In vitro killing activity of crevicular concentrations of tinidazole plus common oral antibiotics against high-density mixed inocula of periodontal pathogens in strict anaerobic conditions.

BACKGROUND: Odontogenic infections are polymicrobial. This study explores the in vitro killing activity by concentrations similar to those found in crevicular fluid of tinidazole in combination with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, clindamycin and levofloxacin against four groups of high-density mixed inocula of anaerobes (Prevotella buccae, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Veillonella spp.) and facultative (Capnocytophaga spp. and Streptococcus spp.) isolates of periodontal pathogens. METHODS: Killing curves were assessed under strict anaerobic conditions with antibiotics alone and in combination with tinidazole at concentrations similar to those achieved in crevicular fluid against approximately 10(7) colony forming units (CFU)/ml inoculum (1:1:1:1:1 proportion of the five bacterial isolates) of the four bacterial groups. Group 1 did not include beta-lactamase-producing strains; groups 2, 3, and 4 included one, two, and three beta-lactamase-producing strains, respectively. RESULTS: In single-drug experiments, at 48 hours, tinidazole alone did not show significant killing of the entire bacterial population, whereas reductions in the initial inocula > or =2.09 log(10) CFU/ml with clindamycin, > or =3.26 log(10) CFU/ml with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and > or =3.83 log(10) CFU/ml with levofloxacin were obtained. When combined with tinidazole, reductions were significantly higher for all antibiotics: > or =5.28 log(10) CFU/ml with clindamycin, > or =4.78 log(10) CFU/ml with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and > or =6.17 log(10) CFU/ml with levofloxacin. CONCLUSION: In addition to its high activity against anaerobic periodontal pathogens, tinidazole offered synergism with other antibiotics against the large strict anaerobic subpopulation and the small facultative subpopulation of a high-density mixed inocula of odontogenic pathogens under strict anaerobic conditions, similar to those of odontogenic infections.

First results on angular distributions of thermal dileptons in nuclear collisions.

The NA60 experiment at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron has studied dimuon production in 158A GeV In-In collisions. The strong excess of pairs above the known sources found in the complete mass region 0.2

[Tinidazole: a classical anaerobical drug with multiple potential uses nowadays]. / Tinidazol: un anaerobicida clásico con múltiples usos potenciales en la actualidad.

Tinidazole is a 5-nitroimidazole active in vitro against a wide variety of anaerobic bacteria and protozoa. Tinidazole is an effective treatment against anaerobic microorganisms based on its pharmacokinetic characteristics (C(max) 51 microg/ml, t(1/2) 12.5 h) and its excellent in vitro activity. Its long half-life allows once a day regimens. Tinidazole is as effective as metronidazole in the treatment of infections caused by T. vaginalis, giardiasis and amebiasis and bacterial vaginosis, malaria, odontogenic infections, anaerobic bacterial infections (pelvic inflammatory disease, diabetic foot), surgical prophylaxis (abdominal and hysterectomy) and Helicobacter pylori eradication. Tinidazole was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of infections caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia.

Tinidazol: un anaerobicida clásico con múltiples usos potenciales en la actualidad / Tinidazole: a classical anaerobical drug with multiple potential uses nowadays

El tinidazol es un 5-nitroimidazol activo in vitro frente a una amplia variedad de bacterias y protozoos anaerobios. Sus características farmacocinéticas (Cmáx 51 μg/ml, t1⁄2 12,5 h) y su actividad in vitro frente a microorganismos anaerobios hacen de tinidazol un tratamiento eficaz para muchas infecciones causadas por estos microorganismos en dosis única o una vez al día. El tinidazol es tan eficaz como metronidazol en infecciones por T. vaginalis, giardiasis y amebiasis intestinal o hepática, así como en vaginosis bacterianas, malaria, infecciones odontógenas e infecciones por bacterias anaerobias (enfermedad inflamatoria pélvica o pie diabético). Además se ha empleado en la profilaxis antibiótica de la cirugía abdominal y ginecológica y figura en todos los protocolos de erradicación de Helicobacter pylori. Tinidazol ha recibido recientemente la aprobación de la Food and Drug Administration (FDA) para el tratamiento de infecciones por Trichomonas vaginalis, Entamoeba histolytica y Giardia lamblia (AU)

