Microbial flora of in-use soap products.

A comparison has been made of the in-use bacterial load of two bar soaps with and without antibacterials and two liquid soaps in five different locations over a 1-week period. Of the 25 samples taken from each soap, 92 to 96% of samples from bar soaps were culture positive as compared to 8% of those from liquid soaps. Bacterial populations ranged from 0 to 3.8 log CFU per sample for bar soaps and from 0 to 2.0 log CFU per sample for liquid soaps. The mean bacterial populations per sample were 1.96 and 2.47 log CFU for the two bar soaps, and 0.08 and 0.12 log CFU for the two liquid soaps. The difference in bacterial population between bar soaps and liquid soaps was statistically significant (P = 0.005). Staphylococcus aureus was isolated on three occasions from bar soaps but not from liquid soaps. S. aureus was isolated twice from the exterior of the plastic dispensers of liquid soap but not from the soap itself. Gram-negative bacteria were cultured only from soaps containing antibacterials. Bacterial populations on bar soaps were not high compared with bacterial populations on hands, and the flora was continually changing without evidence of a carrier state.     

Microbial flora in the ears of healthy experimental beagles.

There are studies of the microbial flora of the normal canine ear canal, but it is difficult to compare their results because the parts of the ear examined are not described, and various breeds of dogs were used. Therefore, we used only beagles to study the normal microbial flora in three parts of the ear: the pinna, the anthelix, and the vertical ear canal. The rates of bacterial isolation from the three parts were 91.8%, 70.5% and 48.8%, respectively. The corresponding rates of isolating yeasts was 48.8%, 81.4%, and 83.7%, respectively. These results show that the physiologic factors of the three parts of the ear from which the samples were obtained must be radically different.     

Microbial flora variations in the respiratory tract of mice.

A stable microbial system in the respiratory tract acts as an important defense mechanism against pathogenic microorganisms. Perturbations in this system may allow pathogens to establish. In an ecological environment such as the respiratory tract, there are many diverse factors that play a role in the establishment of the indigenous flora. In the present work we studied the normal microbial flora of different areas of the respiratory tract of mice and their evolution from the time the mice were born. Our interest was to know which were the dominant groups of microorganisms in each area, which were the first capable of colonizing and which dominated over time to be used as probiotic microorganisms. Our results show that Gram negative facultatively anaerobic bacilli and strict anaerobic microorganisms were the last ones to appear in the bronchia, while aerobic and Gram positive cocci were present in all the areas of the respiratory tract. The number of facultative aerobes and strict anaerobes were similar in the nasal passage, pharynx instilled and trachea, but lower in bronchia. The dominant species were Streptococcus viridans and Staphylococcus saprophyticcus, followed by S. epidermidis, Lactobacilli and S. cohnii I which were present on every studied days but at different proportions. This paper is the first part of a research topic investigating the protective effect of the indigenous flora against pathogens using the mice as an experimental model.     

Microbial flora of in-use soap products

A comparison has been made of the in-use bacterial load of two bar soaps with and without antibacterials and two liquid soaps in five different locations over a 1-week period. Of the 25 samples taken from each soap, 92 to 96% of samples from bar soaps were culture positive as compared to 8% of those from liquid soaps. Bacterial populations ranged from 0 to 3.8 log CFU per sample for bar soaps and from 0 to 2.0 log CFU per sample for liquid soaps. The mean bacterial populations per sample were 1.96 and 2.47 log CFU for the two bar soaps, and 0.08 and 0.12 log CFU for the two liquid soaps. The difference in bacterial population between bar soaps and liquid soaps was statistically significant (P = 0.005). Staphylococcus aureus was isolated on three occasions from bar soaps but not from liquid soaps. S. aureus was isolated twice from the exterior of the plastic dispensers of liquid soap but not from the soap itself. Gram-negative bacteria were cultured only from soaps containing antibacterials. Bacterial populations on bar soaps were not high compared with bacterial populations on hands, and the flora was continually changing without evidence of a carrier state.     

本溪山樱根际微生物区系

利用选择性培养基,对本溪山樱(Cerasus sachalinensis)根际微生物进行了分离、鉴定和分类,分析了不同物候期根际微生物区系的变化.结果表明:从本溪山樱根际分离纯化获得的细菌分别属于15个属,以芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus)、假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)、黄杆菌属(Flavobacterium)为主;放线菌的7个类群中,以黄色链霉菌属(Flavus)和白色链霉菌属(Al-bosporus)为主;真菌以毛霉属(Mucor)、曲霉属(Aspergillus)和青霉属(Penicillium)为主.本溪山樱不同物候期根际微生物区系不同,落叶期根际微生物区系最丰富,萌芽期较少.     

Microbial flora of the mouse ileum mucous layer and epithelial surface.

We have developed new methods to minimize fluid shear during preparation of specimens for electron microscopy and to retain the mucous blanket that covers the tissue surface of the ileum in mice. We also used general stabilization by nonspecific antibodies to minimize the collapse of the mucous layer during dehydration for electron microscopy. These methods allowed us to visualize the gradual progression of the mucous blanket from a thin diaphanous layer in newborn animals to a very thick (ca. 50 micrometers), coherent structure in older animals that contained a mixed population of bacteria and protozoa. Some bacteria, notably filamentous forms, were patently anchored to the epithelial tissue but projected into the mucous blanket, whereas others clearly existed within the mucous blanket and were unattached to the epithelial surface. Similarly, some protozoa were firmly attached to the tissue surface, whereas others were suspended in the viscous mucous blanket. In an adult animal, the mucous blanket was a very thick layer which actually occluded most of the tissue surface and contained a rich variety of bacteria and protozoa.     

Young doctors' views on alternative medicine.

A survey was undertaken to explore attitudes to alternative medicine among 100 general practitioner trainees. A positive attitude emerged from the 86 respondents, with 18 doctors using at least one alternative method themselves and 70 wanting to train in one or more. A total of 31 trainees had referred patients for such treatments; 12 of these doctors made referrals to non-medically qualified practitioners. The most commonly used alternative treatments were hypnosis, manipulation, homoeopathy, and acupuncture. A total of 22 doctors had been treated, or had treated themselves, by an alternative treatment, and this personal experience was linked to a greater professional use. These findings indicate that alternative methods of treatment are currently being used to complement orthodox medicine and an expansion in their use appears imminent.