The Inhibitory Effect of Clindamycin on Lactobacillus in vitro

Objective: To evaluate the in vitro effect of varying concentrations of clindamycin on Lactobacillus spp. Methods: Concentrations of clindamycin ranging from 1.95–20 000 mg/ml were studied for their effect on the growth of six strains of Lactobacillus . Results: Clindamycin concentrations between 1.95–31.25 mg/ml had no statistically significant effect on growth of lactobacilli (p > 0.05). Concentrations 125 and 250 mg/ml had a bacteriostatic effect. The mean minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for studied Lactobacillus strains was determined as 1000 mg/ml. Conclusion: High concentrations of clindamycin achieved in the vagina by intravaginal application might be inhibitory for Lactobacillus

Effect of Metronidazole on the Growth of Vaginal Lactobacilli in vitro

Objective: To determine whether metronidazole has an adverse effect on the growth of Lactobacillus. Methods: Hydrogen peroxide- and bacteriocin-producing strains of Lactobacillus were used as test strains. Concentrations of metronidazole used ranged from 128 to 7000 μg/ml. Susceptibility to metronidazole was conducted by the broth microdilution method recommended by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. Results: Growth of Lactobacillus was partially inhibited at concentrations between 1000 and 4000 μg/ml (p = 0.014). Concentrations ≥ 5000 μg/ml completely inhibited growth of Lactobacillus. Concentrations between 128 and 256 μg/ml stimulated growth of Lactobacillus (p = 0.025 and 0.005, respectively). Concentrations of metronidazole between 64 and 128 μg/ml or ≥ 512 μg/ml did not have an inhibitory or a stimulatory effect on the growth of Lactobacillus compared to the control. Conclusions: High concentration of metronidazole, i.e. between 1000 and 4000 μg/ml, partially inhibited the growth of Lactobacillus. Concentrations ≥ 5000 μg/ml completely suppressed the growth of Lactobacillus. Concentrations between ≥ 128 and ≤ 256 μg/ml stimulated the growth of Lactobacillus. Further investigation to determine the ideal concentration of metronidazole is needed in order to use the antimicrobial agent effectively in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis

Assurance Requirements Compliance for the Greater Confinement Disposal Boreholes, Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site, Nevada Test Site

This paper addresses deficiencies identified with the. Performance Assessment for Greater Confinement Disposal (GCD) Boreholes compliance with the Title 40 Code of federal Regulations (CFR) Part 191.14, "Assurance Requirements" (CFR, 1985). The Transuransic Waste Disposal Federal Review Group (TFRG). and U.S Department of Energy Headquarters , need to concur that the assurance requirements have been met at the time of closure of the Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site

Auditory Function in the Tc1 Mouse Model of Down Syndrome Suggests a Limited Region of Human Chromosome 21 Involved in Otitis Media

Down syndrome is one of the most common congenital disorders leading to a wide range of health problems in humans, including frequent otitis media. The Tc1 mouse carries a significant part of human chromosome 21 (Hsa21) in addition to the full set of mouse chromosomes and shares many phenotypes observed in humans affected by Down syndrome with trisomy of chromosome 21. However, it is unknown whether Tc1 mice exhibit a hearing phenotype and might thus represent a good model for understanding the hearing loss that is common in Down syndrome. In this study we carried out a structural and functional assessment of hearing in Tc1 mice. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) measurements in Tc1 mice showed normal thresholds compared to littermate controls and ABR waveform latencies and amplitudes were equivalent to controls. The gross anatomy of the middle and inner ears was also similar between Tc1 and control mice. The physiological properties of cochlear sensory receptors (inner and outer hair cells: IHCs and OHCs) were investigated using single-cell patch clamp recordings from the acutely dissected cochleae. Adult Tc1 IHCs exhibited normal resting membrane potentials and expressed all K+ currents characteristic of control hair cells. However, the size of the large conductance (BK) Ca2+ activated K+ current (IK,f), which enables rapid voltage responses essential for accurate sound encoding, was increased in Tc1 IHCs. All physiological properties investigated in OHCs were indistinguishable between the two genotypes. The normal functional hearing and the gross structural anatomy of the middle and inner ears in the Tc1 mouse contrast to that observed in the Ts65Dn model of Down syndrome which shows otitis media. Genes that are trisomic in Ts65Dn but disomic in Tc1 may predispose to otitis media when an additional copy is active

Analysis of Eight Commercial Enzyme Immunoassay Tests for Detection of Antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae in Human Serum

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is an important etiologic agent of primary atypical pneumonia in children and adults. The diagnosis of M. pneumoniae infection is commonly confirmed through serologic testing. In this study, we used paired sera from 51 patients (all with confirmed M. pneumoniae infection and positive complement fixation [CF] titers) to compare the results of eight enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) available commercially in the United States. We compared two single-use EIAs and six plate-type EIAs. Results from acute-phase sera ranged from only 7 (14%) positive by ImmunoWELL (GenBio) immunoglobulin M (IgM) EIA to 23 (45%) positive by Zeus IgG EIA. When both the acute-phase and convalescent-phase serum samples were examined, positive results ranged from 20 (39%) by the ImmunoWELL (GenBio) IgM assay to 45 (88%) positive by the Remel IgG-IgM EIA. In this study, the single-use EIAs by Remel and Meridian were more reliable than were the plate-type EIAs. Among the plate-type EIAs, the Zeus and DiaSorin assays (which detect antibodies to protein antigens) were more sensitive than the ImmunoWELL assay (which detects antibodies to glycolipid antigens). In general, IgG EIAs on convalescent-phase sera were more concordant with one another than were IgM EIAs with one another. Scatter plot analysis of convalescent-phase sera showed that, as the CF titer dropped, the IgM assays identified fewer positive convalescent-phase sera. In contrast, the IgG assays provided fairly consistent positive results for convalescent-phase sera with CF titers of 64 and above. Results of individual tests and overall limitations of serodiagnostics for M. pneumoniae infections are discussed