Tinidazole is a 5-nitroimidazole active in vitro against a wide variety of anaerobic bacteria and protozoa. Tinidazole is an effective treatment against anaerobic microorganisms based on its pharmacokinetic characteristics (Cmáx 51 μg/ml, t1⁄2 12.5 h) and its excellent in vitro activity. Its long half-life allows once a day regimens. Tinidazole is as effective as metronidazole in the treatment of infections caused by T. vaginalis, giardiasis and amebiasis and bacterial vaginosis, malaria, odontogenic infections, anaerobic bacterial infections (pelvic inflammatory disease, diabetic foot), surgical prophylaxis (abdominal and hysterectomy) and Helicobacter pylori eradication. Tinidazole was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of infections caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia (AU)

Tinidazole inhibitory and cidal activity against anaerobic periodontal pathogens.

The in vitro activity of tinidazole against anaerobic periodontal pathogens (25 Prevotella buccae, 18 Prevotella denticola, 10 Prevotella intermedia, 6 Prevotella melaninogenica, 5 Prevotella oralis, 10 Fusobacterium nucleatum and 8 Veillonella spp.) was determined by agar dilution. MIC(90) values (minimum inhibitory concentration for 90% of the organisms) were 8 microg/mL for Veillonella spp., 4 microg/mL for P. intermedia, 2 microg/mL for P. buccae, 1 microg/mL for Fusobacterium spp. and 0.5 microg/mL for other Prevotella spp. Cidal activity was studied by killing curves with tinidazole and amoxicillin (alone and in combination) at concentrations similar to those achieved in crevicular fluid (41.2 microg/mL tinidazole and 14.05 microg/mL amoxicillin) against an inoculum of ca. 10(7)colony-forming units/mL of four bacterial groups, each one composed of four different strains of the following periodontal isolates: Prevotella spp., Fusobacterium spp. and Veillonella spp. (anaerobes) and one amoxicillin-susceptible Streptococcus spp. (facultative) in a proportion of 1:1:1:1. When only beta-lactamase-negative Prevotella or Fusobacterium strains were tested, significantly higher reductions were found with amoxicillin (>4 log reduction at 48 h) versus controls. The presence of beta-lactamase-positive Prevotella spp. or F. nucleatum strains rendered amoxicillin inactive (no reductions at 48 h), with no differences from controls. Amoxicillin+tinidazole produced >3 log reduction at 24h and >4 log reduction at 48 h regardless of the presence or not of beta-lactamase-positive strains. The presence in crevicular fluid of beta-lactamases produced by beta-lactamase-positive periodontal pathogens may have ecological and therapeutic consequences since it may protect beta-lactamase-negative periodontal pathogens from amoxicillin treatment. In vitro, tinidazole offered high antianaerobic activity against beta-lactamase-positive and -negative periodontal pathogens, avoiding amoxicillin inactivation.

[Why not revisiting tinidazole as potential treatment of odontogenic infections?]. / Por qué no reevaluar el tinidazol como tratamiento potencial de infecciones odontogénicas?

Tinidazole is a 5-nitroimidazole initially introduced into clinical medicine in 1969 for the treatment of unicellular parasites. Tinidazole offers selective bactericidal activity, not influenced by the inoculum size, against anaerobic bacteria, that make it of theoretical interest against periodontopathogen infections. This article reviews the required characteristics of an antibiotic directed to odontogenic anaerobic infections, as well as the pharmacodynamic pitfalls of common antibiotic treatments. In addition the in vitro, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of tinidazole are reviewed, assessing the degree of its adhesion to the required characteristics, as well as identifying the gaps to be fulfilled prior to its use in this medical field. Tinidazole offers interesting characteristics making worthy investigations as a candidate for the treatment of anaerobic odontogenic infections. \

Why not revisiting tinidazole as potential treatment of odontogenic infections?

Tinidazole is a 5-nitroimidazole initially introduced intoclinical medicine in 1969 for the treatment of unicellular parasites.Tinidazole offers selective bactericidal activity, not influencedby the inoculum size, against anaerobic bacteria,that make it of theoretical interest against periodontopathogeninfections. This article reviews the required characteristicsof an antibiotic directed to odontogenic anaerobic infections,as well as the pharmacodynamic pitfalls of commonantibiotic treatments. In addition the in vitro, pharmacokineticand pharmacodynamic properties of tinidazole are reviewed,assessing the degree of its adhesion to the required characteristics,as well as identifying the gaps to be fulfilled priorto its use in this medical field. Tinidazole offers interestingcharacteristics making worthy investigations as a candidatefor the treatment of anaerobic odontogenic infections (AU)

