Biomedical subjects

P Hu

Publications and source records attributed to P Hu.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

PubMed2000

Determination of idebenone in plasma by HPLC/MS.

AIM: To develop a sensitive method for the analysis of idebenone [Ide, 6-(10-hydroxydecyl)-2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-p-benzoquinone] in human plasma. METHODS: The concentrations in plasma were determined by a high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled with an atmosphere pressure chemical impact ion source method (LC/MS-APCI). RESULTS: The chromatograms indicated a good separation of the analytes and there was no interference by other compounds. The coefficients of determination of the calibration curves were above 0.999. The calibration range was 20-600 micrograms.L-1. Peak plasma idebenone concentration (Cmax) of (316 +/- 85) micrograms.L-1 was achieved within (96 +/- 34) min (Tpeak) after an oral dose of 30 mg. Lower limit of quantitation of the method for Ide determination was 20 micrograms.L-1. CONCLUSION: The advantages of using LC/MS-APCI technique include better sensitivity, higher selectivity, and less time consumption, compared with HPLC method.

Antioxidants↗

PubMed2000

[Treatment of bacterial peritonitis with dachengqi decoction and rhubarb in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the antiseptic effect of Dachengqi Decoction (DCQD) or rhubarb, one of the ingredients of DCQD in mice. METHODS: The model mice were established by peritoneal injection of Escherichia coli (10(8)/ml) or Proteus vulgaris (10(6)/ml) respectively. DCQD or rhubarb was given from 2 days before to 2 days after modelling for preventing and treating. RESULTS: The mortality and bacteremia occurrence of the treatment group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05). Both DCQD and rhubarb showed protective effect on Escherichia. coli or Proteus vulgaris infection in mice. The cardiac blood smear and culture of survival mice in prevention plus treatment group and model group showed negative (bacteria) results but those of dead mice showed positive result. CONCLUSION: DCQD and rhubarb have excellent bactericidal effect.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

[Prevalence of cag A and vac A subtypes of Helicobacter pylori in Guangzhou].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of cytotoxin associated gene (cag A) and vacuolating cytotoxin gene (vac A) subtypes of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) from patients with upper gastrointestinal diseases in Guangzhou, and to assess the relationship between cag A, vac A subtypes and Hp related gastrointestinal diseases. METHODS: 191 Hp strains were isolated from patients with different gastrointestinal diseases in Guangzhou. Bacterial DNA from all these strains was extracted. cag A and vac A alleles were typed using PCR with specific primers. RESULTS: In Guangzhou, Hp cag A positive rate was 85.3% (163/191). cag A positive rate was significantly higher in gastric cancer and peptic ulcer than that in chronic gastritis (P < 0.05). There were six vac A mosaicisms, including 168 for s1a/m2 (88.0%), 14 for s1a/m1b (7.3%), 6 for s1b/m2 (3.1%), 1 for s1b/m1b (0.5%), 1 for s2/m2 (0.5%) and 1 for s1a/m1b-m2 (0.5%). The rate of vac A s1a/m2 subtype in chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric carcinomas was 87.5% (70/80), 87.5% (84/96) and 93.3% (14/15) respectively. There was no significant relationship between cag A and vac A subtypes (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: cag A(+) and vac A s1a/m2 subtype of Hp is predominant in patients with upper gastrointestinal diseases in Guangzhou, cag A(+) strains are further more common in patients with gastric cancer and peptic ulcer.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

[Tissue engineered neo-cartilage using polymer substrates and chondrocytes: experimental study].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possibility of using poly beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) as a scaffold for chondrocytes and the feasibility of generating tissue engineered cartilage in rabbit animal model. METHODS: The articular cartilage from 4-week-old rabbits was enzymatically dissolved by type II collagenase, and chondrocytes were harvested and seeded into foams of PHB. After incubation for 1 week in vitro, chondrocyte-polymer constructs were implanted subcutaneously into rabbits. Two respective control groups were established by subcutaneous implantation of PHB foams and chondrocytes alone. The rabbits were killed at 4, 8, 12 weeks postoperatively, and the specimens were dissected and examined macroscopically, histologically and immunohistochemically. RESULTS: Specimens harvested from chondrocyte-polymer constructs and subjected to gross morphologic and histologic analysis demonstrated new cartilage formation, and those from control groups showed no cartilage formation. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that the foam of PHB is not only a good "matrix" for cartilage tissue engineering, but also optimal scalffold for the seeding of chondrocytes to generate new cartilage that would be useful in plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

A role for PML and the nuclear body in genomic stability.

