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Biomedical subjects

R Wise

Publications and source records attributed to R Wise.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

In vitro activity of RU 29246, the active compound of the cephalosporin prodrug ester HR 916.

The in vitro activity of RU 29246 was compared with those of other agents against 536 recent clinical isolates. The MICs of RU 29246 for 90% of members of the family Enterobacteriaceae tested (MIC90s) were less than 2 micrograms/ml except those for Morganella spp. (16 micrograms/ml) and Proteus spp. (8 micrograms/ml). RU 29246 was active against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC90, < or = 8 micrograms/ml) and against Staphylococcus saprophyticus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (MIC90s, < or = 2 micrograms/ml). Streptococci and Neisseria gonorrhoeae were highly susceptible to RU 29246, and the activity of the agent against isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae (MIC90, < or = 0.5 micrograms/ml), Haemophilus influenzae (MIC90, < or = 2 micrograms/ml), and Moraxella catarrhalis (MIC90, < or = 2 micrograms/ml) was comparable to those of the other cephalosporins tested. RU 29246 was insusceptible to hydrolysis by the common plasmid-mediated beta-lactamases (TEM-1 and SHV-1). However, hydrolysis by the new extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (TEM-3, TEM-5, and TEM-9) was detected. Results of the study suggested that RU 29246 should be investigated clinically for use in the treatment of a wide range of infections.

Bacteroides fragilis↗

Pharmacokinetics and inflammatory fluid penetration of sparfloxacin.

A single 400-mg oral dose of sparfloxacin was given to each of six healthy male volunteers, and the concentrations of the drug were measured in plasma, cantharides-induced inflammatory fluid, and urine over the subsequent 52 h. The mean peak concentration in plasma of 1.6 micrograms/ml was attained at a mean time of 2.7 h postdose. The mean peak concentration in inflammatory fluid of 1.3 micrograms/ml was attained at a mean time of 5 h postdose. The mean elimination half-life in plasma was 17.6 h, and that in inflammatory fluid was 19.7 h. The overall penetration into inflammatory fluid was 117%. Urinary recovery within the first 52 h postdose was 8.8% of the administered dose. Our results indicate that a once-daily dosage of sparfloxacin should be adequate to treat systemic infections caused by most common bacterial pathogens.

Administration, Oral↗

Pharmacokinetics and tissue penetration of ampicillin and brobactam following oral administration of 2085P.

Eight healthy volunteers received a 1,000-mg single oral dose of 2085P which consisted of 800 mg of pivampicillin and 200 mg of brobactam. Concentrations of ampicillin and brobactam in plasma, inflammatory fluid, and urine were measured over the subsequent 24 h. Pivampicillin and brobactam were moderately rapidly absorbed. The mean (standard deviation) maximum concentration in plasma (Cmax) of ampicillin was 8.2 (1.9) micrograms/ml, and that of brobactam was 2.1 (2.0) micrograms/ml at mean times of 1.9 (0.5) and 2.3 (0.8) h, respectively. The elimination half-lives in plasma were 1.8 (0.5) and 1.6 (2.0) h, respectively. Both agents penetrated the experimentally induced inflammatory fluid, reaching a mean maximum at 3 h. The Cmax of ampicillin was 6.8 (2.3) micrograms/ml, and that of brobactam was 1.0 (0.4) micrograms/ml. The penetration (derived by comparing the area under the concentration-time curve from 0 h to infinity for inflammatory fluid with that for plasma) was 97.3% (26.0%) for ampicillin and 81% (22.3%) for brobactam. The 24-h urinary recovery was 54.2% (16.6%) of the administered dose for ampicillin and 40.2% (11.4%) for brobactam. These data suggest that this combination of beta-lactam and inhibitor should be efficacious in treating infections caused by ampicillin-resistant pathogens.

Administration, Oral↗

In vitro activity of L-627, a new carbapenem.

