Therapy of Castleman's disease with siltuximab - case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) is characterized by constitutional symptoms, enlarged lymph nodes and laboratory test abnormalities, which are primarily related to the overproduction of interleukin-6 (IL-6). This form (iMCD) was treated earlier with cytostatics used for lymphoma, later with bio-logic therapy as rituximab, immunodulatory drugs and proteasome inhibitors, and in the last years with an anti-IL-6 antibody, siltuximab. Siltuximab is a human-mouse chimeric immunoglobulin G1k monoclonal antibody against human IL-6 approved in the European Union for the treatment of iMCD. In view of the limited treatment options for iMCD, this case report aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of siltuximab in the management of this condition. CASE: We describe a young woman with iMCD diagnosed at the age of 25 years. For first line treatment, rituximab and dexamethasone were used without any cytostatic because the patient wished to give birth to a healthy child in the future. However, the response after this first line therapy was short. In addition, after 3 years from the start of rituximab + dexamethasone therapy, it was necessary to administer treatment for the relapse of iMCD. We decided for siltuximab in this young woman, still aged < 30 years, and started administration of siltuximab in 3-week intervals. RESULTS: After administration of first two infusions of siltuximab, all inflammatory markers returned to normal value. Moreover, serum hemoglobin and albumin levels as well as C-reactive protein normalized after the first two administrations of siltuximab. The clinical response continue, siltuximab is still administered in 3-week intervals. PET/CT with fluorodeoxyglucose confirmed a very good anatomic and metabolic response to the treatment. Siltuximab demonstrated a favorable safety profile, and the prolonged treatment was well tolerated. CONCLUSION: This result is encouraging and demonstrates the potential of siltuximab as treatment of CD. As earlier published, this case confirms that significantly elevated inflammatory markers in a patient with CD predict a good response to siltuximab.

Habitat use, but not gene flow, is influenced by human activities in two ecotypes of Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus).

Understanding the ecological, behavioural and evolutionary response of organisms to changing environments is of primary importance in a human-altered world. It is crucial to elucidate how human activities alter gene flow and what are the consequences for the genetic structure of a species. We studied two lineages of the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) throughout the contact zone between mesic and arid Ecozones in the Middle East to evaluate the species' response to the growing proportion of human-altered habitats in the desert. We integrated population genetics, morphometrics and movement ecology to analyse population structure, morphological variation and habitat use from GPS- or radio-tagged individuals from both desert and Mediterranean areas. We classified the spatial distribution and environmental stratification by describing physical-geographical conditions and land cover. We analysed this information to estimate patch occupancy and used an isolation-by-resistance approach to model gene flow patterns. Our results suggest that lineages from desert and Mediterranean habitats, despite their admixture, are isolated by environment and by adaptation supporting their classification as ecotypes. We found a positive effect of human-altered habitats on patch occupancy and habitat use of fruit bats by increasing the availability of roosting and foraging areas. While this commensalism promotes the distribution of fruit bats throughout the Middle East, gene flow between colonies has not been altered by human activities. This discrepancy between habitat use and gene flow patterns may, therefore, be explained by the breeding system of the species and modifications of natal dispersal patterns.

Clinical impact of PAI 1 4G/5G gene polymorphism in colorectal carcinoma patients.

Plasminogen activator ihnibitor (PAI 1) belongs to the plasminogen activator system, which is part of the metastatic cascade and significantly contributes to invasive growth and angiogenesis of malignant tumors. Its plasma level is normally low but 4G/4G homozygotes have higher concentrations of PAI 1. This genotype may be associated with worse prognosis and proximal location of colorectal cancer than 5G/5G homozygotes. In our prospective evaluation we examined plasma level PAI 1 (using photometric microplate method ELISA) pre-surgery and, subsequently, 6-8 weeks later, from 80 patients. For the PAI 1 rs1799889 -675 4G/5G polymorphism test the PCR amplification was used.Analysis of collected data was confirmed that significantly higher plasma levels of PAI 1 were found in patients before starting therapy, which decreased (p=0.004) after initiation of treatment. Patients with higher plasma level PAI 1 before (p=0.013) and after therapy (p=0.004) had significantly shorter survival. We found no relationship between polymorphisms of PAI 1 (-675 4G/5G) in relation to stage, survival or tumor location. PAI 1 is useful as a negative marker of prognosis and could be advantageous when planning adjuvant treatment of patients with colorectal carcinoma. Although opinions on the importance of polymorphisms of PAI 1 in relation to the prognosis are not uniform, it does seem that their role in the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer is not essential.

