Abstract: Biological indicators are provided for use in validating and routinely monitoring oxidizing gas sterilizations. The biological indicators are based on Bacillus circulans spores that are enclosed in packages with sufficient permeability to admit a sterilizing amount of vapor while being substantially bacteria impermeable.

Abstract: A growth medium for enhancing the selective growth of most serotypes of Yersinia enterocolitica obtained from environmental and clinical samples. The medium comprises an effective amount of a composition of a suitable nutrient source for Y. enterocolitica and an effective antimicrobial amount of 5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) phenol. The medium components may be provided as a dry powder for use in an aqueous formulation. An improved assay and isolation method is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a three-dimensional cell culture system which can be used to culture a variety of different cells and tissues in vitro for prolonged periods of time. In accordance with the invention, cells derived from a desired tissue are inoculated and grown on a pre-established stromal support matrix. The stromal support matrix comprises stromal cells, such as fibroblasts actively growing on a three-dimensional matrix. Stromal cells may also include other cells found in loose connective tissue such as endothelial cells, macrophages/monocytes, adipocytes, pericytes, reticular cells found in bone marrow stroma, etc. The stromal matrix provides the support, growth factors, and regulatory factors necessary to sustain long-term active proliferation of cells in culture. When grown in this three-dimensional system, the proliferating cells mature and segregate properly to form components of adult tissues analogous to counterparts found in vivo.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the comparative effect of growth-affecting substances, such as antimicrobial drugs or antibiotics, on different cultures of microorganisms is disclosed. The cultures are plated on the surface of a culture medium (12), such as agar, in adjacent at least partially separated tracks, such as tracks formed as Archimedes spirals. The cultures may be different concentrations of the same microbe or a test culture and a reference culture. The growth-affecting substances (22) are placed in contact with the culture medium on which the cultures have been plated preferably in the form of disks containing a powdered growth-affecting substance which dissolves and diffuses differentially into the culture medium to produce zones (24) of inhibition of growth extending radially outward from the disk.

Abstract: The present invention provides a human polyfuctional protease chracterized in that the protease has unique enzymological and physicochemical properties:

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of measuring the contribution of one or more exogenously administered .sup.13 C-labeled substrates to acetyl-CoA. The measurement can be made in a tissue or cell using .sup.13 C NMR without the constraint of metabolic or isotopic steady-state. Furthermore, the method permits the determination even when spectral lines are broad due to B.sub.0 inhomogeneity, thereby opening the way for substrate utilization studies in vivo. The method does not require many of the simplifying assumptions involved in .sup.11 C or .sup.14 C methods, and, since a stable isotope, .sup.13 C, is used a wide variety of compounds with complex labeling patterns may be synthesized and studied.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel enzymes, heparitinase T-I, heparitinase T-II, heparitinase T-III and heparitinase T-IV, which degrade heparan sulfate and/or heparin, a process for producing thereof by cultivating a novel Bacillus circulans HpT 298 having an ability of producing these enzymes and a novel Bacillus circulans HpT 298.

Abstract: A method for counting living cells of microbes in a fluid sample continuously while flowing the sample using an apparatus which comprises a system for supplying at a predetermined rate to the flow line of the sample a reagent, such as, a derivative of fluorescein, capable of reacting with one or more substances intrinsic of the living cell, such as enzyme, to form an accumulative fluorescent product within the living cells; a reactor inserted in the flow line of the sample and being provided for the reaction of the reagent with the cell-intrinsic substance in the living cells; a photometric detection system arranged subsequent to the reactor for detecting fluorescence emitted as individual luminous point from the fluorescent product in each of the living cells floating in the flowing sample upon irradiation of the fluorescent product by an exciting ray; and an electronic unit including a pulse counter for counting electric pulses produced from each fluorescence from the luminous point.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to differential carbon source metabolism in the genus Listeria, metabolic, biochemical, immunological and genetic procedures to measure said differential carbon source metabolism and the use of these products to detect, isolate and/or distinguish species of the genus Listeria as well as detect, isolate and/or distinguish strains of species of Listeria. The present invention also contemplates test kits and enrichment media to facilitate these procedures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for the biological detection of radiation by microorganisms in form of a microorganism coating provided on a sheet substrate, which microorganism coating is exposed, optionally after calibration by exposure to a defined radiation dose, to the radiation to be detected. The principle of evaluating the biologically weighted quantification of the radiation dose consists of photometrically determining the decrease in response to the radiation dose of the amount of synthetically formed products upon selectively staining the biosynthesis products.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of testing the sensitivity of cancer drugs with cancer cells cultured in vitro. Cancer cells are cultured in a collagen gel substrate. A wide variety of human cancer cell types readily proliferate in the collagen gel substrate, however, fibroblast cells proliferate as well. The measurement of the growth of the cancer cells is hindered by the presence of the fibroblast cells. The present invention solves this problem by counting the number of colonies with an image processor which selectively extracts the image signals of cancer cells and their colonies. In a second embodiment, the growth of cancer cells is determined by measuring the volume of colonies with the image signals of cancer cells and their colonies selectively extracted. The results can be obtained effectively within a short period of time.

