Characteristics of chronic left ventricular hypertrophy induced by subcoronary valvular aortic stenosis. I. Myocardial blood flow and metabolism

Using a canine model of subcoronary valvular aortic stenosis, we determined myocardial blood flow, high-energy phosphate content, and mitochondrial function in eight hearts with chronic left ventricular hypertrophy. Fourteen normal hearts were used for control data. Myocardial blood flow was determined by injection of tracer microspheres. During cardiopulmonary bypass, left ventricular transmural biopsy specimens were taken for metabolic analyses. Subepicardial and subendocardial content of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and creatine phosphate (CP) were assayed. Respiratory control indices for isolated mitochondria were measured by use of NAD-linked and FAD-linked substrates. Endocardial blood flow, subendocardial high-energy phosphate content, and respiratory control indices for NAD-linked substrate in the hearts with chronic left ventricular hypertrophy were significantly lower than the normal values. These data provide insight into the metabolic and myocardial blood flow abnormalities occurring in cardiac hypertrophy and provide a framework for understanding the altered response of hypertrophied hearts to ischemia.

Characteristics of chronic left ventricular hypertrophy induced by subcoronary valvular aortic stenosis. II. Response to ischemia

The increased susceptibility of hearts with chronic left ventricular hypertrophy (CLVH) to damage during ischemia has been suggested but not documented. The purpose of this study was to isolate ischemic events in hearts with CLVH from reperfusion events. Using physiological and biochemical parameters, we compared the rate and extent of myocardial injury during ischemic contracture between eight canine hearts with CLVH induced by subcoronary valvular aortic stenosis and 14 normal canine hearts. Preischemic myocardial blood flow was determined by injection of tracer microspheres. During cardiopulmonary bypass, each heart was instrumented with a left ventricular balloon and made globally ischemic. At control, contracture initiation, and contracture completion left ventricular transmural biopsy specimens were assayed for subepicardial and subendocardial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and creatine phosphate (CP). Mitochondrial respiratory control indices for NAD-linked and FAD-linked substrates were measured. Preischemic endocardial blood flow in hearts with CLVH was significantly lower than in normal hearts. At control, subendocardial ATP and CP and the respiratory control index for NAD-linked substrate were significantly lower in hearts with CLVH than in normal hearts. Hearts with CLVH reached contracture initiation significantly sooner than normal hearts. All hearts demonstrated significant decreases in high-energy phosphate content and mitochondrial function during ischemia. Reperfusion injury notwithstanding, we concluded that hearts wih CLVH are more susceptible to ischemic injury than are normal hearts, perhaps related to lower endocardial blood flow, lower subendocardial high-energy phosphate stores, and depressed mitochondrial function prior to ischemia.

Metabolic deterioration during global ischemia as a function of time in the intact normal dog heart

High-energy phosphate content and mitochondrial function were analyzed at the initiation and completion of ischemic contracture in dog hearts exposed to normothermic ischemia while on cardiopulmonary bypass. Contracture initiation and completion were detected by a balloon catheter placed within the left ventricle. In seven dogs, inner and outer layers of the myocardium were assayed for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and creatine phosphate (CP). ATP and CP content in these two layers were compared prior to ischemia and at contracture initiation and completion. Inner layer ATP levels were 23.88 +/- 0.73 (mean +/- SM) mu moles/gm dry weight prior to ischemia, 5.14 +/- 0.49 at initiation, and 0.73 +/- 0.2 at completion. Inner layer CP content was 41.29 +/- 0.87 prior to ischemia, 3.49 +/- 0.34 at initiation, and 4.06 +/- 0.48 at completion. Mitochondrial respiratory control indices (RCI) were assayed in a second group of seven dogs prior to ischemia, at contracture initiation, and at contracture completion and were, respectively, 11.5 +/- 1.18, 3.1 +/- 0.43 and 1.76 +/- 0.29 (alpha ketoglutarate as substrate). Despite the specific degrees of metabolic deterioration associated with the events of contracture, ischemic time required to develop contracture initiation and completion was variable, ranging from 29.5 to 72 minutes for initiation and 60.25 to 101 minutes for completion. A third group of five dogs had biopsy specimens taken for ATP at fixed ischemic time intervals, and at 45 minutes of ischemia they were found to have greater ranges in ATP values than the ranges associated with contracture initiation. In contrast to ischemic time, the physiological events of ischemic contracture are reliable predictors of the degree of metabolic injury in the intact dog heart exposed to normothermic ischemic arrest during cardiopulmonary bypass.