Environmental margin and island evolution in Middle Eastern populations of the Egyptian fruit bat.

Here, we present a study of the population genetic architecture and microevolution of the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) at the environmental margins in the Middle East using mitochondrial sequences and nuclear microsatellites. In contrast to the rather homogenous population structure typical of cave-dwelling bats in climax tropical ecosystems, a relatively pronounced isolation by distance and population diversification was observed. The evolution of this pattern could be ascribed to the complicated demographic history at higher latitudes related to the range margin fragmentation and complex geomorphology of the studied area. Lineages from East Africa and Arabia show divergent positions. Within the northwestern unit, the most marked pattern of the microsatellite data set is connected with insularity, as demonstrated by the separate status of populations from Saharan oases and Cyprus. These demes also exhibit a reduction in genetic variability, which is presumably connected with founder effects, drift and other potential factors related to island evolution as site-specific selection. Genetic clustering indicates a semipermeability of the desert barriers in the Sahara and Arabian Peninsula and a corridor role of the Nile Valley. The results emphasize the role of the island environment in restricting the gene flow in megabats, which is also corroborated by biogeographic patterns within the family, and suggests the possibility of nascent island speciation on Cyprus. Demographic analyses suggest that the colonization of the region was connected to the spread of agricultural plants; therefore, the peripatric processes described above might be because of or strengthened by anthropogenic changes in the environment.

[Comparison of laparotomic and laparoscopic techniques for implantation of the peritoneal part of the shunt in the treatment of hydrocephalus]. / Srovnání laparotomické a laparoskopické techniky pri implantaci peritoneální cásti shuntu v terapii hydrocefalu.

INTRODUCTION: Implantation of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt is a standard procedure in the treatment of hydrocephalus. Shunt malfunction can be due to various causes, such as failure of the peritoneal (distal) part of the shunt with a frequency of 5% to 47%. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare laparoscopic and laparotomic techniques for implantation of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We considered a cohort of 304 patients with hydrocephalus, acquired during a 10-year period, who underwent surgical intervention at the Neurosurgical and Surgical Clinics of the University Hospital Brno. RESULTS: The 304 patients underwent a total of 392 operations, of which 67 (17.1%) were performed using a laparoscopic approach and 325 (82.9%) using a laparotomic approach. In the laparotomy group, 59 (18.2%) interventions were repeated due to complications of the peritoneal part of the shunt, while in the laparoscopy group revisions accounted for only 3 cases (4.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic technique significantly reduces the risk of complications of the peritoneal part of the shunt, and thus the overall complications associated with the implantation of the ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Laparoscopy is indicated in the case of migration of the peritoneal catheters into the abdominal cavity and is also very helpful in revisions in the case of malfunction of the peritoneal part of the shunt or in the case of previous abdominal surgery. It can explain the anatomical conditions in the abdominal cavity and it is able to treat any incidental pathology.

Clinical significance of the plasminogen activator system in relation to grade of tumor and treatment response in colorectal carcinoma patients.

Urokinase (uPA) plays an essential role in the activation of plasminogen to plasmin, and together with its receptor (uPAR), tissue activator (tPA) and urokinase inhibitors (PAI 1, PAI 2, PAI 3 and protease nexin) forms the plasminogen activator system (PAS), a component of metastatic cascade importantly contributing to the invasive growth and angiogenesis of malignant tumours. In our project we examined the expression of uPA, uPAR, PAI 1 and PAI 2 in tumor tissue and we also studied the plasma levels of PAI 1 before and after the initiation of therapy in patients with colorectal carcinoma in relationship to grade of tumor and the treatment response. In our prospective evaluation we included 80 patients treated for adenocarcinoma of the colon and rectum. Analysis of collected data revealed statistically significant evidence of a relationship between the level of PAI 1 in plasma before treatment and grade of the tumor, which increases with tumor grade (p=0.025). We demonstrated that there exists a statistically significant relationship between the expression of PAI 2 (p<0.001) and uPAR (p=0.031) and grade of tumor. We also confirmed a statistically significant relationship between soluble levels of PAI 1 before treatment and therapeutic response (p=0.021). In our group of patients the expression of uPA, uPAR, PAI 1 and 2 in tumor tissue in relation to response to treatment was also assessed. Our results suggest that the greater expression of these parameters in tumor tissue is linked to a worse response to therapy. In conclusion, PAS factors help as a prognostic indicators and could also act as a predictive factor in colorectal carcinoma.

