Increase in efficacy of antibiotic therapy of anthrax under experimental conditions]

The results of experimental therapy of antraxis infected mice with cefazoline (kefzol) and ampicillin incapsulated into liposomes are presented. Protective activity of the same free antibiotics combinated with amixine and leukinferone was evaluated also. Treatment with liposomal cefazoline enhanced mice survival upto 60 per cent, and life period upto 1.3 +/- 0.3 days. After liposomal ampicillin administration for 3 times the same indices were 60 per cent and 6.5 +/- 0.9 days, after 2 times administration--80 per cent and 14 +/- 1.8 days when compared to the groups of the animals treated with free antibiotics. It was shown that administration of ampicillin with amixine or with leukinferone provided enhanced mice survival upto 20 per cent, administration of cefazoline with leukinferone--upto 30 per cent.     

Ways of increasing the efficacy of antibiotic therapy in young children with severe forms of acute pneumonia]

Examination of 136 children with the severe form of acute pneumonia treated in a resuscitation unit revealed a marked suppression of the immunity and lowered antibiotic sensitivity of the bacterial microflora isolated from the respiratory tracts. The patients were previously treated with antibiotics of 2 to 5 families. Auto-blood irradiated with X-rays without the host was transfused to 72 children (group 1) with immunomodulating purposes. 64 children (group 2) were treated with the same purposes with eleuterococcus, pentoxyl and methyluracil. After transfusion of the auto-blood irradiated with x-rays without the host there was an increase in the antibiotic sensitivity of the bacterial flora along with a marked and rapid improvement of the immunity status. The severe state was alleviated earlier in the patients of group 1. The inflammatory lesions in the lungs of the group 1 patients were arrested sooner and the patients were discharged from the hospital 11 days earlier than the children treated with the routine immunomodulators.     

Multifactor study of combined effects of an antibiotic and polysaccharide in experimental infection]

Multifactorial analysis was applied to the study of the combined effect of doxycycline and a polysaccharide of microbial origin in experimental plague infection. A marked synergistic action of the antibiotic and polysaccharide used in subtherapeutic doses in treatment of the infection was observed. By the results of the experiments polynomial statistic models of the 2nd order were designed and nomographs or equal level lines were plotted. The models and nomographs described the animal survival rate and lifespan within a wide range of the control parameters. The dose/time regimens for the use of the polysaccharide combination with doxycycline were optimized on the basis of the multifactorial analysis.     

Study on the therapeutic effects of interferon and gamma-globulin in experimental Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia]

This study was performed to observe the therapeutic effects of interferon-gamma(IFN-gamma) and gamma-globulin(gamma-globulin) in experimental Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia of immune suppressed mice. After 9 weeks, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole(TMP-SMZ; 10-50 mg/mouse/day), mouse IFN-gamma(5 x 10(4) units/mouse/day) and mouse gamma-globulin(20 mg/mouse/day) were administered to the mice for 3 weeks by the experimental group. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by body weights, histopathologic and electron microscopic findings of the lungs, and number of P. carinii cysts by Gomori's methenamine silver stain. Body weights of the mice were significantly increased in the group of combination therapy of TMP-SMZ with IFN-gamma or gamma-globulin, and in the group of TMP-SMZ treatment (p < 0.05), however, little effect was found in the group of gamma-globulin alone. Histopathologic findings of P. carinii pneumonia were much improved in the group of combination therapy of TMP-SMZ with IFN-gamma. Treatment with either TMP-SMZ or IFN-gamma significantly reduced the number of cysts in the P. carinii pneumonia, but gamma-globulin alone was ineffective. In electron microscopic findings of P. carinii pneumonia, the number of trophozoites and cysts were reduced by treatment with either TMP-SMZ or IFN-gamma, and most of the cysts were empty or containing one or two intracystic bodies. The present results suggested, that combination therapy of TMP-SMZ with IFN-gamma had synergistic effects in treatment of P. carinii pneumonia in experimental mice.     

Effect of prodigiozan and pyrimidine derivatives on the effectiveness of the antibiotic therapy of experimental infections]

The effect of prodigiozan and pyrimidine derivatives, such as methyluracyl, oxymetacyl and 2-methyl-4-amino-6-hydroxypyrimidine on the efficiency of antibiotic therapy of experimental infections caused by Staph. aures and E. Coli under conditions of immune depression due to levomycetin, prednisolone, 6-mercaptopurine and ionizing radiation was studied. The effect of prodigiozan on the efficiency of the antibiotic treatment of staphylococcal infection in the presence of the immune depression due to 6-mercatopurine, levomycetin and prednisolone was higher than that of pyrimidines. The combined use of prodigiozan and pyrimidines usually was not more effective than the use of every drug alone. The efficiency of the drugs in radiation disease was the same. After prednisolone administration prodigiozan increased the host resistance to the infection without the antibiotic use.     

