Colon and rectal cancer together account for an estimated 92,500 new cancer cases in the U.S. annually, more than any other organ site; large bowel cancer results in an estimated annual mortality of 47,400, being second only to lung cancer in this regard (1). The median survival time for colon cancer patients is only 2.2 years. Recent epidemiologic studies are of great interest since they offer prospects of preventing this very serious form of cancer. Japan is one of a number of countries with a low incidence of large bowel cancer. However, Japanese migrating to the U.S. and adopting the western diet develop this cancer with increased frequency, approaching that of native Amencans (1). Hill et al. (2) have postulated that intestinal

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Miniature jars (35-mm. film containers), with acidified copper sulfate and steel wool for obtaining anaerobiosis, were found to be economical and convenient to use for the transport of tissue for anaerobic examination. These jars were compared with Brewer jars and gassed roll tubes. All were equally effective in keeping Bacteroides melaninogenicits and Fusobacterium fnsiforme viable for six hours in inoculated tissue. The miniature-jar system can also be used for the cultivation of obligate anaerobes on agar slants or in roll-vials. Alka-Seltzer is an effective source of carbon dioxide. ANAEROBES frequently infect man and animals. Examination of clinical material suspected of containing anaerobes should be made immediately after collection or, if this is not possible, the material should be kept in an anaerobic state until it is brought to the laboratory. Tissue is usually transported anaerobically in liquid media such as fluid thioglycollate medium or Stuart's Transport Medium or in vials of pre-reduced medium 1 into which bits of tissue have been injected. Tissue may also be transported in sterile containers placed in anaerobic jars or placed in gassed-out, oxygen-free tubes. This report presents a modified coppersul fate-steel-wool method for obtaining anaerobiosis that is used with metal 35-mm. film containers as miniature anaerobic jars (the "mini-jar" method).

Fecal bacterial cultures from 40 normal humans yielded Megasphaera elsdenii from four individuals and Acidaminococcus fermentans from 10 individuals, with two individuals having both organisms.

Fecal bacterial cultures from 40 normal humans yielded Megasphaera elsdenii from four individuals and Acidaminococcus fermentans from 10 individuals, with two individuals having both organisms. Two gram-negative anaerobic cocci, Acidaminococcus fermentans, described by Rogosa (7), and Megasphaera elsdenii, recently renamed and redescribed by Rogosa (8), have been isolated from animals. Our laboratory noted an isolate of A. fermentans from a sample of normal human feces in 1972 (2). We also noted that A. fermentans had been isolated from 6 of 22 normal humans and M. elsdenii from 2 of 22 humans (P.

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A total of 300 patients undergoing various types of urological procedures was studied for incidence of bacteremia. An osmotically stabilized anaerobic broth with sodium polyanethol sulfonate (Liquoid) yielded more positive blood cultures than any other culture system and was also the best system by far for recovery of anaerobes. The membrane filter showed faster growth and, therefore, facilitated faster identification of the infecting organism. There was a 31% incidence of bacteremia in the patients having transurethral resection of the prostate, 17% in the cystoscopy group, 24% in the urethral dilation group, and 8% in the urethral catheterization group. The organisms found most frequently isolated in blood cultures were enterococci and Klebsiella pneumoniae . Notable were a relatively large number of anaerobes and two protoplasts. The major source of the bacteremia was previous urinary tract infection, but evidence is presented which indicates that the prostate gland and the normal urethral flora are other significant sources.