Tolerance limits and methodology: effect on international trade.

Microbiological contamination of foods with Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., and other pathogens and toxins and chemical and environmental contaminants can cause serious health and trade problems in the international trade of foods.

Epitope mapping of antibodies recognising the N-terminal domain of simian virus large tumour antigen.

The large tumour antigen (TAg) of simian virus 40 is the main regulatory protein in viral replication. We have investigated possible functional roles for the N-terminal domain of TAg while defining the epitopes of antibodies binding within that region. The epitopes recognised by eight monoclonal anti-TAg antibodies were identified using synthetic peptides in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Feasibility study of the spectroscopic measurement of oxyhemoglobin using whole blood without pre-treatment.

A feasibility study was carried out to evaluate a chemometrics-enhanced measurement of oxyhemoglobin concentration in whole blood without pre-treatment by lysing cellular components in the sample. Conventional in vitro multi-wavelength CO oximeters pre-process blood by sonication or detergent dilution to lyse blood cells to reduce light scattering. Two limitations result: (1) residual cell membrane fragments can seed surface biofouling and (2) dilution errors can occur.

Mother-child agreement on self-report of anxiety in abused children.

This study investigates the lack of agreement in maternal and child report of child anxiety with a sample of abused and nonabused clinic-referred children. Based on the literature, it was predicted that nonabused clinic-referred children would report more symptoms of anxiety than their mothers would report for them. It was also predicted that mothers of abused children would report greater anxiety symptoms for their children than the children's self-report.

In vitro antimicrobial activity of the thiazolyl peptide antibiotic MDL 62,879 (GE2270 A).

Compound MDL 62,879 (GE2270 A) is a thiazolyl peptide antibiotic that appears to inhibit aminoacyl-tRNA binding to elongation factor Tu. In the present study, it was shown that MDL 62,879 broth microdilution MIC values were generally 2-4 doubling dilutions lower in the presence of 0.02% bovine serum albumin.

Reconstitution of human base excision repair with purified proteins.

Base excision repair is a major mechanism for correcting aberrant DNA bases. We are using an in vitro base excision repair assay to fractionate and purify proteins from a human cell extract that are involved in this type of repair. Three fractions are required to reconstitute base excision repair synthesis using a uracil-containing DNA as a model substrate.

Circadian temperature and cortisol rhythms during a constant routine are phase-delayed in hypersomnic winter depression.

Circadian temperature, cortisol, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) rhythms during a constant routine were assessed in 6 female controls and 6 female patients with hypersomnic winter depression (seasonal affective disorder, SAD) before and after morning bright light treatment. After sleep was standardized for 6 days, the subjects were sleep-deprived and at bed rest for 27 hours while rectal temperature, cortisol, and TSH levels were assessed. The minimum of the fitted rectal temperature rhythm was phase-delayed in the SAD group compared to the controls 5:42 AM vs.

Comparison of biological and chemical assays for the quantitation of rifapentine in human plasma.

The purpose of this study was to establish the correlation between biological and chemical assays for the quantification of rifapentine in human plasma. The bioassay was found to overestimate antibiotic plasma concentration when compared to the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay for rifapentine (r = 0.9538, n = 220).

A case of sulfhemoglobinemia and emergency measurement of sulfhemoglobin with an OSM3 CO-oximeter.

We describe a case of sulfhemoglobinemia associated with toxic paint ingestion. Blood gases, oxygen content, and fractional hemoglobin derivatives were assayed with Radiometer 520 and OSM3 instruments. Although the CO-oximeters indicated the presence of sulfhemoglobin (SulfHb), the results were not quantitative.

Association of elevated umbilical cord blood creatine kinase and myoglobin levels with the presence of cocaine metabolites in maternal urine.

Study Objective: To determine whether an association exists between antenatal cocaine exposure and elevated levels of creatine kinase (CK) and myoglobin in umbilical cord blood collected upon delivery.

Study Population: 105 anonymous maternal urines with corresponding infant umbilical cords bloods.

Methods: Maternal urines were screened for cocaine metabolites by the Syva EMIT assay, with positive specimens confirmed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Characterization of the DNA polymerase requirement of human base excision repair.

Base excision repair is one of the major mechanisms by which cells correct damaged DNA. We have developed an in vitro assay for base excision repair which is dependent on a uracil-containing DNA template. In this report, we demonstrate the fractionation of a human cell extract into two required components.

Blood ionized magnesium concentrations during cardiopulmonary bypass and their correlation with other circulating cations.

Background And Aim: The recent introduction of new measurement technology (using ion specific electrodes) makes intraoperative evaluation of blood ionized magnesium (Mg2+, or iMg)--the bioactive fraction of circulation magnesium--possible. The goals of this study were: (1) to examine the longitudinal pattern(s) of change in blood iMg during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB); and (2) to determine the relationship of iMg to Ca2+ (iCa), K, pH, Na, and hematocrit (Hct) during CPB.

