Cytotoxin- and Chemotaxis-Genes Cooperate to Promote Adhesion of subsp. .

subsp. () is an emerging pathogen of marine animals that sometimes causes serious infections in humans. Two related pore forming toxins, phobalysins P and C, and damselysin, a phospholipase D, confer strong virulence of in mice.

Repair of a Bacterial Small β-Barrel Toxin Pore Depends on Channel Width.

Membrane repair emerges as an innate defense protecting target cells against bacterial pore-forming toxins. Here, we report the first paradigm of Ca-dependent repair following attack by a small β-pore-forming toxin, namely, plasmid-encoded phobalysin of subsp. In striking contrast, cytolysin, the closest ortholog of phobalysin, subverted repair.

Dissecting the role of ADAM10 as a mediator of Staphylococcus aureus α-toxin action.

Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of bacterial infections in humans, including life-threatening diseases such as pneumonia and sepsis. Its small membrane-pore-forming α-toxin is considered an important virulence factor. By destroying cell-cell contacts through cleavage of cadherins, the metalloproteinase ADAM10 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10) critically contributes to α-toxin-dependent pathology of experimental S.

Phobalysin, a Small β-Pore-Forming Toxin of Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae.

Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae, an important pathogen of marine animals, may also cause septicemia or hyperaggressive necrotizing fasciitis in humans. We previously showed that hemolysin genes are critical for virulence of this organism in mice and fish.

eIF2α Confers Cellular Tolerance to S. aureus α-Toxin.

We report on the role of conserved stress-response pathways for cellular tolerance to a pore forming toxin. First, we observed that small molecular weight inhibitors including of eIF2α-phosphatase, jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK), and PI3-kinase sensitized normal mouse embryonal fibroblasts (MEFs) to the small pore forming S. aureus α-toxin.

Postterm pregnancy: computer analysis of the antepartum fetal heart rate patterns.

The purpose of this study was to establish reference ranges for numerical fetal heart rate (FHR) data in postterm pregnancy and to compare them with the patterns of fetuses under undisturbed condition at term. FHR was analysed on-line by Sonicaid Computer System 8000. A statistically significant decrease in the number of accelerations and decrease of variation in postterm pregnancy was observed.

Small for gestational age twins: a retrospective analysis of clinical and acid-base status immediately after delivery.

In a retrospective study on 86 twins born between 1971 and 1990, the clinical and acidity status of small for gestational age twins in cases of uncomplicated labor was analysed and compared with the status of appropriate for gestational age twins. No difference was observed in Apgar score and umbilical blood pH between growth retarded and normal twins. The single fact of growth retardation without other factors of risk during labor has no influence on clinical status of small for gestational age twins.

Time interval in twin delivery--the second twin need not always be born shortly after the first.

In order to evaluate the influence of the time interval on the second twin in twin deliveries, we have used more precise criteria than have been used in the literature to date. The following parameters of the twins were analyzed: normal CTG of the second twin recorded continuously during labor and pH value of the umbilical artery blood after delivery as well as clinical state according to the modified Apgar score. We could not find a general influence of the time interval on pH and clinical status of the second twin.

Effect of the vibratory acoustic stimulation on fetal heart rate patterns of premature fetuses.

The purpose of this study was to examine the heart rate patterns before and after a standardized external vibratory acoustic stimulation in a group of 24 healthy premature fetuses at 32-35 weeks gestational age. FHR was analysed on line by Sonicaid Computer System 8000. A significant increase in the number of accelerations and an increase of variation after stimulus were observed.

Computer analysis of the antepartum fetal heart rate patterns in the intrauterine growth-retarded human fetus using Sonicaid System 8000.

A total of 28 pregnant women with growth-retarded fetuses were studied to examine the antepartum fetal heart rate patterns between 30 and 39 weeks of gestation. Sonicaid Computer System 8000 was used to analyze on line 200 cardiotocograms. We found that there is an increase in the number of accelerations, an increase in variation assessed in beats per minute and in milliseconds, an increase in duration of high episode and a decrease in the number of decelerations.

Effect of continuous lumbar epidural anaesthesia during labour on fetal transcutaneous carbon dioxide.

The effect of epidural anaesthesia during labour on fetal transcutaneous carbon dioxide (tcPCO2) was observed on 27 fetuses. Our results show that in the course of epidural anaesthesia there is an increase in fetal tcPCO2. We can see a slight increase even before administering the test dose, while preparatory measures are undertaken for the epidural anaesthesia.

The effect of maternal oxygen administration on fetal and maternal blood flow values using Doppler ultrasonography.

