The efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of biapenem administered thrice daily for the treatment of pneumonia in the elderly.

Biapenem has been widely used to treat bacterial pneumonia; however, there is little information concerning its efficacy and safety in elderly patients. Based on pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic theory, administration of biapenem thrice rather than twice daily would be expected to be more effective because of longer time above the minimum inhibitory concentration. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of biapenem (300 mg) administered thrice daily in pneumonic patients aged 65 years or older.

Dissolution profile of 24 levofloxacin (100 mg) tablets.

Although there are 23 generic levofloxacin (100 mg) tablets (LVFX tablets) and 1 brand name LVFX tablet (supply now discontinued) in Japan, there have been no reports that have evaluated and compared the dissolution profiles of LVFX tablets using the same dissolution method. We studied the dissolution profile of LVFX tablets by the Paddle method, a standard dissolution test method. Among 23 generic LVFX tablets, 2 LVFX tablets had lower dissolution rates and 14 had higher dissolution rates than the brand name LVFX tablet.

Effect of switching tiotropium HandiHaler® to Respimat® Soft Mist™ Inhaler in patients with COPD: the difference of adverse events and usability between inhaler devices.

Background: Recently, tiotropium Respimat® Soft Mist™ Inhaler has been developed. Respimat is a multidose and propellant-free kit. The aerosol generated from Respimat improved lung drug deposition and required a lower dose of drug than HandiHaler®.

Cytochrome P450 3As gene expression and testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylase activity in human fetal membranes and placenta at full term.

Expression levels of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4, CYP3A5 and CYP3A7 mRNAs in placentas and fetal membranes, which were split into amnion and chorion leave attached decidua (chorion/decidua), obtained from pregnant women with normal delivery (5 subjects) and Caesarean section (15 subjects) were determined. These CYP3A mRNAs were also expressed in amnion and chorion/decidua together with placenta, although the expression level of these mRNAs was strikingly different between subjects. The expression level of the CYP3A4 mRNA in the placenta was about 2-fold higher than those in amnion and chorion/decidua.

In vivo and in vitro effects of fluoroquinolones on lipopolysaccharide-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production.

Fluoroquinolones have been reported to affect cytokine production in vitro. We investigated the effects of fluoroquinolones on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory cytokine production in vivo and in vitro. LPS was administered to mice treated with ciprofloxacin, gatifloxacin, norfloxacin, and levofloxacin, and the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were measured.

Fluoroquinolones reduce carrageenan-induced edema in rats and the involvement of the glucocorticoid receptor system.

We studied the effect of fluoroquinolones (FQs) on carrageenan-induced edema in the rat footpad. Ciprofloxacin, gatifloxacin, sparfloxacin, norfloxacin, and enoxacin (s.c.

Expression of cytochrome P450 and transcription factors during in vitro differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells into hepatocytes.

Hepatocyte differentiation markers were expressed in the cells differentiated from mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. In the differentiating ES cells, Cyp1a1 mRNA was highly expressed during the early to middle stage; Cyp2c29, Cyp2e1, Cyp3a11 and Cyp7a1 mRNAs were expressed only at the late stage; Cyp7b1 mRNA was expressed throughout all stages. Alpha-fetoprotein and albumin were co-expressed with Cyp3a and Cyp1a, respectively.