Comparison of three days' therapy with cefcanel or amoxicillin for the treatment of acute uncomplicated urinary tract infection.

The clinical and bacteriologic efficacy of 3 days of cefcanel daloxate therapy, compared with 3 days of amoxicillin for the treatment of acute uncomplicated urinary tract infection was compared in a prospective randomized double-blind multicentre study. 400 subjects were randomized to receive cefcanel daloxate and 199 to receive amoxicillin. 166 (77%) of 215 evaluable cefcanel daloxate subjects and 72 (77%) of 94 evaluable amoxicillin subjects evidenced bacteriologic elimination at short-term follow-up, while in 149 (69%) and 67 (71%), respectively, clinical symptoms disappeared.

Human granulocytes express a 55-kDa lipopolysaccharide-binding protein on the cell surface that is identical to the bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein.

Several LPS-binding proteins have been identified on the surface of human granulocytes (polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN)). We describe a plasma-membrane associated ca. 55-kDa LPS-binding protein of human PMN that is indistinguishable from the bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI).

[Detection of diarrhea-causing Escherichia coli using DNA-probes].

To assess the role of enterovirulent Escherichia coli at home and abroad, faeces samples of patients with diarrhoea and of healthy controls in Tunisia, Seville (southern Spain) and the Netherlands were investigated. Enterovirulent E. coli were identified by hybridization with five different non-radioactively labelled DNA probes specific for enterotoxigenic E.

Binding of surfactant protein A (SP-A) to herpes simplex virus type 1-infected cells is mediated by the carbohydrate moiety of SP-A.

Pulmonary surfactant protein A (SP-A) has been shown to act as an opsonin in the phagocytosis of viruses by alveolar macrophages. To determine whether SP-A binds to viral proteins and which part of the SP-A molecule is involved in this interaction, binding studies were undertaken. SP-A was labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate, and its binding to herpes simplex virus type 1-infected HEp-2 cells, as a model for virus-infected cells in general, was studied using flow cytometry.

Monoclonal antibodies that detect live salmonellae.

Nine immunoglobulin G and nine immunoglobulin M murine monoclonal antibody-producing hybridomas reactive with live Salmonella bacteria were obtained from several fusions of immune spleen cells and Sp2/0 myeloma cells. The antibodies were selected by the magnetic immunoluminescence assay. The monoclonal antibodies were reactive with serogroups A, B, C1, C2, D, E, and K and Salmonella choleraesuis subsp.

The magnetic immuno polymerase chain reaction assay for direct detection of salmonellae in fecal samples.

Direct polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based detection with fecal specimens is hampered by inhibitory compounds, such as bilirubin and bile salts. These fecal compounds showed significant inhibition of PCR at low concentrations (10 to 50 micrograms/ml). For direct PCR analysis, fecal samples must be diluted 500-fold to overcome inhibition.

Long-term carriage, and transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus after discharge from hospital.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether patients who become carriers of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) during their stay in hospital, remain colonized after discharge. Thirty-six patients colonized with MRSA during one of three outbreaks at Utrecht University Hospital (1986-89) were screened 2 or 3 years after they had become carriers. Patients were also interviewed to determine factors contributing to persistent carriage, such as antibiotics, re-admissions to the hospital, presence of skin lesions and chronic diseases.

Steady-state pharmacokinetics and sputum penetration of lomefloxacin in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and acute respiratory tract infections.

Oral doses of 400 mg of lomefloxacin were administered once daily prior to breakfast to 10 middle-aged to elderly hospitalized patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease during treatment for bronchopulmonary infections. Serial plasma and sputum samples and fractional urine samples were obtained over a steady-state dosing interval. Lomefloxacin concentrations were determined in duplicate by a validated agar well diffusion microbiological assay.

Comparison of the autoSCAN-W/A and Vitek Automicrobic systems for identification and susceptibility testing of bacteria.

The identification and susceptibility testing of bacteria by the autoSCAN-W/A rapid panels and Vitek Automicrobic systems were compared. A total of 291 clinical isolates, including 207 members of the Enterobacteriaceae, 41 nonfermentative gram-negative bacilli, 31 Staphylococcus aureus strains and 12 Enterococcus faecalis strains, were tested. autoSCAN-W/A and Vitek correctly identified 93% and 94% respectively of the Enterobacteriaceae, the identification in an additional 2% and 5% of strains respectively being reported as correct with a low probability.

Antibody mediated enhancement of HIV-1 infection of an EBV transformed B cell line is CD4 dependent.

Low levels of anti-viral antibodies may facilitate virus infection of Fc-receptor bearing cells. For human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) it has been reported that antibodies can enhance infection of phagocytic cells. We show that HIV-1 can infect an Epstein-Barr virus transformed B cell line and that low levels of anti-HIV antibodies enhance infection.

Peritoneal defense in continuous ambulatory versus continuous cyclic peritoneal dialysis.

Several centers have reported a lower rate of peritonitis among adult patients on continuous cyclic peritoneal dialysis (CCPD) as compared to those undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Preliminary results of our ongoing prospective randomized study comparing CAPD-Y with CCPD also suggest a lower peritonitis incidence among CCPD-treated patients. To investigate whether the two dialysis regimens could result in differences in local host defense, we studied peritoneal macrophage (PMO) function and effluent opsonic activity in eight patients established on CAPD-Y matched with eight chronic CCPD patients.

Direct evidence for antibody bipolar bridging on herpes simplex virus-infected cells.

Cells infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) express a cell-surface receptor able to bind the Fc portion of immunoglobulin G (IgG). In this study we provide direct evidence that bipolar bridging of antibodies, bound to the surface antigens on HSV-infected cells and to the Fc-receptor through the Fc part, offers the virus a survival advantage. Evidence was obtained by comparing the binding of FITC-labelled protein A, which has a similar binding site on IgG as the HSV-FcR, to cell-bound antibodies on HSV-infected cells and non-infected cells.

