Toxicological and kinetic study of musk xylene in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

In a prospective study of 6301 surgical patients in a university hospital, we examined the strength of association between ASA physical status classification and perioperative risk factors, and postoperative outcome, using both univariate analysis and calculation of the odds ratio of the risk of developing a postoperative complication by means of a logistic regression model. Univariate analysis showed a significant correlation (P < 0.05) between ASA class and perioperative variables (intraoperative blood loss, duration of postoperative ventilation and duration of intensive care stay), postoperative complications and mortality rate. Univariate analysis of individual preoperative risk factors demonstrated their importance in the development of postoperative complications in the related organ systems. Estimating the increased risk odds ratio for single variables, we found that the risk of complication was influenced mainly by ASA class IV (risk odds ratio = 4.2) and ASA class III (risk odds ratio = 2.2). We conclude that ASA physical status classification was a predictor of postoperative outcome.     

Fungal biotransformation of 6-nitrochrysene

The fungus Cunninghamella elegans was used to biotransform 6-nitrochrysene, a mutagen that is a widespread environmental contaminant. After 6 days, 74% of the 3H-labeled 6-nitrochrysene added had been metabolized to two isomeric sulfate conjugates. These conjugates were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography and identified by UV-visible, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectral techniques as 6-nitrochrysene 1-sulfate and 6-nitrochrysene 2-sulfate.     

"Lactobacillus murinus" n. sp., a new species of the autochtoneous dominant flora of the digestive tract of rat and mouse (author's transl)

Lactobacillus murinus, a new species isolated from rat and mouse digestive tracts, is described. It belongs to the subgenus Thermobacterium although it is able to ferment pentoses. The electrophoretic mobilities of soluble proteins and lactic dehydrogenase, the guanine + cytosine content (43.7%), the L-lysine-D-Aspartic acid cell wall (b type, Kandler), the immunological relationship with other Lactobacillus species and also the aminoacid requirements show that it has to be assigned to a new species, Lactobacillus murinus. This species settles in the digestive tract of rodents in their first days of life and remains ther as a dominant flora throughtout the whole life of the animal.