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Biomedical subjects

M Peeters

Publications and source records attributed to M Peeters.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Changing antibiotic susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Franceville, Gabon.

Susceptibilities to penicillin, cefotaxime, kanamycin, tetracycline, and spectinomycin were measured for 5 reference strains and 302 Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates collected between 1980 and 1985. After an initial rise, the number of penicillinase-producing strains decreased. A gradual decrease in susceptibility to spectinomycin and the appearance of tetracycline-resistant strains were also documented.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1987

Megakaryoblastic leukemia and Down's syndrome: a review.

Megakaryoblastic leukemia and transient leukemia in Down's syndrome have been reviewed using case reports from the literature and our own experience at the Hospital for Sick Children. The following conclusions have been reached: (1) approximately 20% of leukemia (excluding transient leukemia) in Down's syndrome is acute megakaryoblastic leukemia; (2) approximately 20% of all leukemia in Down's syndrome is transient leukemia; (3) transient leukemia in Down's syndrome is acute megakaryoblastic leukemia; (4) recurrence of acute megakaryoblastic leukemia occurs in 20% of the cases of transient leukemia; and (5) the incidence of acute megakaryoblastic leukemia in Down's syndrome is estimated to be 400 times that in normal children. These observations suggest that a specific form of leukemia, namely acute megakaryoblastic leukemia, has a remarkable association with Down's syndrome.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

Antimicrobial activity of seven metallic compounds against penicillinase producing and non-penicillinase producing strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

The in vitro activity of seven metallic compounds was tested against penicillinase (beta lactamase) producing strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) and non-PPNG strains. On a weight basis, the mercurials showed the greatest in vitro activity. Phenylmercuric borate, thiomersal, and mercuric chloride inhibited 90% of all strains at concentrations of 5 mg/l, 5 mg/l, and 20 mg/l respectively. Silver nitrate inhibited 90% of the strains at 80 mg/l and the MIC90 for mild silver protein was 200 mg/l. Copper and selenium salts had lower in vitro activities, inhibiting 90% of all the strains at 320 mg/l and 640 mg/l respectively. Silver nitrate and the six other compounds tested showed equal activities against PPNG and non-PPNG strains. This finding supports the recommendation for prophylaxis of gonococcal conjunctivitis of the newborn with 1% silver nitrate eye drops.

Copper↗
PubMed1985

In-vitro activity of Ro-15-8074, a new oral cephalosporin.

The in-vitro activity of Ro-15-8074, a new oral cephalosporin, was tested against common clinical isolates, and compared with the in-vitro activity of cefaclor, cefadroxil, ampicillin and co-trimoxazole. Its activity against Enterobacteriaceae was better than those of the other antibiotics tested. It was also highly active against Haemophilus influenzae, including beta-lactamase producing strains. Its activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp., was poor. Ro-15-8074 was less active against staphylococci and group D streptococci than were cefaclor, cefadroxil and ampicillin. It was equally or less active than cefaclor, cefadroxil, ampicillin and co-trimoxazole against other streptococci.

Ampicillin↗
PubMed1985

Adhesion of Gardnerella vaginalis to vaginal epithelial cells: variables affecting adhesion and inhibition by metronidazole.

Variables affecting the adherence of Gardnerella vaginalis to human vaginal epithelial cells were examined in vitro. Adherence depended on pH, with maximum attachment occurring between pH 5 and pH 6. Preincubation of the bacteria at 56 degrees C for 30 minutes and ultraviolet irradiation resulted in a noticeable decrease in adherence. In contrast, adherence was not altered by preincubating the epithelial cells under these conditions. Periodate oxidation of the vaginal cells caused an appreciable reduction in subsequent adherence of G vaginalis. None of the 19 single carbohydrates tested inhibited adherence completely. Metronidazole at subinhibitory concentrations for G vaginalis, appreciably reduced the adhesive capacity of G vaginalis, whereas subinhibitory concentrations of ampicillin did not.

