Determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration of Amphotericin B and Miconazole for 21 strains of Aspergillus

The susceptibility of 21 strains ofAspergillus (11 ofA. fumigatus, 8 ofA. niger, and 2 ofA. flavus) isolated from human pathologic specimens to Amphotericin B and Miconazole has been comparatively studied. Determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration of both drugs in a liquid medium showed a noticeably variability for the different strains. The values obtained for Amphotericin B varied between 0.25g/ml (2 strains) and 1.25g/ml (5 strains) after 48 hours, and between 1.25g/ml (1 strain) and 50g/ml (1 strain) after 10 days. For Miconazole the results varied between 0.1g/ml (1 strain) and 25g/ml (1 strain) after 48 hours of incubation, and between 0.5g/ml (5 strains) and > 100g/ml after 10 days. The variability of these results indicates the usefulness of carrying ourin vitro sensitivity studies whenever it is possible.     

Analysis of intestinal cell proliferation after guanethidine-induced sympathectomy

Summary Guanethidine-induced sympathectomy in the rat during the neonatal period (injection of 20 g/g body weight every 48 h from day of birth until day 14) produces an absolute reduction in the number of sympathetic ganglion cells, but no significant alteration of body weight. Superior cervical ganglia show 79.8 % fewer cell bodies at 15 days and 92.3 % at 45 days; coeliac ganglia exhibit an 81.0 % reduction at 15 days and 89.6 % at 45 days in guanethidine-treated rats as compared to normal controls. The sympathetic ganglion cells that remain after treatment have an abnormal morphological appearance with distended mitochondria and depletion of endoplasmic reticulum. Sympathectomy produces a prolongation of the generation cycle time (Tc) as measured by the colchicine-induced mitotic arrest technique, and a decrease in labelling, mitotic, and migration indices. In addition, sympathectomy suppresses the amplitude of the circadian rhythm in mitotic activity. The general suppression of this activity in the intestinal epithelium is more pronounced in the jejunum and ileum than in the duodenum. Variation in the effectiveness of sympathectomy on the inhibition of intestinal cell proliferation may be related to segmental differences in cell proliferation, to segmental differences in innervation, and/or to segmental variation in the effectiveness of guanethidine.Supported by N.I.H. grant DE04557 to R.M.K. and N.I.H. grant 5-SO1-RR5373 to the University of Kansas Medical Center. The authors wish to acknowledge Charles A. Brownley, CIBA-Geigy, Summit New Jersey, U.S.A. for the gift of guanethidine-sulfate     

Partial deletion of 4p16 band in a ring chromosome and wolf syndrome

Summary A new case of ring chromosome 4 in a 2-day-old female child with multiple malformations is described. By means of the GTG-banding technique, a karyotype 46,XX,r(4), (p16q35) was determined. The characteristics of the child's karyotype and the relationship with the structure of the chromosome, especially the location of the deletion that produces the syndrome, are compared with previous reports.     

Two more "private" polymorphisms of Amerindian tribes: LDHb GUA-1 and ACP1 B GUA-1 in the Guaymi in Panama.

A survey of Guaymi Indians of Panama for the occurrence of genetic variants of 25 proteins of the erythrocytes and sera have revealed, in addition to seven well-known genetic polymorphisms, four rare variants and two "private polymorphisms," the latter involving erythrocyte acid phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase. The significance of such private polymorphisms in tribal populations to the interpretation of rare variants in civilized populations is emphasized.     

Vasotocin, melatonin and narcolepsy: Possible involvement of the pineal gland in its patho-physiological mechanism

Both the pineal nonapeptide hormone arginine vasotocin (AVT) (2.5 μg) administered intra-nasally and the pineal indole melatonin (50 mg) administered intravenously to three male narcoleptics (two with auxiliary symptoms and one with sleep attacks only), dramatically increased the amount of REM sleep and decreased REM sleep latency. The duration of the sleep onset REM periods in the two narcoleptics with auxiliary symptoms increased by more than 100 percent after AVT and melatonin administration. In the narcoleptic with sleep attacks only both AVT and melatonin induced REM periods at sleep onset. The hypothesis is advanced that narcolepsy represents an impairment of the melatonin-AVT control in the induction and circadian organization of REM sleep associated with an immaturity of REM triggering centers.     

Morphological changes in strains of Aspergillus flavus link ex fries and Aspergillus parasiticus speare related with aflatoxin production

Two strains ofAspergillus flavus Linkex Fr. and two strains ofA. parasiticus Speare were cultured on crushed moist wheat (Triticum durum var. Pané no. 247) for aflatoxin production studies in correlation with morphological changes. The toxicogenic strains were adapted to the substratum by means of successive transfers at regular intervals (72 h.)The amount aflatoxins synthesized by the toxicogenic strains decreased gradually after succesive subculturing. The decrease was accompanied by marked morphological changes. One of the strains studied,A. flavus NRRL 3251, lost completly the capacity of aflatoxin synthesis after several subcultures, presenting at the same time strong morphological variations.A. flavus CBS 120.62 also lost its toxicogenicity after six subcultures.     

A stereological analysis of developing egg chambers in the honeybee queen,Apis mellifera

Summary A polytrophic ovariole of the queen honeybee, Apis mellifera, is composed of a linear series of increasingly mature egg chambers, each consisting of an oocyte, an interconnected cluster of nurse cells, and a covering layer of follicle cells. This study describes changes in the volume of each of these components, as a function of the position of the egg chamber in the ovariole. An oocyte increases in volume from approximately 8.9 × 10³ m³ to approximately 9.6 × 10⁶ m³ over an average series of 20 egg chambers.     

Birefringence determination of magnetic moments of magnetotactic bacteria

A birefringence technique is used to determine the average magnetic moments <μ> of magnetotactic bacteria in culture. Differences in <μ> are noted between live and dead bacteria, as well as between normal density and high density samples of live bacteria.     

Characterization of immune type interferon (IFN gamma)-induced cytoplasmic protein kinase activity in mouse L cells

Mouse immune interferon (IFNγ) induced double-stranded RNA-independent protein kinase activity in the cytoplasmic fraction of mouse L cells as measured against a histone substrate. Chromatographic purification separated the activity into three distinct kinases of molecular weights of approximately 100K (kinase I), 70K (kinase II), and 70K (kinase III). Partially purified IFNγ was as effective as crude in inducing protein kinase activity. Induction was blocked by treatment of IFNγ with specific anti-IFNγ antibody or by treatment of the L cells with actinomycin D. Kinase II activity was different from that of kinases I and III in that it showed Ca-dependence in the absence of Mg²⁺, was inhibited in activity by the SH binding agent N-ethylmaleimide, and could use the cellular enzymes RNase A and hexokinase as substrates. The described protein kinases could play an important role in mediation of IFNγ effects, particularly where phosphorylated enzyme substrates were shown to have altered activity.