Antibiotic resistance patterns of metal-tolerant bacteria isolated from an estuary

Estuarine bacteria isolated on metal-containing media were also found to be antibiotic resistant; ampicillin and chloramphenicol were the antibiotics to which resistance was most common. Patterns of antibiotic resistance were found associated with a variety of taxa.     

The overlap of U.S. and Canadian patent literature with journal literature literature with journal literature

The paper describes a study of the overlap of Canadian and U.S. patent literature and journal literature. A random sample of 300 U.S. and 100 Canadian patents published in 1968 were examined. 6.0% of the U.S. patents and 11.0% of the Canadian patents also appeared in the journal literature. 6.1% of the chemical patents, 6.0% of the mechanical patents and 11.3 % of the electrical patents also appeared in the journal literature. The results confirm the need to search both the journal and the patent literature for comprehensive literature coverage.     

Antimicrobial drug use in hospitals in The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium

Data on the use of antimicrobial drugs was collected by means of an inquiry to 30 hospitals in Belgium (15 in Dutch sectors and 15 in the French sectors), 21 hospitals in Germany and 20 hospitals in the Netherlands. The use of these drugs was expressed as the number of defined daily doses (DDD) per 100 bed days by the anatomical therapeutical chemical classification system. The total use of antimicrobial agents was significantly (p < 0.001) higher in both parts of Belgium (55.6 and 52.0 DDD per 100 bed days) than in Germany (37.9 DDD) or the Netherlands (34.1 DDD). In particular, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, the first- and second-generation cephalosporins, aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones were used more in Belgium than in either of the other countries. At least part of the differences observed in antimicrobial drug use could be explained by differences in written antibiotic policy.     

Accelerator mass spectrometry for heavy isotopes at Oxford (OSIRIS)

The isotopic ratios ¹⁹⁴Pt/¹⁹⁵Pt/¹⁹⁶Pt and ¹⁹³Ir/¹⁹⁴Pt/¹⁹⁵Pt have been measured for samples from the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary at Stevns Klint, Dania, Nye Kløv in Denmark and at Hor Har Har in Israel, for iron meteorites Odessa and Buenaventura and for the carbonaceous chondrite Allende. Determination of the indium ratio $\text{193}\text{191}$ in a standard and in a sample from the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary at Stevns Klint has also been made. Preliminary measurements of the ratio ¹⁸⁸Os/¹⁸⁹Os in laboratory prepared Os samples (abundance approximately 10 ppm), in the Odessa and Allende meteorites and in the Stevns Klint Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary have been carried out. An anomalous abundance of ¹⁹³Ir, ¹⁹⁴Pt, ¹⁹⁵Pt and ¹⁸⁹Os at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary at Stevns Klint has also been established.     

SCH 45752--an inhibitor of calmodulin-sensitive cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity

A highly potent inhibitor of calmodulin-sensitive phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity was isolated from the culture broth of an unidentified fungal isolate, SCF-125. A chemically defined medium was developed for production of this compound. The PDE inhibitor was isolated from the fermentation filtrate by adsorption on a macro-reticular resin and further purified by gel filtration chromatography and reverse-phase HPLC. The major PDE inhibitor was identified as cephalochromin, a bis-naphthopyrone, by spectral data analysis. The compound, SCH 45752, inhibited calmodulin-sensitive PDE activities with IC50 values of 40-47 nM. It inhibited the activities of calmodulin-independent PDE and various protein kinases with higher IC50 values (2-40 microM). SCH 45752 does not appear to be a calmodulin antagonist. Furthermore, SCH 45752 affects smooth muscle contraction at a concentration of 30 microM; it potentiated the relaxing effect of sodium nitroprusside on carotid artery media contracted by histamine. Thus SCH 45752 is one of the most potent inhibitors of calmodulin-sensitive PDE activity known, and it is capable of exerting a pharmacological effect in at least one intact tissue model.     

Low Ca2+ dialysate. Effects on bone metabolism in the course of paired filtration dialysis

To evaluate the 1-year effects of PFD performed with low Ca2+ dialysate (1 mmol/l) on calcium metabolism and on bone disease, the authors studied in eight patients who were previously treated with PFD performed with standard Ca2+ dialysate (1.75 mmol/l). On samples from these subjects, the following were evaluated: 1) serum Ca2+ and PO4 levels, 2) serum PTH levels, 3) serum Al levels, and 4) bone morphology. All the patients were hypercalcemic, four with high serum PTH levels (high turnover bone disease, group 1) and four with low serum PTH levels (low turnover bone disease, group 2). In both groups, a decrease in serum Ca2+ and an increase in serum PTH was observed within the third month. In group 2, PTH levels reached the normal range. Because serum Ca2+ levels decreased to normal in both groups, it was possible to administer oral CaCO3 (10.5 +/- 2 g/day) to control serum PO4 and to stop Al gels. This did not induce any increase in serum Ca2+, whereas serum Al fell significantly. In group 1, to prevent a further rise in PTH, patients were treated with intravenous calcitriol (5 +/- 2 micrograms/week). This induced a reduction in the serum PTH without increasing serum Ca2+ or PO4. Within 12 months, an improvement in bone morphology was seen in both groups. It is concluded that the use of low Ca2+ dialysate corrects hypercalcemia in patients with PFD treated with high oral doses of CaCO3, and improves low turnover bone disease. The combination of low Ca2+ dialysate and intravenous calcitriol also improves high turnover bone disease.     

Disbudding of red deer stag calves to prevent antler growth

Red deer stag calves aged five to seven months were disbudded with a standard cattle disbudding iron as a means of preventing antler growth and development. Two sizes of iron, one 2.2 cm in diameter and one 1.5 cm in diameter, were compared at disbudding in November or January. Disbudding in November and January with the 2.2 cm iron had success rates of 97 per cent and 92 per cent, respectively. Treatment with the 1.5 cm iron was less effective at both times. There was no significant difference between the liveweights of the treated groups and a non-disbudded control group at turnout in the spring or at slaughter in November when the stags were 16 months of age.     

Radionuclides in natural terrestrial ecosystems

p6osystems to be found in the maritime temperate zone are described. The part played by vegetation, animals and soils in the distribution and movement of radionuclides is discussed, with particular reference to natural systems. Biomass activities have been compiled for 137Cs and 239 + 240Pu in woodland and moorland ecosystems. The data indicate that these ecosystems are more effective at intercepting and retaining radionuclides than are agricultural systems and that many undisturbed soils function as efficient sinks.