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Biomedical subjects

H Kourtópoulos

Publications and source records attributed to H Kourtópoulos.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1983

The influence of steroids on the penetration of antibiotics into brain tissue and brain abscesses. An experimental study in rats.

The interaction between glucocorticoids and antibiotics in the treatment of brain abscesses has been examined in rats. After stereotactic inoculation of Bacteroides melaninogenicus in the right frontal lobe to induce abscess formation, the animals were divided into two groups those treated with antibiotics alone and those treated with both antibiotics and corticosteroids. The antibiotics used, injected 4 days after the bacterial inoculation, were benzylpenicillin, 3H-lymecycline and 14C-metronidazole. The left hemisphere in each animal served as control. Finally a group of animals were inoculated in the right hemisphere with saline and served as controls. Antibiotic assays showed that the use of steroids reduced antibiotic concentration in uninfected and infected tissue with significant reduction in the infected tissue of animals treated with benzylpenicillin and lymecycline. In animals treated with metronidazole, no significant alteration of concentration levels was found. The use of steroids in the treatment of brain abscesses seems to only partially inhibit adequate concentrations of antibiotics in brain tissue dependent upon the antibiotics used.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

The effects of irradiation and probenecid on cerebrospinal fluid transport of penicillin.

A hitherto unrecognized interaction between whole brain irradiation and probenecid on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) transport of benzylpenicillin has been demonstrated in rabbits. Healthy adult rabbits received 10 Gy (1000 rad) to the whole brain as a single dose. At different time intervals after irradiation the animals were subjected to single intravenous injections of benzylpenicillin. Studies on benzylpenicillin concentrations in CSF showed increasing values one week after irradiation suggesting disturbance in blood-CSF barriers. Additionally, groups of rabbits were subjected to either irradiation, probenecid injections or both prior to antibiotic administration. All these treatments resulted in increased CSF concentration of benzylpenicillin relative to the concurrent serum levels. The increase of the CSF benzylpenicillin levels in the preirradiated animals was less pronounced in the animals treated with probenecid, compared to those who were irradiated only. The mode by which probenecid and irradiation interacts on the CSF kinetics of benzylpenicillin should be further evaluated.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Treatment of Candida ventriculitis and septicaemia with 5-fluoro-cytosine. Combined peroral and intraventricular administration.

A 9-months old patient with a ventricular shunt due to hydrocephalus was treated with intraventricular administration of 5-FC due to Candida ventriculitis with satisfactory clinical response. The intraventricular dose given was 5 mg twice daily for 14 days. The same patient was treated four months later with combined peroral and intraventricular administration of 5-FC also with good clinical response. On both occasions there was no evidence of drug toxicity. The peroral dose given was 100 mg/kg bodyweight/day divided in four doses. A few CSF and serum samples were taken to estimate the concentration of 5-FC. The local installation of 5-FC in an isolated ventriculitis seems to be of special beneficial value whereas fungal septicaemia with ventriculitis needs combination of peroral and intraventricular administration. No increase in resistance against 5-FC could be registered.

Administration, Oral↗