The PML gene of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) encodes a cell-growth and tumor suppressor. PML localizes to discrete nuclear bodies (NBs) that are disrupted in APL cells. The Bloom syndrome gene BLM encodes a RecQ DNA helicase, whose absence from the cell results in genomic instability epitomized by high levels of sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) and cancer predisposition. We show here that BLM co-localizes with PML to the NB. In cells from persons with Bloom syndrome the localization of PML is unperturbed, whereas in APL cells carrying the PML-RARalpha oncoprotein, both PML and BLM are delocalized from the NB into microspeckled nuclear regions. Treatment with retinoic acid (RA) induces the relocalization of both proteins to the NB. In primary PML-/- cells, BLM fails to accumulate in the NB. Strikingly, in PML-/- cells the frequency of SCEs is increased relative to PML+/+ cells. These data demonstrate that BLM is a constituent of the NB and that PML is required for its accumulation in these nuclear domains and for the normal function of BLM. Thus, our findings suggest a role for BLM in APL pathogenesis and implicate the PML NB in the maintenance of genomic stability.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

PubMed1999

Cloning and mapping of the XRN2 gene to human chromosome 20p11.1-p11.2.

The Dhm1 gene is the mouse homologue of the dhp1(+) gene of Schizosaccharomyces pombe, which is involved in homologous recombination and RNA metabolism, such as RNA synthesis and RNA trafficking, in S. pombe. Complementation analysis showed the Dhm1 gene on a multicopy plasmid can rescue the temperature-sensitivity mutation of dhp1(ts) and the lethality of the dhp1 null mutation. This finding suggests that Dhm1 has a function in mouse similar to that of dhp1(+). The human homologue of this gene, XRN2, has been identified. A 3.6-kb transcript of XRN2 was detected in 16 tissues examined and was more abundant in testis. By radiation hybrid panel mapping, the XRN2 gene was localized to chromosome 20p11.1-p11.2 between markers D20S180 and D20S871.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

DNA damage effects of hydroxyapatite ultrofine powder on W-256 sarcoma cells and lymphocytes in rats.

To explore the anticancer mechanism and DNA damages of hydroxyapatite ultrofine powder (HAUFP) on lymphocytes of rats, DNA damages in W-256 sarcoma cells and lymphocytes of rats were measured by single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE). The results showed that HAUFP damaged DNA of W-256 sarcoma cells obviously but only cause slight damage of DNA of lymphocytes in rats. It is suggested that HAUFP selectively damaged DNA of tumor cells with only mild damage of lymphocyte DNA. HAUFP has powerful anticancer effect and little genetic toxicity.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Biopharmaceutical approaches for developing and assessing oral peptide delivery strategies and systems: in vitro permeability and in vivo oral absorption of salmon calcitonin (sCT).

