Zinc affects humoral and cellular response in mice.

The aim of the presented work was to elucidate whether supplementation with zinc affects the immunological response in BALB/c mice. Zinc was used as ZnCl2 in concentrations of 10(-4); 10(-5); 10(-6) M in PFC and migration-inhibition test. It was found that the numbers of anti-SRBC antibody-producing cells in mice injected with zinc were greater than in the control ones. This enhancement of PFC was proportional to the concentration of zinc. ZnCl2 itself inhibited target cell migration in concentration 10(-4) M but had no effect at 10(-5) and 10(-6) M. Zinc in all investigated concentrations promoted the action of suboptimal as well as optimal doses of PHA and enhanced target cell migration inhibition. It was determined that ZnCl2 in concentration 10(-4) M activated mouse lymphocytes for migration inhibitory factors production. We postulate that zinc may enhance the effectiveness of anti-infectious immunity.

[Aneurysmal cyst of the cervico-thoracic junction of the spine]. / Torbiel tetniakowata kregoslupa pogranicza szyjno-piersiowego.

The authors report an extensive aneurysmal cyst of the spine at the cervicothoracic junction. During the disease in the patient (a girl aged 9 years) high-grade tetraparesis developed (with complete paralysis of lower extremities but with spared deep sensation and retained sphincter control). In the treatment a two-stage operation with radical removal of the cyst from anterior and posterior approach, spondylodesis and radiotherapy gave very good results as compared with the very poor condition before the operation. Nearly complete movements of all extremities returned, superficial sensation loss regressed. The usefulness of surgical treatment even in such advanced cases is stressed. CT was very helpful in the assessment of the extent of the tumour and its growth rate.

[Experimental infection of mice with Babesia microti: characterization of parasitemia]. / Doswiadczalne zarazenie myszy Babesia microti: Charakterystyka parazytemii.

The apicomplexa parasites of the genus Babesia, the etiologic agents of the disease not only in domestic and wild mammals but also in humans, live and reproduce in erythrocytes of the host. Transmission of Babesia species is by tick (Ixodidae) bite. In natural conditions, trans-stadial and trans-ovarian passage occurs in Ixodes ricinus infected with some species of Babesia, e.g. B. divergens. However, there is apparently trans-stadial passage of B. microti in Ixodes sp. only from larvae to nymphs, but trans-stadial passage from nymphs to adults or trans-ovarian passage has not been reported. The present study was undertaken to compare the parasitemia of B. microti infection in BALB/c and F1 (B10 x CBA) mice by two different methods: intraperitoneal injection of parasites or infection by the oral route. In both groups, experimental mice were inoculated with 5 x 10(7) infected erythrocytes in 100 microliters of blood. Babesia infection was acquired by all mice infected intraperitoneally with maximum 57% of parasitemia on day 6 post infection (pi) in F1 (B10 x CBA) mice and 40% of parasitemia on day 8 and 10 pi in BALB/c mice. Ten of 27 (37%) BALB/c mice infected by oral route showed low parasitemia (9%) during first two weeks pi. In this group of mice the pick of parasitemia (26%) was observed on day 22 pi. In both groups of infected mice the period of prepatency ended between days 35 and 40 pi. Experiments have confirmed that the maintenance of babesiosis may be continued in the absence of a tick vector. Demonstration, under experimental conditions, of infection of Babesia by oral route may suggest that in nature cannibalism of rodents, occurring under certain circumstances, can be considered as a natural way of oral transmission of B. microti.

[Production of interferon-gamma and interleukin-10 by splenic cells of mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii or immunized with antigens of killed parasites]. / Wytwarzanie interferonu-gamma i interleukiny-10 przez komórki sledzionowe myszy zarazonych Toxoplasma gondii lub immunizowanych antygenem zabitych pasozytów.

Splenic lymphocytes from T. gondii infected mice produced high levels of IFN-gamma in vitro. The production of IFN-gamma was increasing until 10-th day of infection, reaching a level 1600-fold higher to that found in control cultures, then it began to decrease. The level of IL-10 released by lymphocytes to the medium was also increasing up to the 10-th day of infection, afterwards its content dropped down to the level 18-fold higher than that at the beginning of experiments. There were no effects of immunization with antigens of killed parasites on the production of IFN-gamma by splenic cells in vitro.

Synergistic activity of cefsulodin combined with cefoxitin and sulbactam against Bacteroides species.

The in-vitro activity of cefsulodin combined with sulbactam, cefoxitin or cefotaxime was investigated against 32 strains of beta-lactamase-producing Bacteroides species. Synergy of cefsulodin-sulbactam or cefsulodin-cefoxitin could be demonstrated against 30 of 32 and 32 of 32 strains tested at the concentrations readily achievable in serum. In the presence of 1 mg/l of sulbactam or cefoxitin, more than 90% of the Bacteroides isolated were inhibited by 32 mg/l of cefsulodin. The inhibitory activity of cefsulodin-sulbactam or cefsulodin-cefoxitin combinations was bactericidal against Bact. fragilis and Bact. vulgatus. In contrast, no synergistic inhibitory or bactericidal activities can be observed by the cefsoludin-cefotaxime combination. Both sulbactam and cefoxitin were potent inhibitors of beta-lactamases produced by Bact. fragilis and Bact. melaninogenicus suggesting that this inhibitory activity might be one of the factors contributing to the synergistic combinations.

