An extensive search for RFLP in the human glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase locus has revealed a silent mutation in the coding sequence

The genetic polymorphism of an approximately 100-kb DNA region comprising and flanking the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) gene on human chromosome Xq28 has been analyzed in detail. By using 14 unique sequence probes and 18 restriction enzymes, we have characterized 257 restriction fragments or 370 restriction sites. On testing 12-57 individual X chromosomes, all sites but one were nonpolymorphic. However, a PstI site that maps to exon 10 of the G6PD gene, which is still monomorphic in all British and Italian subjects tested, is polymorphic in west-African people. Specifically, it is absent from 22% of Nigerian X chromosomes. By sequence analysis we have shown that the absence of this PstI site results from a G----A replacement at position 1116, corresponding to the third base of a glutamine codon; no amino acid change is produced in the protein. Thus, a polymorphic silent mutation is demonstrated in a human gene.

Invasive Fusarium solani infections in patients with acute leukemia

Two cases of disseminated hyalohyphomycosis due to Fusarium solani in patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia were studied. The clinical features in both patients included fever, fungemia, severe myalgias, disseminated ecthyma gangrenosum-like skin lesions, ocular symptoms, and a fatal outcome despite systemic administration of amphotericin B in the setting of profound, persistent granulocytopenia. In vitro studies showed the resistance of both F. solani isolates to amphotericin B, 5-fluorocytosine, and imidazoles. This investigation confirmed the emergence of F. solani infection in immunosuppressed hosts.

Clostridium difficile colitis in leukemia patients

Leukemia patients with diarrhea or other abdominal symptoms have been investigated for the presence of Clostridium difficile and its cytotoxin in stools. Of the patients studied 19% had C. difficile, in most cases together with cytotoxin. All patients but one had received antibiotics, while one had been treated with cytotoxic agents only. Symptoms of colitis were most often abdominal pain and distension rather than diarrhea. Owing to the not infrequent fatal evolution, it is recommended that routine search for C. difficile in leukemia patients with abdominal symptoms be performed and appropriate therapy started immediately.

[Evaluation of various methods of preserving samples for the study of intestinal microflora]

Intestinal microflora changes in ten adult and healthy subjects after storage of specimen with different modalities, temperatures and times were evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively. Aerobic components (Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus, Staphylococcus and Bacillus spp.) did not show considerable variations of concentration in all maintenance conditions. Anaerobic components showed different capacity of survival for every researched genus: Clostridia and Lactobacilli, even kept frozen for one month in glycerol broth at -70 degrees C, maintained a stable viable count; Bacteroides, Fusobacteria, Veillonellae and Peptostreptococci were found stable after one week, while after one month showed a loss of concentration superior to 4 Log; Eubacteria were found remarkably reduced after seven days and completely lost after one month.

An enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay for salivary estriol during normal pregnancy

It has been recently demonstrated that the concentration of Estriol in saliva increases in the course of pregnancy, similarly to the plasmatic concentration of unconjugated and total Estriol. As an alternative to RIA, which is an expensive method and requires a highly specialized laboratory, there is now available a competitive, sensitive and rapid enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) for Estriol in saliva and plasma. Aim of this study is to compare the levels of Estriol concentration, measured by RIA and by ELISA in saliva and plasma in seven women tested every week from the 30th week to the term of pregnancy.

Cytotoxin and enterotoxin production by Clostridium difficile

30 strains of Cl. difficile isolated from faeces of patients with pseudomembranous colitis (PMC), antibiotic associated diarrhoea (AAC) and other intestinal disorders and from faeces of asymptomatic carriers were studied for production of toxins. Tissue culture assay was used for the detection of cytotoxin (toxin B) and ileal loop test for enterotoxin (toxin A). All Cl. difficile isolates from patients with PMC and AAC were found to produce cytotoxin, whereas enterotoxin was demonstrated only in approximately 70% of strains.

