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F Paradisi

Publications and source records attributed to F Paradisi.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Cefoperazone compared with chloramphenicol in the treatment of typhoid fever.

The authors have conducted an open randomized study to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of cefoperazone with those of chloramphenicol in the treatment of typhoid fever. They studied 56 subjects (28 in each group), 36 males and 20 females, whose average age was 25.9 years. The diagnosis of typhoid fever was made when one of the at least three blood cultures performed was positive for Salmonella typhi and in the presence of a 'toxic'-like symptomatology and hyperpyrexia (39 degrees C). Moreover, several stool cultures were done and the signs and symptoms characteristic of the pathology in progress were monitored. Furthermore, the MICs of cefoperazone and chloramphenicol were determined for all the strains of S. typhi isolated in both groups. Cefoperazone was given at the mean dose of 2 g i.v. every 8 h, and chloramphenicol at the dose of 500 mg by oral route every 6 h. The results obtained were assessed statistically (Friedman's test and Fischer's test). The authors conclude that cefoperazone is as active as chloramphenicol, and the importance of this result should not be underestimated.

Adolescent↗

Clinical and pharmacokinetic study of cefotetan in biliary tract infections: preliminary report.

Twelve hospitalised patients, affected by biliary tract infections, were treated with cefotetan at dosages ranging between 4 and 6 g daily i.v. In only 11 patients was the aetiological agent identified. Eleven patients (91.67%) completely recovered from their infections and the pathogens were eradicated; the treatment failed in only 1 patient (8.33%). Furthermore, determinations were made of cefotetan concentrations in serum, gallbladder bile, gallbladder wall and gallstones of 14 patients undergoing cholecystectomy: in 7 patients after only 1 injection i.v. of 2 g and in 7 patients after 7 injections i.v. of 2 g at intervals of 12 h. The levels recorded were several times higher than the minimum inhibitory concentrations against bacteria that are most often responsible for biliary infections. Cefotetan is a promising and effective antimicrobial agent in the therapy of biliary tract infections.

Adult↗

Clinical experience with ofloxacin (DL 8280) in the therapy of various infections: preliminary report.

Thirteen hospitalized patients with various infections, five with typhoid fever, two with gastroenteritis, four with respiratory tract infection and two with biliary tract infection, were treated with ofloxacin at a daily dosage ranging between 600 and 900 mg orally. 12 patients completely recovered from the infection, and the pathogens were eradicated. Treatment failed in one patient suffering from respiratory tract infection. No side effects were recorded. In these cases ofloxacin can be considered as a safe and effective antimicrobial agent.

Adolescent↗

Aztreonam in the therapy of nosocomial infections in patients with impaired host defenses.

A clinical trial was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment with aztreonam in hospital-acquired infections. Twenty patients (13 men and 7 women) with impaired host defenses and nosocomial infections were treated with aztreonam at a dosage ranging 4 and 6 g/day I.V. at 8 or 12-hour intervals. Average length of therapy was 10.35 +/- 4.61 days. The isolated organisms were as follows: Escherichia coli (5), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5), Klebsiella pneumoniae (3), Enterobacter cloacae (1), Proteus mirabilis (2), Proteus vulgaris (1), Acinetobacter anitratus (1), Serratia marcescens (1), Citrobacter freundii (1), Bacteroides fragilis (3), Bacteroides melaninogenicus (1). In 5 patients (25%) a mixed infection was observed. Sixteen patients (80%) were completely cured from infection and 24 isolated organisms (88.8%) were eradicated. No adverse reactions were observed. Aztreonam has undoubtedly high clinical and bacteriological efficacy in the therapy of nosocomial infections in patients with impaired host defenses.

Adult↗

Antibiotic therapy in biliary tract infections: clinical experiences with mezlocillin.

Mezlocillin is a new acyl-ureido-penicillin with a broad spectrum of action, particularly directed against Gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The therapeutic efficacy of this new antibiotic was assayed in 20 patients affected by serious biliary tract infections. Complete recovery was reached in 80% of the patients. Such a recovery rate is very high, considering the type of infectious pathology. Furthermore, the pharmacokinetics of mezlocillin was followed in the bile, as well as in the wall of the gallbladder, in gall-stones and in serum after single or repeated administration of the drug; the results favored the therapeutic use of mezlocillin. It is concluded that mezlocillin is a first choice antibiotic in the treatment of biliary tract infections.

Adult↗

In-vitro differentiation of human monocytes into mature macrophages during long-term cultures.

A method is described which allows human peripheral blood monocytes from any given donor to differentiate in vitro into mature macrophages. About 90% of the starting monocytes are maintained during the long-term culture and are matured to macrophages. Thus cell loss is minimal and the resulting population of mature macrophages can be regarded as representative for all possible macrophage subpopulations present in peripheral blood. These cultures represent a standardized model for in-vitro studies on the role of mature macrophages in various immunological reactions.