[Independence within reach. Ergotherapy treatment of children with a congenital reduction defect].

The occupational therapy department of the University Hospital of Leiden treats a relatively large number of children, born with a dysmelia of the forearm. This article has been written to give information about the possibilities to supply these children with a prosthesis, and how this effects their level of independence. A short description of occupational therapy and the working of a myoelectric prosthesis will be followed by a case-study of a boy with plural congenital reduction defects.

Quantitative assay for testing susceptibility of HIV isolates to zidovudine and sCD4 (178)-PE40.

A quantitative coculture assay is described for determining susceptibility of HIV-1 isolates to zidovudine and sCD4 (178)-PE40 (a 60 kDa hybrid protein consisting of the gp120 binding region of CD4 linked to the translocation and ADP-ribosylation regions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin). The assay was relatively simple to perform and gave highly reproducible results often within three to five days. IC50 values of zidovudine for HIV-1 strains isolated from two AIDS patients and an asymptomatic seropositive individual were in the range 0.

Cocaine amplifies HIV-1 replication in cytomegalovirus-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cell cocultures.

Cocaine and CMV each have been suggested to promote the progression of HIV-1 infection. In the present study, the interaction of cocaine and CMV was investigated in a PBMC coculture assay in which release of HIV-1 p24 Ag into coculture supernatants was used as an index of HIV-1 replication. CMV was an effective activation signal for HIV-1 replication when PBMC from CMV-seropositive donors were used in the coculture assay, and cocaine markedly increased replication of HIV-1 in these cocultures.

Effects of the mucoadhesive polymer polycarbophil on the intestinal absorption of a peptide drug in the rat.

The absorption across rat intestinal tissue of the model peptide drug 9-desglycinamide, 8-arginine vasopressin from bioadhesive formulations was studied in-vitro, in a chronically isolated internal loop in-situ and after intraduodenal administration in-vivo. A controlled-release bioadhesive drug delivery system was tested, consisting of microspheres of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) with a mucoadhesive Polycarbophil-coating, as well as fast-release formulation consisting of an aqueous solution of the peptide in a suspension of Polycarbophil particles. Using the controlled-release system, a slight improvement of peptide absorption was found in-vitro in comparison with a non-adhesive control system, but not in-situ or in-vivo.

Imipenem versus gentamicin combined with either cefuroxime or cephalothin as initial therapy for febrile neutropenic patients.

A prospective randomized study was conducted to determine the efficacy of imipenem-cilastatin (hereafter referred to as imipenem) (500 mg four times daily) versus combination therapy for febrile neutropenic patients receiving either no prophylaxis or ciprofloxacin for prevention of infections. Combination therapy consisted of gentamicin (80 mg every 8 h) plus either cefuroxime (1,500 mg every 8 h) or cephalothin (1,000 mg every 4 h) for suspected catheter-related infections. Ninety-four neutropenic fever episodes in 87 patients were evaluable for efficacy.

Safety aspects of non-ionic surfactant vesicles: a toxicity study related to the physicochemical characteristics of non-ionic surfactants.

Two different toxicity models were used to assess the relationship between the physicochemical properties of non-ionic surfactant vesicles (NSVs), and the safety of these vesicles for topical drug administration. The vesicles used in this study consisted of polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers (CnEOm) in which the number of C atoms (n) varied between 12 and 18 and the number of oxyethylene units (m) between 3 and 7. The physicochemical properties of the vesicles are described in terms of hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) values, and critical micelle concentrations (CMC), and the rigidity of the bilayers as determined by the gel-liquid transition temperatures and the cholesterol content of the bilayers.

Human cytomegalovirus-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells induce HIV-1 replication via a tumor necrosis factor-alpha-mediated mechanism.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a potential cofactor in HIV-1 infection. To investigate the mechanism whereby HCMV promotes HIV-1 replication, a PBMC coculture assay which measures HIV-1 p24 antigen release was used as an index of viral replication. HCMV-stimulated PBMC were capable of inducing HIV-1 replication in cocultures with acutely infected PBMC; however, this occurred only when the PBMC were from HCMV-seropositive donors (598 +/- 207 versus 27 +/- 10 pg/ml p24 antigen with PBMC from HCMV-seronegative donors on day 6 of coculture).

Bacteroides and Staphylococcus glycocalyx: chemical analysis, and the effects on chemiluminescence and chemotaxis of human polymorphonuclear leucocytes.

Glycocalyx (or slime), which is an important virulence factor of many pathogenic bacteria, was isolated from Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Organisms were grown for 24 h in a chemically defined, dialysable liquid medium. Bacteria were centrifuged and the supernatant was concentrated and dialysed against distilled water.

Intranasal administration of estradiol in combination with progesterone to oophorectomized women: a pilot study.

A pilot study was done to investigate the pharmacokinetics and acceptability of an intranasal 17 beta-estradiol/progesterone formulation. This formulation contained dimethyl-beta-cyclodextrin as a solubilizer and absorption enhancer of the steroid hormones. The study was performed in four oophorectomized and hysterectomized patients.

Open, randomized comparison of pefloxacin and cefotaxime in the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections.

In an open, randomized study, the effect of pefloxacin (400 mg b.i.d.

Antibodies and complement enhance binding and uptake of HIV-1 by human monocytes.

Objective: To characterize antibody- and complement-mediated binding and uptake of HIV-1 by human monocytes.

Design: The first step in the infection of the monocyte by HIV-1 is binding of the virus to the susceptible cell. Procedures were designed to assess the influence of anti-HIV-1 antibodies and complement on this binding, and to study the process of internalization following binding.