Evaluation of the Sceptor microdilution antibiotic susceptibility testing system: a collaborative investigation

A multiwell, dried antimicrobial agent susceptibility test system, Sceptor (BBL Microbiology Systems, Cockeysville, Md.), was tested. The system was compared directly with a reference microdilution method by using two collections of stock cultures and 305 fresh clinical isolates. Sceptor was found to be in agreement (+/- log2 dilution) with the reference microdilution method in 96.9 to 98.3% of 9,840 minimal inhibitory concentration determinations performed on stock strains and 95.0% of 7,308 minimal inhibitory concentrations obtained from the clinical isolates. The intralaboratory and interlaboratory reproducibility on stock strains was 97.6 and 97.2%, respectively. The intralaboratory reproducibility for the clinical isolates was 96.9%. Sceptor accurately categorized representative challenge strains of methicillin-resistant staphylococci, beta-lactamase-producing bacteria, organisms producing other antimicrobial agent-inactivating enzymes, and permeability mutants as resistant. Only 0.2% very major errors (false-sensitive minimal inhibitory concentrations by Sceptor) were identified among the clinical isolate test results, the majority being clinically insignificant. The product is accurate and reliable, has a long shelf life, and seems applicable for routine use in clinical laboratories.

Cefoperazone: spectrum of antibacterial activity and disc diffusion testing

Cefoperazone is a new cephalosporin with a very wide spectrum of antibacterial activity, including Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, staphylococci, streptococci (other than serological group D strains), Neisseria and Haemophilus species (including beta-lactamase positive strains) and some anaerobes. On testing more than 8700 clinical isolates, approximately 93% were inhibited by 16 micrograms/ml of cefoperazone, 95% by 32 micrograms/ml and 98% by 64 micrograms/ml. The drug is less active on Acinetobacter and group D streptococci. We recommend that a disc containing 75 micrograms of cefoperazone be used in the diffusion test with 'breakpoints' of less than or equal to 14 mm for resistant, 15-17 mm for intermediate, and greater than or equal to 18 mm for susceptible bacteria.

Filament proteins in central, cranial, and peripheral mammalian nerves

Several classes of 10-nm filaments have been reported in mammalian cells and they can be distinguished by the size of their protein subunit. We have studied the distribution of these filaments in nerves from calves and other mammals. From the display on polyacrylamide electrophoretic gels of proteins in extracts from fibroblast and central, cranial and peripheral nerves, we cut the appropriate stained bands and prepared iodinated peptide maps. The similarities between the respective maps provide strong evidence for the presence of vimentin in cranial and peripheral nerves. The glial fibrillary acidic protein was found in axon preparations from the central nervous system, but was not identified in distal segments of some cranial nerves, nor in peripheral nerve.

Antibacterial activity of fortimicin A compared with those of five other aminoglycosides, and factors affecting susceptibility tests

Fortimicin A, a pseudodisaccharide aminoglycoside, was found to have broad-spectrum activity against most clinically important aerobic and facultatively anaerobic bacteria, except Pseudomonas aeruginosa, some other Pseudomonas species, and streptococci. It was comparable to amikacin in its level of activity (minimum inhibitory concentrations) and spectrum of activity (except for the lack of activity on P. aeruginosa). Fortimicin A was bactericidal and was affected by cations when tested against P. aeruginosa. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were affected by the inoculum used in the susceptibility test. The drug was resistant to most aminoglycoside-inactivating enzymes, but probably is not active against permeability mutants.

Tentative interpretive standards for disk susceptibility tests with moxalactam (LY127935)

Moxalactam (LY127935; 6059-S) is a new beta-lactam antibiotic. We propose tentative zone standards for agar diffusion susceptibility tests with 30-microgram disks. The final selection of minimal inhibitory concentration breakpoints for definition of resistant and susceptible categories must await clinical experience with this drug. Some of the clinical questions to be answered are defined. A moderately susceptible (intermediate) category is proposed for those strains with minimal inhibitory concentrations of 16 or 32 microgram/ml (zones 15 to 22 mm in diameter). Strains with minimal inhibitory concentrations of greater than or equal to 64 microgram/ml are considered resistant, and those with minimal inhibitory concentrations of less than or equal to 8 microgram/ml are considered susceptible. Tests with 30-microgram disks did not satisfactorily separate strains with minimal inhibitory concentrations of 8 microgram/ml from strains requiring < 2 microgram/ml for inhibition, because the regression line became parabolic at concentrations of 2 microgram/ml and below. However, the disk tests were satisfactory for categorizing isolates into the above-described susceptible, moderately susceptible (intermediate), and resistant categories.

