Unusual climatic conditions and infectious diseases: observations made by Hippocrates.

About 2500 years ago, Hippocrates made noteworthy observations about the influence of climate on public health. He believed that people living in cities with different climate may suffer from different diseases. Hippocrates also observed that abrupt climatic changes or unusual weather conditions affect public health, especially the incidence and severity of various infectious diseases, including gastrointestinal infections, tuberculosis, and central nervous system infections.

Pharmacokinetic interactions of ceftazidime, imipenem and aztreonam with amikacin in healthy volunteers.

The common usage of extended spectrum beta-lactams co-administered with amikacin in everyday clinical practice for infections by multidrug-resistant isolates has created the need to search for pharmacokinetic interaction. Eighteen healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study; six were administered 1g of ceftazidime singly intravenously or combined with 0.5 g of amikacin; six received 0.

Antimicrobial-induced endotoxaemia in patients with sepsis in the field of acute pyelonephritis.

Background: In vitro results have shown that antimicrobial agents may induce the Gram-negative bacteria to release endotoxins (LPS), which in turn, could trigger the secretion of cytokines from monocytes.

Aims: To compare the effect of cefuroxime, netilmicin or ciprofloxacin on serum levels of LPS and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha).

Methods: Seventy-four patients with acute pyelonephritis caused by Gram-negative bacteria and signs of sepsis were randomly assigned to receive one of three intravenous regimens of cefuroxime, netilmicin or ciprofloxacin.

Participants in HIV clinical trials in Europe.

In recent years an increasing number of antiretrovirals have become available. In order to define the optimal treatment regimens an increasing number of clinical trials are needed. Our objective was to study the profile of participants in HIV clinical trials in Europe and learn from their experience and views.

Primary care involvement in human immune deficiency virus infection-a pan-European view. The Eurosupport Study Group.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the primary care experiences of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive individuals across Europe.

Methods: An anonymous self-administered questionnaire study was carried out between August 1996 and August 1997. A total of 15 HIV/AIDS treatment centres and 14 HIV support organizations in 11 European countries participated in the distribution of questionnaires.