[Herpetic meningoencephalitis in the elderly. Apropos of 13 cases].

In a retrospective analysis of 13 cases of Herpes simplex encephalitis (mean age: 67.2 +/- 6.4 years; ten women, three men), the authors conclude that this infection is more often due to Herpes simplex virus 1 in the elderly.

Mortality in pneumococcal meningitis: a multivariate analysis of prognostic factors.

Objectives: The mortality due to pneumococcal meningitis remains high, ranging from 15 to 60%. The purpose of this study was to analyze the prognosis of pneumococcal meningitis using a multivariate approach. The objectives were to select the most accurate initial mortality risk factors in pneumococcal meningitis and to determine an individual probability of death according to these prognostic factors.

Penetration of ofloxacin into heart valves, myocardium, mediastinal fat, and sternal bone marrow in humans.

Ofloxacin penetration into heart tissue (valve and myocardium), mediastinal fat, and sternal bone marrow was the object of a prospective nonrandomized study. Thirty-six patients undergoing mitral and/or aortic valve replacement were included. Patients were divided into two groups of 18 patients each.

Assessment of the clinical value of urinary trypsin inhibitory activity in elderly people.

To assess the clinical value of urinary trypsin inhibitory activity (UTIA) in elderly people, a prospective study was carried out over 4 months in our internal medicine department. Two hundred and forty-three patients of more than 60 years of age were included. A positive correlation was observed between UTIA and serum creatinine (p < 10(-3)).

Effects of diclofenac on ceftriaxone pharmacokinetics in humans.

The effects of diclofenac, a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, on the biliary and urinary excretion of ceftriaxone were evaluated in subjects with a T drain in the common bile duct. The kinetic study was carried out on the sixth postoperative day of treatment with ceftriaxone alone (2 g intravenously; group 1) or ceftriaxone combined with diclofenac (50 mg every 12 h orally from postoperative days 3 to 6; group 2). A significant increase in the elimination half-life of ceftriaxone was observed in group 2 patients.