Toxicity interactions and ways of reducing side effects of anticancer drugs

Side effects of cytostatics commonly used in the Haematology Clinic are analysed. The toxic action on the host's organs is discussed in L-asparaginase, azathioprine, bleomycine, busulfan, cyclophosphamide, cytosin-arabinoside, daunorubicine, fluorouracil, mercaptopurine, methotrexate, dichlorplatinum, procarbazine and the vinca alkaloids. In addition to toxic symptoms arising from single organs the most important 21 anticancer drugs are gathered in a table. Metabolism of activation and inactivation are mentioned to interprete symptoms of toxicity. Furthermore, the interactions between commonly administered drugs and carcinostatics which may enhance or suppress their carcinostatic efficacy are exposed. A final survey of possible pharmacological rescue measures, which may improve the tolerance of anticancer drugs by diminishing their toxicity is presented.     

Netilmicin in the complex therapy of pneumonia in newborns]

Clinical efficacy of netilmicin was evaluated at 22 newborns (body weight from 1000 to 3600 g, delivery on pregnancy period from 28 to 41 weeks) with pneumonia caused by artificial pulmonary ventilation. Pneumonia was moderate at 13 patients and severe at 9 patients. Microorganisms isolated from tracheobronchial aspirates were mainly (in 19 cases of 22) susceptible to netilmicin. The usage of netilmicin in combination with cephalosporins was effective at the main part of the newborns and resulted with the full recovery of 11 newborns (all the patients with moderate pneumonia), in 9 cases improvement was registered (including 7 newborns with severe pneumonia). Newborns with severe pneumonia had a slow pathogens elimination.     

Estrogenic side effects of androgen deprivation therapy

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is part of standard therapy for locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer and is frequently used in men with a rising prostate-specific antigen following radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy. In some men, ADT may be administered for years or even decades. The intended therapeutic effect of ADT is testosterone deficiency. Because estrogen is a normal metabolite of testosterone, ADT also results in estrogen deficiency. ADT has a variety of adverse effects, many of which are primarily related to estrogen deficiency. Bone mineral density may decrease by 4% to 13% per year in men receiving ADT. The fracture rate for patients on ADT averages 5% to 8% per year of therapy. Hot flashes, gynecomastia, and breast tenderness are common side effects associated with ADT. In the clinic, minimum baseline testing should include weight measurement, blood pressure reading, and fasting lipid panel and serum glucose tests. Currently, there are no large outcome trials in men on ADT testing the available therapies for adverse effects. No therapies are specifically approved for treatment of adverse effects in men on ADT. Although some therapies can be used for a single indication (based upon small studies), there is currently no agent to treat the multiple estrogenic side effects of ADT.     

Clinical evaluation of antibiotic therapy of NAG-infection]

It is not concluded yet whether it is expedient to use antibiotic therapy with respect to patients and vibrio-carries with NAG-infection. Observation of a group of patients with acute gastro-intestinal infections caused by NAG-vibrio and carriers of NAG-vibrioes showed that the rate of vibrio isolation after a course of antibiotic therapy (tetracycline, levomycetin) significantly decreased as compared to that in the group of the patients subjected only to symptomatic therapy. The data of the study provided recommendation of antibacterial therapy with respect to patients with NAG-infection especially in cases with accompanying infections or invasions. As for "asymptomic" carriers antibiotic therapy is required only with respect to persons with repeated vibrio isolation.     

Specific experimental therapy in sensitization to group A streptococci]

A model of delayed hypersensitivity to Streptococcus hemolyticus, group A, were obtained in guinea pigs and rabbits. Studies of spontaneous changes of the immuno-allergic reactivity revealed that after a month of sensitization there developed delayed hypersensitivity only; according to the results of late skin tests it lasted not less than 6 months (the duration of investigation). The delayed hypersensitivity component began to manifest itself in 2 1/2 to 3 months and increased later on. Specific hyposensitization was performed with streptococcus allergens differing by physico-chemical conditions, i.e. the corpuscula allergen, the one that was lysed by ultrasonic waves, and Ando-Verzhikovsky's allergen. The latter had the most intensive hyposensitizing features. Specific hyposensitization was more demonstrative after the intracutaneous long-term course injections of threshold doses. Administration of subthreshold doses, as well as subcutaneous or intravenous injections of the allergen, was ineffective.