PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Culig

Publications and source records attributed to J Culig.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Azithromycin: single 1.5 g dose in the treatment of patients with atypical pneumonia syndrome--a randomized study.

An open comparative study was undertaken in order to assess the efficacy and safety of a single dose of azithromycin in the treatment of community-acquired atypical pneumonia. A total of 100 adult patients with atypical pneumonia syndrome were randomized to receive 1.5 g of azithromycin as a single dose, or 500 mg once daily for 3 days. The presence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Chlamydia psittaci, Coxiella burnetii, and Legionella pneumophila infection was diagnosed by serological tests. Control clinical examinations were performed 72 h, 10-12 days and 4 weeks after treatment initiation. Among 96 patients (48 in each group) who were evaluable for clinical efficacy M. pneumoniae infection was confirmed in 24, C. pneumoniae in nine, C. psittaci in five, C. burnetii in six, and L. pneumophila in five. Forty-seven patients (97.9%) in each group were cured. Side effects were observed in two patients in the single-dose group, and one patient in the 3-day group. In conclusion, a single 1.5 g dose of azithromycin may be an alternative to the standard 3-day azithromycin regimen in the treatment of outpatients with atypical pneumonia syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Bioavailability of dihydroergosine in healthy volunteers.

Eight healthy volunteers received an oral dose of 10 mg and an intravenous dose of 0.75 mg of dihydroergosine. Plasma concentrations were measured by HPLC method, and some pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated. The biologic half-life in the elimination phase was 8.35 +/- 1.87 h after oral administration and 8.84 +/- 3.64 h after intravenous administration. In both cases of administration a secondary rise in plasma concentration of dihydroergosine was observed, which can be attributed to hepatic recycling. The calculated bioavailability of the drug was 9.80 +/- 2.8%.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Arachidonic acid metabolites and sinonasal polyposis. I. Possible prognostic value.

PURPOSE: The etiology of sinonasal polyps is sometimes obscure. This study was undertaken to evaluate the potential role of arachidonic acid metabolites (AAm) on recurrent polyposis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tissue production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), 6-keto-prostaglandin F1-alpha (PGI2), thromboxane A2 (TxA2), and leukotriene C4 (LTC4) by nasal mucosa was determined by radioimmunoassay in 27 patients with sinonasal polyposis (SNp) and in 10 volunteers. RESULTS: The group of patients with SNp with the evidence of recurrences in postoperative period (Group 1) showed significantly lower PGE2 concentrations than group of patients with SNp recurrences (Group 2). The differences in concentrations of PGI2 in mentioned groups were insignificant. In comparison with other groups, a group of patients who underwent surgery several times for SNp (Group 4) had a higher mean TxA2 concentration. The LTC4 concentrations were the highest in groups of patients where SNp recurrences were observed. When the incidence of polyposis recurrences (within 18 months after surgery) was correlated with the level of LTC4 production at the time of surgery, the rate of recurrence was significantly higher in patients with increased LTC4 level than in those with normal LTC4 levels. CONCLUSIONS: LTC4 might have a prognostic value. The possible role of AAm in occurrence of SNp is apparent and suggests possible role for medical intervention.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Azithromycin versus amoxicillin/clavulanate in the treatment of acute sinusitis.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of a 3-day course of azithromycin with a 10-day course of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid in the treatment of acute sinusitis in adults. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred adult patients with acute sinusitis were included in an open, randomized study. Clinical diagnosis of sinusitis was confirmed by nasal endoscopy, sinus radiography, and (when possible) by culture of sinus aspirate. Patients were randomized to receive azithromycin (500 mg once daily for 3 days) or amoxicillin/clavulanate (625 mg every 8 hours for 10 days). RESULTS: A significantly faster resolution of signs and symptoms of sinusitis was observed in the azithromycin-treated patients. By the end of therapy (days 10-12), 95% of the patients in the azithromycin group and 74% in the amoxicillin/clavulanate group were cured. The remaining patients' conditions were improved. By the follow-up visit, cure was achieved in 98% of the azithromycin-treated patients, and 91% of the amoxicillin/clavulanate-treated patients. Treatment failure was observed in three patients from the amoxicillin/clavulanate group, and relapse occurred in one patient from each group. Bacteriologic eradication was achieved in 23 of 23 and 21 of 24 patients treated with azithromycin and amoxicillin/clavulanate, respectively. Both drugs were well tolerated. Two patients (4%) from the azithromycin group and five patients (10%) from the amoxicillin/clavulanate group reported mild gastrointestinal disturbances. CONCLUSIONS: In adults with acute sinusitis, a 3-day course of azithromycin was as effective and well tolerated as a 10-day course of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. A significantly simpler dosage regimen and faster clinical effect were the advantages of azithromycin.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Presence of Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies in patients with ischemic heart disease and acute myocardial infarct].

