Case report of an unclassified microaerophilic bacterium associated with gastroenteritis.

An unusual microaerophilic gram-negative bacterium was isolated from the stools of two individuals presenting with chronic diarrhea. This bacterium resembled Campylobacter species by colonial morphology and biochemical reactions. However, microscopic examination revealed a fusiform rod with a corrugated surface, rather than a spiral rod.

Characterization of an unclassified microaerophilic bacterium associated with gastroenteritis.

Four isolates of an unclassified microaerophilic bacterium resembling Campylobacter species were characterized by growth requirements, microscopic examination, biochemical characteristics, antimicrobial susceptibility tests, and protein profile analysis. The unclassified isolates were differentiated from Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus, Campylobacter laridis, Campylobacter pylori, and an ovine isolate.

Factors influencing the cytotoxicity of anti-bacterial sera for lymphocytes from ankylosing spondylitis patients.

Rabbit antisera to certain strains of Gram-negative bacteria are reported to be cytotoxic for the lymphocytes of about 80% of HLA-B27 positive patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) but not for the lymphocytes of healthy HLA-B27 positive individuals. The lymphocytes of normal individuals can, however, be made susceptible to lysis by antibacterial sera by incubation in spent supernatant from appropriate bacterial cultures. In an attempt to explain the failure of certain laboratories to reproduce these results we have tested a number of variables in the 51Cr-release complement-dependent cytotoxicity assay.

Biomarkers of aging: tissue markers. Future research needs, strategies, directions and priorities.

Objective tests that allow early detection of deleterious changes with age are necessary to develop treatments enhancing the health span--the length of healthy life. Here we report tests of eight biological systems that can be performed in mice with no harm to the subjects. Male and female B6, CBA and F1 mice were used.

Dissemination of disease following transurethral resection for locally advanced prostate cancer.

Between 1974 and 1978, 258 patients with clinical Stage C adenocarcinoma of the prostate were treated at the U.T. M.

Nucleotide sequence and fine structural analysis of the Corynebacterium glutamicum hom-thrB operon.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the Corynebacterium glutamicum hom-thrB operon has been determined and the structural genes and promoter region mapped. A polypeptide of Mr 46,136 is encoded by hom and a polypeptide of Mr 32,618 is encoded by thrB. Both predicted protein sequences show amino acid sequence homology to their counterparts in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis.

Identification of Yersinia spp. with the API 20E system.

The ability of the API 20E system to identify 105 clinical isolates of Yersinia spp. was compared with those of conventional biochemical tests at 28 and 37 degrees C. Elimination of the Voges-Proskauer test (recorded as a negative result) increased the percentage of correct identifications for Yersinia spp.

Current status and future directions of clinical trials in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Standard therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia has been an alkylating agent plus a corticosteroid, a palliative approach. But now, because of sophisticated cytogenetic and biologic evaluation of CLL patients leading to more accurate staging, plus interest in two new chemotherapy agents, 2'-deoxycoformycin and fludarabine monophosphate, different approaches to the therapy of CLL are being studied. These include combination chemotherapy programs, incorporating the new drugs with standard therapy, combining them with each other, and investigating novel biological agents.

City-size distributions and the world urban system in the twentieth century.

"In this paper we trace and interpret changes in the geographical pattern and city-size distribution of the world's largest cities in the twentieth century. Since 1900 the geographical distribution of these cities has become increasingly dispersed; their city-size distribution by rank was nearly linear in 1900 and 1940, and convex in 1980. We interpret the convex distribution which emerged following World War 2 as reflecting an economically integrated but politically and demographically partitioned global urban system.

Bereavement and reactions to job loss: a comparative review.

An assessment is made of the applicability of the grief framework for understanding reactions to job loss. Jahoda's 'deprivation view' of unemployment is introduced as a statement of what is lost, with the grief model describing the process of adjustment to loss. The main features of grief are described: it is an active process, changing over time, consisting of a number of episodic components combined with a background of chronic emotional disturbance.

Epidemiologic study of canine blastomycosis in Wisconsin.

