Susceptibilities of bacteria isolated from patients with lower respiratory infectious diseases to antibiotics (1996)

The bacteria isolated from the patients with lower respiratory tract infections were collected by institutions located throughout Japan, since 1981. Ikemoto et al. have been investigating susceptibilities of these isolates to various antibacterial agents and antibiotics, and characteristics of the patients and isolates from them each year. Results obtained from these investigations are discussed. In 16 institutions around the entire Japan, 557 strains of presumably etiological bacteria were isolated mainly from the sputa of 449 patients with lower respiratory tract infections during the period from October 1996 to September 1997. MICs of various antibacterial agents and antibiotics were determined against 98 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, 93 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, 84 strains of Haemophilus influenzae, 84 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (non-mucoid strains), 17 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (mucoid strains), 31 strains of Moraxella subgenus Branhamella catarrhalis, 21 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae etc., and the drug susceptibilities of these strains were assessed except for those strains that died during transportation. 1) S. aureus S. aureus strains for which MICs of oxacillin (MPIPC) were higher than 4 micrograms/ml (methicillin-resistant S. aureus) accounted for 67.3%. The frequency of the drug resistant bacteria increased comparing to the previous year's 52.7%. Arbekacin (ABK) and vancomycin (VCM) showed the highest activities against both S. aureus and MRSA with MIC80s of 1 microgram/ml. 2) S. pneumoniae Imipenem (IPM) and panipenem (PAPM) of carbapenems showed the most potent activities with MIC80s of 0.063 microgram/ml. Faropenem (FRPM) showed the next potent activity with MIC80 of 0.125 microgram/ml. The other drugs except erythromycin (EM), clindamycin (CLDM) and tetracycline (TC) were active against S. pneumoniae tested with MIC80s of 8 micrograms/ml or below. 3) H. influenzae The activities of all drugs were potent against H. influenzae tested with MIC80s of 4 micrograms/ml or below. Cefotiam (CTM), cefmenoxime (CMX), cefditoren (CDTR) and ofloxacin (OFLX) showed the most potent activities with MIC80s of 0.063 microgram/ml. 4) P. aeruginosa (mucoid strains) Tobramycin (TOB) showed the most potent activity against P. aeruginosa (mucoid strains) with MIC80 of 1 microgram/ml. Ceftazidime (CAZ), cefsulodin (CFS), IPM, gentamicin (GM), ABK and ciprofloxacin (CPFX) showed the next potent activities, with MIC80s of 2 micrograms/ml. The MIC80s of the other drugs ranged from 4 micrograms/ml to 16 micrograms/ml. 5) P. aeruginosa (non-mucoid strains) TOB and CPFX showed the most potent activities against P. aeruginosa (non-mucoid strains) with MIC80s of 1 microgram/ml. The MIC80s of piperacillin (PIPC) and cefoperazone (CPZ) were 16 micrograms/ml in 1995, and they were 64 micrograms/ml in 1996. 6) K. pneumoniae All drugs except ampicillin (ABPC) were active against K. pneumoniae. CMX, cefpirome (CPR), cefozopran (CZOP) and carumonam (CRMN) showed the most potent activities against K. pneumoniae with MIC80s of 0.125 microgram/ml. The MIC80s of the other drugs ranged from 0.25 microgram/ml to 2 micrograms/ml. 7) M.(B) catarrhalis Against M.(B.) catarrhalis, all drugs showed good activities with MICs of 4 micrograms/ml or below. IPM and minocycline (MINO) showed the most potent activities with MICs of 0.063 microgram/ml. Also, we investigated year to year changes in the characteristics of patients, their respiratory infectious diseases, and the etiology. Patients' backgrounds were examined for 557 isolates from 449 cases. The examination of age distribution indicated that the proportion of patients with ages over 60 years was 71.0% of all the patients showing a slight increase over that in 1994. Proportions of diagnosed diseases were as follows: Bacterial pneumonia and chronic bronchitis were the most frequent with 35.9% and 30.3% respectively. They were followed by bronchiectasis with a proportion of 10.     