Compound A49759, the 3-O-demethyl derivative of fortimicin A: in vitro comparison with six other aminoglycoside antibiotics

O-Demethylfortimicin A (compound A49759) was tested against 445 bacteria, and the results were compared with those obtained with fortimicin A, amikacin, gentamicin, netilmicin, sisomicin, and tobramycin. A49759 was found to be active and bactericidal against the Enterobacteriaceae, nonfermentative gram-negative bacilli, and Staphylococcus aureus. A49759 was two- to fourfold more active than fortimicin A against most species tested, but generally fourfold less active than amikacin against this population of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (85% inhibited at less than or equal to 16 microgram of amikacin per ml and 85% inhibited at less than or equal to 64 microgram of A49759 per ml). Only amikacin and A49759 were resistant to most aminoglucoside-inactivating enzymes and also had significant antipseudomonal activity. Amikacin was inactivated by aminoglycoside 6'-acetyltransferase, and A49759 was inactivated by aminoglycoside 3-acetyltransferase. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of all tested aminoglycosides were increased by augmenting the inoculum size.

Interpretive standards for disk susceptibility tests with Sch 21420 and amikacin

Disk susceptibility tests with two structurally related aminoglycosides (amikacin and Sch 21420) were evaluated. Tests with 10- and 30-micrograms amikacin disks confirmed previous recommendations for interpretive zone standards; 30-micrograms disks are preferred. Tests with 10-, 20-, and 30-micrograms Sch 21420 disks led to similar conclusions. The 30-micrograms Sch 21420 disks are recommended, with zone standards of less than or equal to 14 mm for the resistant category (minimal inhibitory concentration, greater than or equal to 32 micrograms/ml) and greater than or equal to 17 mm for the susceptible category (minimal inhibitory concentration, less than or equal to 16 micrograms/ml). If a minimal inhibitory concentration breakpoint of less than or equal to 8 micrograms/ml is preferred for defining the susceptible category, somewhat different zone standards may be used (less than or equal to 15 mm and greater than or equal to 19mm). Further evaluation documented the fact that tests with 30-micrograms amikacin disks predicted resistance or susceptibility to Sch 21420 almost as well as did a 30-micrograms Sch 21420 disk. Thus, the class concept of disk testing was judged to applicable, and routine testing with Sch 21420 may not be required.

Tentative interpretive criteria for the diffusion susceptibility test using 30-microgram netilmicin disks

The disk diffusion inhibitory zone diameters for 10-microgram and 30-microgram netilmicin disks were correlated with minimum inhibitory concentrations against 471 clinical strains tested in cation-supplemented Mueller-Hinton broth. Regression line and error-rate bounded analysis favored the use of 30-microgram netilmicin disks utilizing zone size breakpoints of greater than or equal to 17 mm to indicate susceptibility (less than or equal to 8 microgram/ml) and less than or equal to 13 mm to indicate resistance (greater than 32 microgram/ml). Significant minor interpretive errors may be expected when testing populations of Pseudomonas that have netilmicin minimum inhibitory concentrations near the intermediate range (16 microgram/ml).

Comparison of in vitro activity of Sch 21420, a gentamicin B derivative, with those of amikacin, gentamicin, netilmicin, sisomicin, and tobramycin

Sch 21420 is a new aminoglycoside synthesized from gentamicin B. Susceptibility tests with Sch 21420, amikacin, gentamicin, netilmicin, sisomicin, and tobramycin were performed on a variety of bacterial species including 44 with known mechanisms of resistance to aminoglycosides. Sch 21420 and amikacin had similar effects on all except Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria species, which were more susceptible to amikacin. Except with some strains of Serratia marcescens, the drugs used were bactericidal. Sch 21420 and amikacin were more stable than the other four aminoglycosides in the presence of the inactivating enzymes produced by some strains. Strains which were very resistant to Sch 21420 and emikacin either were permeability mutants or produced AAC (6')-I inactivating enzyme. The effect of cations on the susceptibilities of these strains to Sch 21420 and amikacin was seen mostly with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and to Sch 21420 with Acinetobacter. Cations did not affect the susceptibilities of other Pseudomonas species, Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococcus aureus, or Streptococcus faecalis to Sch 21420 or amikacin.