Abstract: A repeat insult microbial test method in which an antimicrobial agent is applied to a porous permeable substrate. The porous permeable substrate is inoculated with microorganisms, and the porous permeable substrate is incubated for a predetermined period of time, at a temperature which is conducive to the flourishment of the microorganisms. The porous permeable substrate is reinoculated and reincubated a predetermined plurality of times and the inoculated porous permeable substrate is incubated for a final period of time between 18-24 hours at the temperature used previously. The porous permeable substrate is then examined, and the growth of microorganisms is determined.

Abstract: Selective detection of microorganisms is achieved by a screening technique in which radioactively labeled, low-molecular-weight metabolites produced by microorganisms to be detected reach an adsorption medium through a semipermeable medium which passes the labeled metabolites but blocks the labeled incubation medium. The adsorption medium is then subject to analysis, such as antoradiography, to detect the presence of the labeled metabolites.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for diagnosing for an aneurysm in a patient which comprises the steps of (a) explanting a skin section containing dermal fibroblast from the patient; (b) culturing the fibroblast to confluence in a culture medium; (c) incubating the cultured fibroblast with labeled proline to provide labeled procollagen in the culture medium; (d) separating the culture medium from the labeled procollagen and treating the labeled procollagen with a solution of protease inhibitor; (e) separating and purifying the labeled procollagen from the solution of protease inhibitor; (f) subjecting the labeled procollagen to protease digestion specific for non-collagenous proteins to form a collagenous mixture; (g) analyzing the collagenous mixture for the ratio of type I collagen to type III collagen; (h) analyzing a control collagenous mixture for the ratio of type I collagen to type III collagen; and (i) comparing the ratio of type I collagen to type III collagen in the collagenous mixture of

Abstract: Pathogenic microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus are differentiated and identified by observing the selective inhibition of the microorganism which occurs when it is contacted with Alphazurine A dye.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for accurately determining settling data for the settling of erythrocyte cells from a plasma fluid in a test specimen of blood. The apparatus includes a settling tube, a sensing assembly movably mounted proximate the settling tube. Preferably an infrared emitter and detector are provided in the sensing assembly, and a control assembly is provided which senses data at a high rate and is responsive to the sensed data to sample or store the time at which sensed reflectivity exceeds a threshold level. When the threshold is reached, data is sampled and the tracking head is moved by a very small step. This process is repeated to enable tracking of the descent of the separation boundary between the erythrocyte cells and plasma fluid. The apparatus senses changes in reflectivity of the erythrocyte portion of the specimen below and up to the separation boundary.

Abstract: A method of stimulating seedling growth which comprises applying a coal-derived oxidation product to the medium in which the seedling is growing. The product is in the form of a solution or a slurry having a pH in the range of 2 to 12 and has the following elemental and functional group analysis (on an air-dried basis):______________________________________ ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS Element Range (%) ______________________________________ Carbon 30-70 Hydrogen 2-6 Nitrogen 0.1-5 Sulphur 0.1-10 Oxygen 15-45 ______________________________________ FUNCTIONAL GROUP ANALYSIS Functional Group Range (meq/g) ______________________________________ Total acidity 3-13 Carboxylic groups 0.5-12 Phenolic groups 0.

Abstract: A rapid process for detecting pathogenic microorganisms in products for human consumption comprises contacting the microorganisms with a methylumbelliferone substrate. The substrate is hydrolyzed into methylumbelliferone by an enzyme given off by the microorganisms. Hydrolysis is accelerated by sodium lauryl sulfate, which renders the microorganisms more permeable to the substrate, the enzyme, or both. The methylumbelliferone is detected by its fluorescence, either in solution or on an agar medium supporting microcolonies formed from individual microorganisms.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel enzymes, heparitinase T-I, heparitinase T-II, heparitinase T-III and heparitinase T-IV, which degrade heparan sulfate and/or heparin, a process for producing thereof by cultivating a novel Bacillus circulans HpT 298 having an ability of producing these enzymes and a novel Bacillus circulans HpT 298.

Abstract: The presence and a quantitative estimate of microorganisms in a sample is determined by monitoring the growth of vertical subsurface colonies in a soft agar medium. A culture cell containing the sample-agar mixture is positioned on a rotating circular index table and, at an inspection station, a video camera monitors colony growth with an image processor and computer processing the output of the video camera. Select output parameters include, but are not restricted to, colony counts and growth rates, morphological variations and identification criteria.