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Purpose: Patients in the early stage of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) suffer from night blindness and, therefore, have mobility problems at night. To assist such patients with walking in the dark, we developed a wearable visual aid utilizing a see-through display upon which assistive images from a high-sensitivity video camera are superimposed. We evaluated the efficacy of our new visual aid for RP patients., Methods: The device is equipped with a camera with a minimum illuminance of 0.08 lux and a view angle of 53° × 40°. The experiment was conducted in a room with dimmed light (illuminance level 0.2-1.2 lux). Eight subjects with RP were instructed to arrive at a goal 16 m away from the starting point, both with and without the device, passing through four 1.5-m-wide gates consisting of pairs of black square carpet pieces, white poles, red and white traffic cones and cardboard boxes with and without the device in a darkened room. Three gates, except for the boxes, which were nearest the goal, were randomly arranged along the x-axis at each trial. The number of trial failures and the time required to walk the course were assessed as outcomes., Results: Seven of the 8 subjects could walk with the aid of the device without any failure. With the device, the number of trial failures significantly decreased in number (p < 0.05) in all subjects., Conclusions: This device enabled the subjects to see objects that could not be recognized by the unaided eye. Our visual aid effectively assisted RP patients with night blindness.

Susceptibilities of 289 strains of 34 bacterial species to cefodizime (CDZM) were determined using the 2-fold agar dilution method in parallel with the measurement of inhibition zone diameters in the single-disc method under the experimental conditions established by Kanazawa. The experiments demonstrated a significant correlation between MIC by the dilution method and diameter of inhibition zone in each of the conventional, overnight assay (about 16 hours incubation), thus the applicability of the single-disc assay for CDZM was established. Analysis of the data obtained using discs containing 30 micrograms of CDZM/disc revealed that the primary regression equation was in the form: D (Diameter, mm) = 32.3-13.5 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in the conventional assay for staphylococci, Enterococcus group and glucose-non-fermentative Gram-negative rods. For other bacteria, the primary regression equation was in the form: D (diameter, mm) = 24.1-8.4 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in the conventional assay. The range of variations in MICs estimated from diameters of inhibition zones in the disc test was then calculated in comparison with that in MIC determined by the 2-fold agar dilution test to estimate experimental errors which may be involved in the determination of MICs of CDZM using the single-disc assay.

Susceptibilities of 232 strains of 40 bacterial groups to cefpirome (CPR) were determined by the 2-fold agar dilution method in parallel with the diameter of inhibition zones by the single-disc method under the experimental conditions established by Kanazawa. The experiments demonstrated a significant correlation between MIC by the dilution method and diameter of inhibition zone in each of the conventional assay of over-night (about 16 hours) incubation, the delayed assay (about 24 hours incubation), and the rapid assay (about 3-4 or 5-6 hours incubation), thus confirming the applicability of the single-disc assay for CPR. Analysis of the data obtained by using CPR disc containing 30 micrograms revealed the primary regression equation to be: D (diameter, mm) = 26.7-9.2 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in the conventional assay, D = 33.8-12.7 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in the delayed assay, D = 21.2-6.7 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in 5-6 hours rapid assay, and D = 14.8-4.1 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in 3-4 hours rapid assay. The range of variations in MICs estimated from the diameter of inhibition zone by the disc test was then calculated in comparison with that in MIC determined by the 2-fold agar dilution test, as a reference for the experimental errors which may be involved in the estimation of MIC of CPR by the single-disc assay.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in muscle soreness and serum enzyme activity following consecutive drop jumps. Seven male subjects (mean age 30.6 years) performed drop jumps from a 80-cm box height every 7 s until exhaustion (mean = 114 drop jumps). A questionnaire was used to assess muscle soreness (0 = no pain, 7 = unbearable painful) both pre- and post-exercise (0, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h, and 3, 4 and 5 days after the exercise). Blood samples were also taken from three subjects at each of these times. For the other four subjects, blood samples were taken pre-exercise and 0, 12 and 36 h and 5 days post-exercise only. Although there was large inter-subject variability in the development of muscle soreness, all the subjects reported muscle soreness in their lower extremity muscles, especially in the quadriceps femoris. Muscle soreness developed significantly (P less than 0.01) over time, its peak (mean +/- S.E. = 3.7 +/- 0.7) occurring 12-48 h post-exercise. Serum enzyme activity changed significantly over time (P less than 0.05), but the changes were small. Not one subject showed a large increase in creatine kinase, and the average increase was less than 1.3 times as much as the pre-exercise level throughout the period of study. These results suggest that the muscle damage that occurs after drop jumping is not associated with a large release of muscle enzymes into the blood, and muscle soreness is not necessarily related to enzyme elevation following drop jumps.

