Correlation between in vitro and in vivo activity of levofloxacin and moxifloxacin against pneumococcal strains with different susceptibilities to fluoroquinolones.

In vitro and in vivo models were developed to evaluate the efficacy of levofloxacin and moxifloxacin against three serotype 3 pneumococcal strains with different susceptibilities to fluoroquinolones (wild-type, parC mutant, and parC, parE and gyrA mutant). Levofloxacin and moxifloxacin reduced the bacterial burden in the in vitro pharmacodynamic and animal models for the wild-type strain but had very little activity against the fully resistant strain (parC, parE and gyrA mutant). Levofloxacin showed very little activity both in the in vitro pharmacodynamic model and in the animal model for the strain having a mutation in parC (levofloxacin and moxifloxacin minimum inhibitory concentrations, 2mg/L and 0.

Phyllodistomum folium (Trematoda: Gorgoderidae) infecting zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) in the Ebro River, Spain.

Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) were first found in the Ebro River (Spain) in Ribaroja reservoir, in the summer of 2001. This paper reports a study to detect parasites in this bivalve species. From September 2003 to August 2004, a total of 1380 zebra mussels were collected and dissected or sectioned in paraffin and haematoxylin and eosin staining.

Inflammatory, autoimmune, chronic diseases: bad diet and physical inactivity are causes or effects?

It is now well established that most chronic diseases, especially those identified as inflammatory, are statistically correlated with some typical dietary excesses and physical inactivity. But do really these habits cause the diseases, or they result from them? Current opinion favours the first option, but fails to explain why the satisfaction of eating, naturally evolved in our brains to produce health, apparently induces countless millions of people to eat unrestrictedly until becoming mortally sick, whereas trying to keep a theoretically healthy diet is most often a real torture. The inverse explanation makes much more sense: since inflammation produces much heat, calorie-rich diets are required.

[Effect of irbesartan in proteinuric non-diabetic renal disease].

This randomized, prospective, two-arm clinical study evaluated the antiproteinuric and nephroprotective effects and the safety of treatment with an angiotensin II receptor antagonist (irbesartan) in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) as compared to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIls). A total of 50 patients with CGN diagnosed by renal biopsy and protein levels in 24-hour urine higher than 1 g were enrolled. All patients received treatment for at least 24 months, 27 in group 1 (irbesartan) and 23 in group 2 (ACEs).

Urinary concentrations and bactericidal activity against amoxicillin-nonsusceptible strains of Escherichia coli with single-dose, oral, sustained-release amoxicillin/clavulanic acid: a phase I, open-label, noncomparative clinical trial in healthy volunteers.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) account for 5 to 6 million medical consultations in the United States each year. Worldwide, an estimated 20% to 30% of women aged 20 to 40 years have at least 1 episode of the most common type of UTI (uncomplicated cystitis) in their lifetime, with Escherichia coli being the causative pathogen in 80% of cases. Antibacterial activity in urine has been shown to be correlated with outcomes of uncomplicated cystitis.

Nanoscale investigation of the structural and chemical changes induced by oxidation on carbon black surfaces: a scanning probe microscopy approach.

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and noncontact tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) have been employed to study on a local scale the structural and, for the first time, the chemical changes of carbon black (CB) particles following plasma oxidation. STM imaging of the pristine, untreated particles revealed a relatively ordered structure of tiny crystallites with a few amorphous regions. After plasma treatment, the crystallites were no longer observed and the CB particle surface exhibited a noticeable and ubiquitous increase in atomic-scale disorder.

Exposure to nicotine is probably a major cause of inflammatory diseases among non-smokers.

This article assesses the hypothesis that most inflammatory diseases are conditioned responses caused by the psychoactive action of nicotine. Even in very 'light' passive smokers, the repeated nicotinic stimulation of the reward system can produce, through classical and subsequent operant conditioning, unconscious addiction to most relevant perceptions occurring simultaneously, including the artificial, non-localised sensation of pain or sickness caused by the action of nicotine on the nociceptive 'cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway'. During nicotine abstinence and especially under stress, the brain previously addicted to this pain is compelled to reproduce it by the only method available without nicotine: causing lesions or cellular stress in one's organism, for example, by triggering intense inflammations.

Pulmonary damage and bacterial load in assessment of the efficacy of simulated human treatment-like amoxicillin (2,000 milligrams) therapy of experimental pneumococcal pneumonia caused by strains for which amoxicillin MICs differ.

An experimental rat pneumonia model using two amoxicillin-susceptible (MICs, < or =0.015 and 2 microg/ml) and two non-amoxicillin-susceptible (MIC, 4 microg/ml) Streptococcus pneumoniae strains was developed for testing the efficacy of amoxicillin administered to simulate human serum kinetics after treatment with amoxicillin-clavulanate (2,000 and 125 mg, respectively, twice a day, for 2.5 days).