PURPOSE: To evaluate a biopharmaceutical approach for selecting formulation additives and establishing the performance specifications of an oral peptide delivery system using sCT as a model peptide. METHODS: The effect of formulation additives on sCT effective permeability and transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) was evaluated in side-by-side diffusion chambers using rat intestinal segments. Baseline regional oral absorption of sCT was evaluated in an Intestinal and Vascular Access Port (IVAP) dog model by administration directly into the duodenum, ileum, and colon by means of surgically implanted, chronic catheters. The effect of varying the input rate and volume of the administered solution on the extent of sCT absorption was also evaluated. Citric acid (CA) was utilized in all studies to cause a transient reduction in local pH. In vitro samples and plasma samples were analyzed by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Two oral delivery systems were prepared based on the results of the in vitro and IVAP studies, and evaluated in normal dogs. RESULTS: Maximal permeability enhancement of sCT was observed using taurodeoxycholate (TDC) or lauroyl carnitine (LC) in vitro. Ileal absorption of sCT was higher than in other regions of the intestine. Low volume and bolus input of solution formulations was selected as the optimal condition for the IVAP studies since larger volumes or slower input rates resulted in significantly lower sCT bioavailability (BA). Much lower BA of sCT was observed when CA was not used in the formulation. The absolute oral bioavailability (mean+/-SD) in dogs for the control (sCT + CA) and two proprietary sCT delivery systems was 0.30%+/-0.05%, 1.10+/-0.18%, and 1.31+/-0.56%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These studies demonstrate the utility of in vitro evaluation and controlled in vivo studies for developing oral peptide delivery strategies. Formulation additives were selected, the optimal intestinal region for delivery identified, and the optimal release kinetics of additives and actives from the delivery system were characterized. These methods were successfully used for devising delivery strategies and fabricating and evaluating oral sCT delivery systems in animals. Based on these studies, sCT delivery systems have been fabricated and tested in humans with favorable results.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1999

The pharmacokinetics of lamivudine in healthy Chinese subjects.

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics of daily oral doses of lamivudine administered to healthy Chinese subjects for 1 week. METHODS: Twenty-four subjects were enrolled, 12 males and 12 females, all between the ages of 18 and 40 years. After an overnight fast, all subjects received a single oral dose of 100 mg lamivudine. Blood was obtained before lamivudine administration and at regular intervals to 24 h post dose. Subsequent doses were given once daily for a total of 7 days. On the last day another full pharmacokinetic profile was obtained to 24 h postdose. Timed urine collections were performed for all subjects on day 1 only. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by using standard non compartmental techniques. RESULTS: Lamivudine was well absorbed in all subjects (tmax 1 h). On day 1 and day 7 the overall geometric mean Cmax was 1304 and 1385 ng ml-1, and AUC(0,24h) was 4357 and 4353 ng ml-1 h, respectively. On average 78% of the lamivudine dose was recovered in urine as parent compound. Pharmacokinetic parameters were very similar between male and female subjects, between day 1 and day 7 and in comparison with data obtained in many other pharmacokinetic studies. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that the pharmacokinetics of lamivudine are essentially identical between Chinese and Caucasian subjects, and between males and females. It confirms 100 mg lamivudine is an appropriate dose for use in Chinese patients, providing adequate exposure for optimal antiviral effect.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Determination of the urinary benzene metabolites S-phenylmercapturic acid and trans,trans-muconic acid by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

To investigate how various levels of exposure affect the metabolic activation pathways of benzene in humans and to examine the relationship between urinary metabolites and other biological markers, we have developed a sensitive and specific liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric assay for simultaneous quantitation of urinary S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA) and trans,trans-muconic acid (t,t-MA). The assay involves spiking urine samples with [13C6]S-PMA and [13C6]t,t-MA as internal standards and clean up of samples by solid-phase extraction with subsequent analysis by liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry-selected reaction monitoring (LC-ES-MS/MS-SRM) in the negative ionization mode. The efficacy of this assay was evaluated in human urine specimens from smokers and non-smokers as the benzene-exposed and non-exposed groups. The coefficient of variation of runs on different days (n = 8) for S-PMA was 7% for the sample containing 9.4 microg S-PMA/l urine, that for t,t-MA was 10% for samples containing 0.07 mg t,t-MA/l urine. The mean levels of urinary S-PMA and t,t-MA in smokers were 1.9-fold (P = 0.02) and 2.1-fold (P = 0.03) higher than those in non-smokers. The mean urinary concentration (+/-SE) was 9.1 +/- 1.7 microg S-PMA/g creatinine [median 5.8 microg/g, ranging from not detectable (1 out of 28) to 33.4 microg/g] among smokers. In non-smokers' urine the mean concentration was 4.8 +/- 1.1 microg S-PMA/g creatinine (median 3.6 microg/g, ranging from 1.0 to 19.6 microg/g). For t,t-MA in smokers' urine the mean (+/-SE) was 0.15 +/- 0.03 mg/g creatinine (median 0.11 mg/ g, ranging from 0.005 to 0.34 mg/g); the corresponding mean value for t,t-MA concentration in non-smokers' urine was 0.07 +/- 0.02 mg/g creatinine [median 0.03 mg/g, ranging from undetectable (1 out of 18) to 0.48 mg/g]. There was a correlation between S-PMA and t,t-MA after logarithmic transformation (r = 0.41, P = 0.005, n = 46).