Mechanisms of radiation in a bat group from the genus Pipistrellus inferred by phylogeography, demography and population genetics.

Here, we present a study of the Pipistrellus pipistrellus species complex, a highly diversified bat group with a radiation centre in the Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot. The study sample comprised 583 animals from 118 localities representatively covering the bats' range in the western Palearctic. We used fast-evolving markers (the mitochondrial D-loop sequence and 11 nuclear microsatellites) to describe the phylogeography, demography and population structure of this model taxon and address details of its diversification. The overall pattern within this group includes a mosaic of phylogenetically basal, often morphologically distant, relatively small and mostly allopatric demes in the Mediterranean Basin, as well as two sympatric sibling species in the large continental part of the range. The southern populations exhibit constant size, whereas northern populations show a demographic trend of growth associated with range expansion during the Pleistocene climate oscillations. There is evidence of isolation by distance and female philopatry in P. pipistrellus sensu stricto. Although the northern populations are reproductively isolated, we detected introgression events among several Mediterranean lineages. This pattern implies incomplete establishment of reproductive isolating mechanisms in these populations as well as the existence of a past reinforcement stage in the continental siblings. The occurrence of reticulations in the radiation centre among morphologically and ecologically derived relict demes suggests that adaptive unequal gene exchange within hybridizing populations could play a role in speciation and adaptive radiation within this group.

[Experience with treatment of thoracic empyema during seven years period]. / Zkusenosti s lébou empyému hrudníku behem sedmiletého období.

The authors prospectively assembled group of 157 patients treated for empyema thoracic during seven years period. They followed applied methods of the diagnostics and therapy, the length of hospital stay after surgical intervention and its successfulness. The parameters were statistically evaluated. The results showed that surgical intervention substantially influences shortening of the hospital stay and successful cure. In the early stages of the disease thoracoscopic treatment is often sufficient to eliminate the infection. When is indicated later then three weeks after onset of the effusion, then facilitates early decontamination of the empyema cavity and possibility to perform lung decortication. In patients with thoracic empyema, where adequate effusion evacuation can not be reached, the conservative treatment results in prolongation of the hospitalization. Surgical intervention on the contrary the hospital stay, without increase in morbidity or mortality, shortens.

Mediterranean populations of the lesser white-toothed shrew (Crocidura suaveolens group): an unexpected puzzle of Pleistocene survivors and prehistoric introductions.

An earlier study revealed the strong phylogeographical structure of the lesser white-toothed shrew (Crocidura suaveolens group) within the northern Palaearctic. Here, we aim to reconstruct the colonization history of Mediterranean islands and to clarify the biogeography and phylogeographical relationships of the poorly documented Middle East region with the northern Palaearctic. We performed analyses on 998-bp-long haplotypes of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of 143 samples collected around the Mediterranean basin, including islands and the Middle East. The analyses suggest that the Cypriot shrew belongs to the rare group of relict insular Pleistocene mammal taxa that have survived to the present day. In contrast, the Cretan, Corsican and Menorcan populations were independently introduced from the Middle East during the Holocene. The phylogeographical structure of this temperate Palaearctic species within the Middle East appears to be complex and rich in diversity, probably reflecting fragmentation of the area by numerous mountain chains. Four deeply divergent clades of the C. suaveolens group occur in the area, meaning that a hypothetical contact zone remains to be located in central western Iran.

Mitochondrial phylogeography of the long-eared bats (Plecotus) in the Mediterranean Palaearctic and Atlantic Islands.

