Methodology for the evaluation of drugs in pregnant women.

Although drugs are prescribed during pregnancy with some reluctance, they fulfill a real need in some circumstances. Adequate drug evaluation is thus essential, either based on efficacy and safety or mainly safety, using available data from non-pregnant women. Evaluation methodology is not fundamentally different during pregnancy.

Influence of beta-blockade on circulating plasma levels of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy phenylethylene glycol (MHPG) during exercise in moderate hypertension.

1. The effect of exercise testing and beta-blockade on plasma norepinephrine (PNE), and secretion of its metabolite 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycol (MHPG), was assessed in 28 mild-to-moderate hypertensives before and after the administration of dilevalol, a new beta-blocker with beta 2-agonism. 2.

[Listeria rhombencephalitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes with a cerebrospinal fluid initially normal].

A case of rhombencephalitis due to Listeria monocytogenes in a non immunocompromised patient, with initially normal cerebrospinal fluid, was marked by potentially fatal neurovegetative disorders and severe neurological sequelae partly due to delay in diagnosis and treatment. The possibility of Listeria infection should be considered in patients with fever and cranial nerves deficits, in order to initiate an appropriate antibiotic therapy and to keep the subject under close monitoring in an intensive care unit.

Enterococcal bacteremia in a medical intensive care unit.

We reviewed retrospectively from 1982 through 1984 35 cases of enterococcal bacteremia in a medical ICU. Of these, 27 patients acquired nosocomial infections; their mean previous hospital stay was 17 +/- 4 days. Thirteen had a serious debilitating disease; 20 received previous antibiotic therapy.