El tinidazol es un 5-nitroimidazol que se introdujo en1969 en la clínica para el tratamiento de infestaciones porparásitos unicelulares. El tinidazol ofrece una actividadbactericida selectiva, no influida por el tamaño del inóculo,frente a bacterias anaerobias, por lo que presenta un interésteórico en infecciones producidas por odontopatógenos. Esteartículo revisa las características que requiere un antibióticodirigido al tratamiento de infecciones odontogénicas por bacterias anaerobias, así como las carencias farmacodinámicasde los antibióticos habitualmente utilizados en estetipo de infecciones. Asimismo se revisan las propiedades invitro, farmacocinéticas y farmacodinámicas de tinidazol,valorándose el grado de adhesión de este compuesto a lascaracterísticas requeridas para un antibiótico dirigido a estetipo de infecciones. También se identifican las lagunas deconocimiento sobre tinidazol que deben resolverse antes desu utilización en este campo. Tinidazol ofrece unas característicasinteresantes que posibilitan realizar investigacionescomo candidato al tratamiento de infecciones odontogénicasanaerobias (AU)

Evidence for radial flow of thermal dileptons in high-energy nuclear collisions.

The NA60 experiment at the CERN SPS has studied low-mass dimuon production in 158A GeV In-In collisions. An excess of pairs above the known meson decays has been reported before. We now present precision results on the associated transverse momentum spectra. The slope parameter Teff extracted from the spectra rises with dimuon mass up to the rho, followed by a sudden decline above. While the initial rise is consistent with the expectations for radial flow of a hadronic decay source, the decline signals a transition to an emission source with much smaller flow. This may well represent the first direct evidence for thermal radiation of partonic origin in nuclear collisions.

J/psi production in Indium-Indium collisions at 158 GeV/nucleon.

The NA60 experiment studies muon pair production at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron. In this Letter we report on a precision measurement of J/psi in In-In collisions. We have studied the J/psi centrality distribution, and we have compared it with the one expected if absorption in cold nuclear matter were the only active suppression mechanism. For collisions involving more than approximately 80 participant nucleons, we find that an extra suppression is present. This result is in qualitative agreement with previous Pb-Pb measurements by the NA50 experiment, but no theoretical explanation is presently able to coherently describe both results.

Blood amino acids concentration during insulin induced hypoglycemia in rats: the role of alanine and glutamine in glucose recovery.

Our purpose was to determine the blood amino acid concentration during insulin induced hypoglycemia (IIH) and examine if the administration of alanine or glutamine could help glycemia recovery in fasted rats. IIH was obtained by an intraperitoneal injection of regular insulin (1.0 U/kg). The blood levels of the majority of amino acids, including alanine and glutamine were decreased (P < 0.05) during IIH and this change correlates well with the duration than the intensity of hypoglycemia. On the other hand, the oral and intraperitoneal administration of alanine (100 mg/kg) or glutamine (100 mg/kg) accelerates glucose recovery. This effect was partly at least consequence of the increased capacity of the livers from IIH group to produce glucose from alanine and glutamine. It was concluded that the blood amino acids availability during IIH, particularly alanine and glutamine, play a pivotal role in recovery from hypoglycemia.

First measurement of the rho spectral function in high-energy nuclear collisions.

We report on a precision measurement of low-mass muon pairs in 158 AGeV indium-indium collisions at the CERN SPS. A significant excess of pairs is observed above the yield expected from neutral meson decays. The unprecedented sample size of 360,000 dimuons and the good mass resolution of about 2% allow us to isolate the excess by subtraction of the decay sources. The shape of the resulting mass spectrum is consistent with a dominant contribution from pi+pi- -->rho -->mu+mu- annihilation. The associated space-time averaged spectral function shows a strong broadening, but essentially no shift in mass. This may rule out theoretical models linking hadron masses directly to the chiral condensate.

Genetic stability of sexing strains based on the locus sw of Ceratitis capitata.

