Controlled comparison of tetracycline and furazolidone in cholera

A controlled comparison of furazolidone and tetracycline in the treatment of cholera indicates that, in either dosage used, furazolidone reduced total stool volume by 50% and duration of diarrhoea by 40%. These results are comparable to those achieved with tetracycline, which was given in presently recommended dosage. Both furazolidone and tetracycline significantly reduced the rate of stool output within 18 to 24 hours of starting antibiotic treatment. Furazolidone was significantly less effective than tetracycline in rapidly and consistently terminating vibrio excretion. One convalescent carrier of cholera vibrios was identified among control patients; none was identified among patients treated with either tetracycline or furazolidone. All Vibrio cholerae strains tested were sensitive to tetracycline and furazolidone, but larger concentrations of the latter were required to achieve inhibition of growth. It is concluded that tetracycline remains the antibiotic of choice in cholera but that furazolidone would be a useful adjunct to cholera therapy when tetracycline is unobtainable or if strains of V. cholerae with clinically significant resistance to tetracycline should be encountered.

Potentiation of acetylcholinesterase by a series of quaternary ammonium compounds

Eleven spiran, and two non-spiran, quaternary ammonium compounds have been examined and some of these compounds found to potentiate the hydrolysis of acetylcholine by acetylcholinesterase at high substrate concentrations. The experiments were made in three reaction media, each differing in its ionic composition. The results obtained in these media differ both quantitatively and qualitatively. The mechanism of the potentiation is discussed in terms of the effect of quaternary ammonium compounds on the deacetylation step of acetylcholine hydrolysis.