Cell Differentiation↗

Cefotaxime (HR-756) in urinary tract infections.

A total of 30 hospitalized patients with upper and lower urinary tract infections were treated with cefotaxime (HR-756) by intramuscular or intravenous route. All patients had a monomicrobial infection, and the major part of bacterial isolates were gram-negative bacilli (83%) while gram-positive cocci accounted only for 17%. In 83% of the cefotaxime-treated patients both the bacteria and symptoms were eliminated at the 2nd week of follow-up, while failure or relapse occurred in 17% of the patients. No reinfections were recorded. Cefotaxime was a safe and well-tolerated drug and can be considered as an effective antibiotic in the therapy of urinary tract infections caused by "difficult' gram-negative bacilli.

Adult↗

HBsAg uptake by macrophages in vitro: an immunofluorescence study.

The uptake of HBsAg by in vitro cultured macrophages was studied by immunofluorescence method. Intracytoplasmic fluorescent particles appeared 3 h after the contact with HBsAg-positive serum, while after 24-48 h only a few cells contained these particles, which are probably destroyed within the cytoplasm.

Animals↗

The influence of some metabolic inhibitors on phagocytic activity of mouse macrophages in vitro.

The action of different metabolic inhibitors on phagocytosis by macrophages from mouse peritoneal exudate cultured in vitro was studied. The following metabolic inhibitors were tested: sodium iodoacetate, sodium fluoride, sodium fluoroacetate, sodium malonate, 2-4-dinitrophenol, sodium azide, ouabain and cycloheximide, all at the concentration of 10(-3) M. Iodoacetate caused a strong inhibitory effect on phagocytosis; this observation confirms that glycolysis is the main source of energy for the phagocytic process. On the contrary, fluoride, although it is an effective inhibitor of glycolysis, did not exert any effect. This difference may be explained by the fact that sodium fluoride blocks anaerobic glycolysis only in vitro at an unphysiological temperature (0 degrees C). Fluoroacetate and malonate, two compounds which interfere with the Krebs cycle, did not inhibit phagocytosis, but it is known that the Krebs cycle activity is poorly developed in the macrophagic cells. Sodium azide and 2-4-dinitrophenol, two inhibitors of oxidative phosphorylation, showed an effect on phagocytosis only after 3 h of contact with the cell cultures. Ouabain blocks Na+ and K+ transport across the plasma membrane and, probably, it inhibited phagocytosis by interfering with the movements of the cell membrane. Finally, the mode of action of cycloheximide on phagocytosis is uncertain. This compound inhibits the protein synthesis and, perhaps, it can act by preventing the renewal of the cell membrane.

Animals↗

The influence of some metabolic inhibitors on in vitro phagocytizing macrophages. I. The behaviour of human macrophages.

In the present work the uptake of foreign materials by macrophages has been studied in order to elucidate its possible energy-dependent mechanisms. We used monolayer cultures of macrophages from human peripheral venous blood, treated with the following metabolic inhibitors: iodoacetic acid, fluoroacetic acid, sodium fluoride, sodium malonate, sodium azide, 2-4-dinitrophenol, cycloheximide, and ouabain. The test assay was performed by using a zymosan particles suspension in Mc Coy 5 A medium supplemented as follows. The quantitation of phagocytosis was obtained by direct count of intracellular zymosan particles by oil 100X microscopy and the results were submitted to a statistical evaluation. The most effective inhibitor we found was iodoacetate, an inhibitor of anaerobic glycolysis, but fluoride, which acts on the same metabolic pathway at a different site, was quite ineffective. The same ineffectiveness we found for fluoracetate and malonate which act on the Krebs cycle. On the contrary, dinitrophenol (uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation), azide (inhibitor of cytochrome linked-phosphorylation), ouabain (inhibitor of membrane ATPase activity) and cycloheximide (inhibitor of protein synthesis) give a remarkable decrease of index of phagocytosis after a 3h incubation. In conclusion, we can suppose that the energy-dependent phagocytosis is first depending on transport across the cell membrane (ATPase activity and protein synthesis) and second both on anaerobic glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation.

Antimetabolites↗

A cytochemical study of some enzyme activities in biliverdin-treated cell cultures.

The authors studied the modifications of the activities of some enzymes in cell cultures submitted to the action of biliverdin. This biliary pigment rapidly induces a remarkable increase in alkaline phosphatase and ATP-ase activities and subsequently, an activation of acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase. On the contrary, 5'-nucleotidase and glucose-6-phosphatase activities remain unchanged. These results are discussed and compared with those obtained in our and other laboratories by using unconjugated bilirubin on different biological substrates.

Acid Phosphatase↗