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Biomedical subjects

D Girard

Publications and source records attributed to D Girard.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Preferential concentration of azithromycin in an infected mouse thigh model.

The possibility of augmentation of azithromycin delivery to infection loci was evaluated by the use of Staphylococcus aureus thigh infection models with CD-1 mice. The intramuscular infections that developed were characterized by rapid growth of bacteria and induction of a localized oedema that was assessed gravimetrically. Microscopic examination of infected thighs showed massive infiltration of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (viable and degranulated), when compared to saline-injected thighs, from 24 to > or = 72 h after infection. Azithromycin concentrations were enhanced significantly (P < or = 0.02) in infected thigh tissues compared with contralateral non-infected tissues, and correlated with oedema from 24-72 h after challenge and dosing. The azithromycin levels in infected tissue after a 5 mg/kg dose were sufficient to cause a significant reduction in the number of cfu. If azithromycin administration was delayed until inflammation was more severe, the result was an even greater preferential concentration of azithromycin into the infected thigh. Preferential concentration of azithromycin was not observed when extensive oedema was produced by injection of histamine. However, this oedema was not associated with a significant influx of polymorphonuclear leucocytes. In comparative studies, macrolide antibiotics known to be concentrated in phagocytes, such as erythromycin, roxithromycin, and clarithromycin, were not concentrated preferentially in infected tissues under the experimental conditions used; tissue levels were above or at the in-vitro MIC level for < or = 24 h. The data indicate that delivery of biologically available azithromycin to infected tissues is enhanced by cellular inflammatory processes.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Combined effects of selected insecticides on humoral immune response in mice.

Biological effects data with single insecticides are far more abundant than with mixtures. These data cannot be used directly to predict the effects of insecticide mixtures. Three insecticides of different chemical classes: organochlorine; dieldrin, organophosphate; malathion, and carbamate; carbofuran, previously evaluated for their immunotoxic potential, were selected for studies of combined acute exposure in C57B1/6 inbred mice. The humoral response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and the functional activities of peritoneal macrophages, such as phagocytosis of fluorescent beads and presentation of a single protein antigen, avidin, were examined after in vivo exposure of mice to different combinations of the selected pesticides and compared with the vehicle controls. Regarding exposure to single substances, the data confirmed the immunosuppressive potential of dieldrin and carbofuran and the immunopotentiating effect of malathion. Following the acute concomitant exposure to dieldrin/carbofuran mixture, however, values for the parameters of antigen presentation, primary IgM antibody response to SRBC antigen, and macrophage phagocytosis, returned to control or above-control values, indicating a lack of any synergistic or additive effects of the chemicals on the immune response. Thus, it was concluded the dieldrin/carbofuran mixture had an antagonistic effect on the humoral response to SRBC and the macrophage phagocytic activity, in comparison with the action of administration of each of the insecticides alone.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Limited immunotoxic potential of technical formulation of the herbicide atrazine (AAtrex) in mice.

Immunotoxicity of the technical atrazine formulation, AAtrex, was examined in C57Bl/6 female mice following a sublethal exposure to equivalent 1/2-1.64 LD50 doses of the herbicide. Animal weight was not affected by the herbicide exposure. No dose-related changes could be concluded for fluctuations in organ weight, changes in the spleen cell number and cell viability. Furthermore, cytofluorometric studies showed no significant changes in the frequency of L3T4-positive and Lyt-2-positive T-cells. Functional in vitro assays of mitogen activation showed no marked effects of AAtrex exposure on lymphocyte stimulation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con-A). In addition, sublethal exposure to AAtrex did not affect interleukin-2 (IL-2) production by splenic cells. Furthermore, no dose-related effect could be concluded from a transient suppression of a primary humoral IgM response to sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) as well as from a transient inhibition of a specific T-cell response to alloantigens in mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). Exposure to equiv. 1/2-1/16 LD50 doses augmented phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages, without any visible AAtrex dose-related effect. Normal humoral and cellular responses were restored at 14-40 days after the herbicide exposure. Overall, transient and reversible immunosuppression of humoral-mediated and cell-mediated responses and activated macrophage phagocytic activity could not be attributed to the direct chemical-related effect of sublethal exposure to AAtrex.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Pharmacokinetic studies of CP-74,667, a new quinolone, in laboratory animals.