In vitro disulfide-coupled folding of guanylyl cyclase-activating peptide and its precursor protein

Guanylyl cyclase-activating peptide II (GCAP-II), an endogenous ligand of particulate guanylyl cyclase C (GC-C), is processed from the precursor protein and circulates in human blood. GCAP-II consists of 24 amino acid residues and contains two disulfide bridges. The correct disulfide paring of GCAP-II is an absolute requirement for its biological activity. This study shows that the folding of the peptide from the reduced form yields a peptide with the native disulfide paring as a minor product and with non-native ones as major products, regardless of the presence or absence of reduced and oxidized glutathione. The results suggest that GCAP-II does not possess sufficient information to permit the adoption of the native conformation and to effectively form the correct disulfide pairing and, as a result, that GCAP-II is correctly folded by assistance of a factor(s) such as an intra- or intermolecular chaperone. We studied whether a peptide in the pro-leader sequence of the precursor protein (proGCAP-II) contains sufficient information to facilitate the folding of GCAP-II. For this purpose, we prepared proGCAP-II in Escherichia coli by a recombinant technique and examined the disulfide-coupled folding of proGCAP-II from the reduced form. proGCAP-II was quantitatively recovered with the correctly folded structure from the reduced form both in the presence and in the absence of reduced and oxidized glutathione. The protein contains only disulfide linkages at the same positions as the mature form of proGCAP-II, GCAP-II, and the biologically active isomer of GCAP-II in the molecule. These results provide evidence that the propeptide of proGCAP-II is a critical factor in the formation of the correct disulfide paring in the folding of the protein.     

Three patients with insulin-treated diabetes and senile dementia of Alzheimer''s type

Caught between the successes of modern psychopharmacology, the requests of suffering patients for quick relief, and the shortsightedness of many third-party payers, psychodynamic psychotherapy might seem to be on the ropes. It is, however, thriving and providing crucial help to many individuals for whom medication and brief counseling are insufficient. Meanwhile, many more who could benefit from psychotherapy do not have an opportunity to do so. Although psychodynamic psychotherapy originated and developed within a medical framework, it has minimal visibility on the current medical scene, and many physicians have been provided with little meaningful information about it. This article is intended to give physicians a general idea of what psychodynamic psychotherapy is and how it works.     

Effects of pre-ageing and cold working on grain-interior and grain-boundary reactions of Ag-Pd-Cu alloys

The effects of pre-ageing and cold working on grain-interior and grain-boundary reactions of Ag-Pd-Cu alloys were investigated by electrical resistivity measurements, hardness tests, and optical microscopic observations. Hardness values of the grain interior after the final thermomechanical treatment increased 20%–30% above the values after conventional ageing. The hardness values of alloys preaged at 400°C for 1 min and then cold worked at 30% are the highest (H_v=320).     

Optical quality GaInAs grown by molecular beam epitaxy

Ga₄₇In₅₃As films have been grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) on InP substrates. The unintentionally doped material has a free electron concentration of 8 × 10¹⁵cm^-3 and exhibits sharp (~5 meV linewidth) exciton recombination in the 4K photoluminescence. The films were grown on (100) InP surfaces which were thermally cleaned in the arsenic beam. The effects of the substrate temperature during growth, the Ga to In flux ratio and the group V to group III flux ratio on the 4K photoluminescence are reported.     

Internal oxidation in gold alloys containing small amounts of Fe and Sn

Internal oxidation was observed in gold-rich alloys as substrates for porcelain veneers in dental restorations, which contain small amounts of Fe and Sn. The internal oxidation proceeded with oxygen ions diffusing to the inner part of the alloy through Fe₂O₃ formed at the grain boundaries of the alloy matrix. SnO₂ was formed internally together with the Fe₂O₃. The external oxidation zone was composed of only Fe₂O₃ in a wide range of Fe and Sn concentrations. Fe₃O₄ was formed with Fe₂O₃ in the Sn-rich composition range by reduction of Fe₂O₃ in the presence of Sn. A band mainly composed of SnO₂ was formed at the inside of the internal oxidation zone in the composition range where Fe₃O₄ formed. In the Sn-rich alloys this internal oxidation band of SnO₂ moved to the external oxidation zone.     