Susceptibilities to amikacin of 153 strains of 27 bacterial species were determined by the 2-fold agar dilution method in parallel with the diameter of inhibition zone by the single-disc method. The experiments demonstrated significant correlation between MIC by the dilution method and diameter of inhibition zone in each of conventional assay of the over-night (about 16 hours) incubation, delayed assay (about 24 hours incubation), and rapid assay (after 3-4 or 5-6 hours incubation), thus confirming applicability of the single-disc assay for amikacin. Analysis of the data obtained by using amikacin disc containing 30 micrograms revealed the primary regression equation to be: D (diameter, mm)=23.73-8.55 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in conventional assay, D=29.84-11.53 log MIC (microgram/ml) in delayed assay, D=16.47-4.53 log MIC (microgram/ml) in 3-4 hours rapid assay, and D=19.57-6.19 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in 5-6 hours rapid assay, respectively. The range of variations in MICs estimated from the diameter of inhibition zone by the disc test was then calculated in comparison with that in MIC determined by the two-fold agar dilution assays, as reference for the experimental errors which may be involved in the estimation of MIC of amikacin by the single-disc assay.

Susceptibilities of 77 strains of 24 bacterial species to cefmenoxime (CMX) were determined by the 2-fold agar dilution method in parallel with the diameter of inhibition zones by the single-disc method, under the experimental condition established by Kanazawa . The experiments demonstrated significant correlation between MIC by the dilution method and diameter of inhibition zone in each of conventional assay of the over-night (about 16 hours) incubation, delayed assay (about 24 hours incubation), and rapid assay (about 3 approximately 4 or 5 approximately 6 hours incubation), thus confirming applicability of the single-disc assay for CMX. Analysis of the data obtained by using CMX disc containing 30 micrograms revealed the primary regression equation to be: D (diameter, mm) = 25.5-9.3 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in conventional assay, D = 30.8-12.0 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in delayed assay, D = 20.9-6.9 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in 5 approximately 6 hours rapid assay, and D = 16.8-4.8 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in 3 approximately 4 hours rapid assay, respectively. The range of variations in MICs estimated from the diameter of inhibition zone by the disc test was then calculated in comparison with that in MIC determined by the 2-fold agar dilution assays, as reference for the experimental errors which may be involved in the estimation of MIC of CMX by the single-disc assay.

Susceptibilities to cefotiam of 103 strains of 27 bacterial species were determined by the 2-fold agar dilution method in parallel with the diameter of inhibition zone by the single-disc method, under the experimental condition established by Kanazawa. The experiments demonstrated significant correlation between MIC by the dilution method and diameter of inhibition zone in each of conventional assay of the over-night (about 16 hours) incubation, delayed assay (about 24 hours incubation), and rapid assay (about 3--4 or 5--6 hours incubation), thus confirming applicability of the single disc assay for cefotiam. Analysis of the data obtained by using cefotiam disc containing 30 micrograms revealed the primary regression equation to be: D (diameter, mm) = 25.6--10.1 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in conventional assay, D = 32.8--13.2 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in delayed assay, D = 17.2--5.8 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in 3--4 hours rapid assay and D = 21.0--7.8 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in 5--6 hours rapid assay, respectively. The range of variations in MICs estimated from the diameter of inhibition zone by the disc test was then calculated in comparison with that in MIC determined by the 2-fold agar dilution assays, as reference for the experimental errors which may be involved in the estimation of MIC of cefotiam by the single-disc assay.

Susceptibility of 124 strains of 28 bacterial species or subspecies to cefuroxime were determined by the 2-fold agar dilution method in parallel with the diameter of inhibition zone by the single-disc method. The experiments demonstrated significant correlation between MIC by the dilution method and diameter of inhibition zone in each of conventional assay of the over-night (about 16 hours) incubation, delayed assay (about 24 hours incubation), and rapid assay (after 3 approximately 4 or 5 approximately 6 hours incubation), thus confirming applicability of the single-disc assay for cefuroxime. Analysis of the data obtained by using cefuroxime disc containing 30 micrograms revealed the primary regression equation to be: D (diameter, mm) = 28.2-10.1 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in conventional assay, D = 33.1-13.2 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in delayed assay, D = 23.9-8.2 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in 5 approximately 6 hours rapid assay, and D = 20.0-6.5 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in 3 approximately 4 hours rapid assay, respectively. The range of variations in MICs estimated from the diameter of inhibition zone by the disc test was then calculated in comparison with that in MIC determined by the 2-fold dilution assay, as reference for the experimental errors which may be involved in the estimation of MIC of cefuroxime by the single-disc assay.