The pharmacokinetics of CP-74,667 (7-(8'-methyl-3',8'-diazabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3'-yl)-1-cyclopropyl-6- fluoro-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid) were studied following oral or parenteral administration in mice, rats, rabbits, dogs, and cynomolgus monkeys. The mean peak levels of CP-74,667 in serum following a single oral dose of 20 mg/kg of body weight were similar in all species, with a range of 3.7 micrograms/ml in mice to 5.6 micrograms/ml in dogs. In contrast, elimination half-lives were species dependent, with mean values of 2.1, 1.8, 4.5, 7.8, and 13.1 h in mice, rats, rabbits, dogs, and monkeys, respectively. The oral bioavailability of CP-74,667 was 100% in dogs and monkeys, as determined by intravenous-oral crossover experiments. The maximum concentration of drug in serum and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of CP-74,667 in dogs were proportional to dose over the range of 5 to 40 mg/kg. Accumulation of drug in serum was observed following the administration of four once-a-day doses of 7.1 mg/kg in monkeys (mimicking a 500-mg human dose), with significant increases in half-life, maximum and minimum concentrations of drug in serum, and AUC. The good tissue penetration of CP-74,667 suggested by a volume of distribution in excess of 2 liters/kg in dogs and monkeys was confirmed by tissue distribution studies with the same species, which demonstrated tissue concentrations (except for those in brain tissue) greater than 1.45 times higher than corresponding levels in serum. The mean urinary recoveries of unchanged drug were 17.7% in rats, 7.8% in monkeys, and 4.9% in dogs. Metabolism studies in dogs, following intravenous dosing, indicated that renal excretion of CP-74,667-related materials accounted for 41.6% of the administered dose, while biliary recoveries accounted for 6.8%. The CP-74,667 N-oxide metabolite was the primary drug-related material eliminated via renal excretion (37.2% of dose). The pharmacokinetics of CP-74,667 describe a quinolone with complete oral absorption, linear pharmacokinetics, a long elimination half-life, and wide distribution into tissues.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1991

Halothane 1.5 MAC, isoflurane 1.5 MAC, and the contractile responses of coronary arteries obtained from human hearts.

Active vasoconstriction of epicardial coronary arteries can cause myocardial ischemia in patients with coronary artery disease. Relief of vasoconstriction can improve blood flow to the heart. The purpose of this study was to determine if 1.5 MAC halothane and 1.5 MAC isoflurane would each attenuate contractions evoked by three putative mediators of coronary constriction in coronary arteries removed from the hearts of human beings. Hearts were obtained in the operating room from five patients undergoing cardiac transplantation and from six brain-dead patients undergoing organ donation procedures. Coronary arteries were dissected free, cut into rings, and studied in organ chambers. Endothelium-dependent relaxations to 10(-6) M bradykinin were examined; they indicated a variable degree of endothelial dysfunction in vessels used in the experiments. Contractile responses to 40 mM KCl were tested and were used as control contractions. Contractions evoked by serotonin, histamine, and prostaglandin F2 alpha were measured and were expressed as a percent of contractile responses evoked by 40 mM KCl. Halothane depressed the agonist-induced contractions. Maximal contractile responses to serotonin were 130% +/- 28% in untreated rings and 63% +/- 10% in rings exposed to halothane (P less than 0.03). Responses to histamine were 183% +/- 46% untreated and 121% +/- 26% during halothane administration (P less than 0.05), and responses to prostaglandin F2 alpha were 227% +/- 42% untreated and 148% +/- 18% with halothane (P less than 0.05). Isoflurane had no effect on contractions. The results demonstrate that 1.5 MAC halothane, but not 1.5 MAC isoflurane, attenuates contractile responses evoked by putative mediators of coronary vasoconstriction in coronary arteries removed from the hearts of human beings.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Cyclophosphamide and 15(S)-15 methyl PGE1 correct the T/B lymphocyte ratios of NZB/NZW mice.