Acetylcysteine↗

PubMed1999

The prevalence of antibody to CagA in children is not a marker for specific disease.

BACKGROUND: In adults, a high prevalence of antibody to the cytotoxin-associated antigen (CagA) of Helicobacter pylori has been linked to the development of more serious gastroduodenal disease. Few investigators have examined this association in children. The purpose of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of antibody to the CagA antigen as well as other specific H. pylori antigens in children. METHODS: By use of an immunoblot analysis kit, the immune response to specific H. pylori antigens in serum collected from 21 H. pylori-positive symptomatic Australian children, 5 with peptic ulcer disease and 16 with nonulcer dyspepsia, and 33 H. pylori-positive asymptomatic Chinese children. Sera from 20 H. pylori-negative symptomatic Australian children were used as control subjects. RESULTS: Antibody responses to the 26.5-kDa, 30-kDa, and 116-kDa (CagA) antigens were found to be the most prevalent, with 81.5%, 79.6%, and 76% of children, respectively, mounting a response. In contrast, antibody responses to the 19.5-kDa, 35-kDa, 45-kDa, 60-kDa, 89 kDa (VacA), and 180-kDa antigens occurred in 55.5%, 24%, 16.7%, 63%, 37%, and 7.4% of children, respectively. A higher prevalence of antibody response to CagA was found in the symptomatic Australian children with peptic ulcer disease (100%) compared with prevalence in those with nonulcer dyspepsia (56.3%), but the difference did not reach statistical significance. No significant difference was found between the prevalence of antibody to CagA in the Australian peptic ulcer disease group (100%) and that in the asymptomatic Chinese children (81.8%). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that in children CagA is not a marker of specific disease development.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Sensing of nitrogen limitation by Bacillus subtilis: comparison to enteric bacteria.

Previous studies showed that Salmonella typhimurium apparently senses external nitrogen limitation as a decrease in the concentration of the internal glutamine pool. To determine whether the inverse relationship observed between doubling time and the glutamine pool size in enteric bacteria was also seen in phylogenetically distant organisms, we studied this correlation in Bacillus subtilis, a gram-positive, sporulating bacterium. We measured the sizes of the glutamine and glutamate pools for cells grown in batch culture on different nitrogen sources that yielded a range of doubling times, for cells grown in ammonia-limited continuous culture, and for mutant strains (glnA) in which the catalytic activity of glutamine synthetase was lowered. Although the glutamine pool size of B. subtilis clearly decreased under certain conditions of nitrogen limitation, particularly in continuous culture, the inverse relationship seen between glutamine pool size and doubling time in enteric bacteria was far less obvious in B. subtilis. To rule out the possibility that differences were due to the fact that B. subtilis has only a single pathway for ammonia assimilation, we disrupted the gene (gdh) that encodes the biosynthetic glutamate dehydrogenase in Salmonella. Studies of the S. typhimurium gdh strain in ammonia-limited continuous culture and of gdh glnA double-mutant strains indicated that decreases in the glutamine pool remained profound in strains with a single pathway for ammonia assimilation. Simple working hypotheses to account for the results with B. subtilis are that this organism refills an initially low glutamine pool by diminishing the utilization of glutamine for biosynthetic reactions and/or replenishes the pool by means of macromolecular degradation.

Ammonia↗

PubMed1999

Phase II trial of doxorubicin and paclitaxel plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in metastatic breast cancer: an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Study.

