Nasopharyngeal colonization and penicillin resistance among pneumococcal strains: a worldwide 2004 update.

Surveillance of nasopharyngeal pneumococcus has proven to be a valuable tool for the monitoring of antibiotic resistance. We reviewed the latest information on colonization rate and penicillin resistance by making a MEDLINE search, using the terms "nasopharyngeal carriage" and "Streptococcus pneumoniae". Out of 225 articles found, data from 109 recent publications (89% from 1996-2003) were analyzed. Data were reported from 41 countries of six continents. Individuals under the age of five (64.3%) or 10 years (85.7%) were enrolled, including children attending day-care centers (32.1%) or orphanages (3.6%), and healthy individuals (78.6%) or sick patients (43.6%); biological samples were collected mainly by nasopharyngeal swabs (89.3%). The highest colonization rates were reported from Africa (85-87.2%), where several authors did not find high rates of penicillin resistance. On the other hand, studies conducted in North and Central America reported high-level penicillin resistance at rates of approximately 20-30%. Great variation in the rates of pneumococcal colonization and penicillin resistance were observed within regions or continents. There were also considerable differences in similar populations located in different areas of the same country. Data regarding pneumococcal colonization and penicillin resistance are not available from most countries. We also examined the use of antibiotics to treat pneumococcal infections.

Hypothermic and antipyretic effects of 3-methyl- and 3-phenyl-5-hydroxy-5-trichloromethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-1-carboxyamides in mice.

The effect of novel pyrazolines, 3-methyl-5-hydroxy-5-trichloromethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-1-carboxyamide (MPCA) and 3-phenyl-5-hydroxy-5-trichloromethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-1-carboxyamide (PPCA) on body temperature and endotoxin-induced fever was investigated in mice. The subcutaneous (s.c.) administration of 1.5 mmol/kg dipyrone, MPCA or PPCA and the intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of 225 nmol dipyrone reduced basal rectal temperature. Intracerebroventricular administration of 225 nmol MPCA or PPCA did not alter basal rectal temperature. The administration of 0.15 mmol/kg (s.c.) or 25 nmol (5 microl) dipyrone (i.c.v.), MPCA or PPCA had no effect on basal rectal temperature, but reversed lipopolysaccharide-induced fever. These results suggest that MPCA and PPCA cause antipyresis, which is similar to that caused by dipyrone, and may be useful antipyretic agents.

Alpha 2-adrenoceptors and 5-HT receptors mediate the antinociceptive effect of new pyrazolines, but not of dipyrone.

In this study, we investigated whether spinal noradrenergic and serotonergic systems are involved in the antinociception induced by the novel pyrazolines 3-methyl- and 3-phenyl-5-hydroxy-5-trichloromethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-1-pyrazole-1-carboxyamide (MPCA and PPCA, respectively), and the pyrazolinone dipyrone in the acetic acid writhing (stretching) test in mice. Intrathecal (i.t.) administration of methysergide (3 and 10 microg) and yohimbine (3 microg), but not of prazosin (0.3 and 1 microg) prevented the antinociceptive action of MPCA and PPCA (500 micromol/kg, s.c.). Dipyrone-induced antinociception (500 micromol/kg, s.c.) was not affected by methysergide or adrenoceptor antagonists. These results suggest that spinal 5-HT receptors and alpha2-adrenoceptors are involved in the antinociception induced by MPCA and PPCA, but not in that elicited by dipyrone.

Nasopharyngeal colonization and penicillin resistance among pneumococcal strains: a Worldwide 2004 update

Surveillance of nasopharyngeal pneumococcus has proven to be a valuable tool for the monitoring of antibiotic resistance. We reviewed the latest information on colonization rate and penicillin resistance by making a MEDLINE search, using the terms "nasopharyngeal carriage" and "Streptococcus pneumoniae". Out of 225 articles found, data from 109 recent publications (89 percent from 1996-2003) were analyzed. Data were reported from 41 countries of six continents. Individuals under the age of five (64.3 percent) or 10 years (85.7 percent) were enrolled, including children attending day-care centers (32.1 percent) or orphanages (3.6 percent), and healthy individuals (78.6 percent) or sick patients (43.6 percent); biological samples were collected mainly by nasopharyngeal swabs (89.3 percent). The highest colonization rates were reported from Africa (85-87.2 percent), where several authors did not find high rates of penicillin resistance. On the other hand, studies conducted in North and Central America reported high-level penicillin resistance at rates of approximately 20-30 percent. Great variation in the rates of pneumococcal colonization and penicillin resistance were observed within regions or continents. There were also considerable differences in similar populations located in different areas of the same country. Data regarding pneumococcal colonization and penicillin resistance are not available from most countries. We also examined the use of antibiotics to treat pneumococcal infections.