The lupus of NZB/NZW F1 female mice is associated with immune complex glomerulonephritis and premature death. Cyclophosphamide and 15(S)-15 methyl PGE1 therapy halt disease progression. Fluorescein conjugated antibodies were utilized to label specific leukocytes and the subsets were quantitated using a Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorter. Normal outbred CD-1 female mice showed a decrease in absolute T and B cell numbers with age, but the ratio of T and B cells remained essentially constant through 9 months of age. By contrast the NZB/W female mice showed decreased numbers of total lymphocytes relative to CD-1 controls at all ages. Moreover relative to CD-1s, there was a far greater decrease in T cell numbers (7 x for NZB/W versus 2 x for CD-1) and B cell numbers failed to decrease with age. The characteristic decline in T lymphocyte numbers and relative increase in B cell numbers in NZB/W mice were corrected with cyclophosphamide and PGE1 therapy. However, there was no selective modification of T cell subsets (L3T4+ or Ly2+) with therapy. Our investigation suggests correction of the abnormal T/B cell ratio may be a useful marker of therapeutic activity in NZB/W mice.

Aging↗
PubMed1990

Orally effective acid prodrugs of the beta-lactamase inhibitor sulbactam.

Sulbactam (1) is a beta-lactamase inhibitor with limited oral bioavailability. Lipophilic double-ester prodrug sulbactam pivoxil (2) significantly improves the oral absorption of sulbactam, as does the mutual prodrug double ester sultamicillin (3). We have found that double-ester prodrugs of sulbactam terminating in a carboxyl group (8) also were effective oral-delivery vehicles in rats. Carboxyl-terminated double esters have several potential advantages over their nonionizable lipophilic counterparts, including water solubility, crystallinity, choice of salts for dosage forms, and formation of innocuous byproducts on hydrolysis.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

In-vitro and in-vivo susceptibility of Borrelia burgdorferi to azithromycin.

The in-vitro and in-vivo susceptibility of Borrelia burgdorferito tetracycline, erythromycin and azithromycin was investigated. A macrodilution broth technique was used to determine MBCs. B. burgdorferi was most susceptible to azithromycin (MBC 0.04 mg/l) followed by erythromycin (MBC 0.16 mg/l) and tetracycline (MBC 1.6 mg/l). Syrian hamsters were used to determine ED50S for the three antimicrobials. Azithromycin was most effective in the elimination of spirochaetes from experimentally infected hamsters with an ED50 of 3.71 (+/- 1.9) mg/kg followed by tetracycline (ED50 15.6 (+/- 4.58) mg/kg). Erythromycin possessed low activity, having an ED50 of 122.2 (+/- 51.9) mg/kg. Tissue concentrations of azithromycin exceeding the MBC were present 24 h after the final treatment.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Correlation of the extravascular pharmacokinetics of azithromycin with in-vivo efficacy in models of localized infection.

Infection models were used to clarify the roles of serum and extravascular concentrations in the in-vivo efficacy observed with azithromycin. In-vivo experiments were designed to give serum concentrations well below the MIC and tissue levels generally above the MIC at time of challenge and during the course of infection. The efficacy of azithromycin against a Salmonella enteritidis oral challenge (a tissue-associated infection model) in mice correlated directly with azithromycin liver levels, but not serum concentrations. The significance of extravascular pharmacokinetics was observed in a comparative study of azithromycin and ciprofloxacin against the salmonella challenge. Ciprofloxacin has a greater than 100-fold in-vitro potency advantage over azithromycin against this organism, but azithromycin (5 mg/kg) produced a greater reduction in cfu than ciprofloxacin (100 mg/kg) at the primary site of infection (liver). In another model, extravascular fluid levels, measured by bioassay of implanted paper discs, were compared with plasma levels in relation to control of a localized Staphylococcus aureus infection in rats. Extravascular fluid levels of azithromycin were greater than the MIC of the strain used for five days after a 100 mg/kg dose, while erythromycin levels were less than 20% of the MIC at 30 h after a 200 mg/kg dose. Serum concentrations of both compounds were less than 20% of the MIC at the time of challenge. The antibiotic levels at the site of infection correlated with the reduction of Staph. aureus cfu (99% with azithromycin compared with controls, P less than 0.01; 0% with erythromycin) recovered from inoculated discs. The significance of extravascular concentrations of azithromycin was further supported in other models of localized infections induced with Escherichia coli or a mixture of Staph. aureus and Bacteroides fragilis.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Relationship of high tissue concentrations of azithromycin to bactericidal activity and efficacy in vivo.

