Amoxicillin and its excretion into bronchial secretion (author's transl)

Various dates on amoxicillin (resorption, distribution, elimination, tissue passage, urinary excretion) are presented. The bacterial spectrum is more fully discussed. Amoxicillin is compared with ampicillin. Dosage and therapeutical results are presented. Within repeated bronchoscopic examinations necessary on account of bronchopulmonary affections determination of germs were done in 88 children. At the same time examination of ampicillin levels in bronchial secretions were performed after amoxicillin therapy with different high doses (3 x 125 mg to 3 x 750 mg) for 7 days. It could be shown that good antibiotic levels could be found in secretion specimens above all obtained 2 to 4 hours after the last amoxicillin administration. They could be found too, if there did not exist any purulent secretion or stronger inflammation. There are relations between the amount of dosage, the level in secretion as well as the influence on germs.     

On the possible role of brain protein synthesis in functional barbiturate tolerance

Pentobarbital pellet implantation increased more than 200% the ED50 dose of pentobarbital required to induce loss of the righting reflex within 2 min of i.p. injection and increased the onset of barbital-induced sleep. Both tests of functional barbiturate tolerance were blocked by the intraventricular injection of cycloheximide. The effects of acute (45 mg/kg i.p.) and chronic (pellet implantation) pentobarbital treatment on the incorporation of 3/-lysine into the protein of various subcellular fractions of the cortex and subcortex were studied. In the subcortex, chronic pentobarbital treatment significantly stimulated protein synthesis 40-50% in the microsomal, soluble and mitochondrial fractions. Both acute and chronic pentobarbital treatments significantly increased (3H-lys)-protein accumulation in a fraction of synaptic plasma membranes derived from a population of nerve ending particles (NEP) enriched in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The possible significance of these data to pentobarbital tolerance and dependence development is discussed.     

Essential functional role of the polysaccharide intercellular adhesin of Staphylococcus epidermidis in hemagglutination

Hemagglutination of erythrocytes is a common property of Staphylococcus epidermidis strains, which is related to adherence and biofilm formation and may be essential for the pathogenesis of biomaterial-associated infections caused by S. epidermidis. In three independent biofilm-producing, hemagglutination-positive S. epidermidis isolates, interruption of the icaADBC operon essential for polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA) synthesis by Tn917 insertions led to a hemagglutination-negative phenotype. An immunoglobulin G fraction of antiserum to PIA greatly reduced hemagglutination. Purified PIA led to a 64-fold decrease of hemagglutination titers of these strains; however, it did not mediate hemagglutination by itself. These observations define PIA as the hemagglutinin of S. epidermidis or at least as its major functional component.     

Lactose-intolerance may induce severe chronic eczema

The primary acquired lactase deficiency of the adult is known to cause various disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract while extraintestinal symptoms are unusual. Here we report on a histologically proven chronic eczema requiring corticosteroid treatment for several months. It was obviously induced by a concomitant lactose intolerance since the introduction of a lactose-free diet led to a complete disappearance of the eczema and allowed the discontinuation of the corticosteroid treatment. As far as we know, this is the first case report of an eczema caused by a lactose intolerance.     

Neocuproine, a selective Cu(I) chelator, and the relaxation of rat vascular smooth muscle by S-nitrosothiols

1. A study has been made of the effect of neocuproine, a specific Cu(I) chelator, on vasodilator responses of rat isolated perfused tail artery to two nitrosothiols: S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine (SNAP) and S-nitroso-glutathione (GSNO). 2. Bolus injections (10 microl) of SNAP or GSNO (10(-7)-10(-3) M) were delivered into the lumen of perfused vessels pre-contracted with sufficient phenylephrine (1-7 microM) to develop pressures of 100-120 mmHg. Two kinds of experiment were made: SNAP and GSNO were either (a) pre-mixed with neocuproine (10(-4) M) and then injected into arteries; or (b) vessels were continuously perfused with neocuproine (10(-5) M) and then injected with either pure SNAP or GSNO. 3. In each case, neocuproine significantly attenuated vasodilator responses to both nitrosothiols, although the nature of the inhibitory effect differed in the two types of experiment. We conclude that the ability of exogenous nitrosothiols to relax vascular smooth muscle in our ex vivo model is dependent upon a Cu(I) catalyzed process. Evidence is presented which suggests that a similar Cu(I)-dependent mechanism is responsible for the release of NO from endogenous nitrosothiols and that this process may assist in maintaining vasodilator tone in vivo.