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Biomedical subjects

S Breyer

Publications and source records attributed to S Breyer.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Infectious diarrhea diseases].

Gastroenteritis may be due to many agents, infectious or non infections. Most cases of infections diarrhea are selflimited--e.g. food born intoxications with 1 to 2 days duration or infections with enteropathogenic E. coli, Salmonella spp., Vibrio parahaemolyticus or rota virus. Even the majority of shigellosis, salmonella-gastroenteritis and infections with Campylobacter fetus cease without treatment within 4 days. Fever and diarrhea persisting for more than 4 days justify the use of antibiotics, favourably trimethoprim and quinolones. Fluid and electrolyte replacement is the mainstay of treatment. Antimotility agents worsen some forms of diarrhea (especially these due to enteroinvasic bacteria) by retarding the natural purgative effect of diarrhea.

Bacterial Infections↗

Episodic angioedema with eosinophilia.

A 40-year-old woman had monthly episodes of angioedema, eruption of pruritic papules and plaques and fever. During acute episodes white blood cell counts increased to 31,000/mm3 with 75% eosinophils, body weight increased to 10% of baseline weight, and urine excretion decreased to 40 ml/24 hours. No evidence was found for cardiac or other visceral organ involvement. Extensive diagnostic evaluations revealed no evidence for parasitic infestation, connective tissue disease, or neoplastic disorders. Results of immunologic studies revealed increased serum IgM and IgE levels and showed elevated levels of circulating activated T-helper cells. Biopsy specimens of lesional skin showed dermal infiltration of lymphocytes and eosinophils with deposition of eosinophil granule major basic protein in the extracellular matrix within the dermis. Immunophenotyping of the dermal infiltrate with monoclonal antibodies revealed the predominance of T-helper cells, many of them expressing the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR, suggesting that angioedema with eosinophilia may be a T-helper cell-mediated disease.

Adult↗

Efficacy of coumermycin, ofloxacin and vancomycin against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in vitro and in experimental infections of mice.

In vitro, coumermycin (a bis-hydroxicoumarin gyrase inhibitor) proved significantly more active than ofloxacin and vancomycin against 100 strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The MIC90 was 0.5 microgram/ml, whereas the corresponding figures for the other antimicrobials were 2.0 and 4.0 micrograms/ml. In vivo, an otherwise lethal septicemia, induced by intraperitoneal administration of a MRSA in mice, was "successfully treated" in 50% of the animals (ED50) with the following dosages (microgram/g b. wt.): coumermycin 0.9, ofloxacin 10.8, vancomycin 22.4. The ED50 of coumermycin was significantly (2 p less than 0.01) different from those of the other drugs. Renal infection as produced in mice by transcutaneous inoculation of the same MRSA was treated with either of the antimicrobials at different dosages (single doses of 0.0 or 1.6 or 6.3 or 25.0 micrograms/g b. wt., twice daily) during 6 days. The largest reductions of viable counts in the kidneys at each dosage as compared to the bacterial counts of untreated animals were achieved with coumermycin (3.4 or 5.5 or 7.7 log10). These reductions are significantly (2 p less than 0.01) different from those achieved with the comparable dosages of ofloxacin and vancomycin which were 0.1 or 1.8 or 2.8 and 0.4 or 1.4 or 3.0 log10 respectively. After a single subcutaneous injection of 250 micrograms mean concentrations in serum of mice for coumermycin were 6.2-5.0 micrograms/ml for 8 h, for ofloxacin 2.0-0.5 micrograms/ml for 2 h, and for vancomycin 14.7-2.5 micrograms/ml for 2 h. Coumermycin and ofloxacin could be alternatives to vancomycin in the therapy of human infections due to MRSA.

Aminocoumarins↗

In-vitro activity of fleroxacin.

Fleroxacin is a new synthetic fluorinated quinolone antimicrobial agent. The in-vitro activity of fleroxacin and five comparative quinolones against 541 clinical isolates was studied. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC90) of fleroxacin were less than or equal to 2.0 mg/l for Enterobacteriaceae, less than or equal to 8.0 mg/l for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 1.0 mg/l for Acinetobacter calcoaceficis and 8 mg/l for streptococci. The activity of fleroxacin was comparable with that of ofloxacin, pefloxacin and norfloxacin, but less than that of ciprofloxacin. All quinolones showed little difference between MIC and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs).

Anti-Infective Agents↗

In vitro evaluation of teicoplanin and other antimicrobials against streptococci group D bacteria.

In vitro activities of teicoplanin were compared with those of ampicillin, imipenem, rifampicin, coumermycin and vancomycin against clinical isolates of Streptococcus faecalis (n = 100) and Streptococcus faecium (n = 30). Against Str. faecalis, ampicillin and imipenem had an MIC90 and MBC90 of 3.9 micrograms/ml. Coumermycin and rifampicin had poor bactericidal activity with MBC90 values of 31.2 and 62.5 micrograms/ml. Teicoplanin was extremely active with an MIC90 of 0.95 microgram/ml and an MBC90 of 1.86 micrograms/ml.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Assessment of the human tumor cloning assay for urologic malignancies with special emphasis on bladder cancer.

Specimens of different urologic malignancies such as cancer of the bladder, renal pelvis, prostate, testis and renal cell carcinomas were sent to our laboratory for cultivation with the clonogenic assay. Of the 62 samples--biopsies, bladder barbotages and effusions--48% were considered to be evaluable; the others had to be excluded from evaluation because of negative histologic/cytologic findings, insufficient cell viability, inadequate tumor material, or contamination. All test procedures were done using a slightly modified human tumor cloning assay originally described by Hamburger and Salmon [Science 197: 461-463, 1977]. Overall growth was seen in about one third of all tumors cultivated; the mean colony count being 13 +/- 8, the mean cloning efficiency 0.0026%. About one third of bladder cancer specimens and half of the renal cell carcinomas showed colony growth. No correlation between tumor stage or grade and the overall colony growth rate in vitro was seen. Furthermore, it was impossible to correlate the growth rate in vitro and the overall survival of the patients included in the study.

