ABSTRACT
A study of metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL) production was done in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Isolates resistant to ceftazidime and imipenem were screened for MBL production by double disc synergy test (DDST) and minimum inhibitory concentration reduction test. There was complete correlation between two methods for imipenem. For ceftazidime, there was correlation between the two methods in all except four strains. In the screening test for MBL, ceftazidime-EDTA combination was better than imipenem-EDTA combination. 8.05% strains were MBL producers. Presence of MBL producer P. aeruginosa is a cause of concern. Simple DDST can be helpful for monitoring of these emerging resistant determinants.
Subject(s)
Pseudomonas aeruginosa/drug effects , beta-Lactamases/biosynthesis , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Ceftazidime/pharmacology , Humans , Imipenem/pharmacology , Microbial Sensitivity Tests/methods , Microbial Sensitivity Tests/standards , Pseudomonas Infections/microbiology , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/enzymology , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/genetics , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/isolation & purification , beta-Lactam ResistanceABSTRACT
Six patients were evaluated over a 21-day period during inpatient recovery from chronic repeated cocaine use. Serial evaluations of Hamilton depression rating, cocaine craving, plasma homovanillic acid (pHVA), and plasma 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol (pMHPG) concentrations were determined. There was a distinct increase in cocaine craving between 1 and 2 weeks after the last cocaine use. Levels of pHVA also increased at the time of heightened craving. The data provide preliminary evidence to suggest that changes in cocaine craving during abstinence are positively correlated with changes in dopamine turnover.
Subject(s)
Cocaine/adverse effects , Homovanillic Acid/blood , Substance Withdrawal Syndrome/blood , Substance-Related Disorders/rehabilitation , Adult , Humans , Male , Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol/blood , Middle Aged , Substance-Related Disorders/bloodABSTRACT
A dissociation of free vs bound phenytoin levels is frequently observed in the presence of therapeutic doses of valproate sodium. This leads at times to symptoms and signs of phenytoin intoxication despite "therapeutic" plasma levels. The importance of supplementing bound levels with free levels is stressed when combined therapy of this type is used in epileptic patients.