Measurement of killing kinetics of azithromycin against strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Klebsiella pneumoniae in vitro showed that it had a limited bactericidal activity (greater than 90% kill) for the first eight hours of incubation, but developed complete bactericidal activity (greater than 99.9% kill) by 24 h incubation. Since high and sustained tissue levels of azithromycin occur in animals and humans, it was proposed that it might produce a bactericidal effect in vivo. This was demonstrated in a lung infection model in mice, designed to mimic the in-vitro killing studies. A 25 mg/kg dose of azithromycin given 24 h before intranasal challenge reduced the recoverable Str. pneumoniae population by greater than 99.9%, in comparison with untreated controls. Erythromycin did not produce a bactericidal effect at 100 mg/kg, and roxithromycin only reduced the viable count by 96%, at a dose of 50 mg/kg. Against a K. pneumoniae lung infection, a 50 mg/kg dose of azithromycin reduced the bacterial count by 99%. The bactericidal effect was correlated with lung tissue concentrations of azithromycin. In a proliferating Escherichia coli paper disc infection model, extravascular fluid concentrations of azithromycin were correlated with a 99.9% reduction in bacterial count, while corresponding serum concentrations were always less than the MIC. Dosing with azithromycin eradicated Haemophilus influenzae from the bulla (middle ear) of gerbils, as was not the case with erythromycin and roxithromycin. This effect was correlated with the antibiotic concentration in bulla lavage.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Pharmacokinetic studies in animals of a new parenteral penem CP-65,207 and its oral prodrug ester.

The pharmacokinetics of penem CP-65,207 diastereomeric mixture were studied following parenteral administration in mice, rats, beagle dogs and cynomolgus monkeys. As is characteristic for most penems, the serum elimination T1/2 of CP-65,207 in rodents was only 13 minutes for mice and 18 minutes for rats. A linear relationship was observed between dose and Cmax following subcutaneous injection of drug in mice. The T1/2 in the beagle dog and monkey following intravenous injection was approximately 23 minutes. CP-65,207 demonstrated binding to human serum proteins of only 10%. In vitro studies using purified porcine renal dehydropeptidase-I (RDHP) indicated that the pure S-isomer of CP-65,207 was 7-fold more stable to inactivation than imipenem. Urinary recovery of CP-65,207 in the dog was 42% compared to 1% for imipenem without RDHP inhibitor. Unlike results obtained with imipenem, coadministration of probenecid with CP-65,207 in the dog doubled the elimination T1/2 and AUC of the penem demonstrating its relative stability in vivo in the absence of a RDHP inhibitor. The pivaloyloxymethyl esters of each pure isomer of CP-65,207 showed significantly different degrees of oral absorption in rats.

Absorption↗
PubMed1989

Multiple defects in Escherichia coli mutants lacking HU protein.

The HU protein isolated from Escherichia coli, composed of two partially homologous subunits, alpha and beta, shares some of the properties of eucaryotic histones and is a major constituent of the bacterial nucleoid. We report here the construction of double mutants totally lacking both subunits of HU protein. These mutants exhibited poor growth and a perturbation of cell division, resulting in the formation of anucleate cells. In the absence of HU, phage Mu was unable to grow, to lysogenize, or to carry out transposition.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1987

Shivering following cardiac surgery: hemodynamic changes and reversal.