[Change of EPO treatment from subcutaneous epoetin to intravenous epoetin or darbepoetin alpha].

This prospective, two-arm, clinical trial assesses the effectiveness in maintaining the levels of haemoglobin (Hb) between 11 and 13 g/d1 and the safety of changing the administration route (from subcutaneous to intravenous) of epoetin (rHuEPO) alpha at equidose versus a changeover to darbepoetin alpha, taking the exact equivalence in peptide mass between the two as referent in patients with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) in haemodialysis. A total of 112 patients previously treated with epoetin and no dose modification during the 8 weeks prior to the study and stable levels of Hb were included. Of these, 92.

[Diagnostic considerations in unilateral hyperlucency of the lung (Swyer-James-MacLeod Syndrome)].

Swyer-James-MacLeod Syndrome (SJMS) is considered to be a relatively uncommon and complex disease characterized by roentgenographic hyperlucency of one lung, lobe, or part of a lobe, due the pulmonary vascular structure and alveolar overdistension. It is sometimes associated with bronchiectasis. This syndrome seems to be an acquired disease that develops after viral bronchiolitis and/or viral pneumonia in early childhood.

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus parainfluenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis isolated from adult patients with respiratory tract infections in four southern European countries. The ARISE project.

Over a 7-month period in 2000-2001, 1213 Haemophilus influenzae, 112 Haemophilus parainfluenzae and 142 Moraxella catarrhalis isolates were recovered from adult patients with respiratory tract infections. Patients were from four southern European countries (Spain, Italy, Portugal and Greece). The antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates to 11 antibiotics was determined in a central laboratory.

Dynamics of nematodes in a high organic loading rotating biological contactors.

Nematode diversity and dynamics of a full-scale rotating biological contactor plant (RBC) has been studied. Analysis of biofilm composition showed a well-established zoning of microfauna among the three RBC sections analysed. Nematodes appeared to be the dominant group within the larger microfauna populations with average abundances between 200 and 300ind/mg or 8000 and 17000ind/cm(2).

Influence of hard water on the bioavailability of enrofloxacin in broilers.

To define the impact that use of different levels of hard water has on the bioavailability of the antibacterial, enrofloxacin, in poultry, an oral bioavailability-pharmacokinetic study of the drug was carried out. Two hundred fifty clinically healthy broilers, divided into 5 groups, were individually dosed orally with 10 mg/kg of enrofloxacin diluted to 0.1%.

[Treatment of renal anemia with darbepoetin alfa administered once every other week in predialysis patients with chronic kidney disease and previously treated with epoetin alfa].

Darbepoetin alfa is an erythropoiesis-stimulating glycoprotein with up to 3 times longer half-life than recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) in humans. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of darbepoetin alfa given once every other week as treatment of anemia in predialysis patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) previously treated with once-weekly epoetin alfa. A total of 42 CRF patients were included, all of whom had previously been treated with epoetin alfa and showed stable hemoglobin (Hb) levels without dose changes during the last 8 weeks prior to enrolment in this study.

Feeding regimen and enzyme supplementation to rye-based diets for broilers.

A trial was conducted to study the influence of feeding regimen [ad libitum, (AL) vs. feed restriction, (FR)] and supplementation of the diet with a combination of xylanase and beta-glucanase on physiological parameters and performance of broilers fed rye-based diets. There were 4 dietary treatments arranged factorially with 2 feeding regimens (0 vs.

Effect of sex and terminal sire genotype on performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of pigs slaughtered at 117 kg body weight.

The effects of gender (barrows; gilts) and terminal sire genotype (DD, Danish Duroc; PxLW, Pietrain×Large White) on performance and carcass and meat quality of pigs sacrificed at a fixed weight of 117 kg were studied. Barrows ate more feed, grew faster, and had poorer feed conversion and less yield of trimmed lean cuts than gilts. Castrates were fatter and had more intramuscular fat and more intense colour of the meat than females.

Heat processing of barley and enzyme supplementation of diets for broilers.

The influence of heat processing (HP) of barley and enzyme supplementation (ES) of the diet on digestive and performance traits of broilers to 21 d was studied. There were four treatments arranged factorially with two barley-processing treatments (raw or heated), two levels of ES (0 or 500 ppm), and five replicates per treatment. Chicks fed HP barley grew faster than broilers fed raw barley until 8 d of age, but the effect disappeared thereafter.

Antimicrobial resistance among clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated in four southern European countries (ARISE project) from adult patients: results from the cefditoren surveillance program.

From four southern European countries (Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Greece) 877 Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates were recovered from adult patients with respiratory tract infections between September 2000 and March 2001. The antimicrobial susceptibility to 11 antibiotics was determined in a central laboratory. Penicillin resistance was high in Greece (47.