Adhesiveness↗
PubMed1984

In vitro activities of the spectinomycin analog U-63366 and four quinolone derivatives against Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

The in vitro activities of the new spectinomycin analog U-63366 and four new quinolone derivatives, rosoxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin, were compared with those of penicillin, tetracycline, thiamphenicol, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, and spectinomycin against 222 beta-lactamase-negative and 25 beta-lactamase-positive Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains. U-63366 was more active than spectinomycin, inhibiting 90% of the strains at a concentration of 2 mg/liter. Among the quinolone derivatives, ciprofloxacin was the most active compound in vitro (90% MIC, 0.002 mg/liter), followed by ofloxacin (90% MIC, 0.008 mg/liter), norfloxacin (90% MIC, 0.015 mg/liter), and rosoxacin (90% MIC, 0.03 mg/liter).

4-Quinolones↗
PubMed1984

Biotypes of Gardnerella vaginalis.

A simple and reproducible scheme for identifying biotypes of Gardnerella vaginalis has been developed, based on reactions for lipase, hippurate hydrolysis, and beta-galactosidase. Among a total of 359 strains tested, eight biotypes were observed, the most common ones being types 1 (beta-galactosidase positive, lipase positive, hippurate positive), 2 (beta-galactosidase negative, lipase positive, hippurate positive), and 5 (beta-galactosidase negative, lipase negative, hippurate positive). The distribution in biotypes was similar among isolates from Antwerp, Seattle, and Nairobi. There were no differences in biotypes between strains isolated from patients with and without bacterial vaginosis (nonspecific vaginitis). Up to 14% of women with bacterial vaginosis harbored at least two different biotypes of G. vaginalis in the vagina. G. vaginalis strains isolated before and after treatment for bacterial vaginosis belonged to identical biotypes when the time interval between two specimens was less than 1 week. Similarly, G. vaginalis isolates from the vaginas of women with bacterial vaginosis and from the urethras of their male sex partners belonged to identical biotypes when strains were isolated within the same 24-h period from both partners (P less than 0.005).

Female↗
PubMed1980

[Spina bifida].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1980

Postoperative pain relief by demand analgesia.

Postoperative pain relief is only apparently an easy task. A brief survey of literature investigating the discomfort experienced in the postoperative phase is all but encouraging. One can identify four basic problems in obtaining adequate results by delivery of analgesic drugs: a) the biological variability among individual patients, b) the unpredictable uptake of the drug administered intramuscularly, c) the time lag involved between request by the patient and the subsequent administration of a single dose and d) the lack of knowledge about the nature of the discomfort and its remedies. An alternative strategy introducing "On-Demand" analgesia administering prescribed doses at the right moment is presented and analysed a) as an operant conditioning process implementing a particular reinforcement schedule (behavioural sciences), as well as b) a negative feedback control loop that entrust the central judgement to the patient (system theory). Both approaches give insight into the results: the technique copes with biological variability; anticipating pain induced by fear disappears; the feedback strategy works well and patients adapt to a wide range in prescriptions; intermittent administration makes more efficient use of the analgesic; an optimal result is demonstrated in studies comparing on-demand analgesia with the normal IM-regime and epidural analgesia; continuity in pain relief can be obtained in routine clinical practice.

Analgesics↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A new method to calculate the beat-to-beat instability of QT duration in drug-induced long QT in anesthetized dogs.