Cefotaxime: in vitro activity and tentative interpretive standards for disk susceptibility testing

Tested against 9,412 recent clinical isolates, cefotaxime exhibited 8 to 64 times greater activity against the Enterobacteriaceae than did cephalothin and two to four times greater activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but only one-half to one-eighth the activity of cephalothin against staphylococci. Using 420 different clinical isolates, but with comparable minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) distributions, disk diffusion-MIC regression analyses were performed, using 5- and 30-micrograms cefotaxime disks. Cefotaxime MIC susceptible and resistant breakpoints of less than or equal to 8 and greater than 32 micrograms/ml are tentatively proposed. Based on the MIC breakpoints, the data showed the best discrimination among the three susceptibility categories (susceptible, indeterminate, and resistant) when the 30-micrograms cefotaxime disk was used. The zone diameter breakpoints as determined by the error rate-bounded method and regression analysis were greater than or equal to 23 mm for susceptible, 15 to 22 mm for indeterminate, and less than or equal to 14 mm for resistant.

A specific urinary cast in acute pyelonephritis

A specific type of urinary cast has been demonstrated in the urine of patients who have acute pyelonephritis. This cast is characterized by the presence of bacteria in its matrix and appears to be specific for and diagnostic of pyelonephritis. It is easily demonstrated by routine urinalysis.

Interaction of atopy and exposure to cotton dust in the bronchoconstrictor response

A survey of 255 workers in four cottonseed crushing mills included a respiratory health questionnaire, allergy skin testing, and measurements of lung function over the Monday working shift. Atopy was defined as having two or more positive weal reactions to common inhalant antigens. Categories of exposure to dust were based on the stage of milling, and one category contained workers with continuous exposure to cotton dust derived from linters, the cotton fibres adherent to cottonseed. Atopy and exposure to dust were found to have significant interaction: large mean declines in FEV1 and FEF 25-75 occurred only in the workers exposed to linter dust who were also atopic. Skin-testing surveys in cotton textile mills have concentrated on specific cotton antigen reactivity and its first-order relations to symptoms. Our results indicate a need to identify atopic workers, and to search for interactions between atopy and other variables that may influence acute changes in expiratory flow rates.

Moxalactam (LY127935), a new semisynthetic 1-oxa-beta-lactam antibiotic with remarkable antimicrobial activity: in vitro comparison with cefamandole and tobramycin

Moxalactam (LY127935) exhibited greater in vitro activity than cefamandole and tobramycin against clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae, Aeromonas hydrophila, and Pseudomonas maltophilia. The activities of the three drugs against other microorganisms were as follows: for staphylococci, cefamandole = tobramycin greater than moxalactam; for streptococci, cefamandole greater than moxalactam greater than tobramycin; and for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, tobramycin greater than moxalactam greater than cefamandole. Moxalactam also demonstrated significant activity against the Bacteroides fragilis group and other anaerobes. Moxalactam was comparable to cefotaxime (HR756) in its inhibition of cephalothin-resistant and aminoglycoside-resistant clinical isolates.

Evaluation of the sensititre microdilution antibiotic susceptibility system against recent clinical isolates: three-laboratory collaborative study

The Sensititre broth microdilution antibiotic susceptibility testing system was found to be comparable to a reference broth dilution method. Of 3,194 minimum inhibitory concentration data pairs, 93.9% were within the acceptable +/- 1-log2 dilution range. Only rare (0.6%) very major errors were found between methods.

In vitro antimicrobial activity of cefoperazone, cefotaxime, moxalactam (LY127935), azlocillin, mezlocillin, and other beta-lactam antibiotics against Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Haemophilus influenzae, including beta-lactamase-producing strains

Minimum inhibitory concentrations and agar disk diffusion tests were determined on clinical isolates of beta-lactamase-positive and beta-lactamase-negative Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Haemophilus influenzae with the newer beta-lactam antibiotics, cefoperazone, cefotaxime, moxalactam (LY127935), azlocillin, mezlocillin, and piperacillin, and with seven older beta-lactam antibiotics. All the drugs were active against beta-lactamase-negative strains of N. gonorrhoeae and H. influenzae. The drug most active against beta-lactamase-positive N. gonorrhoeae was cefotaxime, followed closely by cefoperazone, moxalactam, piperacillin, and mezlocillin. The drugs most active against beta-lactamase-positive strains of H. influenzae were cefotaxime, moxalactam, cefoperazone, and cefamandole.