Susceptibilities of 169 strains of 30 bacterial species to cefaclor (CCL) were determined by the 2-fold agar dilution method in parallel with the diameter of inhibition zones by the single-disc method, under the experimental condition established by Kanazawa. The experiments demonstrated significant correlation between MIC by the dilution method and diameter of inhibition zone in each of conventional assay of the over-night (about 16 hours) incubation, delayed assay (about 24 hours incubation), and rapid assay (after 3-4 or 5-6 hours incubation), thus confirming applicability of the single-disc assay for CCL. Analysis of the data obtained by using CCL disc containing 30 micrograms revealed the primary regression equation to be: D (diameter, mm) = 28.2--10.2 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in conventional assay, D = 33.8--13.0 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in delayed assay, D = 17.9--5.1 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in 3-4 hours rapid assay and D = 22.6--7.4 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in 5-6 hours rapid assay, respectively. The range of variations in MICs estimated from the diameter of inhibition zone by the disc test was then calculated in comparison with that in MIC determined by the 2-fold agar dilution assays, as reference for the experimental errors which may be involved in the estimation of MIC of CCL by the single-disc assay.

Susceptibilities to fosfomycin of 216 strains of 28 bacterial species were determined by the 2-fold agar dilution method in parallel with the diameter of inhibition zone by the single-disc method, under the experimental condition establish by Kanazawa. The experiments demonstrated significant correlation between MIC by the dilution method and diameter of inhibition zone in each of conventional assay of the over-night (about 16 hours) incubation, delayed assay (about 24 hours incubation), thus confirming applicability of the single-disc assay for fosfomycin. Analysis of the data obtained by using fosfomycin disc containing 200 micrograms revealed the primary regression equation to be: D (diameter, mm) = 42.73-13.85 log MIC (microgram/ml) in conventional assay, D = 56.51-18.18 log (microgram/ml) in delayed assay, respectively. The range of variations in MICs estimated from the diameter of inhibition zone by the disc test was then calculated in comparison with that in MIC determined by the 2-fold agar dilution assays, as reference for the experimental errors which may be involved in the estimation of MIC of fosfomycin by the single-disc assay.

Susceptibility of 203 strains of 34 bacterial species or subspecies to cephapirin (CEPR) was determined by the 2-fold agar dilution method in parallel with the determination of inhibition zone diameter in the single-disc method. These experiments demonstrated a significant correlation between the MIC by the dilution method and the diameter of inhibition zone determined by the conventional assay using an over-night (about 16 hours) incubation, the delayed assay (about 24 hours incubation), or the rapid assay (after 3-4 or 5-6 hours incubation), hence applicability of the single-disc assay for CEPR was confirmed. An analysis of the data obtained using CEPR discs (each containing 30 micrograms) revealed that primary regression equations were as follows: D (diameter, mm) = 25.8-9.7 log MIC (microgram/ml) in the conventional assay; D = 31.2-12.3 log MIC in the delayed assay; D = 21.7-7.1 log MIC in the 5-6-hour rapid assay and D = 17.9-5.0 log MIC in the 3-4-hour rapid assay, and especially for beta-lactamase producing Staphylococci, they were: D = 24.9-9.2 log MIC in the conventional assay, D = 20.4-7.4 log MIC in the 5-6-hour rapid assay and D = 17.5-5.8 log MIC in the 3-4-hour rapid assay.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The MIC''s of sulfobenzylpenicillin (SB-PC) were determined by the two-fold serial agar-dilution method for 108 bacterial strains of 21 species. The diameters of inhibition zones of these bacterial strains by the 30 mug and 200 mug SB-PC discs were also measured. The relation between the MIC and the diameter of the inhibition zone was found to be expressed as a primary regression line in all cases of the conventional method (cultured for about 16 hours), delayed assay method (cultured for about 24 hours) and rapid methods (5 to approximately 6 hours and 3 to approximately 4 hours culture m ethods). Thus, it was confirmed that the single-disc method can be employed for the susceptibility test of SB-PC. Subsequently, variations of MICs obtained by the disc-diffusion method were compared with those obtained by the serial agar-dilution method.

