Bacterial contamination of musculoskeletal allografts.

Based on the indications in the literature of the transmission of highly pathogenic bacteria in musculoskeletal allograft implants, the cultural results for allografts removed and implanted in conditions of asepsis between 1997 and 2000 in BTM were analyzed: 4014 allografts (3117 from a living donor, 897 from a cadaver) and 3479 implants (2191 with allografts from living donors and 1288 with allografts from cadavers). Explanted tissues: these were positive to culture in 292 out of 3117 (9.4%) allografts from living donors; the bacteria isolated showed low pathogenicity. Out of 897 allografts 117 cadaver donors bacteria with low pathogenicity were isolated in 68 (7.6%) and high pathogenicity in 12 (1.3%). Implants: cultures were positive in 116/2191 (5.3%) implants with allografts from living donors and in 55/1288 (4.3%) implants with allografts from cadavers. The bacteria isolated are the same as those shown in the explants. In living donors contamination is similar as regards incidence and type of microorganism to that observed in surgical theatres during routine surgery. Contamination seems to be greater in allografts removed from cadavers who died as a result of trauma, in the presence of positive hemocultures, prolonged catheterization and intubation, explantation of the pelvis and removal of several organs and tissues prior to musculoskeletal allograft.

[Variations in the antibiotic sensitivity of bacterial strains after contact with the metals used for the construction of prosthetic implants]. / Variazioni della sensibilità agli antibiotici di alcuni ceppi batterici dopo contatto con metalli impiegati per la costruzione di impianti protesici.

The antibiotic sensitivity of 19 Gram-positive bacterial strains (11 Staphylococcus aureus and 8 Staphylococcus epidermidis) and 16 Gram-negative strains (8 Escherichia coli and 8 Proteus species) was evaluated after contact with stainless steel and with some metals compounding the alloys used for prosthetic devices. The hypothesis was that the resistance to antibiotic therapy of infections associated with prosthetic implants is also due to a modification in the sensitivity of microorganisms. The results, compared to those obtained from control tests, showed only slight variations in the antibiotic sensitivity of the strains put in contact with the metals. In Gram-positive strains, after contact with metals, the increase in sensitivity occurred more frequently than the reduction. In Gram-negative strains, the decrease in sensitivity was more frequent than the increase. Proteus strains showed sensitivity variations more frequently than Escherichia coli strains. Titanium and nickel induced the highest number of variations, both in Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains.

Study of the hemocoagulative parameters in hemoperfusion on polymer coated resins.

A hemoperfusion column containing anionic exchange resin coated with a new polymer has been tested in vivo for blood compatibility. The hemocoagulative parameters, evaluated before and after the cartridge during hemoperfusion, did not show any significant alteration even as regards the number and the functionality of the platelets nor as regards a possible activation of the fibrinolysis process. On the basis of these results, the hemoperfusion system examined can be regarded as hemocompatible from the hemocoagulative standpoint.

Interference of glucosamine and other aminosugars on blast transformation.

The effect of exogenous glucosamine and other aminosugars on the incorporation of 3H-leucine 3H-uridine and 3H-thymidine into mitogen induced lymphocytes was studied. D-glucosamine D-galactosamine and D-mannosamine inhibit the incorporation of these precursors into protein. RNA and DNA of blast cells. Glucose and pyruvate did not reverse this inhibition. Glucosamine - 6P, acetylglucosamine and acetylglucosamine and have shown a considerably lower inhibition in the uptake of these labeled precursors.

[Receptors for murine red blood cells on normal lymphocytes and in chronic lymphocytic leukemia]. / Recettori per emazie di topo sui linfociti normali e nella leucemia linfatica cronica

The ability of unfractionated and purified B and T peripheral lymphocytes to form rosettes EAC and E with sheep and mouse red blood cells was assessed in thirty healthy controls and in five patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. E mouse rosettes is a marker of B cells in man and its percentage in peripheral blood lymphocytes is 9.3% in normal subjects on the contrary patients with CLL had a high rosette count with mouse red blood cells (mean 57%) and a low count with sheep red blood cells (mean 13.7%).