Cefoperazone (T-1551), a new semisynthetic cephalosporin: comparison with cephalothin and gentamicin

The in vitro activity of cefoperazone (T-1551) against almost 9,000 recent clinical isolates at six institutions was tested and compared with that of cephalothin and gentamicin. The modal minimum inhibitory concentrations of cefoperazone were 16- and 4-fold less than those of cephalothin and gentamicin, respectively, against 5,503 strains of Enterobacteriaceae. Species normally resistant to cephalothin, such as indole-positive protease and enterobacters, were almost universally susceptible to cefoperazone. Cefoperazone demonstrated activity comparable to gentamicin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other pseudomonads.

Evaluation of the Sensititre system for quantitative antimicrobial drug susceptibility testing: a collaborative study

This three-center collaborative study was conducted to evaluate samples of Sensititre antimicrobial microdilution panels (GIBCO/INVENEX). Sensititre minimum inhibitory concentrations of 27 bacterial isolates were compared with those obtained by a reference microdilution method. The Sensititre and microdilution minimum inhibitory concentrations were equivalent within +/- 1 dilution in 87.6% of the comparable test results. Intralaboratory reproducibilities of the Sensititre and microdilution endpoints were equivalent with 80.4 and 82.4%, respetively, of on-scale endpoints in absolute agreement. Sensititre was more reproducible among laboratories, with nearly a 10% greater agreement of triplicate results. The Sensititre microdilution test as evaluated gave results which were essentially equivalent to those obtained with a standardized microdilution method.

Fortimicin A: collaborative in vitro susceptibility. Comparison with amikacin and gentamicin against 11,840 clinical bacterial isolates

The susceptibility of 11,840 clinical bacterial isolates to fortimicin A was determined by agar dilution or broth microdilution methods and compared with their susceptibility to amikacin and gentamicin. In general, the in vitro activity of fortimicin A was essentially the same as that of amikacin. Significant exceptions were the increased effectiveness of fortimicin A against Serratia marcescens and the greater activity of amikacin against Pseudomonas and other nonfermentative gram-negative bacilli. On a weight-for-weight basis, gentamicin showed greater activity than the other two antimicrobial drugs against most species; S. Marcescens was the major exception. However, at concentrations equivalent to achievable nontoxic serum levels, the proportion of isolates inhibited by the three drugs was quite comparable. There were several strains with unusually high resistance to one or more of the tested antibiotics. These usually occurred in one of the six participating institutions and could be traced to specific enzyme-producing or permeability mutants endemic to that particular institution.

Mill effect and dose-response relationships in byssinosis

Four hundred and eighty-six textile workers in three cotton mills and one wool/synthetic mill were studied for symptoms and functional effects of workroom exposure to dust. Byssinosis was found in 5.7% of 386 cotton workers, with an apparent threshold level of 0.5 mg cotton dust/m3 of air. Mean post-shift functional declines were greater in workers exposed to greater than or equal to 0.2 mg/m3. Workers with byssinosis were unequally distributed, however, with respect to job category and mill; and these variables, rather than current dust exposure levels, accounted for the observed distribution of byssinosis prevalence rates. Variation in biological potency of different samples of cotton dust could be responsible for 'mill effect', the residual variation in response rates by mill after controlling for variation due to dust exposure. A number of other potential influencing variables that are likely to be distributed unequally by mill should also be considered. Mill effect should be assessed in large-scale studies of byssinosis, most of which have analysed biological response rates by combining mill and other variables to examine first-order effects of dust dosage. In such analyses, much of the observed variability may be due to factors other than dust dosage.

Birth control practices and conservatism

This study examined the relationship of conservatism to reports of contraceptive usage, reasons for nonusage of a particular birth control method, and knowledge of birth control information. The never married high conservative subjects who were sexually experienced revealed that they had (a) a lower frequency of usage as well as a lower variety of contraceptive methods; (b) endorsed the beliefs that it was morally wrong and that it was unnatural to use a given birth control method significantly more often as reasons for not using contraceptive techniques; and (c) less knowledge of birth control methods than did low conservative subjects who were sexually experienced. Results were interpreted to support the notion that the fear of loss of control of one's impulses and hence the basis for conservative attitudes are determinants of contraceptive usage.