Numerous seroepidemiological studies that suggest an association of C. pneumoniae infection and atherosclerosis have been published in last decade. The aim of this study was to assess a prevalence of C. pneumoniae antibodies in population of Zagreb area, and to investigate possible differences in prevalence of antibodies in patients with atherosclerosis and healthy controls. Forty-seven patients with coronary artery disease or myocardial infarction and 54 controls without any previous history of atherosclerosis were enrolled in the study. Sera were examined by microimmunofluorescence test. Persons with IgA antibody titers > or = 1:32, and/or IgG antibody titers > or = 1:64 were considered as seropositive. We found 75% seropositive in a total number of subjects, although number of seropositive and higher titers of antibodies were found more often in patients with atherosclerosis compared to control group: 74.5% of IgA seropositive patients versus 33.3% seropositive in control group, and 89.4% of IgG seropositive patients compared to 63% seropositive controls. Chronic (persistent) infections with C. pneumoniae were noted in 74.5% of patients and 33.3% controls.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Acute respiratory infection in general clinical practice].

Due to high frequency, certain risk of related complications, absenteeism, direct and indirect costs related to them, acute respiratory infections represent a significant health problem. The aim of the paper is to examine the frequency and characteristics of acute respiratory infections, as well as the characteristics of patients with these infections among the population in care of general practitioners/family physicians. In 11 teaching general practices in Zagreb, data were collected from medical records on patients and acute respiratory infections which the patients developed over the period from October 1, 1994 to September 30, 1995. For statistical data processing description, distribution analysis and chi-square test were used. Out of 17,888 patients in care of general practitioners involved in the study, acute respiratory infections were noticed in 4,114 (22.9%) patients ranging in age from newborn to 97 years out of which 1,473 (35.8%) were males and 2,641 (64.2%) were females. A total of 5,892 acute respiratory infections were observed, in average 1.43 infections per patient, for which the patients visited their general practitioners 11,610 times (1.97 visits per infection). Most of the patients 2,958 (71.9%) attended their general practitioners because of one acute respiratory infection. The initial diagnosis of acute upper respiratory tract infection was registered in 4,601 (78.1%) infections, and final diagnosis in 4,475 (75.9%) infections. The most frequent diagnoses included: pharyngitis and tonsillitis (including streptococcal pharyngitis and tonsillitis), nasopharyngitis, sinusitis and bronchitis. In 4,874 (82.7%) cases, general practitioners based their diagnosis on patient history and clinical examination. Antibiotics were prescribed in 3,892 (66.1%) cases. Out of 42 (1.2%) patients treated in hospital, seven patients were admitted for tuberculosis and two for bronchi cancer detected during the acute respiratory infection. Follow-up was reported in 3,644 (60.3%) cases, and sick leave in 1,236 (31%) cases. The results of this study have shown significantly higher frequency of acute respiratory infections in the morbidity in outpatient health care, and also that management of patients with these diseases is mainly the responsibility of general practitioners. In order to improve professional competence of general practitioner/family physician and quality of work in the management of patients with acute respiratory infections in general practice/family medicine, it is necessary to continuously improve the knowledge on all characteristics of the management of patient with these diseases in general practice, as well as to make a critical assessment of the existing practice.

Acute Disease↗