The effects of shivering on hemodynamics and systemic oxygenation, as well as the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions in decreasing shivering and increasing mixed venous oxygen saturation, were studied. Thirty adult patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass with systemic hypothermia were observed for 1 1/2 to 5 hours postoperatively for signs of shivering associated with a simultaneous decrease in oxygen transport. Systemic and pulmonary hemodynamic measurements were made, blood temperature and mixed venous oxygen saturation were monitored via the pulmonary arterial catheter, and oxygen consumption and delivery were calculated. Shivering was graded by a single investigator on scale of 0 to 4, with 0 = no shivering and 4 = continuous violent muscle activity. Therapy was instituted when shivering reached grade 4 or when SvO2 decreased to less than two thirds of its value on arrival in the intensive care unit (ICU). Patients were randomly assigned to receive either morphine sulfate, 5 to 10 mg, or meperidine, 25 to 50 mg intravenously (IV), followed by the other narcotic if the initial drug failed to improve SvO2 or decrease shivering within ten minutes. The end-point for successful treatment was a return of SvO2 to within 5% to 10% of its value upon arrival in the ICU or a cessation of shivering that did not recur within 45 minutes. Twenty of the thirty patients shivered sufficiently to decrease SvO2 by more than one third of its initial value, thus requiring pharmacologic therapy. As shivering increased from a score of 0.8 +/- 1.1 to 3.4 +/- 0.9, SvO2 decreased from 74 +/- 6% to 57 +/- 12%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Pharmacokinetic and in vivo studies with azithromycin (CP-62,993), a new macrolide with an extended half-life and excellent tissue distribution.

Azithromycin (CP-62,993), a new acid-stable 15-membered-ring macrolide, was well absorbed following oral administration in mice, rats, dogs, and cynomolgus monkeys. This compound exhibited a uniformly long elimination half-life and was distributed exceptionally well into all tissues. This extravascular penetration of azithromycin was demonstrated by tissue/plasma area-under-the-curve ratios ranging from 13.6 to 137 compared with ratios for erythromycin of 3.1 to 11.6. The significance of these pharmacokinetic advantages of azithromycin over erythromycin was shown through efficacy in a series of animal infection models. Azithromycin was orally effective in treating middle ear infections induced in gerbils by transbulla challenges with amoxicillin-resistant Haemophilus influenzae or susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae; erythromycin failed and cefaclor was only marginally active against the H. influenzae challenge. Azithromycin was equivalent to cefaclor and erythromycin against Streptococcus pneumoniae. In mouse models, the new macrolide was 10-fold more potent than erythromycin and four other antibiotics against an anaerobic infection produced by Fusobacterium necrophorum. Similarly, azithromycin was effective against established tissue infections induced by Salmonella enteritidis (liver and spleen) and Staphylococcus aureus (thigh muscle); erythromycin failed against both infections. The oral and subcutaneous activities of azithromycin, erythromycin, and cefaclor were similar against acute systemic infections produced by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus viridans, or S. aureus, whereas azithromycin was more potent than erythromycin and cefaclor against the intracellular pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. The pharmacokinetic advantage of azithromycin over erythromycin in half-life was clearly demonstrated in prophylactic treatment of an acute mouse model of S. aureus infection. These properties of azithromycin strongly support the further evaluation of this new macrolide for use in community-acquired infections of skin or soft tissue and respiratory diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

The pulse oximeter: a non-invasive monitor of oxygenation during thoracic surgery.

The pulse oximeter continuously and non-invasively measures arterial saturation. The objective of the current study was to assess the value of this monitor during thoracic surgery with one-lung ventilation. A total of 108 pulse oximeter saturation readings (SaO2[O]) were compared with PaO2 and calculated saturation (SaO2[C]) values. Hypoxia (PaO2 less than 70 mmHg) always resulted in a SaO2 (O) value below 95%. For the detection of hypoxia, the pulse oximeter had a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 91% and a predictability of 70%. The correlation between SaO2(C) and SaO2(O) was good (r = 0.895). In the samples with a PaO2 below 100 mmHg the correlation between SaO2(C) and SaO2(O) was significantly better when the temperature was at least 36 degrees C (r = 0.956 vs. r = 0.706; p less than 0.005) or when the cardiac index was greater than 2.5 l/min/m2 (r = 0.896 vs r = 0.417; p less than 0.01).

Adult↗