Gas-liquid chromatography was used to identify species of Candida, Cryptococcus, and Torulopsis by fatty-acid analysis of the whole-cell hydrolysate. Candida albicans characteristically revealed 2-OH C14:0 and C19:0 (chain length:number of double bonds); these were absent in other organisms. Candida curvata was characterized by a ratio of C16:1 to C16:0 of greater than 1.0. Candida guilliermondii contained C10:0, and Candida tropicalis had no C12:0, these features were used for their identification. Cryptococcus was characterized by the absence of C16:1. Torulopsis was characterized by a C16:1 to C16:0 ratio of greater than 10 accompanied by the presence of one unidentified fatty acid. These data suggested that certain Candida, Cryptococcus, and Torulopsis (the clinically important yeast-like organisms) may be identified by gas-liquid chromatography.

The antimicrobial factors in amniotic fluid (AF) were analyzed in 81 women during various periods of gestation. The AF inhibited the growth of E. coli 026 when the phosphate/zinc ratio was less than 200 or iron less than or equal to 1.2 microgram/ml and unbound transferrin was greater than 40%. A heat-stable non-lysozymal phosphate insensitive cationic protein with molecular weight higher than transferrin was also found in inhibitory AF. The antimicrobial properties of AF did not correlate with absolute zinc or lysozyme levels. The AF was non-inhibitory when it contained greater than 60 +/- 5 micrograms/ml of phosphate with phosphate/zinc ratio greater than 200, iron greater than 1.2 microgram/ml and unbound transferrin was less than 40%. Amongst all criteria described, iron (P = 0.002) and unbound transferrin levels (P = 0.0005) were the most reliable and consistent all through pregnancy but others were highly reliable only during the 36th-40th week of gestation. The clinical application of these factors are being investigated.

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The ligand 2,2'-[(E)-diazene-1,2-diyldicarbonothioyl]diphenol has been synthesised in situ by aerial oxidation of o-hydroxythiobenzhydrazide [H(htbh)] in presence of rhodium(III) in DMSO. Each ligand binds two RhO(2)(+) ions through its N and S atoms and the O atom of its deprotonated hydroxy group. Each RhO(2)(+) contains two cis-Rh=O bonds. The sixth coordination site of each rhodium(V) is occupied by the O of DMSO.