The in vitro activity of L-627, a new parenterally administered carbapenem, was compared with those of imipenem, meropenem, FCE 22101 (a penem), ceftazidime, and ceftriaxone. L-627 was active against members of the family Enterobacteriaceae (MIC for 90% of strains tested [MIC90] ranging from 0.03 to 4 micrograms/ml). L-627 displayed activity equal to that of meropenem against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC90, 2 micrograms/ml), although, as with other carbapenems, the antipseudomonal activity was reduced against D2-deficient strains. Staphylococci and streptococci were susceptible (MIC90 of 1.0 micrograms/ml for Staphylococcus aureus and 0.015 micrograms/ml for group A streptococci). L-627 also had activity against anaerobic bacteria (MIC90, 2.0 micrograms/ml for Bacteroides fragilis). Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis were highly susceptible (MIC90, 0.06 micrograms/ml), and against the common respiratory pathogens (Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Moraxella catarrhalis), the MIC90s were less than or equal to 2.0 micrograms/ml. The protein binding of L-627 ranged from 13.8 to 22%, depending on the concentration. The presence of human serum had little effect on the MIC or MBC of L-627. These results suggest that L-627 merits further study in the treatment of infections caused by a wide range of pathogens.

Bacteria↗

Quantitative morphology and water distribution of bronchial biopsy samples.

BACKGROUND: An approach to the study of the pharmacokinetics of drugs in the lung is to measure their concentrations in bronchial biopsy specimens. The main criticism of this technique is that bronchial biopsy specimens consist of more than one tissue type and that drugs are often not distributed evenly. The morphology of bronchial biopsy specimens and the distribution of water between the extracellular and the intracellular compartments is therefore important. METHODS: Fifteen subjects undergoing fibreoptic bronchoscopy each had four bronchial biopsy samples taken. Thirty sections from 10 patients were examined and the proportion of tissue types noted, a morphometric analysis computer being used. The water distribution was investigated in the other biopsy specimens with radiolabelled markers. RESULTS: There was pronounced variation in the relative proportions of tissue types. Ciliated epithelium occupied a mean of 22.3% of the biopsy sample, submucosa 53.4%, muscle 17.6%, and glandular tissue 7.0%. There were no differences between second and the fourth generation subcarinae and macroscopic normality of the mucosa was a good predictor of histological normality. The extracellular water content was 40% of the total weight of the specimen and the total water content was 70%. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide the basis for pharmacokinetic study of drugs in bronchial mucosa. They show for pharmacokinetic study that macroscopically normal mucosa may be assumed to be histologically normal; that multiple biopsy specimens should be taken for any study, as there is considerable variation in the proportion of tissue types; that specimens from second and fourth generation subcarinae are the same; and that extracellular water contributes 40% to the total weight of the biopsy specimen.

Biopsy↗

The lung health study: airway responsiveness to inhaled methacholine in smokers with mild to moderate airflow limitation. The Lung Health Study Research Group.

As part of a multicenter clinical trial (Lung Health Study), methacholine inhalation challenge testing was performed in 5,877 current cigarette smokers, ages 35 to 59 yr (mean 48.5 +/- 6.8 yr), with borderline to moderate airflow limitation (FEV1/FVC ratio 63.0 +/- 5.5). The test was successfully completed in 96.4% of subjects, of whom 63% were male and 95.9% were white. Symptomatic reactions to methacholine were rarely severe enough to require evaluation by a trial physician. Nonspecific airways hyperresponsiveness (AHR) was defined as a greater than or equal to 20% decline in FEV1 from the post-diluent control value after inhalation of less than or equal to 25 mg/ml methacholine. AHR was noted in a significantly higher percentage of women (85.1%) than men (58.9%). Moreover, nearly twice as many women as men (46.6 and 23.9%, respectively) responded to less than or equal to 5 mg/ml of methacholine. In both men and women, baseline degree of airways obstruction and clinical center were strongly associated with AHR (p less than 0.001), whereas age was not. Additional associations with AHR were analyzed in men and women separately using logistic regression after adjustment for baseline lung function, age, and center-to-center differences. In men, AHR was significantly related to symptoms of wheeze, chronic cough and/or sputum, and a history of asthma or hay fever (p less than 0.004), but not to current or lifetime tobacco use. By contrast, among women, AHR was not significantly associated with chronic cough and/or phlegm (p greater than 0.05) or a past history of asthma or hay fever (p greater than 0.1) and was only weakly related to wheeze and current asthma (p = 0.04), as well as to cigarette pack-years (p = 0.044). These results indicate that most continuing smokers with functional evidence of early chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have nonspecific AHR that is strongly related to gender and baseline lung function and, to a lesser extent, to respiratory symptoms. The reason for the striking effect of gender on AHR in early chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is unclear but cannot be attributed to male-female differences in age, cigarette use, presence of asthma, or baseline degree of airflow obstruction.

