Rifampin in Experimental Endocarditis Due to Staphylococcus aureus in Rabbits

Rifampin possesses unique activity against Staphylococcus aureus. It is the most active antistaphylococcal antibiotic currently available and has been shown to be particularly effective in eradicating S. aureus from abscess cavities in experimental infections. However resistance develops rapidly in vitro and in vivo when large numbers of organisms (106-107) are present, and use of combination therapy has been recommended. The use of combination therapy is complicated by the finding that in vitro the addition of rifampin may reduce (antagonize) the bactericidal effect of the β-lactam antibiotics. This study examines the in vivo effect of treatment with a β-Iactam agent (cloxacillin), rifampin, or the combination on the eradication of S. aureus from cardiac vegetations in experimental endocarditis. Five different dosage combinations of the β-lactam agent and rifampin were administered for a three-day period, and an attempt was made to correlate peak serum bactericidal titers with results of quantitative cultures of vegetations after therapy. In two of five regimens the combination of rifampin and cloxacillin produced enhanced efficacy in vivo (synergism); in two regimens the effect was no greater than the effect of either drug alone (indifference), and in one regimen the combination was less effective than either single-drug regimen alone (antagonism). Peak serum bactericidal titers often were predictive of the in vivo effect when high doses of cloxacillin were used but were not consistently predictive of in vivo results when rifampin was the agent responsible for the major therapeutic effect. Rifampin-resistant strains did not emerge in animals receiving combination therapy but were isolated from vegetations from several animals receiving rifampin alon

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents in the Therapy for Experimental Pneumococcal Meningitis

An increased inflammatory mass in the subarachnoid space during bacterial meningitis may correlate with a poor outcome of disease. Using a rabbit model of pneumococcal meningitis, we sought to reduce this inflammatory process. The ability of the pneumococcal cell wall to cause death and to generate leukocytosis and abnormal chemistry in cerebrospinal fluid was prevented when animals were treated with inhibitors of the cyclooxygenase pathway of arachidonate metabolism. Bacterial lysis by ampicillin led to release of cell wall that caused a significant, transient increase in meningeal inflammation. This inflammatory burst was also prevented by administering cyclooxygenase inhib-itors concurrently with the antibioti

Teratogenic risk and contraceptive counselling in psychiatric practice: analysis of anticonvulsant therapy

<p>Background: Anticonvulsants have been used to manage psychiatric conditions for over 50 years. It is recognised that some, particularly valproate, carbamazepine and lamotrigine, are human teratogens, while others including topiramate require further investigation. We aimed to appraise the documentation of this risk by psychiatrists and review discussion around contraceptive issues.</p> <p>Methods: A retrospective review of prescribing patterns of four anticonvulsants (valproate, carbamazepine, lamotrigine and topiramate) in women of child bearing age was undertaken. Documented evidence of discussion surrounding teratogenicity and contraceptive issues was sought.</p> <p>Results: Valproate was most commonly prescribed (n=67). Evidence of teratogenic risk counselling at medication initiation was sub-optimal – 40% of individuals prescribed carbamazepine and 22% of valproate. Documentation surrounding contraceptive issues was also low- 17% of individuals prescribed carbamazepine and 13% of valproate.</p> <p>Conclusion: We found both low rates of teratogenic risk counselling and low rates of contraception advice in our cohort. Given the high rates of unplanned pregnancies combined with the relatively high risk of major congenital malformations, it is essential that a detailed appraisal of the risks and benefits associated with anticonvulsant medication occurs and is documented within patients’ psychiatric notes.</p&gt

Proximity effects and Andreev reflection in mesoscopic SNS junction with perfect NS interfaces

Low temperature transport measurements on superconducting film - normal metal wire - superconducting film (SNS) junctions fabricated on the basis of 6 nm thick superconducting polycrystalline PtSi films are reported. The structures with the normal metal wires of two different lengths L=1.5 $\mu$m and L=6$\mu$m and the same widths W=0.3$\mu$m are studied. Zero bias resistance dip related to pair current proximity effect is observed for all junctions whereas the subharmonic energy gap structure originating from phase coherent multiple Andreev reflections have occurs only in the SNS junctions with short wires.Comment: ReVTex, 4 pages, 4 eps figures include

The Postantibiotic Effect in the Treatment of Experimental Meningitis Caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in Rabbits

The relevance of a postantibiotic effect in the treatment of pneumococcal meningitis was evaluated in a rabbit model. After administration of a single intravenous bolus of ampicillin at various dosages, such an effect was observed in all animals. The duration of this effect in vivo (2.5-18 hr) was consistently longer than that in vitro (1-4.3 hr); however, in rabbits the postantibiotic effect was eliminated by the administration of intravenous plus intracisternal β-lactamase. In an assessment of the potential therapeutic benefit of the postantibiotic effect, the efficacy of two regimens of treatment with different intervals between doses was compared. One group of animals received ampicillin every 4 hr and another every 12 hr. With sufficiently high doses, drug concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid exceeded the minimal bactericidal concentration for most of the 4-hr interval but for only about one-third of the 12-hr interval. The rate of cure was similar for the two regimens and approximated 100% when peak drug concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid exceeded the minimal bactericidal concentration by at least 10-fol

