Comparison of ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in the short-term treatment of urinary tract infection.
(57/1937)
Two groups, each of 20 patients, with urinary tract infection were randomly chosen and treated according to a double-blind procedure with either ampicillin, 500 mg, or trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole, either drug being given 4 times daily for 10 days. A number of features of the infections were studied: the occurrence of single or multiple attacks, the presence or absence of complications whether the lower or upper urinary tract was affected, favourably with ampicillin in sterilizing the urine of patients and the bacteria involved. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was found to compare with multiple and complicated urinary tract infections during a follow-up period of 3 months. (+info)
Pharmacokinetics of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in children.
(58/1937)
The present report extends experience with the use of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) in children aged 3 months to 10 years. The regimen was TMP (200 mg)--SMX (1000 mg)/m-2d given in two equal doses. The drug was easily administered, well tolerated and efficacious in the treatment of a variety of infections in 12 children. A steady state had been achieved by the third dose of medication and accumulation of either component during days 1 through 4 did not occur. Serum concentrations of TMP were slightly lower in children aged less than 3 years compared with those aged 3 to 6 years but the differences were small and these results are preliminary. Peak mean serum TMP concentration was highest at day 3 when it reached 1.63 mug/ml. It is concluded that this regimen may be suboptimal for some major parenchymal infections even though the therapeutic result was excellent in most children. (+info)
Comparative efficacy of ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in otitis media.
(59/1937)
Seventy-nine children with acute otitis media were the subjects in a study designed to compare the effectiveness of ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in this infection. They received either of these two agents according to a double-blind randomized procedure that also took the child's weight into account. No significant difference was found in the clinical outcome between the two treatment regimens. Undesirable side effects from TMP-SMX were notably few. (+info)
A comparison of trimethorprim-sulfamethoxazole with sulfamethoxazole alone in infections localized to the kidneys.
(60/1937)
Ninety patients with urinary tract infections were treated in a randomized double-blind study with either a combination of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) or sulfamethoxazole alone (SMX). Thirty of 42 patients treated with TMP-SMX were cured by the time of follow-up compared with 26 of 48 treated with SMX alone. Of the 29 patients infected with SMX-resistent organisms, the combination TMP-SMX cured 12 of 17, whereas SMX alone cured 2 of 12. Of the 61 patients infected with SMX-sensitive organisms, TMP-SMX cured 18 of 25; SMX alone cured 24 of 36. In 50 women the infection was found localized to The upper urinary tract by the use of the Fairley bladder washout technique. TMPsmx cured 16 or 24 of these patients with proved upper tract infections and SMX alone cured 11 of 26. Although none of these differences were significant, TMP-SMX appears to be an effective drug combination for the therapy of proved upper tract infection and is also effective in eradicating sulfonamide-resistant organisms. (+info)
Butyrate inhibits inflammatory responses through NFkappaB inhibition: implications for Crohn's disease.
(61/1937)
BACKGROUND/AIM: Proinflammatory cytokines are key factors in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD). Activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NFkappaB), which is involved in their gene transcription, is increased in the intestinal mucosa of CD patients. As butyrate enemas may be beneficial in treating colonic inflammation, we investigated if butyrate promotes this effect by acting on proinflammatory cytokine expression. METHODS: Intestinal biopsy specimens, isolated lamina propria cells (LPMC), and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were cultured with or without butyrate for assessment of secretion of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and mRNA levels. NFkappaB p65 activation was determined by immunofluorescence and gene reporter experiments. Levels of NFkappaB inhibitory protein (IkappaBalpha) were analysed by western blotting. The in vivo efficacy of butyrate was assessed in rats with trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS) induced colitis. RESULTS: Butyrate decreased TNF production and proinflammatory cytokine mRNA expression by intestinal biopsies and LPMC from CD patients. Butyrate abolished lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced expression of cytokines by PBMC and transmigration of NFkappaB from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. LPS induced NFkappaB transcriptional activity was decreased by butyrate while IkappaBalpha levels were stable. Butyrate treatment also improved TNBS induced colitis. CONCLUSIONS: Butyrate decreases proinflammatory cytokine expression via inhibition of NFkappaB activation and IkappaBalpha degradation. These anti-inflammatory properties provide a rationale for assessing butyrate in the treatment of CD. (+info)
A clinical and psychometric evaluation of flurazepam.
(62/1937)
1 The efficacy of flurazepam (15 mg or 30 mg) as a hypnotic, and the residual effects of each dose were compared with placebo in a double-blind cross-over trial involving thirty patients in a general practice setting. Patients received each medication for one week. Daily self-ratings of onset, duration and quality of sleep, together with reports of any untoward effects were made. At the end of each period of medication psychomotor tests (reaction time, pursuit rotor, tapping speed) were administered at 09.00 hours. 2 Both doses of flurazepam were significantly more effective than placebo in inducing sleep, improving the quality of sleep and extending its duration. 3 'Hangover' effects were marked following 30 mg, but not after flurazepam (15 mg). Flurazepam (30 mg, but not 15 mg) significantly impaired performance on the pursuit rotor test and tapping speed. Flurazepam thus appears to be an effective hypnotic drug with the optimum dose for use in general practice being 15 mg at night. (+info)
Metoclopramide and pimozide in Parkinson's disease and levodopa-induced dyskinesias.
(63/1937)
Metoclopramide is an antiemetic drug which occasionally produced acute dystonic reactions. Although known to interfere with central dopamine mechanisms, it is frequently used in Parkinson's disease to prevent levodopa-induced nausea and vomiting. In this study metoclopramide did not increase Parkinsonism or reduce levodopa-induced involuntary movements in patients with Parkinson's disease. Pimozide, by contrast, increased Parkinsonism and reduced involuntary movements. The capacity of metoclopramide to produce acute dyskinesias while being apparently free of Parkinsonism effects is pharmacologically unique and differentiates this drug from the phenothiazines and butyrophenones. (+info)
Plasma concentrations of L-dopa and 3-methoxydopa and improvement in clinical ratings and motor performance in patients with Parkinsonism treated with L-dopa alone or in combination with amantadine.
(64/1937)
Six patients with idiopathic Parkinsonism were treated with a combination of amantadine and L-dopa and after 12 to 24 weeks amantadine was replaced by placebo for a six week period in a double-blind trial. Although there was a tendency for clinical disability ratings and scores on objective ratings of motor skills to deteriorate initially after amantadine removal, there was no significant deterioration in clinical improvement or motor performance during the period of amantadine withdrawal. Amantadine withdrawal also failed to cause any significant change in plasma concentrations of L-dopa or its metabolite 3-methoxy-dopa in these patients. In a group of 27 patients seen regularly as outpatients measurements of plasma L-dopa failed to correlate significantly with either oral dose or with clinical improvement scores. The plasma concentration of 3-methoxy-dopa, however, was on average 2.8 times higher than that of L-dopa, and there was a significant correlation between plasma levels of this metabolite and clinical improvement. It is suggested that 3-methoxy-dopa may contribute significantly to the therapeutic actions of L-dopa in Parkinsonism. (+info)