Antimicrobial susceptibility, growth kinetic and pathogenicity of thymidine-requiring Streptococcus species.

18 strains of thymidine-requiring streptococcal mutants (thy-) were isolated from urines of patients with urinary tract infection treated with trimethoprim-sulfameth-oxazole (TMP-SMZ) or trimethoprim-sulfadiazine (TMP-SDZ). All thy- mutants were catalase- and beta-lactamase-negative, grew in the presence of bile and esculin, and required from 0.3 to greater than 1280 micrograms/ml of thymidine for normal growth. The antibiotic susceptibility of wild-type and thy- mutants to 21 antimicrobial agents tested were comparable except to trimethoprim (TMP), TMP-SMZ and TMP-SDZ. Ampicillin, penicillin G, erythromycin and rifampin were among the most active compounds tested. Growth kinetic studies with a Streptococcus faecalis thy- mutant in a synthetic basal medium without thymidine resulted in a decrease of 2-3 logarithmic units in viable cells after 24 h of incubation. The addition of thymidine to this thymidine-deprived culture prevented the thymineless death of the cells. In vivo, this thy- mutant was less virulent than the wild-type strain in producing kidney infection in mice.

Analysis of rifampin disk diffusion and stability in 7H10 agar.

Rifampin was incorporated into Middlebrook 7H10 medium either by adding an aliquot of the antibiotic into melted agar (final concentration 1.0 and 3.0 mug/ml) or by submerging a 5 or 15 mug of rifampin paper disk into 5 ml of melted agar contained in one quadrant of a Felson "X" plate. At intervals, plugs of agar were removed from the stored plates and assayed. Plates stored at 5 C for 28 days showed no loss of potency; at 37 C, the half-life of rifampin was 9 days. Stability of rifampin at these concentrations in 7H10 medium was independent of the method used for incorporation. Using the disk method, uniform rifampin concentrations of 0.75 mug/ml on day 5 for the 5-mug disk and 2.7 mug/ml on day 6 for the 15-mug disk were observed. Results indicated that the rifampin concentrations within the agar dilution and disk diffusion plates were equivalent at these times.

Antimicrobial effectiveness of Locacorten-Vioform cream in Secondary infections of common dermatoses.

In a double-blind study involving 430 patients, Locacorten (0.02%)-Vioform (3%) cream was found to be highly effective in the treatment of dermatological conditions complicated by secondary bacterial involvement. Themicrobiological conversion and clinical improvement in patients treated with Locacorten-Vioform combinations were markedly greater than those achieved in the groups medicated with (1) Vioform 3%, (2) Locacorten 0.02%, and (3) placebo cream. Staphylococcus aureus was the most prevalent organism isolated from the skin lesions. All strains were sensitive to Vioform, as compared to 62% found to be resistant to other antimicrobials.

Therapeutic efficacy and pharmacokinetic properties of rifampicin in a Bacteroides fragilis intra-abdominal abscess.

The efficacy of rifampicin in treating a Bacteroides fragilis infection was investigated and compared to clindamycin and metronidazole in an experimental model of intra-abdominal abscess in mice. Rifampicin, when given subcutaneously, showed activity superior to that of clindamycin in reducing the incidence of abscess formation as well as the number of Bacteroides organisms recovered from the abscess, and rifampicin was comparable in efficacy to metronidazole when given orally at the same dose level. The comparative pharmacokinetic properties of rifampicin and clindamycin demonstrated that the peak serum and abscess levels reached with rifampicin were significantly higher than those of clindamycin. The half-life of rifampicin in serum and in the abscess was longer than that of clindamycin.

Efficacy of rifampicin in experimental Bacteroides fragilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa mixed infections.

Experimental intraabdominal abscesses were produced in mice by intraperitoneal injection of Bacteroides fragilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The therapeutic efficacy of rifampicin and cefsulodin alone, and in combination was investigated in this in-vivo experimental mixed intraabdominal abscess model. Treatment with rifampicin at 10, and 25 mg/kg or cefsulodin at 50, and 100 mg/kg singly or in combinations prevented mortality as compared to 68% mortality rate occurring in the untreated mice. Rifampicin, at 25 mg/kg dose, was very effective in preventing abscess formation and produced bacterial eradication. It prevented abscess formation in 80% of the mice and eradicated both Bacteroides and Pseudomonas in 100% and 75% of the abscesses of the mice. Cefsulodin failed to reduce the incidence of abscess formation, and to eradicate Bact. fragilis from the abscesses, although it significantly decreased Ps. aeruginosa in the abscesses. The combination of rifampicin at 10 mg/kg and cefsulodin at 100 mg/kg was more effective than either of the antibiotics alone and was as effective as rifampicin alone at 25 mg/kg levels. This combination was bactericidal against both organisms in the infected mice.