Pharmacokinetic study of piperacillin in newborns relating to gestational and postnatal age.

The pharmacokinetics of piperacillin after a single 75-mg/kg intravenous injection as analyzed in 28 neonates with gestational ages of 29 to 40 weeks (A = 29 to 31 weeks, B = 33 to 35 weeks, C = 38 to 42 weeks) and birth weights of 860 to 3900 g during 35 courses. Serum concentrations of piperacillin were determined by high pressure liquid chromatography. A one compartment open model characterized the disposition of piperacillin.

Respiratory mechanics in mechanically ventilated newborns: a comparison between passive inflation and occlusion methods.

A passive inflation method was described for measuring total respiratory elastance and resistance during mechanical ventilation in adult patients (Rossi et al., J Appl Physiol 58:1849, 1985). We applied this method to preterm and full-term mechanically ventilated newborn infants and we compared the results with those obtained by the occlusion method.

[Acute bacterial and fungal neonatal meningitis].

Neonatal meningitis has two closely related features: the mechanism of infection and the nature of the pathogen. When transmitted from mother to foetus, the infection is mainly caused by one of three microorganisms: Streptococcus group B, Escherichia coli or Listeria monocytogenes. It may occur before birth, in which case meningitis is of early onset and has a rather poor prognosis.

Cystic adventitial disease of the popliteal artery.

Cystic adventitial disease of the popliteal artery is a rare and benign disease. The appearance of claudication in a young non-smoking male and the typical angiographic findings usually confirm the pathology.

Heterogeneity of human eosinophil glucocorticoid receptor expression in hypereosinophilic patients: absence of detectable receptor correlates with resistance to corticotherapy.

Assessment of steroid receptor content in human neoplastic lymphoid cells or mammary tumour cells has been previously used to predict steroid sensitivity in various types of cancers. In the present study, we have evaluated the relationship between glucocorticoid receptor content and the glucocorticoid sensitivity of human eosinophils, since hypereosinophilic patients do not always respond favourably to glucocorticoid, particularly in the hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES). Blood or alveolar eosinophils obtained from seven patients (four with HES without leukaemic markers; two with parasitic diseases; and one with eosinophilic pneumonia) displayed the same specific glucocorticoid receptor content as normal eosinophils (7.

[Sciatic artery or persistent axial artery. Apropos of 2 rare variants].

Arteriography in two patients showed a persistent sciatic artery, in one case complete and the other case incomplete, associated with a persistent superficial femoral artery. One case was complicated by the presence of an aneurysm. Embryology, pathology, clinical aspects and surgical repercussions are discussed, and emphasis placed on the need for preoperative angiography to detect this embryologic variant requiring another surgical attitude.

CT demonstration of aneurysm of a persistent sciatic artery.

The CT findings in a case of persistent sciatic artery complicated with an aneurysm in the gluteal area are reported. If on CT an aneurysm is found in the gluteal area, the possibility of an underlying persistent sciatic artery should be considered.