Piperacillin susceptibility tests by the single-disk agar diffusion technique

Piperacillin is a new semisynthetic penicillin with a spectrum of activity broader than that of carbenicillin or ticarcillin. Studies were performed to establish standards for agar diffusion susceptibility tests with piperacillin disks. Tests with 100-, 150-, and 200-micrograms piperacillin disks and with 100-micrograms carbenicillin disks were evaluated. With both penicillins, 100-micrograms disks were satisfactory, in spite of the fact that piperacillin is a larger molecule and diffuses at a slower rate. With both carbenicillin and piperacillin disks, resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus produced zones less than or equal to 28 mm and susceptible strains gave zones greater than or equal to 29 mm in diameter. When testing other microorganisms, zone standards of less than or equal to 13 mm for resistant (minimal inhibitory concentration, greater than or equal to 256 micrograms/ml) and greater than or equal to 17 mm for susceptible (minimal inhibitory concentration, less than or equal to 64 micrograms/ml) are recommended for tests with 100-micrograms piperacillin disks. Similar zone standards are currently recommended for carbenicillin and ticarcillin disk tests.

Minocycline therapy of aquarium granuloma. Case reports and literature review

Two patients with Mycobacterium marinum infections from home tropical fish aquariums are presented herein. Both patients showed dramatic improvement with minocycline therapy. In vitro susceptibility results also confirmed minocycline, doxycycline, and tetracycline efficacy using disc diffusion and dilution methods.

Piperacillin (T-1220), a new semisynthetic penicillin. II. In vitro antimicrobial activity and synergy comparison with carbenicillin and gentamicin

Piperacillin, a new semisynthetic penicillin, was found to have potent antimicrobial activity against nearly all (405) tested bacterial species. Piperacillin was consistently 4 approximately 16-fold more active than carbenicillin against the Enterobacteriaceae, 16 approximately 32-fold against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas species, and 16-fold against Streptococcus faecalis. Carbenicillin and piperacillin were equally effective against Staphylococcus aureus, but inactivated by beta-lactamase. A 38% overall synergy rate for the piperacillin-gentamicin combination was identified, a finding similar to that for carbenicillin-gentamicin. Highest incidences of synergy were found for both antibiotic pairs tested on gentamicin-resistant isolates (Ps. aeruginosa and Providencia). In vitro findings suggest that piperacillin alone or in combination with aminoglycosides may be highly efficacious in the treatment of most serious bacterial infections.

Reassessment of the "class" concept of disk susceptibility testing. Cephalothin disks versus minimal inhibitory concentrations with eleven cephalosporins

Reassessment of the "class" concept of disk susceptibility testing. Cephalothin disks versus minimal inhibitory concentrations with eleven cephalosporins. Am J Clin Pathol 70: 909--913, 1978. Studies were carried out to determine whether susceptibility or resistance to 11 cephalosporins could be predicted reliably from the results of tests with a single cephalothin disk. The cephalosporins were tested with a microdilution technic and with a standardized disk test. Strains susceptible to a cephalothin disk were predictably susceptible to all other cephalosporins. However, 2--12% of the strains were resistant to cephalothin disks but were susceptible to the more active parenteral drugs cefoxitin, cephamandole, cefuroxime, and BL-S786. Because of differences in antimicrobial activities, the cephalosporins could be divided into three subgroups for purposes of susceptibility testing: one subgroup includes the majority of cephalosporins and may be represented by tests with cephalothin, the second subgroup inclues three active parenteral drugs (cephamandole, cefuroxime, and BL-S786) and may be represented by tests with cefuroxime, and the third subgroup consists of cefoxitin, a cephamycin with a unique broad spectrum of activity. Until the drugs in the second and third subgroups are released for general therapeutic use, the practice of testing only one cephalosporin disk appears to be a reasonably reliable procedure.

Stability of antimicrobials in Schaedler's anaerobic and brain heart infusion broths stored at --20 degrees C

Penicillin-like drugs are found to be unstable in SCHAEDLER'S broth in forzen storage (--20 degrees C). Chloramphenicol, clindamycin and tetracycline remained at original potency to 45 days. No detectable antimicrobial decay was found in two formulations of supplemented BHI broth. Antimicrobial potency was measured by quality control organism endpoints, bioassays and MIC changes in use at four clinical microbiology laboratories.

Multiple-inocula (replicator) CAMP test for presumptive identification of group B streptococci

A replicator method for performing the CAMP test is described. Of 304 group B streptococci tested, 303 (99.7%) were CAMP positive. None of 1,093 non-group B streptococci was CAMP positive.

