[Clinical studies of effectiveness of ceftezole (Falomesin 'Chugai') on the infectious disease in infancy and childhood (author's transl)]

Clinical studies of the effectiveness of ceftezole (Falomesin 'Chugai') were performed on 50 cases of infants and children with infectious disease during November 1978 and February 1979. Effective results were obtained in 86% of subjects with remarkable effect especially in the group of acute upper respiratory disease. No side effect was detected in our study while elevated mean value of platelet count was observed after medication.

[Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) after endotoxin infusion into the common bile duct of rabbits (author's transl)]

Endotoxin from E. coli was infused into the distally ligated common bile duct of rabbits under the static pressure of 25 cm H2O. Fibrinogen, soluble fibrin monomer complexes, antithrombin III, leukocyte and platelet counts were estimated before, and 2, 4, and 6 h after endotoxin infusion. All parameters were found significantly changed 2 h after endotoxin infusion. While fibrinogen level, AT III, leukocyte and platelet counts decreased after the endotoxin infusion the amount of SFMC increased. The change of hematological parameters showed a pattern characteristic of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). In accordance with this microclots in the glomeruli of the kidneys could be demonstrated in all endotoxin-treated animals by pathological study. The findings suggest that by endotoxin infusion into the common bile duct, as a focal origin, DIC can be produced.

The effect of heparinized blood exchange transfusion on endotoxin induced disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)

Sepsis of the newborn induced by gram negative bacteria, especially E. coli is often accompanied by a severe coagulation disorder. It can be treated by blood exchange transfusion (ET) with heparinized blood. In this study the hematological effect obtained by the exchange transfusion was investigated in rabbits after induction of a generalized Shwartzman reaction by two spaced injections of endotoxin (75 microgram/kg) 24 hrs. apart. Three groups of 6 animals each were investigated: group I: without endotoxin but with ET (controls); group II: endotoxin without ET; group III: endotoxin with ET. Fibrinogen, soluble fibrin monomer complexes (SFMC), fibrin(ogen) degradation products (FDP), platelet- and leukocyte counts and urine volume (ml/hr) were estimated. In group II a decline in the fibrinogen level, and in platelet and leukocyte count, as well as an increase in SFMC and FDP could be observed from 6 hrs. on after the second endotoxin injection. In group III 6 hrs. after the second endotoxin injection, exchange transfusion with heparinized blood was performed. Variance analysis showed significant differences in all parameters, except in the urine volumes after exchange transfusion between group III and group II. By exchange transfusion an approach of the values towards the values of the controls could be recognized. The findings indicate, that by blood exchange transfusion the hematological consequences of the endotoxin induced DIC can be corrected, while the dysfunction of the kidneys can be improved only slightly.

The Effect of Hirudin on the Generalized Shwartzman Reaction (GSR) in Rabbits

The inhibitory effect by hirudin on the course of the GSR induced by two spaced injections of endotoxin (E.coli) 24 hours apart was investigated in two groups of six animals: I: endotoxin only. II. endotoxin with hirdin, which was infused (1000 ATU/kg/h) for a period of 6 hrs after the endotoxin injection (EI). Fibrinogen, soluble fibrin monomer complexes (SFHC), AT III, platelet- and leukocyte counts were determined and pathological studies performed. Fibrinogen in II remained significantly elevated over the whole experiment, while in I the fibrinogen decreased significantly after the 2.EI. SFMC was significantly increased in I from 3.2% before the 1. El to 10.7% before the 2. El, and to 16.7% 6 hrs aer the 2. EL SFNC of 11 increased from 3.0% before the 1. El to 10. 5% bef ore the 2.EI and stayed unaltered during hirudin infusion. The decrease of AT III and platelets was significantly smaller in 11 than in I. The decrease of leukocytes was similar in I and 11. The findings indicate,that the hematological consequences of GSR can be corrected by infusion of hirudin while the dysfunction of the kidneys can be improved only slightly.

Antigenic phenotypes and complementation groups of temperature-sensitive mutants of simian virus 40

The antigenic phenotypes of several temperature-sensitive mutants of simian virus 40 were determined by an immunofluorescence microtechnique that allowed a very high degree of internal control for the conditions of virus infection and antigenic staining. The tumor (T), U, capsid protein (C), and virion (V) antigens were investigated. Productive infection in monkey cells and abortive infection in mouse cells were simultaneously monitored for antigen production at both permissive and restrictive temperatures. Complementation analyses of the mutants demonstrated two complementing groups (A and B) and one noncomplementing group ((*)). One of the complementing groups could be subdivided into two subgroups having very different antigenic phenotypes. The following phenotypes were observed at the restrictive temperature in monkey cells. (i) The noncomplementing group produced none of the antigens. (ii) Group A induced T antigen in moderately but consistently reduced numbers of cells. Other antigens were markedly reduced or absent. (iii) Some of the group B mutants produced T antigen but little or no U and V antigens. The C antigen appeared in the nucleolus and cytoplasm of this subgroup. (iv) In the other group B mutants, antigen synthesis was not altered. Similar phenotypes were observed in mouse cells, except that U, C, and V antigens could not be detected during either the mutant or wild-type virus infections at any temperature.