Adult↗

Dose-response relations of doxacurium and its reversal with neostigmine in young adults and healthy elderly patients.

Dose-response relationships for doxacurium and neostigmine were established in 24 young (18-40 yr) and 24 elderly (70-85 yr) patients, ASA physical status I or II, anesthetized with thiopental, fentanyl, nitrous oxide, and isoflurane. Mechanomyographic response of the adductor pollicis muscle to the train-of-four stimulation of the ulnar nerve was recorded. Doxacurium (5, 10, 15, or 20 micrograms/kg IV) was administered by random allocation. After maximal blockade, and additional dose, for a total of 30 micrograms/kg, was administered. When first twitch height recovered to 25%, incremental doses of 5 micrograms/kg were administered for maintenance of relaxation. Neostigmine (5, 10, 20, or 40 micrograms/kg) was injected at 25% first twitch recovery, and neuromuscular monitoring was continued for 10 min. The doses of doxacurium (+/- SEM) required to produce a 50%, 90%, and 95% depression of twitch tension in the young patients were, respectively, 13.3 +/- 1.6, 23.6 +/- 2.8, and 28.6 +/- 3.4 micrograms/kg, not statistically different from corresponding values in the elderly, 11.8 +/- 1.3, 21.2 +/- 2.3, and 25.9 +/- 2.9 micrograms/kg, respectively. Time to 25% recovery after 30 micrograms/kg was 80.2 +/- 12.2 min in the young versus 133.0 +/- 17.1 min in the elderly (P less than 0.05). Neostigmine-assisted recovery was not significantly different in both groups. The estimated doses of neostigmine to obtain 70% train-of-four recovery after 10 min were 53.6 +/- 7.5 micrograms/kg in the young and 41.6 +/- 5.8 micrograms/kg in the elderly (P = NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

The distribution of temafloxacin in bronchial epithelial lining fluid, alveolar macrophages and bronchial mucosa.

The concentrations of temafloxacin, a new fluoroquinolone antimicrobial, in the potential sites of pulmonary infection were assessed by fibreoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage. Fourteen patients received a course of temafloxacin, 600 mg twice daily, for three days prior to sampling. The mean serum concentration was 9.6 (SEM 1.2) mg.l-1, compared with 14.9(SEM 1.8) mg.kg-1 for bronchial mucosa, 26.5 (SEM 3.6) mg.l-1 for epithelial lining fluid and 83.0 (SEM 11.5) mg.l-1 for alveolar macrophage. In the ten patients who completed the protocol, site concentrations correlated well with serum concentrations. Temafloxacin was concentrated in each of the potential sites of infection examined and is, therefore, a promising new agent for the treatment of respiratory tract infection.

Anti-Infective Agents↗

Comparative penetration of selected fluoroquinolones into respiratory tract fluids and tissues.

Sputum samples are easy to obtain; however, their use in therapeutic decision making is not without problems. Today, with the availability of more sophisticated endoscopic procedures, it is possible to determine antimicrobial concentrations at various sites within the respiratory tract. Fiber-optic bronchoscopy makes it possible to obtain samples of bronchial mucosa, bronchial epithelial lining fluid (ELF), and alveolar macrophages (AMs). Antimicrobial concentration measurements from the bronchial mucosa, ELF, and AM may be better predictors of successful antimicrobial therapy than sputum samples. In general, fluoroquinolones penetrate well into lung tissue, including bronchial mucosa, ELF, and AM, resulting in concentrations higher than corresponding serum levels. Temafloxacin, a new fluoroquinolone, attains high bronchial concentrations that are well above the 90% minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC90) for many of the common respiratory pathogens, including Streptococcus pneumoniae (MIC90 = 0.5 micrograms/mL). Early clinical trials confirm the clinical efficacy and safety of temafloxacin in the treatment of many common respiratory tract infections. The penetration of temafloxacin into the bronchial mucosa, AM, and ELF along with its antimicrobial spectrum supports the use of temafloxacin against common respiratory pathogens, including S. pneumoniae.