PURPOSE: Several groups have reported that the combination of doxorubicin plus paclitaxel given as a 3-hour intravenous (IV) infusion for up to eight cycles produces a high response rate (> 80%) and complete response rate (> 20%) in metastatic breast cancer, but is also complicated by a 20% incidence of congestive heart failure (CHF). The purpose of this phase II trial was to evaluate the antineoplastic activity of the regimen in a multi-institutional setting and to reduce the incidence of cardiotoxicity by limiting treatment to a maximum of six cycles. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-two patients with advanced breast cancer received doxorubicin (60 mg/m(2) by IV injection) followed 15 minutes later by paclitaxel (200 mg/m(2) by IV infusion over 3 hours) every 3 weeks for four to six cycles. RESULTS: Objective responses occurred in 25 of 48 assessable patients (52%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 38% to 66%), including four complete responses (8%; 95% CI, 0% to 16%). The median cumulative doxorubicin dose given was 240 mg/m(2) (range, 132 to 360 mg/m(2)). Eleven patients (21%) were documented as having a decrease in the LVEF below normal, including three patients (6%; 95% CI, 0% to 12%) who developed CHF. CONCLUSION: The doxorubicin/paclitaxel regimen that we used is unlikely to produce an objective response rate of more than 70% and a complete response rate of more than 20% in patients with metastatic breast cancer, and proved to be excessively cardiotoxic for use in the adjuvant setting.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1999

Interactions of a nonpeptidic drug, valacyclovir, with the human intestinal peptide transporter (hPEPT1) expressed in a mammalian cell line.

The results of previous work performed in our laboratory using an in situ perfusion technique in rats and rabbit apical brush border membrane vesicles have suggested that the intestinal uptake of valacyclovir (VACV) appears to be mediated by multiple membrane transporters. Using these techniques, it is difficult to characterize the transport kinetics of VACV with each individual transporter in the presence of multiple known or unknown transporters. The purpose of this study was to characterize the interaction of VACV and the human intestinal peptide transporter using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells that overexpress the human intestinal peptide transporter (hPEPT1) gene. VACV uptake was significantly greater in CHO cells transfected with hPEPT1 than in cells transfected with only the vector, pcDNA3. The optimum pH for VACV uptake was determined to occur at pH 7.5. Proton cotransport was not observed in hPEPT1/CHO cells, consistent with previously observed results in tissues and Caco-2 cells. VACV uptake was concentration dependent and saturable with a Michaelis-Menten constant and maximum velocity of 1.64 +/- 0.06 mM and 23.34 +/- 0.36 nmol/mg protein/5 min, respectively. A very similar Km value was obtained in hPEPT1/CHO cells and in rat and rabbit tissues and Caco-2 cells, suggesting that hPEPT1 dominates the intestinal transport properties of VACV in vitro. VACV uptake was markedly inhibited by various dipeptides and beta-lactam antibiotics, and Ki values of 12.8 +/- 2.7 and 9.1 +/- 1.2 mM were obtained for Gly-Sar and cefadroxil at pH 7.5, respectively. The present results demonstrate that VACV is a substrate for the human intestinal peptide transporter in hPEPT1/CHO cells and that although transport is pH dependent, proton cotransport is not apparent. Also, the results demonstrate that the hPEPT1/CHO cell system has use in investigating the transport kinetics of drugs with the human intestinal peptide transporter hPEPT1; however, the extrapolation of these transport properties to the in vivo situation requires further investigation.

Acyclovir↗

PubMed1999

Development of liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry methods for determination of urinary metabolites of benzene in humans.

To investigate the ways in which different levels of exposure affect the metabolic activation pathways of benzene in humans, and to examine the relationship between urinary metabolites and other biological markers, we have developed two sensitive and specific liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assays for quantitation of the benzene metabolites trans,transmuconic acid (t,t-MA), S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA), hydroquinone (HQ), catechol (CAT), and for estimation of 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene (BT). In our first assay, urinary S-PMA and t,t-MA were measured simultaneously by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry-selected reaction monitoring (LC-ESI-MS/MS-SRM) in the negative ionization mode. In this assay, the metabolites [13C6]-S-PMA and [13C6]-t,t-MA were used as internal standards. The efficacy of this specific assay was evaluated in human urine specimens from 28 smokers and 18 nonsmokers serving as the benzene-exposed and nonexposed groups, respectively. The coefficient of variation (CV) of analyses on different days (n = 8) for S-PMA was 7% for samples containing 9.4 micrograms/L urine, and for t,t-MA was 10% for samples containing 0.07 mg/L. The mean levels of S-PMA and t,t-MA in smokers were 1.9-fold (p = 0.02) and 2.1-fold (p = 0.03) higher, respectively, than those in nonsmokers.

