7-(2-aminomethylphenylacetamido)-3-(1-carboxymethyltetrazol-5-ylthiomethyl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid

The synthesis of 7-(2-aminomethylphenylacetamido)-(1-carboxymethyltetrazol-5-ylthiomethyl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid (BL-S786) is described and the antimicrobial activities are compared with cefazolin and cefamandole. The compound exhibits broad antimicrobial spectrum, produces high intramuscular blood levels in mice and demonstrates a high degree of therapeutic efficacy in experimental bacterial infections in rodents.

Rhinovirus multistranded RNA: dependence of the replicative form on the presence of actinomycin D

The multistranded and double-stranded RNAs synthesized in HeLa cells infected with rhinovirus in the presence and in the absence of actinomycin D have been characterized by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and hybridization studies. The replicative form is only found in infected cells treated with actinomycin D, whereas the replicative intermediate is found in both the presence and the absence of the drug. The significance of these results is discussed.

The role of the intermediate cardiac care unit

After the introduction of a 22-bed, monitored intermediate cardiac care unit (ICCU), cardiac care unit admissions increased by 15.7%. A further increase in patient admissions of 37% was permitted by direct admissions to the ICCU from the emergency room. The duration of the hospital stay of patients with acute myocardial infarct was shortened by three days. The success rate of cardiac resuscitation improved, and potentially serious arrhythmias were treated more promptly. Hospital costs were substantially reduced by the use of a convalescent unit for patients whose ICCU stay was uncomplicated. Concentration of cardiac patients and specialized staff and equipment permitted more efficient care.

Effect of local anesthetics on chloride transport in erythrocytes

The self-exchange of chloride isotopes across the human erythrocyte membrane was inhibited by tetracaine, benzocaine, and lidocaine. The inhibition by tetracaine was increased at higher pH values, but was not exclusively due to the uncharged form of tetracaine. The inhibition was effective within 5 seconds, was reversible, was non competitive with chloride ions, and was not reversed by calcium ions. These findings indicate that local anesthetics react with the erythrocyte chloride carrier at a site separate from the chloride site and cause inhibition of anion transport by a specific mechanism not involving changes in the surface charge density on the erythrocyte membrane.

Hemodynamic effects of edrophonium chloride (Tensilon) infusion

The hemodynamic effects of a 10 mg bolus of edrophonium chloride followed by a continuous infusion of 0.25 to 1.0 mg per minute, were determined in unanesthetized patients with significant myocardial disease. The effect on heart rate of the drug was negated by studying a group of nine patients with complete heart block and permanently implanted ventricular pacemakers. After the 10 mg bolus, two of the nine patients experienced dizziness, nausea and abdominal cramps associated with a mild decrease in peripheral vascular resistance. There was no significant change in cardiac index, mean blood pressure, brachial artery upstroke time, corrected ejection time, or left ventricular systolic ejection time. This study demonstrated that the continuous infusion of 0.25 to 1.0 mg per minute of edrophonium chloride following a 10 mg loading dose, had no significant effect on myocardial function.