Evaluation of the micro-media system for quantitative antimicrobial drug susceptibility testing: a collaborative study

Micro-Media Systems (MMS) has developed a procedure by which microdilution trays can be filled with dilutions of antimicrobial agents, frozen, and distributed to clinical laboratories. The trays are prepared in various distribution centers throughout the United States to supply clinical laboratories in the vicinity of each center. For use, trays are removed from the freezer, allowed to thaw, and then inoculated with inocula prepared as for any other susceptibility test, using a convenient disposable inoculator (ca. 5 mul per well). A collaborative study was planned to evaluate microdilution trays prepared in three Micro-Media Systems distribution centers. Microdilution minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were compared to standard tube dilution tests (the international collaborative study group method). With gram-positive cocci, the two techniques gave essentially equivalent results. With gram-negative bacilli, the microdilution MICs were generally one doubling dilution lower than the standard tube dilution MICs. Similar results were seen with microdilution trays prepared with a Cooke Dynatech MIC 2000. Inter- and intralaboratory reproducibility with the macro- and microdilution techniques were quite satisfactory, i.e., at least 96% of the end points were within a range of +/-1 log(2) dilution intervals.

Piperacillin (T-1220), a new semisynthetic penicillin: in vitro antimicrobial activity comparison with carbenicillin, ticarcillin, ampicillin, cephalothin, cefamandole and cefoxitin

Piperacillin (T-1220) is a new semisynthetic penicillin with an unusually broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. In vitro comparisons of this drug with 6 other beta-lactam antimicrobics (ticarcillin, carbenicillin, ampicillin, cephalothin, cefamandole and cefoxitin) were conducted. These included minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) against 394 bacterial isolates, the minimal lethal concentrations (MLC) against 79 of those, as well as the effect of inoculum size on the MIC and MLC of the drugs. Piperacillin had significantly greater activity than did the other penicillins against Pseudomonas species and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Against P. aeruginosa piperacillin was 8- and 16-fold more active than ticarcillin and carbenicillin, respectively. The MLC of piperacillin rarely differed from the MIC by more than one log2 dilutions except against P. aeruginosa in which the MLC was 4-fold greater or more than the MIC of 45% of isolates tested. Ticarcillin, carbenicillin and cefoxitin showed minimal inoculum size effects. Cefamandole results showed the greatest inoculum size variation with 55% and 37% of isolates showing an 8-fold increase in MIC and MLC respectively by increasing inoculum from 10(5) to 10(7) CFU/ml. Piperacillin was intermediately effected having 25% of strains greater than 8-fold increase in MIC.

Ticarcillin: a collaborative in vitro comparison with carbenicillin against over 9,000 clinical bacterial isolates

The minimal inhibitory concentrations of ticarcillin and carbenicillin were determined for 9,236 clinical bacterial isolates by the broth microdilution method at four participating laboratories. Ticarcillin showed significantly increased activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae (P less than .001), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P less than .001) and Aeromonas hydrophilia (P less than .005) when compared to carbenicillin, but no signifcant differences were observed against other gram-negative organisms. Ticarcillin was consistently less active against the gram-positive cocci, and these differences were significant for Staphylococcus aureus (P less than .001), Streptococcus agalactiae (P less than .001), Staphylococcus epidermidis (P less than .001) and Streptococcus viridans (P less than .005). Significant regional and institutional differences in susceptibility to the two drugs were observed for several species, including common nosocomial pathogens such as S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae and Escherichia coli.

Conservatism, openness to experience and sample bias

Two experiments were conducted to examine the relationship between conservatism and openness to experiences. In Study I, the responses of 64 males and 60 females to the Conservatism Scale and the Coan (1972) Experience Inventory were correlated. For the total sample, conservatism was significantly related to the total score of the Experience Inventory plus six of seven of the component scales. Study II examined the relationship between conservatism and the expressed willingness to volunteer for certain psychological experiments that were assumed to require more openness. Subjects were 91 males and 114 females from introductory psychology classes. High conservative subjects were less willing to volunteer for the experiments that required more openness as compared to low conservative subjects. These results were discussed in the context of volunteer bias in psychological research.