An epidemiologic study was designed to investigate the increasing number of cases of canine blastomycosis being reported in Wisconsin. From January 1980 through July 1982, 200 cases of canine blastomycosis from 39 Wisconsin counties were examined to assess epidemiologic and environmental aspects of this disease. Based on a survey of 176 dog owners, principal disease characteristics for canine blastomycosis were anorexia, lethargy, shortness of breath, chronic cough, and weight loss.

Blastomycosis in wild wolves.

Blastomycosis was fatal to a wild wolf in Minnesota, and serologic evidence of blastomycosis was found in a Wisconsin wolf. No unusual movements were detected in the Minnesota animal from October 1983 through October 1985. However, by early December 1985, this wolf was weak and debilitated, and it perished on 14 December after approaching a human residence.

Genetic differences in effects of food restriction on aging in mice.

Lifelong food restriction to two-thirds of normal ad libitum consumption extended mean and maximum life spans more than 200 d in male B6CBAF1 hybrid mice, already a long-lived genotype. The following biological systems were improved by food restriction, with values for older mice being similar to those previously found for younger individuals: tight wire clinging, a measure of neuromuscular performance; open field movement, a measure of voluntary activity; tail tendon denaturation rate, a measure of collagen solubility; urine concentrating ability, a measure of renal function, and hair regrowth rate, a measure of the frequency of hair follicle cycling. However, wound healing was slower in food-restricted mice than in ad libitum-fed controls.

IgA antibodies to gram-negative bacteria in the serum and saliva of patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

The concentration of IgA and titre of IgA antibodies to several Gram-negative bacteria were measured in the serum and parotid saliva of patients with AS and normal tissue-typed individuals. Salivary IgA and antibody levels in the patients were identical with the control population. The serum antibody level against Yersinia enterocolica 0:3 was slightly raised in patients but there was no difference in the reactions to Klebsiella oxytoca strain MX100 or Escherichia coli 0111.

Pepsinogen--an immunoglobulin binding artefact in 'collagen' preparations.

It has previously been shown that extracts of human articular cartilage, many many of which contain type II collagen, react with heat-aggregated immunoglobulin and artificially prepared immune complexes. Sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, but not from patients with inflammatory bowel disease, react with these extracts. There are two distinct patterns of binding, either as low molecular weight immune complexes or as free antibody directed against collagen.

A protocol for the combined biochemical and serological identification of the Ames mutagen tester strains as Salmonella typhimurium.

Previously published reports have noted biochemical reactions atypical of Salmonella among the Ames tester strains of Salmonella typhimurium, and an inability to assign the strains to a specific Salmonella O (heat-stable cell wall) antigen group. We studied the biochemistry and serology of strains TA97, 98, 100, 102, 104, 1535, 1537, and 1538 in an attempt to develop a protocol to correctly speciate the strains. Biochemical reactions of all eight strains using standard media supplemented with histidine and biotin were consistent with those of the genus Salmonella.

pH-dependent bactericidal barrier to gram-negative aerobes: its relevance to airway colonisation and prophylaxis of acid aspiration and stress ulcer syndromes--study in vitro.

pH-Dependent bactericidal activity on four gram-negative bacilli that are mainly responsible for gastric to airway colonisation has been investigated. Organisms studied were Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Serratia marcescens. At pH of the medium adjusted to 2.

Human monoclonal antibodies from patients with rheumatoid arthritis: cross reactions against cellular constituents.

Hybridization of peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis has yielded 14 monoclonal antibodies which react with cultured human epithelial cells. Immunofluorescence staining identifies at last five different types of antibody. Solid phase immunosorbent assays show a variety of cross-reaction patterns with nucleic acids, proteoglycan, cardiolipin and plastic, confirming that the various antibodies react with epitopes which are at least slightly different.

Cross-reactivity between solid-phase immunoassay plates and intermediate filaments demonstrated by human monoclonal antibodies.

While screening supernatants of human-human hybridomas for rheumatoid factor and anti-cellular activity we found that a significant number of supernatants which react with the Falcon-polyvinyl chloride immunoassay plate used in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent rheumatoid factor assay also react with intracellular intermediate filaments.