Thirty-one pregnant women divided into three groups (AGA prepartum, SGA prepartum without distress, AGA in labor) were examined using Doppler ultrasonography before, during and after oxygen administration to mothers via a face mask. The aim of the study was to find out if there was any effect on the blood flow values in the fetal aorta, the umbilical artery, the fetal common carotid artery and the uterine arcuate arteries. The resistance index (RI) did not change in those vessels during maternal hyperoxygenation with one exception: in the group of SGA fetuses the RI in the fetal aorta increased significantly.

Does pulsed-Doppler ultrasound have mutagenic effects? Application of the Ames mutagenicity assay to test pulsed-Doppler equipment.

Measurement of fetal blood flow has been accepted using pulsed-Doppler ultrasound. Until recently, there has been a lack of investigations concerning the potential risks of this method. The possible mutagenic effect of a pulsed-Doppler system was examined in vitro by applying the Ames test.

[Differences in sonographic measurements of the fetal head and chest].

Differences in measurements using cephalometry and thoracometry ante partum are reported. Two examiners performed fetal head and thorax measurements shortly after one another using the same ultrasonic equipment without knowing the measurements achieved by each other. A series of 195 measurements were made by a few less experienced examiners.

The influence of oxygen administration to the mother during labor on the fetal transcutaneously measured carbon-dioxide partial pressure.

The aim of this study was to plot the course of the transcutaneously measured PCO2 (tcPCO2) in the fetus during oxygenation of the mother. In our examination 35 parturients with a suspicious or pathologic CTG were given pure oxygen for 10 minutes at a flow speed of 10 l/min. The fetal tcPCO2 was measured with a TCM 3 measuring device from Radiometer.

Myoglobin in third trimester amniotic fluid of human pregnancy--a potential indicator of fetal hypoxia.

195 amniotic fluid samples from the third trimester were examined for their content of myoglobin by means of radio-immunoassay. 151 of the samples were obtained intrapartum, the rest (44) was taken antepartum by transabdominal amniocentesis within one week prior to delivery. Depending on the myoglobin levels measured, different amniotic fluid groups were defined: (A) amniotic fluids containing no myoglobin or traces of it (less than 3 ng/ml), (B) amniotic fluids with moderately elevated myoglobin levels (3-10 ng/ml), (C) amniotic fluids with high myoglobin levels (greater than 10 ng/ml).

[Use of a stapling device in abdominal cesarean section].

This is a report on the use of a stapling device for caesarean sections. The device can be inserted right and left after a very small median uterotomy. It cuts the uterine wall and at the same time places clips on the edges of the wound.

[A simple immersion test object for the evaluation of axial and lateral resolution of ultrasound pulse echo instruments].

We introduce a test object usable in a water tank for the determination of the axial and lateral resolution of ultrasonic pulse echo equipments. Measuring wires with a diameter of 0.2 mm form the bounds of a measuring line.

[Densitometry and fetal superficial cell count in the amniotic fluid for the determination of fetal lung maturity].

It was shown that a spectrophotometric investigation of the amniotic fluid for the determination of fetal lung maturity can be achieved with a photometer of the wave length 644 nm (CD) and 623 nm (HG) in conjunction with a count of superficial cells. In a small number of investigations the combination of spectrophotometry and fetal cell count is a sufficiently accurate method to determine fetal lung maturity.

[Involution of the uterus following vaginal or abdominal delivery].

Involution of the uterus was observed in 77 puerperae by B-scan ultrasonography. In most cases the examinations were carried out several times on different days. Of all uterine dimensions (extension, circumferences, areal dimensions, volume index) the length proved particularly suitable for evaluating the involution.

Investigation into the possible genetic effects of diagnostic ultrasound.

The mutagenic effect of DUS (diagnostic ultrasound) was examined using two generators emitting continuous waves and pulsed waves, respectively. Three different test systems for mutagenic activity were employed in this study. 1.

The effects of diagnostic ultrasonography on the frequencies of sister chromatid exchanges in Chinese hamster cells and human lymphocytes.

Human lymphocytes as well as Chinese hamster ovary cells were sonicated with either a fetal pulse detector (Siemens, Eucotone) or a compound scanner (Kretz, Combison 4100) at diagnostic energy levels. In one experimental series the cells were treated in the G1-phase of the cell cycle, in the other during late S-phase. The frequency of sister chromatid exchanges was determined in the metaphase chromosomes of the following mitosis.

[Procedures in the pregnant and non-pregnant uterus under sonographic control (author's transl)].

Several procedures during pregnancy under ultra-sonographic control are described. Amniocentesis and puncture of the fetus may be done accurately without too much problems when a multi-element ultra-sound scanner is used for sonographic control. The principle of manipulation with ultra-sonographic control may be used for curettage.

[The risks of amniocentesis in the second trimester of pregnancy (author's transl)].

The results of 552 amniocenteses during the second trimester of pregnancy are reported. The amniocentesis were carried out under direct ultra-sonographic control. Six abnormal karyotypes were found and the pregnancies were terminated.