Schmelzlinienbestimmungsmodell zur vergleichenden Leistungsbeurteilung von Hochofenperioden

Vergleich von Hochofenbetriebsergebnissen mittels Leistungs-Faktor-Definition. Bestimmung der Lage und Form der Schmelzlinie im Hochofen durch Betriebsdaten. Wärmeeinbringen durch Blasform und deren Übertragung durch Konvektion und Strahlung. Einfluß der Wärmebedingungen im Unterofen auf die Lage der Schmelzlinie. Vergleich und Überprüfung der Modellprofile durch Betriebsmessungen. Einfluß verschiedener Unterofenparameter auf Hochofenbetrieb und Schmelzlinie. Schmelzgeschwindigkeit bei W- und ∧-Profilen in Abhängigkeit der Strahlungstemperatur. Untere kritische Höhenlage der Schmelzlinie und dynamisches Verhalten der Schmelzlinie.     

Microstructure and anodic polarization behavior of experimental Ag–18Cu–15Pd–12Au alloy in aqueous sulfide solution

The anodic corrosion behavior of an experimental Ag–15Pd–18Cu–12Au alloy in 0.1% Na₂S solution in relation to its microstructure was investigated using potentiodynamic and potentiostatic polarization techniques with analyses of corrosion products by X-ray diffractometry, Auger electron spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The role of Pd in improvement of the corrosion resistance was also investigated. In the potential/current density curve, three distinct current peaks, at –520 mV (peak I), –425 mV (peak II) and –175 mV (peak III), were observed. The Ag-rich ₂ matrix with coarse Cu and Pd-rich lamellae was the most corrosion-susceptible region, and this region was preferentially corroded at peak I with the formation of granular deposits of Ag₂S. A small amount of Ag–Cu mixed sulfide deposited on the Cu and Pd-rich coarse particles and dissolution of Ag as AgO^– might have occurred in parallel with Ag₂S formation at peak II. Enrichment of Pd on the alloy surface occurred at peak III due to preferential dissolution of Ag and Cu. A high level of corrosion resistance was attained with the formation of a thin Pd-rich sulfide film, which enhanced the passivity of the alloy in an alkaline sulfide solution. It was found that passivity is an important phenomenon not only for base metal alloys but also for noble metal alloys to maintain high levels of resistance to corrosion and tarnishing in sulfide environments.     

Novel vitamin E derivative with 4-substituted resorcinol moiety has both antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory properties

A novel vitamin E derivative, (6″-hydroxy-2″,5″,7″,8″-tetramethylchroman-2″-yl) methyl 3-(2′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)propionate (TM4R), which has a chromanoxyl ring and 4-substituted resorcinol moieties, was synthesized; and its inhibitory effects on tyrosinase, antioxidant ability, and lightening effect of ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced hyperpigmentation were estimated. TM4R showed potent inhibitory activity on tyrosinase, which is the rate-limiting enzyme in melanogenesis. The scavenging activities of TM4R on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and hydroxyl radicals were found to be nearly the same as those of α-tocopherol. Furthermore, an efficient lightening effect was observed following topical application of TM4R to UVB-stimulated hyperpigmented dorsal skin of brownish guinea pigs. These results suggest that TM4R may be a candidate for an efficient whitening agent, possibly by inhibiting tyrosinase activity and biological reactions caused by reactive oxygen species.     

Channel Thickness Dependence of the Magnetic Properties in (Ga,Mn)As FET Structures

We have fabricated a series of field-effect transistor structures with a thin (Ga,Mn)As channel with thickness t of 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, and 5.0 nm, and investigated the effect of electric-field E on their magnetic properties. The Curie temperature T _C showed a clear dependence on the magnitude of E, and its controllable range became larger with decreasing t and reached 15 K for the device with t=3.5 nm, which corresponded to 32% of T _C of the layer.