[Evaluation of the alkaline-phosphatase labeled DNA probes for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium complex].

Non-radioisotopic, alkaline phosphatase-labeled DNA (AP-DNA) probe tests for the identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (Mtb) and Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) were evaluated. The overall agreement, sensitivity and specificity of the AP-DNA probes for Mtb and MAC were 100% respectively compared with the conventional biochemical method. Because the procedure is rapid (it can be completed approximately 120 min), safe (it does not use radioisotopes) and convenient (it does not need the special equipment to be performed), it can be easily performed in any clinical laboratory.

[Therapeutic efficacy of norfloxacin for experimental osteomyelitis in rabbits].

Norfloxacin (NFLX), a new quinolone antibiotic agent, was evaluated for its efficacy in experimental osteomyelitis in rabbits. Osteomyelitis was induced in male rabbits by the inoculation of 10(7) CFU/ml (0.1 ml) of Staphylococcus aureus (MIC for NFLX: 0.78 micrograms/ml) with 0.4 ml of 3% sodium tetradecyl sulphate into the medullary cavity of the proximal tibia. The rabbits were divided into 3 different groups of 4 animals each. The animals in 2 groups were orally administered with NFLX; 100 mg/kg once-daily (group 2) and 50 mg/kg twice-daily (group 3) for 7 days from the 6th hour after inoculation. Group 1 was established as a control without administration of NFLX. All animals were sacrificed on the 7th day after inoculation. Acute osteomyelitic changes were found microscopically in all animals in group 1. In each of the 2 therapeutic groups, incidence of microscopic changes was 50% associated with remission of S-sialic acid value. Thus, NFLX may be considered a useful antimicrobial agent for the treatment of suppurative osteomyelitis.

[Fundamental studies on "M. TB probe assay kit" for the identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis].

DNA probe assay kit for the identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was evaluated. This kit is based on beads capture method and using a 20 well assay tray. The culture isolate is suspended with 0.5 ml sterilized water in the tube containing phi 3 mm glass beads for dispersion, transferred to a well of the assay tray. After lysation and adsorption of the nucleic acids to the capture bead, 125I-DNA probe specific for the M. tuberculosis is added to the sample and hybridized for 1 hour at 65 degrees C. Hybridized probe trapped on the capture bead is quantitated using a gamma counter. This hybridization assay kit can detect more than 1 x 10(5) bacteria per assay. Using the control DNA (synthesized oligonucleotide complementary to the probe sequences) and suspension of the culture isolates, the intra assay C.V. value was 4.3% and 5.2% respectively. To compare this probe assay kit with the conventional culture identification method, a total of 144 culture isolates were examined. This test for the M. tuberculosis had 99.3% agreement with the conventional identification procedures, and demonstrated 100% sensitivity and 98.2% specificity. The suspension of culture isolates can be stocked by freezing, the samples can be assayed together when they have accumulated instead of every day. As shown in the above, this assay kit demonstrates a high level of specificity and sensitivity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)