Long-eared bats of the genus Plecotus are widespread and common over most of the western Palaearctic. Based on recent molecular evidence, they proved to represent a complex of several cryptic species, with three new species being described from Europe in 2002. Evolutionary relationships among the different lineages are still fragmentary because of the limited geographic coverage of previous studies. Here we analyze Plecotus mitochondrial DNA sequences from the entire Mediterranean region and Atlantic Islands. Phylogenetic reconstructions group these western Palaearctic Plecotus into two major clades which split at least 5 Myr ago and that are each subdivided into further subgroups. An 'auritus group' includes the traditional P. auritus species and its sister taxon P. macrobullaris (=P. alpinus) plus related specimens from the Middle East. P. auritus and P. macrobullaris have broadly overlapping distributions in Europe, although the latter is apparently more restricted to mountain ranges. The other major clade, the 'austriacus group,' includes the European species P. austriacus and at least two other related taxa from North Africa (including P. teneriffae from the Canary Islands), the Balkans and Anatolia (P. kolombatovici). The sister species of this 'austriacus group' is P. balensis, an Ethiopian endemic. Phylogenetic reconstructions further suggest that P. austriacus reached Madeira during its relatively recent westward expansion through Europe, while the Canary Islands were colonized by a North African ancestor. Although colonization of the two groups of Atlantic Islands by Plecotus bats followed very distinct routes, neither involved lineages from the 'auritus group.' Furthermore, the Strait of Gibraltar perfectly segregates the distinct lineages, which confirms its key role as a geographic barrier. This study also stresses the biogeographical importance of the Mediterranean region, and particularly of North Africa, in understanding the evolution of the western Palaearctic biotas.

Laparoscopic resection of surface metastases in liver--description of the technique.

Recently, the laparoscopic approach has been used more frequently for liver resection. The authors describe the method of laparoscopic resection of surface as well as subcapsulary metastases, which had previously been destroyed by radiofrequency ablation. This technique provides relatively easy, complete removal of the tumorous tissue. The disadvantages of the described technique are limited use (it is suitable only for surface lesions) and increased financial costs.

Osteogenesis in a human hydroxyapatite orbital implant 5.5 years after implantation.

PURPOSE: We report the histological findings of a hydroxyapatite orbital implant 5.5 years after implantation. METHODS: The hydroxyapatite orbital implant was excised from the left orbit of a 17-year-old female, and it was decalcified and processed for routine light microscopic evaluation. RESULTS: The implant showed complete fibrovascularization with nearly complete osteogenesis with hematopoiesis. CONCLUSION: Bone may biointegrate throughout the pores of hydroxyapatite orbital implants.

Comparative cytogenetics of hamsters of the genus Calomyscus.

Karyotypes of Calomyscus from different regions of Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan were studied using chromosome banding (G- and C-banding) and analyses of meiosis in laboratory hybrids. Extensive variation in the diploid number and the number of autosomal arms (FNa) was revealed (2n = 30, FNa = 44; 2n = 32, FNa = 42; 2n = 44, FNa = 46; 2n = 44, FNa = 58; 2n = 37, FNa = 44; 2n = 50, FNa = 50; 2n = 52, FNa = 56). Centric and tandem fusions and heterochromatin changes were identified as the major modes of karyotype evolution in this group. Natural hybrids between individuals with different karyotypes were recorded, and regular chromosome pairing in meiosis was observed in laboratory hybrids. Fluorescence in situ hybridization with a 353-bp BspRI complex tandem repeat indicated that chromosomal repatterning occurred recently within the genus. There is no unequivocal evidence suggesting the role of chromosomal change in the speciation of the populations of Calomyscus examined.

[A method for estimating the prevalence of mammary Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae infections in herds based on an examination of bulk milk samples]. / Metoda odhadu prevalence intramamárních infekcí Staphylococcus aureus a Streptococcus agalactiae ve stádech na základe vysetrení bazénových vzorku.

Parallel quantitative determination executed in 92 herds at 107 sampling dates was focused on the counts of major pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae) in bulk milk samples and on the prevalence of the above pathogens in a herd by examination of individual milk samples. The counts of main pathogens were also determined in terms of quantity in rinsing water before milking and in bulk samples in 5 herds with pipeline milking. Tab. I shows the qualitative analysis of the relation. Sensitivity of the method is satisfactory for the pathogens observed (95% and 91%, resp.), but method is less specific for Staph. aureus (67% against 92% Str. agalactiae). Figs. 1 and 2 show coordinate graphs of the results obtained while Figs. 3 and 4 document the distribution of frequency of the particular values in data sets. The values do not exhibit normal distribution (P < 0.01). Spearman's coefficient of rank correlation of bulk milk and individual examinations amounted to 0.823 and 0.900 for Staph. aureus and Str. agalactiae, respectively. Four mathematical models were tested in the course of quantitative analysis, describing the relation between bulk milk examination and individual examination: (1) linear regression, (2) linear regression with fixed starting point, (3) logarithmic regression and (4) irrational function. A model based on the equation of irrational function (4) was found to be best: y = a + bx + c square root of x + k +/- a1 + i(t)c1 square root of x + k1. Tab. II shows the parameters of the equation for examined microorganisms. Correlation coefficients for the above equation are r = 0.733 and r = 0.842 for Staph. aureus and Str. agalactiae, respectively. Prediction curves (Figs. 5 to 8) and confidence regions of prediction curves were also determined for the best model, and a prediction table was constructed (Tab. III). It was confirmed that the milking machines were not a significant source of direct contamination of bulk milk samples with the examined pathogens (Tab. V).