Methods: Blood was collected serially before, during, and after CPB on 30 patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft procedures and the iMg was measured with an AVL Scientific Corp.

Preoxygenation in children using expired oxygraphy.

We performed preoxygenation on 25 patients, aged 1-12 yr. End-tidal oxygen sampling was used to find the duration of preoxygenation required to reach an end-tidal oxygen fraction of 0.9.

A reappraisal of the diversity and class distribution of aspartate transcarbamoylases in gram-negative bacteria.

Recently, the subunit composition of class A aspartate transcarbamoylases (ATCases) in fluorescent pseudomonads has been clarified. We present evidence that distribution of this type of ATCase may be more widespread than at first suspected. Bacterial ATCases exist in three forms: class A (molecular mass approximately 450-500 kDA); class B, typified by Escherichia coli ATCase (approximately 300 kDa); and class C, typified by Bacillus subtilis ATCase (approximately 100 kDa).

Anaesthesia for electroconvulsive therapy. Personnel and facilities.

In order to compare the anaesthetic staffing and facilities provided for patients undergoing electroconvulsive therapy with those provided for patients undergoing elective cystoscopy, a confidential telephone enquiry was conducted. An anaesthetist in each of the 40 hospitals where electroconvulsive therapy is performed in three Health Regions chosen at random was questioned. The results show that a high standard of care is provided for patients undergoing elective cystoscopy in terms of pre-operative assessment, anaesthetic assistance, intra-operative monitoring and postoperative recovery facilities.

Carcinosarcoma arising in eccrine spiradenoma of the breast. Report of a case and review of the literature.

Although the vast majority of eccrine spiradenomas behave in a benign fashion, 23 cases of malignant transformation have been reported to date. We describe a unique example of malignant eccrine spiradenoma that arose in the right breast of a 68-year-old woman. The quiescent mass, which was present for approximately 50 years, experienced sudden enlargement with erythematous changes of the overlying skin and nipple discharge.

Circulating total and ionized magnesium after ethanol ingestion.

Hypomagnesemia is associated with alcoholism (Lim P, Jacob E. Metabolism 1972;21:1045-51). Here we assess two measurements of blood magnesium in emergency care patients with confirmed ethanol ingestion.

Effect of antibody specificity on results of selected digoxin immunoassays among various clinical groups.

We examined the specificity of three automated digoxin immunoassays (Abbott TDxFLx Digoxin II assay, Baxter-Dade Stratus II Digoxin assay, and Ciba Corning ACS Digoxin assay) applied without modification to (a) sera from 229 digoxin-free patients in 12 cohorts associated with nonspecific or endogenous digoxin-like immunoreactive factor (DLIF) interference, and (b) drug-free serum supplemented with the major metabolites and analogs of digoxin. We observed three patterns of apparent digoxin results among the DLIF samples: one common to kidney and liver failure patients, where TDx and Stratus assays showed significant positive results; one common to newborns and cord blood, where only the TDx assay had significant interference; and one from cardiac surgery patients, where the Stratus assay alone showed interference. Of the three assays, the ACS had the least interference from DLIF.

Application of a novel fiber-optic biosensor in situ to investigate the metabolic effect of lactate infusion.

Recently developed biosensor technology, which allows near real-time measurement in situ of gas tension (pCO2 and pO2) and of pH, was applied to arterial blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and brain parenchyma during intravenous lactate infusion in monkeys. Comparison of simultaneous biosensor measurements and discrete arterial blood sampling for traditional blood gas analyses indicated a high level of correlation for pCO2, pO2, and pH. Arterial pO2 and pH values were significantly higher and pCO2 significantly lower than corresponding CSF and brain parenchyma values at baseline, during and following lactate infusion.

In vitro activity of the semisynthetic glycopeptide amide MDL 63,246.

The in vitro activity of the semisynthetic glycopeptide amide MDL 63,246 against 293 U.S. clinical isolates of gram-positive cocci was determined by the broth microdilution method.

Synthesis, antiviral activity and enzymatic phosphorylation of 9-phosphonopentenyl derivatives of guanine.

(E)-9-(5-Phosphonopent-4-enyl)guanine and (E)-9-[3-(hydroxymethyl)-5- phosphonopent-4-enyl]guanine which bear a vinyl phosphonate moiety as a mimic of the phosphate group were synthesized. Their activities against human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1), herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) were evaluated in vitro in parallel with those of 9-(5-phosphonopentyl)guanine and 9-(5,5-difluoro-5- phosphonopentyl)guanine. Both vinyl phosphonates exhibited anti-HIV-1 and anti-HCMV activities, whereas the methyl- and difluoromethyl phosphonate analogues were inactive.