Bactericidal action of an average dose of erythromycin in the bronchi.

A study was carried out to establish whether erythromycin stearate was bacteriostatic or bactericidal at the concentrations reached in the bronchial secretion. Twenty-two patients suffering from an acute attack of chronic bronchitis, sustained by streptococci, diplococci, staphylococci or H. influenzae sensitive to erythromycin, were treated with 1500 mg erythromycin per day until symptoms regressed, usually within 3 to 5 days. The results showed that after treatment there was a dramatic reduction in the number of bacterial colonies cultured from the bronchial secretion and marked changes in bacterial morphology were seen using electron microscopy. Further evidence of bactericidal activity was provided by the rapid clinical response of the patients.

Bactericidal activity of erythromycin in the respiratory system.

In vivo and in vitro studies were carried out to assess tha levels in bronchial mucus of ampicillin, amoxycillin, bacampicillin, cefotaxime and erythromycin, and to compare their minimum bactericidal concentrations and killing rate against hospital strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes and Haemophilus influenzae. Both the percentage ratios of serum/mucus concentration peaks and of serum/mucus area under the concentration time curve values were higher for erythromycin than for the other antibiotics. Determination of the minimum bactericidal concentrations showed that the bacterial strains were sensitive to small quantities of erythromycin, and the time necessary to sterilize inocula varied from 4 to 16 hours.

[Aspects of liver damage after experimental administration of some drugs. Preliminary note]. / Aspetti del danno epatico dopo somministrazione sperimentale di alcuni farmaci. Nota preliminare.

Rabbits treated with therapeutical dosages of five widely prescribed drug (indomethacin, isoniazid, lorazepam, tolbutamide, clofibrate) show ultrastructural changes within live cells which are inhibited by concomitant administration of silymarin.

[Epicritical evaluation of the submicroscopic aspects induced with administration of hepatotropic drugs]. / Valutazione epicritica degli aspetti submicroscopici indotti dalla somministrazione di farmaci ad azione epatotropa.

Five currently drugs employed in the treatment of diseases of the liver were administered to groups of healthy rabbits to detect possible biochemical and ultrastructural changes induced in the liver cell. E.M. serography revealed various signs of morphological and metabolic disturbance, whose possible interpretation is discussed in the light of earlier investigations on a similar model relating to protective treatment of the membrane.

[Silymarin in pregnancy and during hormonal contraceptive treatment. Blood chemistry and ultrastructural findings in the experimental model]. / La silimarina in gravidanza e nel trattamento contraccettivo ormonale. Rilievi ematochimici ed ultrastrutturali su modello sperimentale.

Further systematic study of the relation between drugs and the ultrastructure of the liver is reported with regard to the experimental administration of silimarin to pregnant women and others on the pill. Marked signs of ultrastructural alteration of the REL and biliary cell pole were noted, matched, by evidence of throbophilia and changes in protein activity and lipid synthesis, are noted in these situations, but not when suitable doses of silimarine are taken with the pill. It is suggested that silimarin may prevent and correct liver damage during pregnancy and the administration of oestroprogestins.

PIP: This study aims at investigating the therapeutic effects of Silliver 100 (Silimarina Abbot) on morpho-functional variations caused on the healthy liver by pregnancy and/or use of oral contraceptives. It is well known that both estrogen and pregnancy can cause alterations of normal hepatic functions. Laboratory experiments conducted on pregnant and nonpregnant rabbits treated with Silliver 100 and with estroprogestational agents and Silliver 100 showed signs of ultrastructural alterations of the REL and of the biliary cell pole, together with evidence of thrombophilia and changes in protein activity and lipid synthesis. Such alterations were not noted when appropriate doses of Silliver 100 were taken in conjunction with the pill. In conclusion, it seems possible to affirm that, if Silliver 100 administration is appropriate but not indispensable during pregnancy, it is almost necessary during estroprogestinic treatment.