Transcript of The Dory Derby Accident

This story is an excerpt from a longer interview that was collected as part of the Launching through the Surf: The Dory Fleet of Pacific City project. In this story, Don Grotjohn recounts an accident that occurred during a Dory Derby competition

Karakteristik Morfologi Famili Arcidae Di Perairan Yang Berbeda (Karangantu Dan Labuan, Banten)

Kekerangan adalah organisme laut yang kosmopolit, mendiami substrat perairan dan bersifat sedenter(bivalvia) sehingga organisme tersebut sangat rentan terpengaruh oleh Perubahan lingkungan. DiPerairan Indonesia terdapat beberapa jenis kekerangan. Salah satunya pusat penyebaran danpenangkapan kekerangan di Indonesia adalah Perairan Karangantu dan Labuan, Provinsi Banten. Jeniskekerangan yang dominan di perairan tersebut adalah famili Arcidae. Kondisi lingkungan perairan yangberbeda akan mempengaruhi morfologi dari setiap spesies kekerangan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untukmengidentifikasi morfologi pada famili Arcidae di Perairan Karangantu dan Labuan. Metode penelitianyang digunakan adalah deskriptif komparatif dengan teknik survei. Lokasi penelitian yang dipilih yaituPerairan Karangantu dan Labuan, masing-masing dua stasiun. Setiap stasiun memiliki karakteristikkondisi lingkungan yang berbeda, seperti daerah Muara Sungai dan daerah industri. Sampel kerangdiambil dengan metode sapuan menggunakan alat tangkap kerang (garuk). Sampel dari setiap spesiesditangkap sebanyak 25 individu/stasiun. Setiap spesies memiliki karakteristik morfologi yang berbeda,walaupun beberapa individu memiliki kesamaan ciri morfologi antara satu stasiun dengan stasiun lainnya.Potensi sumberdaya kekerangan di Perairan Karangantu yaitu A. granosa dan A. antiquata, sedangkan diPerairan Labuan yaitu A. granosa, A. scapha dan B. barbata. Secara umum potensi sumberdayakekerangan di provinsi Banten yaitu A. granosa dengan ukuran cangkang terbesar di Perairan La

The European Network for Translational Research in Atrial Fibrillation (EUTRAF): objectives and initial results.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia in the general population. As an age-related arrhythmia AF is becoming a huge socio-economic burden for European healthcare systems. Despite significant progress in our understanding of the pathophysiology of AF, therapeutic strategies for AF have not changed substantially and the major challenges in the management of AF are still unmet. This lack of progress may be related to the multifactorial pathogenesis of atrial remodelling and AF that hampers the identification of causative pathophysiological alterations in individual patients. Also, again new mechanisms have been identified and the relative contribution of these mechanisms still has to be established. In November 2010, the European Union launched the large collaborative project EUTRAF (European Network of Translational Research in Atrial Fibrillation) to address these challenges. The main aims of EUTRAF are to study the main mechanisms of initiation and perpetuation of AF, to identify the molecular alterations underlying atrial remodelling, to develop markers allowing to monitor this processes, and suggest strategies to treat AF based on insights in newly defined disease mechanisms. This article reports on the objectives, the structure, and initial results of this network

Separately contacted edge states: A new spectroscopic tool for the investigation of the quantum Hall effect

Using an innovative combination of a quasi-Corbino sample geometry and the cross-gate technique, we have developed a method that enables us to separately contact single edge channels in the quantum Hall regime and investigate equilibration among them. Performing 4-point resistance measurements, we directly obtain information on the energetic and geometric structure of the edge region and the equilibration-length for current transport across the Landau- as well as the spin-gap. Based on an almost free choice in the number of participating edge channels and their interaction-length a systematic investigation of the parameter-space becomes possible.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure

Colitis Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is a significant public health problem worldwide. Indonesia is a country with the third highest prevalence of TB in the world after China and India. TB infection can attack all organs of the human body. TB in digestive system is one of the extrapulmonary TB manifestations and comprises of 3- 16% of all extrapulmonary TB cases. This type of TB may affect digestive system, peritoneum, mesentery lymphatic glands, liver, and spleen. Digestive system is affected in 66-75% of patients with abdominal TB. The ileocaecal region is most commonly affected. The manifestation of abdominal TB is not specific. Precise diagnostic approach and supporting results are needed to determine final diagnosis. However, there is no single examination adequate enough to diagnose abdominal TB. If the diagnosis can be established early, this disease could then be managed with conventional anti-TB drugs. Treatment for both 6-9 months period and 18-24 months period has been proven effective in management of extrapulmonary TB. In countries with high abdominal TB prevalence, initiation of anti-TB therapy is allowed if there are the clinical features present. Diagnosis can be determined when the patient has therapeutic response against the the anti-TB treatment