Acetylcysteine↗

PubMed1999

[Effects of lovastatin on plasma lipid, plasma glucose and insulin metabolism of patients with type II B hyperlipemia].

This study was directed at the effects of lovastatin on plasma glucose and insulin metabolism of patients with Type II B hyperlipemia. Thirty patients with Type II B hyperlipemia were observed. At the beginning, We detected the patients' TC, TG, HDL-C, VLDL-C with enzyme assay, calculated their LDL-C with formula, determined their plasmaglucose(PG) with oxidase assay and plasma insulin(PI) with immunoradioassay, and then we performed OGTT and insulin release test, these indices were detected again after the administration of 8 weeks' lovastatin therapy (20 mg per day). The results showed that, aftert the therapy, TC and LDL-C decreased significantly(P < 0.05), TG, HDL-C and VLDL-C had no significant change(P > 0.05). Fasting plasma glucose(FPG) and fasting plasma insulin(FPI) increased (the former, P < 0.05). Two hours after administration of glucose, the level of plasma glucose(2hPG) and plasma insulin(2hPI)increased(the latter, P < 0.05). 1/(FPG x FPI) had no significant change, but 1/(2hPG x 2hPI) decreased (P < 0.05). These data indicate that long-period use of lavastatin may cause insulin resistance. So we advise patients with Type II B hyperlipemia treated by statin to limit their glucose intake in case of hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance.

Aged↗

PubMed1999

[Effect of -6 degrees head-down-bed-rest on human cellular immune function].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of -6 degrees head-down bed-rest on proliferation of lymphocyte and production of certain cytokines. METHODS: 6 healthy young men served as the subjects. Peripheral blood lymphocyte was assayed 1d prior to and on the 3rd day and 6th day of bed rest. RESULTS: The production of IFN-alpha on the 3rd day was markedly decreased (P < 0.05), but killing activity of NK was significantly enhanced (P < 0.05), production of IFN-gamma and expression of IL-2 receptor were all slightly reduced. Both production of IFN-alpha and killing activity of NK resumed to the control level on the 6th day, production of IFN-r and CD25 were significantly lowered (P < 0.05) on the 6th day, a lymphocyte proliferation and production of IL-2 were gradually decreased with time, but production of IL-6 was gradually increased. CONCLUSION: -6 degrees head-down bed-rested has certain effect on cellular immune function in man.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

[A randomized controlled clinical study of sparfloxacin versus ofloxacin in the treatment of bacterial infections].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of sparfloxacin in the treatment of bacterial infections. METHODS: A randomized controlled multi-centre clinical trial was conducted. Ofloxacin used as the control drug. A total of 212 patients entered the study, with 106 in the sparfloxacin group and the remaining 106 in the ofloxacin group. Both compounds were given by oral administration. RESULTS: The cure rate of sparfloxacin and ofloxacin was 74.5% and 69.8% respectively and the overall efficacy rate was 91.5% and 88.7% respectively. The bacterial clearance rate was 90.7% in the sparfloxacin group and 90.8% in the ofloxacin group. The adverse drug reaction rate of sparfloxacin and ofloxacin was 9.43% and 8.49% respectively. There was no statistical significant difference between the two groups for the above results. The results of in vitro activity of sparfloxacin as compared with other 5 antibacterial agents showed that sparfloxacin had good activity against many Gram-negative organisms and was similar to those of ofloxacin. The activity against Gram-positive organisms (MIC(90) <or= 0.25 mg/L) was generally higher than that of ofloxacin. CONCLUSION: Sparfloxacin is a highly effective and safe broad-spectrum antibacterial agent for the treatment of bacterial infections. It is also effective in the treatment of infections caused by Gram-positive organisms.

Adolescent↗