[Validation of TKT medium for detection of Streptococcus agalactiae in bulk milk samples]. / Overení TKT média pro screening Streptococcus agalactiae v bazénových vzorcích mléka.

A selective medium for quantitative determination of Streptococcus agalactiae in bulk milk samples was tested. Among the medium bases, Edwards medium (EW) supplemented with 6 to 9% (v/v) of carefully washed sheep erythrocytes was proved to be best (Tab. V). The production of sphingomyelinasis C (BHE, Tab. II) or D (COREX, Tab. I) as a supplement supporting the formation of specific hemolytic zones in the medium, was tested in four strains of Staphylococcus aureus and seven strains of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. Submersion aerated cultivation was used for enzyme production; optimum cultivation time is about 100 hours (Figs. 1, 2). To determine the activity of the enzymes produced a screening method was developed applying hemolytic interactions with CAMP factor of Str. agalactiae. Method sensitivity and reproducibility are sufficiently high for the purposes of observation (Tab. III). The produced enzymes did not show any changes in their activity over the whole period of storage under all conditions of storage (32 days/7 degrees C, 48 weeks/-18 degrees C, lyophilizate 48 weeks/20 degrees C). Sphingomyelinasis C is more resistant to heat denaturation, not losing its activity even after being warmed to 85 degrees C for 5 min; sphingomyelinasis D is sensitive to temperatures higher than 50 degrees C (Fig. 3). COREX was selected (sphingomyelinasis D), produced by the strain CNTCC 18/62 of C. pseudotuberculosis. The enzyme was applied either in raw filtrate of the medium (sterilization by repeated membrane filtration) or in prepurified form obtained by cold acetone precipitation, providing the same results. The medium is highly specific and likely enough selective for Str. agalactiae, unlike BHE it does not provide any positive results with UBERIS-factor+strains of Str. uberis (Tab. V). Optimum cultivation time is 18 hours; prolongation of cultivation for more than 24 hours brings about the risk of falsely positive readings (Tab. VI) in the strains of accompanying microflora (Morganella morganii ssp. morganii, delta-hemolytic staphylococci).

[Testing of culture media for detection of Staphylococcus aureus in bulk milk samples]. / Testování kultivacních médií pro stanovení Staphylococcus aureus v bazénových vzorcích mléka.

Three common selective agar culture media were tested with respect to detection of Staphylococcus aureus: Baird-Parker agar (BP), Mannitol-Salt-Phenol agar (MAN) and Vogel-Johnson agar (VJ). All media were cultivated at temperatures of 37 degrees C and 43 degrees C. Three groups of samples were used for investigations: 1, pure cultures of 52 collection strains of S. aureus received from the Czech Microorganism Collection (Tab. I), 2. pure cultures of 75 laboratory strains of S. aureus from samples of cow raw milk and 3,223 bulk samples of cow raw milk. Medium recovery and frequency of medium failure were evaluated, as well as subjective evaluation of medium selectivity and count feasibility was done. The best results of recovery and failure frequency were observed in BP/37 degrees C for all three groups; except the collection strains, in which a distinction from BP/43 degrees C was only moderately significant (P = 0.1; Tab. II), statistically significantly better results of recovery against the other media were determined for BP/37 degrees C in all cases (Tabs. III, VI, IX). No other medium with better results was found out for any other group of samples as regards failure frequency (Tabs. IV, VII, X). Recoveries of BP/43 degrees C ranged from 78 to 95% in comparison with BP/37 degrees C (Figs. 1-3). A group of three media (VJP/37 degrees C, MAN/37 degrees C, MAN/43 degrees C) showed similar results in all groups of samples, statistically significant differences were rare (Tabs. III, VI, IX); recoveries ranged from 55-85% in comparison with BP/37 degrees C (Figs. 1-3). The cultivation on VJ/43 degrees C turned out absolutely inappropriate. Subjective evaluation (Tab. IX) revealed BP/43 degrees C as the best medium, particularly due to the clearly expressed diagnostic traits and high selectivity for accompanying microflora. Enterococci were the most important accompanying microflora in cases of BP/37 degrees C, BP/43 degrees C and VJ/37 degrees C; while in MAN/37 degrees C and MAN/43 degrees C the microflora making the count difficult consisted of representatives of the genera Staphylococcus, Micrococcus and Bacillus. Determinations on different media (except VJ/43 degrees C) well correlated with each other in general (Tabs. V, VIII, XI), the differences in correlations between the pairs of media were not commonly statistically significant.

