted syn–syn and anti–anti proton site interchange observed in complexes of the type [(π-2-methylallyl)PdCl(PR3)] has been reinterpreted in terms of consecutive ligand substitution reactions involving PR3 and Cl ligands instead of the original proposal which involved an in plane rotation of the π-allylic ligand.

Sequelae of neonatal jaundice

A total of 371 newborn infants falling into 3 groups, non-haemolytic jaundice, haemolytic jaundice, and non-jaundiced controls, have been reassessed in the 6th year of life as regards neurological, audiological, and psychological function. Neurological handicap was concentrated among the infants of low birth weight and was not related to jaundice, apart from one case of athetoid cerebral palsy with deafness. No other cases of perceptive deafness were discovered. Intelligence testing on the Stanford Binet scale showed no relation between depth of jaundice and I.Q.These findings support the majority of reports in the literature that reduction in intelligence does not occur in non-haemolytic jaundiced babies with serum bilirubin below about 20 mg./100 ml. In haemolytic jaundice slight doubt remains. There is no indication for changing present standards for exchange transfusion.