Susceptibilities of 198 strains of 31 bacterial species to cefmetazole (CMZ) were determined by the 2-fold agar dilution method in parallel with the diameter of inhibition zone by the single-disc method, under the experimental condition established by Kanzazwa. The experiments demonstrated significant correlation between MIC by the dilution method and diameter of inhibition zone in each of conventional assay of the overnight (about 16 hours) incubation, delayed assay (about 24 hours incubation), and rapid assay (about 3-4 or 5-6 hours incubation), thus confirming applicability of the single-disc assay for CMZ. Analysis of the data obtained by using CMZ disc containing 30 micrograms revealed the primary regression equation to be: D (diameter, mm) = 27.9-11.2 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in conventional assay, D = 34.5-13.8 log MIC (microgram/ml) in delayed assay D = 18.1-6.0 log MIC (microgram/ml) in 3-4 hours rapid assay and D = 22.9-8.5 log MIC (microgram/ml) in 5-6 hours rapid assay, respectively. The range of variations in MICs estimated from the diameter of inhibition zone by the disc test was then calculated in comparison with that in MIC determined by the 2-fold agar dilution assays, as reference for the experimental errors which may be involved in the estimation of MIC of CMZ by the single-disc assay.

Susceptibilities of 175 strains of 27 bacterial species to ceftizoxime (CZX) were determined by the 2-fold agar dilution method in parallel with the diameter of inhibition zones by the single-disc method under the experimental conditions established by Kanazawa. The experiments demonstrated a significant correlation between MIC by the dilution method and diameter of inhibition zone in each of the conventional assay of over-night (about 16 hours) incubation, the delayed assay (about 24 hours incubation), and the rapid assay (about 3 approximately 4 or 5 approximately 6 hours incubation), thus confirming the applicability of the single-disc assay for CZX. Analysis of the data obtained by using CZX disc containing 30 micrograms revealed the primary regression equation to be: D (diameter, mm) = 27.3-9.7 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in conventional assay, D = 32.5-12.3 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in delayed assay, D = 22.8-7.5 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in 5 approximately 6 hours rapid assay, and D = 17.9-5.1 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in 3 approximately 4 hours rapid assay, respectively. The range of variations in MICs estimated from the diameter of inhibition zone by the disc test was then calculated in comparison with that in MIC determined by the 2-fold agar dilution test, as a reference for the experimental errors which may be involved in the estimation of MIC of CZX by the single-disc assay.

Drug-sensitivity of 70 strains of Y. enterocolitica and 24 of Y. pseudotuberculosis including reference strains and isolates from men or animals were determined by the agar plate-dilution method. All the strains of Y. enterocolitica were relatively resistant to penicillins and cephalosporins, while all of Y. pseudotuberculosis were sensitive to both of the agents. Most of the strains of both species excluding 13 resistant ones were sensitive to streptomycin. The resistant strains, however, were sensitive to other aminoglycoside antibiotics, i.e. kanamycin, paromomycin, gentamicin, tobramycin, dibekacin and amikacin. All of the strains were sensitive to chloramphenicol. Most of the strains excluding 3 resistant ones were highly sensitive to tetracycline. The resistant strains were also resistant to doxycycline and methacycline but not to minocycline. All of them were resistant to erythromycin, to lincomycin and to novobiocin. Most of them excluding 7 resistant strains were sensitive to sulfisoxazole. All of them were sensitive to nalidixic acid, piromidic acid, and also to dihydroxymethylfuratrizine. A new synthetic agent, fosfomycin showed a relatively wide range of activity to the strains, but none of resistant strains were noticed. These resistant strains were all found in the isolates from men and animals but not in reference strains. Among these resistant strains, resistance patterns were as follows; TC, SM, SA in 3 of Y. enterocolitica, SM, SA in 3 of Y. enterocolitica and in 1 of Y. pseudotuberculosis, and SM in 3 of the both species, respectively. As for polypeptide antibiotics, polymyxin B and colistin, some strains of the both species showed an uncontinous susceptibility, i.e. inhibited growth at a certain lower concentration but growth at a higher concentration.

Seven strains of Y. enterocolitica, of which 2 strains being resistant to SM, TC and SA, 2 to SM and SA 3 to SM, and 3 strains of Y. pseudotuberculosis resistant to SM have been isolated from men and domestic animals. Tests were carried out with these 10 isolates for transfer of the drug resistance by bacterial conjugation, and evidence was obtained for transfer of resistance from 1 SM-resistant Y. enterocolitica and 2 Y. pseudotuberculosis strains to the sensitive E. coli K-12. Moreover, secondary transfer of this resistance to sensitive strains of the donor species Y. enterocolitica and Y pseudotuberculosis was also demonstrated. The findings indicate the spontaneous occurrence of organisms carrying the resistance transfer factor, R(Sm), among the populations of these two species in the natural environment.

