Inactivation mechanisms of pathogenic bacteria in several matrixes during the composting process in a composting toilet.

This study aimed to compare the inactivation rate and the mechanisms of pathogenic bacteria in three matrixes (sawdust, rice husk and charcoal) during the composting process. The inactivation rate was evaluated with Escherichia coli strain and the damaged parts and/or functions were evaluated with three different media. Normalized inactivation rate constant in three media and from three matrixes had no significant difference in each process (pure, 1 month and 2 months). The value in rice husk was relatively increased during 2 months but there was no significant difference. The inactivation rate constants of Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA) and Compact Dry E. coli/Coliform in pure sawdust and rice husk were relatively lower than that of Desoxycholate Agar, but increased in 2 months. This indicated that damaging part was changed from outer membrane to enzymes and metabolisms during the 2-month composting process. In the case of charcoal, only the TSA value in apure matrix was relatively lower than that of others, but it increased in 2 months. This indicated that damaging part was changed from outer membrane and enzyme to metabolisms during the composting process. Composting matrix and composting process did not significantly affect inactivation rate of pathogenic bacteria during the process but affected the damaging part of the bacteria.

[Content of trace elements and steroid hormones in blood and tissues of internal organs in experimental pulmonary fibrosis induced by intratracheal administration of bleomycetin]. / Soderzhanie mikroélementov i steroidnykh gormonov v krovi i tkaniakh vnutrennikh organov pri ékperimental'nom fibroze legkikh, vyzvannom vnutritrakheal'nym vvedeniem bleomitsetina.

Pulmonary fibrosis was produced in rats by intratracheal administration of bleomycetin. The development of the fibrous process in the lungs was attended by marked reduction of the zinc content in the tissues of the viscera, plasma, and formed elements of the blood, as well as of corticosterone and testosterone in blood plasma. Respiratory insufficiency is a probable cause of the developing zinc-deficiency which leads to disturbed synthesis of steroid hormones. Injection of exogenous testosterone normalizes partly the level of steroid hormones in the blood, improves the general condition of the animals, and facilitates an increase of body weight.

[Changes in the muscle fiber conduction velocity (MFCV) due to the masticatory muscle development. 1. Preliminary study in adults].

The purpose of this study was to investigate the methods involved in observing the muscle fiber conduction velocity (MFCV) both in the masseter muscle and the m. biceps brachii in healthy persons. Three adults were the subjects in this study, none of whom had any gnathofacial dysfunction. The EMG activities were recorded from the m. biceps brachii with the arm bent at right angles and the masseter muscle in the intercuspal position, in both muscles during 50% of maximum voluntary isometric contraction on the habitual side. Three types of surface electrodes were used. Type 1. the disc type electrodes array arranged straight, Type 2. the disc type electrodes array arranged independently, Type 3. the strip type surface electrodes array arranged straight. The EMG activities preamplified at three conditions of time constant, e.g., 0.003, 0.01, 0.03 sec on m. biceps brachii were analyzed through a personal computer system and a FFT analyser. The conduction velocity was calculated by the cross-correlation method. The results obtained in this study were as follows: 1) No differences in the MFCV between the time constant were noticed. 2) The electrode array arranged straight was effective in the measurement of the MFCV in adults and in particular the strip type series electrodes array arranged straight was the most effective to measure the MFCV in the masseter muscle. 3) The average MFCV of the m. biceps brachii and the masseter muscle were 4.13 +/- 0.29 m/sec and 14.28 +/- 1.21 m/sec respectively.

[Blood and tumor levels of tegafur, 5-fluorouracil, and uracil].

The blood and tissue concentrations of tegafur (TGF), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and uracil were tested by administering 6 capsules of UFT (600 mg as tegafur (TGF)) per day to 21 patients awaiting operation for stomach cancer. At the same time, comparative tests were performed by dividing the patients into two groups, giving UFT before meals in one group and in another after meals. Both 5-FU and uracil levels tend to reach to the maximum blood concentration after one hour, while showing similar variations with time lapse. Furthermore, a significantly positive relationship was observed between 5-FU and uracil in the rate of changes of blood concentration during six hours after administration of UFT. The 5-FU concentration within tumor tissue was 10 times higher than that within the blood and 2 times higher than that within normal tissue. A similar tendency was observed with uracil, which was of value in the clinical determination of the effect of uracil in inhibiting decomposition of 5-FU. With regard to the comparative test between the groups of pre- and post-meal UFT administration, the concentration of tegafur (TGF) and 5-FU in tumor tissue tended to be higher in the pre-meal group which indicates a need for further study of the phenomenon.

Effect of tetracycline on cultured mouse cells.

By use of an assay system in vitro with cultured FM3A cells from a C3H mouse mammary carcinoma, tetracycline hydrochloride was found to have the ability to induce an 8-azaguanine-resistant mutation. It is suggested that an assay system using mammalian cells for the detection of mutagenicity of certain substances having antimicrobial action is more practical than a system using bacteria. As other effects of tetracycline hydrochloride on FM3A cells, the damage on chromosomes and the inhibition of syntheses of protein and nucleic acids were demonstrated.