beta-Adrenoceptor blocking activity of halogenated thienylethanolamine derivatives

The synthesis of a number of ring-halogenated N-isopropyl- and N-tert-butyl-2-amino-1-(2-thienyl)ethanols has been carried out in order to ascertain the influence of chloro or bromo substitution at the thiophene moiety on their blocking beta-adrenoceptor activity. It was found that chloro- and bromo-substituted compounds exhibited a similar activity. Monohalo substitution at positions C4 or C5 of the thiophene ring resulted in comparable blocking potency, whereas C3 halo-substituted compounds were practically devoid of activity. The highest activity in these series was observed with compounds dihalogenated at C4 and C5, their effect on myocardial beta-receptors being comparable to that of propranolol.

Enteropathogenic E. coli gastroenterocolitis in neonates treated with fosfomycin

The effect of calcium salt of fosfomycin in the treatment of 43 neonates suffering from acute gastroenterocolitis produced by enteropathogenic E. coli is evaluated. The minimal inhibitory concentration of these E. coli was, generally, lower than 128 mug/ml. Dosages of 150-200 mg/kg body weight/day were administered orally every 8 h. This treatment lasted for 4 days only. Clinical evolution was favorable in 38 (88%) babies and bacteriological evolution in 30 (70%). In eight cases a different flora to the initial was selected during the treatment with fosfomycin. None of the cases treated showed any toxic alteration attributed to the antibiotic.

The evolution of the sensitivity to fosfomycin over the past two years

The sensitivity of 1,823 bacteriological strains of differing types is shown (E. coli, Klebsiella-Enterobacter-Serratia, Proteus-Providence, Pseudomonas, Salmonella-Shigella-Citrobacter, Haemophilus, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus); all of clinical origin, isolated during March and April, 1975. The methods used were series of double dilutions in Mueller-Hinton agar and the disc-plate method (weight of 50 mug). A comparative study is made of the sensitivity between a part of the present strains (1,725) and another group of 1,664 germs, isolated and observed in January and February, 1973. Some variations are observed which, on general lines, do not seem to be significant, except for Klebsiella-Enterobacter and Serratia.

Calcified bacteria in renal stones: electron-microscopic aspects

In some renal calculi whose structure was studied in thin sections, we have found large numbers of rods of the size and shape of bacteria, included in a material consisting of defective apatite calcium phosphates and organic matter. Electron transmission microscopy showed patterns of partially calcified bacteria. With the scanning electron microscopy we obtained only images of bacterial impressions. In struvite stones bacteria are rarely found in thin sections. Extremely high ammonium alkalinisation does not seem to be compatible with the preservation of bacterial bodies capable of being calcified.

Renal insufficiency and fosfomycin

After the parenteral injection of 1 g sodium salt of fosfomycin the serum levels of the antibiotic are detected in a series of eight adult patients with different degrees of chronic renal insufficiencies four of them submitted to periodical dialysis. The results obtained reveal that the levels as well as the time of elimination of fosfomycin maintain an obvious relation to the degree of renal insufficiency in the patients.

Fosfomycin in treatment of respiratory bacterial infections

A study was made of 40 patients suffering from clinically and bacteriologically demonstrated bacterial respiratory infections which were all treated with fosfomycin as the only antibiotic. Studies were made of the sensitivity of the isolated organisms and control of the eradicated and selected organisms. Analytical controls were performed on all patients before, during and after treatment. The average dose employed was 60 mg/kg/day, divided into four doses and administered parenterally. The duration of the treatment fluctuated between 6 and 11 days in 87% of the cases. A clinical and bacteriological evaluation was made of the results. The clinical response was satisfactory in 75% of the cases, partial in 7.5% and poor in 17.5%. The bacteriological evolution was satisfactory in 62.5%, partial in 12.5% and poor in 20%. It was not possible to control the evolution in 15% of the patients. The concentrations of the antibiotic were determined in the sputum of 6 patients and fluctuated between 0.6 and 12.9 mug/ml. In no case could any significant disorders be attributed to the antibiotic.

Fosfomycin in the treatment of gynecological infections

Here we present the results obtained in the treatment with fosfomycin of 58 patients of diverse obstetric-gynecological infections manifested by clinical symptomology and by the initial isolation of 70 strains of different germs, all of them sensitive to this antibiotic. The types of infections were urinary, abdominal wall, perennial septicemias, and endometritis; 45 of them motivated by or resulting from pregnancy, and the remaining 13 from gynecological causes. The most frequent treatment was 1 g/6h during 10 days, using sodium salt intramuscularly in 33 cases, and calcium salt taken orally in 26. The clinical results were good in 50 cases (86.2%) with improvement in 3 (5.1%) and persistency of the infection in 5. The bacteriological evolution was good on 34 occasions (58.6%), partial in 4 (6.8%), and poor in 6 (10.3%). In 14 cases no control could be made since the wound healed. The tolerance to the antibiotic was good and no manifestations of toxicity were observed.

Ectopic renal ossification as nucleus of urinary stones

Areas of ectopic ossification were found in thin sections from 19 of 1,624 calculi submitted to a petrographic procedure, an incidence of 1.16 per cent. Only 8 calculi of renal, pelvic or ureteral origin with osseous tissue in its structure have been described since the first report by Phemister in 1923.

Fosfomycin in treatment of chronic urinary tract infection

A study was made of fosfomycin in the treatment of chronic urinary infection in 51 patients. 72% of the 67 bacteria isolated and tested in the laboratory with discs containing 50 mug of fosfomycin were found to be sensitive to the antibiotic. The majority of E. coli, Klebsiella, P. mirabilis and Ps. aeruginosa strains were sensitive to the antibiotic. Generally, 60 mg of fosfomycin/kgbody weight was administered intramuscularly 6-hourly for 7-15 days. A clinical and bacteriological cure was obtained in 39 patients (76%), and after 4-6 weeks in 31 patients (61%). Blood and urine fosfomycin levels were determined in seven patients, three with normal renal function, three with moderate renal insufficiency, and one with severe renal insufficiency. The antibiotic levels and elimination time maintained a clear relation with the degree of renal insufficiency.

Radiation protection of glycine and glycylglycine

The protective action of a series of organic sulfur compounds and amino acids has been investigated by using glycine and glycylglycine as substrates. A linear relationship is shown to exist between the reciprocal of the G-m value for the substrate in the presence of the protecting agent, and the concentration of this protecting agent. The "protecting activity" of the agents, expressed as the ratio of the rate constants for the reaction of radicals with the protecting agent and the substrate, is determined.