Anti-Infective Agents↗

A nebulizer chronolog to monitor compliance with inhaler use.

The Lung Health Study is a 10-center 5-year clinical trial sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to evaluate the effectiveness of early intervention in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The specific objectives of the trial are to determine whether the accelerated decline in lung function characteristic of COPD and morbidity due to COPD can be reduced by special intervention at a relatively early stage in the evolution of the disease. Special intervention consists of a smoking-cessation program and the use of an inhaled bronchodilator to suppress airway hyperreactivity. The use of the inhaler canister is monitored every 4 months by canister weighing and, at two of the 10 centers, by an electronic recording device, the Nebulizer Chronolog. Among trial participants assigned the latter device, results from the first 4 months of the study indicate that only 52% of trial participants who were uninformed as to the nature of the chronolog used their inhaler at least twice daily as measured by the chronolog, compared with 87% as determined by self-report. Satisfactory or good compliance was achieved by 52% of these subjects as measured by the chronolog compared with 85% as assessed by canister weighing. Eighteen percent of uninformed participants "dumped" their inhalers within a 3-hour time period, contributing to the inaccuracy of canister weights as an indicator of compliance. Feedback of information to the participants from the chronolog improved the level of compliance and eliminated the "dumping" phenomenon. We conclude that, when accurate determinations of compliance are important, as in a drug trial, objective medication monitors should be considered. Electronic monitoring of inhaler use can provide valuable feedback, which encourages improved compliance.

Adult↗

Mupirocin resistance.

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Drug Resistance, Microbial↗

Language activation studies with positron emission tomography.

Behavioural tasks produce changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), the result of increased local neural activity. These changes can be measured with positron emission tomography (PET). Language activation studies by means of PET are being used to relate regional patterns of cerebral activation to information-processing models of speech and reading. Significant activation confined to both superior temporal gyri has been observed when normal subjects hear words played backwards, listen to non-words, and perform category judgements on pairs of heard real words. Prestriate cortex is activated by seeing strings of letter-like symbols, consonant strings, pronounceable non-words and real words, with additional activation in left medial prestriate cortex in response to the non-words and real words. Left posterior superior temporal gyrus (PSTG), left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and supplementary motor area (SMA) are engaged when subjects retrieve verbs from memory to match nouns. Finally, primary sensorimotor cortex is activated during articulation. There is particular interest at present in the precise roles of left PSTG and DLPFC in single-word comprehension and generation, and interpretation of the results depends critically on the design of the single-word tasks used for behavioural activation.

Aphasia↗

Distribution of cortical neural networks involved in word comprehension and word retrieval.

Six normal volunteers were studied with positron emission tomography to identify the cortical neural networks that participate in the processing of single words. Activity-related changes in regional cerebral blood flow were measured consecutively on 6 occasions in each subject, 2 while the subject was at rest and 4 while single word language tasks were being performed. The data from each subject were standardized for brain shape and size, reconstructed parallel to the intercommissural line, normalized for global flow differences, and then averaged for each activation condition across the 6 subjects. Significant areas of change in rCBF (P less than 0.05, with appropriate Bonferroni corrections) between task and rest conditions were displayed with reference to the coordinates of a standard neuroanatomical atlas. We have demonstrated that categorical judgements on heard pairs of real words activate neural networks along both superior temporal gyri, but with an anatomical distribution no different from that seen when the subjects listened to nonwords: the tasks would appear to be very different in cognitive demands but not in terms of the distribution of activation. However, during a verb generation task that involved thinking of verbs appropriate to heard nouns presented at a slow rate, the only temporal region activated was the left posterior superior temporal association cortex (Wernicke's area). Further analysis showed that whereas activation in other superior temporal regions, both left and right, correlated with rates of word presentation during the 4 tasks, there was no such correlation in Wernicke's area; evidence that this site is responsible for more than early acoustic processing. During verb generation there was also activation of left premotor and prefrontal cortex (including Broca's area and the supplementary motor area). The supplementary motor area is thought to be involved in the motor planning of speech. The subjects did not vocalize during the task, and therefore it would appear that the act of retrieving words from semantic memory activates networks concerned with the production of speech sounds. We conclude that single word comprehension and retrieval activate very different distributed regions of cerebral cortex, with Wernicke's area the only region engaged by both processes and with participation during silent word generation of networks involved in vocalization.

