Suction tip contamination in the ultraclean-air operating theatre.

The surgical suction tip forms a reservoir for microorganisms during total hip replacement in conventional operating theatres. We assessed the colonisation of the tip in an ultraclean-air operating theatre in 39 patients, and found that 41% of them had evidence of bacterial colonisation with one or more bacteria. To avoid contamination we suggest that the suction tip is changed before preparation of the femoral canal and insertion of cement and prosthesis.

Experimental and practical approaches to the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy.

A series of three large field trials was carried out to assess the effect of buserelin on fertility in dairy cows. In the first, 10 micrograms buserelin was injected on the day of insemination. There were no significant effects on fertility parameters compared to untreated controls.

On-line analysis of avermectin fermentation cell growth kinetics in an industrial pilot plant.

Experimental data are presented which show that on-line calculation of oxygen uptake rate can be used to estimate the cell concentration of Streptomyces avermitilis during the active growth phase of this fermentation. Moreover, by dividing the oxygen uptake rate by the total oxygen consumed, an on-line estimate of specific growth rate of this culture can be generated. A theoretical basis is provided for this model.

Determination of the aryltetralin lignan content of podophyllum resins and roots/rhizomes.

A simple, quantitatively reproducible method for determining the aryltetralin lignan content of the resins and roots/rhizomes of Podophyllum hexandrum and P. peltatum is described. The method confirms that P.

Metoclopramide as prophylaxis for nausea and vomiting induced by fluorescein.

Fluorescein angiography carries with it a variable incidence of nausea and vomiting. We investigated a method of prophylaxis against this side effect. One hundred patients undergoing fluorescein angiography were pretreated in a double-masked, randomized fashion with either 20 mg of intravenous metoclopramide hydrochloride or an equal volume of normal saline solution.

Study of lignin biotransformation by Aspergillus fumigatus and white-rot fungi using (14)C-labeled and unlabeled kraft lignins.

The biodegradation of lignin by fungi was studied in shake flasks using (14)C-labeled kraft lignin and in a deep-tank fermentor using unlabeled kraft lignin. Among the fungi screened, A. fumigatus-isolated in our laboratories-was most potent in lignin biotransformation.

Tissue culture as a diagnostic technique for soft-tissue sarcoma of childhood.

A case of childhood small cell undifferentiated sarcoma was grown in vitro in a serum-free culture medium. In vivo the tumor showed no evidence of differentiation by light microscopy, electron microscopy, and immunoperoxidase staining for myoglobin or skeletal muscle myosin. After growth in vitro for two weeks in a defined culture medium, the tumor cells formed myotubes and demonstrated ultrastructural myogenic differentiation.

Skeletal muscle differentiation in Wilms' tumor. Antibody identification and explant culture.

We studied a case of Wilms' tumor with focal areas of well-differentiated skeletal muscle by immunoperoxidase staining using anti-skeletal muscle myosin and by tissue culture explant of the tumor. Strong immunostaining occurred in areas of well-differentiated muscle but also occurred in focal areas where the cells were undifferentiated. The primary explant of this tumor was attempted using standard serum-containing culture media and a serum-free hormonally defined culture medium.

Thienamycin production by immobilized cells of Streptomyces cattleya in a bubble column.

A novel 2.0-L columnar reactor has been developed for the production of thienamycin by cells of Streptomyces cattleya attached to celite particles. Successful immobilization of cells was achieved by operating the column continuously at a high dilution rate during the growth phase.

Effect of progesterone treatment on the calving-to-conception interval of Friesian dairy cows.

A total of 615 autumn calving Friesian dairy cows in seven herds were allocated to treatment or control groups according to date of previous calving, parity and milk yield. All cows were scored for body condition at the start of the breeding season. A silastic coil impregnated with progesterone with a capsule containing oestradiol benzoate attached was inserted into the vaginas of the 310 treated cows.

Changes in plasma catecholamine concentrations during endotracheal intubation.

The changes in arterial pressure and arterial concentrations of noradrenaline, adrenaline and dopamine were monitored in 16 patients undergoing endotracheal intubation. Significant increases in mean arterial pressure and plasma noradrenaline were noted. The increases in arterial pressure were associated with increases in noradrenaline concentrations.

An antigen expressed by cells of the myelo-monocytic lineage.

We describe an antigen(s) characterized by a heteroantiserum raised in rabbits against mature human granulocytes. This antigen was found on neutrophils, monocytes, platelets, acute and chronic myelocytic leukemia cells and on granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells grown in agar. It was not found on lymphocytes, eosinophils, erythrocytes, or erythroid progenitor cells.

Levamisole-associated neutropenia and autoimmune granulocytotoxins.

To investigate possible immune mechanisms responsible for levamisole-associated neutropenia we tested patients with bladder cancer on levamisole therapy. Autoimmune and complement-dependent granulocytotoxic antibodies were detected in 3 patients with levamisole-induced neutropenia. The granulocytopenia appeared to be causally related to the presence of autoantibodies in that pretreatment serum or serum obtained after the restoration of neutrophil counts showed diminished or no granulocytotoxic reactivity.

Fertility of norgestomet treated suckler cows.

Four studies are described involving 3050 single suckled mainly Hereford-Friesian cross beef cows treated with norgestomet and oestradiol valerate to control the ovarian cycle. In study 1 the effect of insemination timing on pregnancy rate was studied. A greater proportion of cows inseminated 48 and 72 hours after treatment became pregnant than after a single insemination at 48 hours.

Immunological surveillance against neoplasia: an immunological quandary.

Immunological endeavor in recent years calls for a reappraisal of the concept of immunosurveillance against neoplasia. This concept proposes an immunological policing system capable of aborting tumor growth by the recognition of "nonself" tumor associated antigens on neoplastic cells. The model is supported by evidence of tumor induction in the immunosuppressed host and the demonstration of an immune response to tumors in animals.

Autoimmune cytotoxic granulocyte antibodies in normal persons and various diseases.

Of 400 female and 58 normal nonommunized male sera approximately 10% were cytotoxic for a panel of allogeneic granulocytes. Sera with strong alloreactivity were also autoreactive, which emphasized the large autoimmune component of most alloantisera against granulocytes. The cytotoxic granulocyte autoantibodies were complement dependent, of the IgM class, and exhibited optimum cytotoxic activity in vitro at 5 degrees C precomplement incubation temperatures with papain-treated cells.

Cell surface antigens detected on mature and leukemic granulocytic populations by cytotoxicity testing.

Using a microcytotoxicity assay, the serological reactivity of human granulocytes, namely neutrophils and eosinophils, and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells and cultured CML cell lines (K562, NALM-1) were examined. Mature granulocyte forms and cord granulocytes are readily lysed by specific granulocyte cytotoxins that do not react with random T and B lymphocytes, monocytes, red blood cells, or platelets. Furthermore, certain antisera were preferentially cytotoxic for eosinophil-enriched populations.