INTRODUCTION: Instability of QT duration is a marker to predict Torsade de Pointes (TdP) associated with both congenital and drug-induced long QT syndrome. We describe a new method for the quantification of instability of repolarization. METHODS: Female, adult beagle dogs anesthetized with a potent morphinomimetic were treated with either solvent (n=7) or dofetilide (n=7). Poincaré plots with QT(n) versus QT(n+1) were constructed to visualize the beat-to-beat variation in QT intervals from the lead II ECG. Short-term instability (STI), long-term instability (LTI) and total instability (TI) were quantified by calculating the distances of 30 consecutive data-points from the x and y-coordinate to the "centre of gravity" of the data cluster. Dofetilide at 0.0025 to 0.04 mg/kg i.v. (plasma concentrations of 4+/-0.6 to 41+/-2.7 ng/ml), dose-dependently prolonged QT and QTcV (at 0.04 mg/kg i.v.: QT: 280+/-ms versus 236+/-5 ms with solvent; p<0.05 and QTcV: 290+/-9 ms versus 252+/-4 ms with solvent; p<0.05). Concomitantly, the compound induced an increase in the instability parameters in a similar dose-dependent manner (at 0.04 mg/kg i.v.: TI: 6.8+/-0.9 ms versus 1.7+/-0.3 ms; p<0.05, LTI: 3.6+/-0.5 ms versus 1.0+/-0.2 ms; p<0.05 and STI: 4.2+/-0.6 ms versus 1.0+/-0.2 ms; p<0.05). The increases induced by dofetilide were associated with a high incidence of early afterdepolarizations (EADs) in the endocardial monophasic action potential (in 6 out of the 7 compound-treated animals versus 0 out of the 7 solvent animals; p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Quantification of beat-to-beat QT instability by our method clearly detects changes in short-term, long-term and total instability induced by dofetilide, already at pre-arrhythmic doses. Dofetilide administration to anesthetized dogs prolongs ventricular repolarization, concomitantly increases beat-to-beat QT instability and induces early after depolarizations (EADs). As such, the use of these parameters in this in vivo model shows clear potential for risk identification in cardiovascular safety assessment.

Anesthesia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of long-term oral glutamine supplements on small intestinal permeability in patients with Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: Glutamine is a major fuel and an important nitrogen source for the small intestinal cell. It plays a key role in maintaining mucosal cell integrity and gut barrier function. Increased permeability may be a factor in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease and may be an interesting parameter in the follow-up of the disease. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine whether oral glutamine supplements are able to restore an increased intestinal permeability in patients with Crohn's disease. METHODS: The inclusion criteria for the study were Crohn's disease and a disturbed small intestinal permeability for 51Cr-EDTA. Of 38 patients screened, 18 had an increased permeability (6 hours urinary excretion >1.1% of label recovered in urine). Fourteen patients were included in the study and were randomized to receive either oral glutamine (7 g three times per day; n = 7) or placebo (7 g glycine three times per day; n = 7) in addition to their normal treatment during a 4-week period. The study was performed in a double-blind manner. RESULTS: Baseline permeability (mean +/- SD) was 2.32%+/-0.77% dose in the glutamine group and 2.29%+/-0.67% dose in the placebo group. Permeability did not change significantly after glutamine (3.26%+/-2.15% dose) or after placebo (2.27%+/-1.32% dose). There was no significant effect on plasma glutamine, plasma glutamate, plasma ammonium, Crohn's disease activity index, C-reactive protein, or nutritional status. CONCLUSIONS: Oral glutamine supplements, in the dose administered, do not seem to restore impaired permeability in patients with Crohn's disease.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The medical treatment of colorectal cancer: actual status and new developments.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most frequent malignancies and one of the greatest causes of cancer death in the Western world. The prognosis is determined by the stage at diagnosis. Patients with metastatic colon cancer have a bad prognosis. Chemotherapeutic treatment with 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and folinic acid is actually considered as the standard treatment in patients with metastatic disease. Although the survival benefit is relatively small, many patients can benefit from this treatment in terms of tumor regression or symptom improvement. Several new drugs are actually in development and create hope for improved tumor or symptom control and longer survival. Thymidylate synthase inhibitors (raltitrexed), topoisomerase I inhibitors (irinotecan), the oral 5-FU prodrugs (capecitabine, UFT), ethynyluracil, and oxaliplatin are promising new drugs. The challenge will be to determine the best combination of these new drugs and the exact sequence in which these drugs will be used. Adjuvant post-operative chemotherapy in colon cancer is one of the most important advances in oncology that has been introduced into the clinic during the last years. For rectal cancer, an adjuvant treatment should consist of a combined chemo-radiotherapy. The search for better prognostic factors for recurrence should help to focus on a better adjuvant treatment for patients with the highest risk for recurrence.

Antineoplastic Agents↗