Adult↗

The in-vitro and disc susceptibility testing of clarithromycin and its 14-hydroxy metabolite.

The in-vitro antibacterial activity of clarithromycin, its 14-hydroxy metabolite and a combination containing clarithromycin and the 14-hydroxy metabolite in a ratio of three parts of the former to one part of the latter were compared with erythromycin by determination of MICs. Disc susceptibility testing was also performed using discs containing 6 micrograms clarithromycin, 6 micrograms clarithromycin with 2 micrograms 14-hydroxy-clarithromycin, 3 micrograms clarithromycin and 3 micrograms clarithromycin with 1 microgram 14-hydroxy-clarithromycin. This was to determine a suitable disc content and minimum zone diameter to distinguish between sensitive and resistant strains using a breakpoint of 4 mg/l clarithromycin. Clarithromycin showed similar activity to erythromycin against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae, although the 14-hydroxy metabolite was more active against H. influenzae. The clarithromycin/14-hydroxy metabolite combination was most active against beta-haemolytic streptococci (Groups A-C) (mode MIC 0.06 mg/l). The parent compound and the combination were similarly active against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC50 0.12 mg/l). Branhamella catarrhalis was more susceptible to clarithromycin (MIC90 0.06) than to erythromycin (MIC90 0.25 mg/l). Activities of all compounds against S. epidermidis and enterococci were similar but against Neisseria species erythromycin was the more active compound. The 6 micrograms clarithromycin disc strength was found to give the most consistent results for all isolates. Using a breakpoint of 4 mg/l, minimum zone diameters indicative of sensitivity were as follows: 16 mm for staphylococci, 17 mm for respiratory pathogens and 11 mm for streptococci and Neisseria spp.

Bacteria↗

Activity of clindamycin against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis from four UK centres.

MICs of penicillin, methicillin, clindamycin, erythromycin, sodium fusidate and gentamicin were determined by an agar dilution method for 300 current isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and 100 of S. epidermidis, collected from four centres, and 38 stock strains of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). All but one of the 300 current isolates of S. aureus were sensitive to clindamycin (MIC less than 0.5 mg/l), with an MIC90 of 0.12 mg/l. Of a total of 39 MRSA strains, 11 (28.2%) were resistant to clindamycin (MIC greater than 32 mg/l); all of these strains were also resistant to erythromycin. Ten of the 100 strains of S. epidermidis were resistant to clindamycin; they came from a reasonably equal geographical distribution and were also resistant to erythromycin. The results suggest that clindamycin might still be useful as a second-line agent for infections caused by S. aureus and S. epidermidis, although its activity against MRSA was limited to approximately two-thirds of the MRSA strains tested in this study.

Clindamycin↗

The penetration of cefpirome into the potential sites of pulmonary infection.

The concentrations of cefpirome, a new semi-synthetic cephalosporin, in the bronchial mucosa and serum were assessed after a single 1 g intravenous dose in 37 patients. Bronchoalveolar lavage allowed epithelial lining fluid (ELF) concentrations to be measured in eight subjects. The mean concentration for serum was 34.5 mg/L (S.E.M. 3.3), for bronchial mucosa 19.3 mg/kg (S.E.M. 1.9) and for ELF 7.2 mg/L (S.E.M. 1.1). The progressive reduction in cefpirome concentration in serum compared to that in bronchial mucosa and ELF is consistent with the permeability characteristics of beta-lactam antimicrobials and the barriers to movement of antimicrobial agents present in the lung.

Adult↗