Comparison of solid media for cultivation of anaerobes.

Two commercial agar media for the cultivation of anaerobes were compared with four other media for their ability to support the growth of a wide range of anaerobes from clinical specimens of subgingival plaque. Fastidious anaerobe agar (FAA, Lab M) and anaerobe agar (GAA, Gibco) allowed better growth of the pure cultures than the other media. FAA recovered the highest numbers of bacteria from subgingival plaque specimens which were composed predominantly of anaerobes. GAA performed poorly with these samples. It is concluded that FAA seemed to be superior to the other media tested for the cultivation and recovery of anaerobes.

Comparison of five immunological tests for pregnancy.

PIP: In order to evaluate and compare 5 different immunological pregnancy tests (Gravindex, Prepurex, Planotest, DAP, and Pregnosticon), 500 urine specimens obtained from general practice and hospital clinics were analyzed. Gravindex, Prepurex, and Planotest are indirect latex agglutination tests, DAP is a direct latex agglutination test, and Pregnosticon is a hemagglutination-inhibition test. All of these tests but DAP accurately predicted the clinical condition in more than 95% of the cases, and of these tests only Pregnosticon gave false positive results (4 cases). The existence of blood, reducing substances, and ketones in the urine samples did not affect the tests. 1 patient out of 27 using oral contraceptives had a false positive test with Pregnosticon. All tests were easily readable but those with disposable pipettes were the most convenient. Gravindex was concluded to be overall the best pregnancy test used.^ieng

The metabolism of propranolol (ICI 45,520, Inderal) and xamoterol (ICI 118,587, Corwin) by isolated rat hepatocytes: in vivo-in vitro correlations.

1. The metabolism of two compounds which undergo predominantly Phase I (propranolol) and Phase II (xamoterol) metabolism in vivo has been studied in isolated rat hepatocytes. 2. Propranolol was rapidly metabolized by rat hepatocytes to a number of metabolites which correlated well with those observed in vivo. The effect of saturable metabolism on the in vitro clearance of propranolol at high substrate concentrations was very similar to the changes observed in vivo. 3. Xamoterol was metabolized by rat hepatocytes to produce mainly xamoterol glucuronide, with the sulphate conjugate of xamoterol representing a minor component. The low rate of formation of xamoterol sulphate is probably due to the low affinity of xamoterol for the sulphotransferase enzyme, since supplementation with inorganic sulphate did not significantly alter the rate of sulphation; the sulphotransferase system of these hepatocytes was however shown to be active in the metabolism of phenol. 4. The correlations observed between the known routes of metabolism of propranolol and xamoterol in vivo and those observed in isolated hepatocytes support the utility of isolated hepatocytes as a predictive model of metabolic events in vivo.

Antenatal screening for candidiasis, trichomoniasis, and gonorrhoea.

Gonorrhoea was not found to be a problem in antenatal patients. It was found in only one out of 625 women, thus confirming other British surveys which do not agree with the North American figures. Candidiasis is commoner than trichomoniasis (27.4 and 4.7 per cent. prevalence respectively) and culture of a high vaginal swab is more effective as a means of diagnosis than a cervical cytology smear. The two conditions seldom occur together. The detection rate for Candida increases with gestation, but not with age, parity, or premarital and extramarital conception. The species isolated was predominantly Candida albicans. Trichomonads are detected in culture of a high vaginal swab more often than in a cervical cytology smear. Detection does not increase with age, parity, or gestation, but does increase with premarital and extramarital conception. It is difficult to diagnose clinically the cause of vaginal discharge in a pregnant woman.