[Staphylococcus aureus in bulk milk samples]. / Výskyt Staphylococcus aureus v bazénových vzorcích mléka.

In the years 1993-1994 the occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus was investigated in bulk milk samples in the area where a Baby Food Factory at Zábreh in Moravia is located, and in Bruntál, Zlín and Policka districts. Evaluation of the results was based on ECC Directive 92/46, while the dynamics of S. aureus presence was followed for the whole period of observation as well as in the particular seasons. A total of 4,485 samples was processed. Out of these, 50.7% contained less than 100 CFU/ml of S. aureus, 41.4% contained 100-500 CFU/ml, 6.73% 500-2,000 CFU/ml and 1.14% contained more than 2,000 CFU/ml (Fig. 1). The samples were divided into three categories: private new-established farms, cooperative and State-owned enterprises in the area of the Zábeh Factory and others (Zlín, Bruntál and Policka districts). There were highly significant differences in the content of staphylococci (P = 0.01%) between the three categories of samples. Ninety-eight percent of samples from private farms, 96% samples from the Zábreh Factory area and 85% of the other samples comply with the regulation EEC 92/64 (Tab. I) for raw cow's milk for the manufacture of products "made with raw milk" whose manufacturing process does not involve any heat treatment (Fig. 2). The occurrence of S. aureus in the Zábreh Factory area shows an expressive seasonal dynamics (P = 0.005%) with maximum values in winter months (December-March) and minimum values in summer months (July-October)-Fig. 3. The same relationship can be seen on more extensive data files for the particular producers (Fig. 4).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Tests of Milkofix, a new preservative preparation for milk samples used for infrared analysis of milk components. I. Verification of its bacteriostatic and bacteriocidal effects and its interference effects]. / Testování nového konzervacního prípravku vzorku mléka Milkofix pro úcely infracervené analýzy základního slození mléka. I. Overení bakteriostatických a baktericidních vlastností a interferencního vlivu.

Hygienic, ecological and health problems of sample preservation for an analysis of basic milk components make us continually to develop a safer chemical preservative substance which will preserve the original sample composition for the time required and which will not influence the analyses. Trzický (1990) proposed Milkofix (M), a preservative substance on the basis of silver compound. The author reports on minimum risks of the use of this preparation, in comparison with traditional preservatives. Preservative efficiency of Milkofix was compared with other preservatives: K2Cr2O7 (C), NaN3 (A) and bronopol (B). The following concentrations were used: A--0.0085 g NaN3 and 0.0630 g NaCl, B--0.0050 g bronopol and 0.0500 g NaCl, C--0.0330 g K2Cr2O7 and 0.0670 g KCl in tablet, M--0.1250 g of the mixture, all amounts are per 25 ml milk. The observed antibacterial efficiency of M could be seen in a slower decrease in actual acidity, and/or in an increase in titratable acidity in M-treated samples unlike untreated ones (N). From the starting value pH 6.3 (Fig. 1), the value of N treatment dropped to 3.8 after two days, the values of M and A treatments dropped to 4.9 after nine days and to 5.7 after twelve days, respectively. As for SH, the values increased within the same interval from 6.5 (2.5 mmol/l) to 28.6 in N, and to 22.3 in M and 9.4 in A (Fig. 3). There was a similar trend when the milk samples were stored at a temperature of 4 degrees C, but the differences between the preservation methods were not so clear in comparison with storage at a temperature of 20 degrees C (Figs. 1 and 3). The standardized SH value of 9.0 (2.5 mmol) for infraanalyzer measurements was exceeded after 24 hours in N samples, after four days in M samples and after 12 days in A samples at a temperature of 20 degrees C. The observation of the growth of microorganism counts (CPM) showed that this growth was slower in M than in N, but faster in the samples of C treatment (Fig. 5). The generative time of CPM in N made 1.6 hours, in M 2.4 hours and in C 7.9 hours. The lag phase of these mixed cultures was 24 hours in M, 60 hours in C and in N treatment the lag phase was zero.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)