Biopsy↗

Methicillin- and gentamicin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: susceptibility to fosfomycin, cefamandole, N-formimidoyl-thienamycin, clindamycin, fusidic acid and vancomycin.

The in vitro activity of fosfomycin against 90 strains of methicillin- and gentamicin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was studied in an in vitro microtitre system using Mueller-Hinton broth supplemented with glucose-6-phosphate. In parallel the antistaphylococcal activity of cefamandole, N-formimidoyl-thienamycin, clindamycin, fusidic acid and vancomycin was determined with the same organisms. The following MIC50 (MIC95) values were obtained: fosfomycin 8 (128) mg/l, cefamandole 8 (greater than 64) mg/l, clindamycin 0.25 (16) mg/l, fusidic acid less than 0.25 (less than 0.25) mg/l, vancomycin 1 (2) mg/l and N-formimidoyl-thienamycin 4 (16) mg/l. A high MIC/MBC ratio was noted for cefamandole, in contrast to fosfomycin.

Cefamandole↗

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) plasma level determination in the management of gastric cancer patients.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels of 161 patients with gastric cancer and of 12 patients with noncarcinomatous diseases of the stomach were retrospectively analyzed. In this study, we examined the correlation between CEA level and histologic type, T and N stage, and the value of the preoperative CEA determination for diagnosis, operability and prognosis for patients with gastric cancer. Summarizing our results: There exist significant higher CEA levels in patients with gastric cancer in comparison with patients with noncarcinomatous disease of the stomach (p less than 0.01), but the absolute CEA titer is not a reliable parameter for the prediction of the existence or absence of gastric cancer for the individual patient. A positive correlation between the CEA level and the histologic type in the subgroup of radically operable patients was found, the intestinal type having lower titers (p less than 0.05). The operability of two different histologic entities (diffuse or intestinal type) was equally high. No conclusion can be drawn from CEA plasma levels concerning the operability of the individual gastric cancer patient; on one hand, 30% of the patients with normal preoperative CEA titers could not be radically operated, whereas 34% of the patients with elevated preoperative CEA titers (greater than 5.0 ng/ml) had radical surgery. Furthermore, the absolute value of the preoperative CEA level does not predict the course of the disease, whereas continuously rising postoperative CEA levels are indicative of tumor progression.

Aged↗

[Pharmacokinetics, tolerance and therapeutic effect of trimethoprim-sulfametrol-infusions (author's transl)].

Lidaprim was administered as infusion to 6 healthy volunteers for 10 days in an interval of 12 hours for calculation of the pharmacokinetic parameters. Furthermore 31 patients with various severe infectious diseases were treated for 5-27 days with 2 or 3 infusions daily. Local tolerance was excellent. Side effects were observed only in 1 patient, who developed a rash. The cumulation equilibrium is reached for trimethoprim and also for total and free sulfonamide on the 3rd day. The clinical results were excellent: 22 of the 31 patients with severe infectious diseases could be cured.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

Analyzing regulatory failure: mismatches, less restrictive alternatives, and reform.

Professor Breyer presents here a framework for analysis and reform of economic regulation. The framework consists of three basic elements: justifications for regulation, modes of classical regulation and the problems they entail, and "less restrictive alternatives" to regulation, including taxation and disclosure. Using contemporary regulatory programs as examples, Professor Breyer argues that many such programs are ill designed to meet their objectives, and that the problems inherent in such regulatory regimes are severe. Finally, he briefly sketches how one might, as a practical matter, go about achieving reform, citing as an example the recent change in airline regulation.

Economics↗

[Prognostic factors in the drug therapy of metastasizing breast cancer].

175 patients with metastatic breast cancer, treated with chemotherapy, were analyzed retrospectively to identify the characteristics of prognostic importance in predicting response to chemotherapy and survival from onset of the chemotherapy. The most significant factors were the sites of metastatic disease and an estimate of the total extent of disease.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

[Experiences with cis-dichlorodiaminoplatinum (II) in the treatment of advanced solid tumors].

Cis-Dichlorodiammineplatinum (II) was administered in 23 patients with far advanced solid malignancies using a dose schedule of 50 mg/m2 every 3 weeks. All patients had previously progressive disease using conventional cytotoxic therapies. More than 50% of the patients had been pretreated with at least 4 different drugs. 9 patients, additionally, had been irradiated. In 4 instances there was objective tumor regression (duration: 1 to 4 months), in 7 patients tumor progression could be stopped for at least one month, 12 patients did not respond. By sufficient fluid administration combined with electrolyte substitution, furosemide and mannitol, no severe toxic side effects could be observed.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Results and pharmacokinetic aspects of methotrexate therapy in high doses].

We used MTX as single drug treatment on the basis of an incremental dosage schedule, with doses increased from 250 mg/m2 to 750 mg/m2 or from 5 to 10 g, at intervals of 10 days. Moderately high MTX doses (750 mg/m2 at most) plus citrovorum factor rescue, failed to result in objective tumor regression in all of the 18 patients thus treated. High-dose MTX with CF rescue, by contrast, was found to produce partial remissions in 3 of the 19 cases treated thus far. Meticulous clinical monitoring and MTX serum level determinations are imperative for minimizing complications, if this drastic treatment regimen is employed.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