[Surgical treatment in acute occlusion of the large intestine caused by carcinoma]

Fifty four cases of acute large bowel obstruction were observed in an overall groups of 266 patients with colonic carcinoma. Pre-operative elements which seems to contra-indicate a primary radical surgery and advantages of the same procedure are considered. In the experience of the Authors, primary and delayed staged resection of the cancer seems to give the same survival rate at short and long term. Choice of surgery of obstructive large bowel carcinoma should be based pratically on general patient's conditions.

Measurement of valgus and varus deformity in the lower limb

A method is proposed for measuring deformities of the femur and tibia in the frontal plane. This forms part of a complex system of clinical and radiographic evaluation, suitable for the planning or surgical operations.

[Neurinoma of the tongue]

The authors describe one case of neurinoma of the tongue, recently come to their observation, and offer a clinical and anatomopathological presentation of this heteroplasia. In the light of a careful search of existing literature they estimate the incidence of this tumor both versus neurinoma located elsewhere in the body versus pathological processes located in the tongue. In particular, they call attention to problems of differential diagnosis posed by neurinoma in clinical terms and in the pathologist's laboratory, in relation to other tumors and infectious processes observed in the tongue.

[Studies of diseases caused by hepatitis B virus on the island of Favignana]

731 serum samples were drawn from inhabitants of Favignana (Egadi Islands, total population 3,000). Presence of HBsAg and anti HBs was tested by R.I.A. Although only two cases of B Virus Hepatitis had been observed in the last 3 years, the overall positivity for HBsAg was 4.8% and for anti HBs 31.6%, showing a distribution by age and sex comparable to that observed in similar studies. The rather high prevalence of HBsAg in males over 70 deserves further investigations.

Gonadal karyotyping in women with and without ovarian activity

Results of gonadal karyotyping on 26 patients with cyclic or acyclic ovarian activity and hypogonadotropic or hypergonadotropic hypogonadism are presented. Gonadal culture growth, with the exception of tissue from polycystic ovaries, was usually successful. With one exception, leukocytic and gonadal karyotypes were concordant. Normal ovarian function did not appear to be limited to ovaries of the 46,XX karyotype.

External skeletal fixation with continuous adjustment of stability and compression

A method of external fixation with continuous adjustment of stability is described. It allows interfragmentary compression, even on oblique surfaces in any plane and even when applied only on one side of the bone.

Amoxycillin and ampicillin. A comparative study of in vitro sensitivity and induced morphological alterations in Serratia marcescens

In vitro antibacterial activities of ampicillin and amoxycillin were compared against pigmented and non-pigmented strains of Serratia marcescens. Ampicillin appeared more effective than amoxycillin; three-fourths of all strains consistently exhibited an ampicillin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of at least one tube less than that recorded for amoxycillin. Complete cross resistance was not observed as has previously been inferred. Further, greater bactericidal activity was demonstrated with ampicillin; minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) were either the same as or one tube greater than the MIC. MBC's for amoxycillin, however, were significantly higher; often four to five times greater than the MIC. Ampicillin exhibited greater bactericidal activity as inferred from differences observed in the biological lesions induced, as recorded through observations by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Spheroplasts were the predominant morphological alteration induced by ampicillin. In contrast, only filament formation, which demonstrated a degree of reversibility, was induced by amoxycillin.

In vitro synthesis of a thyroglobulin precursor by porcine thyroid membrane-bound ribosomes in a heterologous cell-free system

The synthesis of a thyroglobulin precursor directed by endogenous messenger RNA has been achieved in a heterologous cell-free system containing porcine thyroid membrane-bound ribosomes and rat brain cortex cell sap. The main features of the system, such as ion and nucleotide requirements, temperature, dependence, inhibitors sensitivity, and ability to reinitiate, were studied. The nature of the product has been determined by specific immunoprecipitation and its size has been estimated by sucrose density gradient and sodium dodecyl sulfate acrylamide gel electrophoresis. Under our conditions, the thyroglobulin precursor was mainly synthesized by membrane-bound ribosomes.