Longitudinal study of workers employed in the manufacture of toluene-diisocyanate

Workers at a toluene-diisocyanate manufacturing plant were studied longitudinally to determine the effects of the chemical on their health. Studies included health questionnaire, pulmonary function, environmental monitoring, and immunologic testing. Workers reporting increased lower respiratory symptoms were from the nonsmoker group. Environmental monitoring showed frequent excursions of toluene-diisocyanate concentrations above the threshold limiting value. There was poor correlation between area and personal exposure levels. No exposure-related decline of pulmonary function was demonstrable. Immunologic studies showed development of a positive skin test to a toluene-diisocyanate-human serum albumin conjugate by some persons and an increasing incidence of toluene-diisocyanate-specific IgE antibodies as measured by a radioallergosorbent test. Toluene-diisocyanate did not induce histamine release from leukocytes in vitro but did diminish the in vitro stimulation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate by isoproterenol. Most of the clinically sensitive persons demonstrated adverse bronchial response when challenged by inhalation of toluene-diisocyanate. This response was dose dependent in some persons. When challenged with Mecholyl, clinically sensitive persons showed greater reactivity of airways than nonsensitive persons.

BL-S786, a new parenteral cephalosporin. I. A collaborative in vitro susceptibility comparison to cephalothin against 5,762 clinical bacterial isolates

The in vitro activity of Compound BL-S786 was compared with that of cephalothin against 5,762 clinical isolates by the microdilution broth method. BL-S786 demonstrated a broader spectrum and a significantly lower MIC against the Enterobacteriaceae. Although greater susceptibility to BL-S786 than to cephalothin was exhibited by Serratia marcescens, Proteus morganii and Proteus vulgaris, these three species were generally resistant to both drugs. By contrast, the staphylococci were significantly more susceptible to cephalothin than to BL-S786. Resistance to both drugs was demonstrated by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other pseudomonads, enterococci and Bacteroides fragilis.

Cefuroxime, a new parenteral cephalosporin: collaborative in vitro susceptibility comparison with cephalothin against 5,887 clinical bacterial isolates

Cefuroxime, a new parenteral cephalosporin was compared with cephalothin by broth microdilution susceptibility testing against 5,887 routine clinical bacterial isolates in four large clinical laboratories. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of cefuroxime against the Enterobacteriaceae were consistently lower than those of cephalothin. This was most striking among the Enterobacter species, which were generally susceptible to cefuroxime (MIC </= 8 mug/ml), but resistant to cephalothin. Similar results occurred with Haemophilus species, Acinetobacter anitratus, meningococci, and Aeromonas hydrophilia, but Pseudomonas species and enterococci were resistant to high concentrations of both drugs. Streptococci showed slightly greater susceptibility to cefuroxime than to cephalothin. By contrast, staphylococci were more susceptible to cephalothin. Bacteroides fragilis was resistant to cefuroxime, but other anaerobes were generally susceptible.

BL-S786, a new parenteral cephalosporin. II. In vitro antimicrobial activity comparison with six related cephalosporins

BL-S786 was compared by in vitro studies with 6 other parenteral cephalosporins (cefamandole, cefazolin, cefoxitin, cephaloridine, cephalothin and cephradine). The following parameters were assessed: Comparative MICs against a wide variety of bacterial isolates, MIC/MBC comparisons and the effect of inoculum size on the MIC. BL-S786 showed the greatest antimicrobial activity against K. pneumoniae, C. diversus and Salmonella species; was equal to cefamandole against E. coli, E. agglomerans and P. mirabilis; and was second to cefamandole against Shigella, E. tarda, C. freundii, E. cloacae, E. aerogenes and the pathogenic Neisseriae. Essentially no activity against Serratia and Pseudomonas species was observed. Compared to the other cephalosporins tested BL-S786 showed poor activity against staphylococci and streptococci. For most species tested, the MBC of the various cephalosporins was the same or within one dilution of their respective MICs. However, for Enterobacter and indole-positive Proteus species, the MBC of BL-S786 and cefamandole was usually larger than or equal to 8-fold higher than the MICs. Cefoxitin, on the other hand, showed little MIC/MBC variations against indole-positive Proteus species. Inoculum size had only a small effect on the MICs against most gram-negative species--in some instances greater than 64-fold increases in MIC resulted by increasing inoculum size from 10(5) to 10(7) organisms per ml.

Respiratory health and dust levels in cottonseed mills

Four cottonseed mills in the southern United States contained high levels of total and respirable dust. A survey of 172 workers showed low prevalences of byssinosis (2-3%) and chronic bronchitis (4%). Mean baseline (out of dust) lung function values were normal. Mean functional declines over the working shift were present on Monday and absent on Friday, indicating an acute bronchoconstrictor response. Despite limitations in translating measured dust levels into estimates of individual exposures, the overall dose-response relationship seems to differ from that found in the cotton textile industry.