Susceptibilities of 101 strains of 25 bacterial species or subspecies to amoxicillin (AMPC) were determined by the 2-fold agar dilution method in parallel with the diameter of inhibition zone by the single-disc method, under the experimental conditions established by Kanazawa. The experiments demonstrated significant correlation between the MIC by the dilution method and the diameter of inhibition zone in each of conventional assay of the over-night (about 16 hours) incubation, delayed assay (about 24 hours incubation), and rapid assay (after 3 approximately 4 or 5 approximately 6 hours incubation), thus confirming applicability of the single-disc assay for AMPC. Analysis of the data obtained by using AMPC disc containing 30 micrograms revealed the primary regression equation to be: D (diameter, mm) = 27.1-9.9 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in conventional assay, D = 32.2-12.8 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in delayed assay, D = 19.8-6.2 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in 3 approximately 4 hours rapid assay, and D = 24.0-7.8 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in 5 approximately 6 hours rapid assay, and particularly for beta-lactamase producing Staphylococci, D = 23.7-8.1 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in conventional assay, D = 16.7-9.0 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in 3 approximately 4 hours rapid assay, and D = 20.7-9.2 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in 5 approximately 6 hours rapid assay, respectively. The range of variations in MICs estimated from the diameter of inhibition zone by the disc test was then calculated in comparison with that in MIC determined by the 2-fold agar dilution assays, as reference for the experimental errors which may be involved in the estimation of MIC of AMPC by the single-disc assay.

The MICs of ribostamycin (RSM) were determined by the two-fold serial agar-dilution method of 109 bacterial strains of 20 species. The diameters of inhibition zones of these bacterial strains by the 50 mug RSM disc were also measured. The relation between the MIC and the diameter of the inhibition zone was found to be expressed as a primary regression line in all cases of the conventional method (cultured for about 16 hours), delayed assay method (cultured for about 24 hours) and rapid methods (5 approximately 6 hours and 3 approximately 4 hours culture methods). Thus, it was confirmed that the single-disc method can be employed for the susceptibility test of RSM. Subsequently, variations of MICs obtained by the disc-diffusion method were compared with those obtained by the serial agar-dilution method.

Susceptibilities of 228 strains of 32 bacterial species to micronomicin (MCR) were determined by the 2-fold agar dilution method in parallel with the diameter of inhibition zone by the single-disc method, under the experimental conditions established by Kanazawa. The experiments demonstrated significant correlation between MIC by the dilution method and diameter of inhibition zone in each of conventional assay of the over-night (about 16 hours) incubation, delayed assay (about 24 hours incubation), and rapid assay (after 5--6 or 3--4 hours incubation), thus confirming applicability of the single-disc assay for MCR. Analysis of the data obtained by using MCR disc containing 30 micrograms revealed the primary regression equation to be: D (diameter, mm) = 25.7-9.5 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in conventional assay, D = 30.3-11.6 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in delayed assay, D = 21.0-7.0 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in 5--6 hours rapid assay, D = 16.8-4.8 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in 3--4 hours rapid assay, respectively. The range of variations in MICs estimated from the diameter of inhibition zone by the disc test was then calculated in comparison with that in MIC determined by the 2-fold dilution assays, as reference for the experimental errors which may be involved in the estimation of MIC of MCR by the single-disc assay.

Susceptibilities of 179 strains of 30 bacterial species or subspecies to clavulanic acid/amoxicillin (CVA/AMPC) combination were determined by the 2-fold agar dilution method as well as by diameters of inhibition zones in the single-disc method, under the experimental conditions established by Kanazawa. The experiments demonstrated significant correlation between MICs by the dilution method and diameters of inhibition zones in each of conventional assays of the over-night (about 16 hours) incubation, the delayed assay (about 24 hours incubation), and the rapid assay (after 3-4 or 5-6 hours incubation), thus confirming applicability of the single-disc assay for activities of CVA/AMPC combination. From an analysis of the data obtained using CVA/AMPC (1:2) combination of disc containing 45 micrograms, the primary regression equations were obtained as follows: D (diameter, mm) = 27.4-10.1 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in the conventional assay; D = 33.7-13.4 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in the delayed assay; D = 20.7-6.6 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in the 5-6 hours rapid assay, and D = 14.5-3.6 log MIC (micrograms/ml) in the 3-4 hours rapid assay. The range of variations in MICs of CVA/AMPC combination estimated from diameters of inhibition zones by the disc test was then calculated in comparison with that in MICs determined by the 2-fold agar dilution method to estimate experimental errors involved in assaying MICs of CVA/AMPC combination by the single-disc assay.