This report deals with the process of improving the stability of medfly, Ceratitis capitata, genetic sexing strains (GSS) based on the sw mutation on chromosome 2. This gene affects the rate of development as well as the eye colour and iridescence. The improved sexing strains were produced by mapping sw with deletions and then inducing and screening for new translocations with breakpoints close to the marker. The stability was assessed in large populations over many generations. Twenty-two new Y-2 translocations were identified and polytene chromosome analysis was performed to locate breakpoints. The translocation strains were ranked according to the distance of their breakpoints from sw. The map position of sw is region 20D on 2R. As data on the stability of the 22 strains accumulated, Cast 191 was shown to be the most promising as no recombination between sw and the male sex was found. After rearing the strain for 22 generations under semi-mass rearing conditions, with a population size of 15,000 adults and scoring 1000 flies per generation, only one such event was detected (estimated frequency = 3.1 x 10(-6)). Further tests are being carried out with this strain to assess its suitability as a genetic sexing strain for medfly Sterile insect technique (SIT).

Inclusive dielectron cross sections in p + p and p + d interactions at beam energies from 1.04 to 4.88 GeV.

Measurements of dielectron production in p + p and p + d collisions with beamkinetic energies from 1.04 to 4.88 GeV are presented. The differential cross section is presented as a function of invariant pair mass, transverse momentum, and rapidity. The shapes of the mass spectra and their evolution with beam energy provide information about the relative importance of the various dielectron production mechanisms in this energy regime. The p + d to p + p ratio of the dielectron yield is also presented as a function of invariant pair mass, transverse momentum, and rapidity. The shapes of the transverse momentum and rapidity spectra from the p + d and p + p systems are found to be similar to one another for each of the beam energies studied. The beam energy dependence of the integrated cross sections is also presented.

Discrimination between the immature stages of Ceratitis capitata and Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera:Tephritidae) populations by random amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction.

A random amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction method using 10-base long commercial random primers was used to identify polymorphisms in Argentine populations of 2 fruit fly pests. A fast and reliable discrimination between Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), and Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) immature or mature stages was obtained using as few as 1 insect per assay. The population of origin of immature individuals can be identified unambiguously using 2 primers.

Fludarabine in resistant or relapsing B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia: the Spanish Group experience.

Fludarabine produces high response rates in patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Nevertheless, response to fludarabine of patients with previously treated CLL varies from 17% to 74% (0% to 38% CR). In 68 patients with heavily pretreated and advanced CLL, an overall response rate to fludarabine of 28% (4% CR) was observed. Response correlated with sensitivity of the disease to previous treatments (relapsing vs. refractory disease) (62% vs. 20%; p = 0.005) and, albeit not significantly, with the number of cycles of fludarabine (>3 vs. < or = 3) that patients could receive (36% vs. 15%; p = NS). Responding patients had a longer survival (median, not reached) than those not responding (median, 11 months) (p = 0.03). Severe toxicity was observed in some cases. It is concluded that fludarabine is a highly useful agent in CLL. However, in order to improve its effectiveness and decrease its toxicity, fludarabine should be given as soon as a lack of response to front-line therapy is observed and before the disease becomes completely resistant to therapy.

[Diaphragm paralysis as a complication of internal jugular vein puncture]. / Parálisis diafragmática como complicación de una punción de la vena yugular interna.

Rare complications of using the internal jugular vein for vascular access are related to puncture of neighboring organs or other structures. We report the atypical case of a 55-years-old woman with unilateral diaphragm paralysis attributed to accidental damage of the phrenic nerve during an attempt to canalize the internal jugular vein. Other more common causes were ruled out. The severe restrictive ventilatory changes produced had only minor clinical and gasometric repercussions, as previous function was normal and no acute or chronic respiratory disease was present. When ventilation is already compromised, however, this event could seriously worsen the patient's condition.

Septic arthritis in HIV positive haemophiliacs. Four cases and a literature review.

Septic arthritis is rare in haemophiliacs. Four new cases who were also HIV positive are reported. In three, the knee was involved, and in the fourth the elbow. The organism was streptococcus pneumoniae and staphylococcus aureus in one patient each, and salmonella in two. Although all the patients were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive at the time of diagnosis, only two patients developed autoimmune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) after their septic arthritis. These two died later due to AIDS complications. Treatment was conservative in all cases with antibiotic therapy and prompt rehabilitation. The results were fair in two and good in two. Therefore nonoperative management is advocated before surgical drainage is considered. It seems likely that a positive HIV status is related to the appearance of septic arthritis in haemophiliacs.

[Plasma cell leukemia: our experience in 4 cases]. / Leucemia de células plasmáticas: nuestra experiencia de cuatro casos.

Clinical findings and response to treatment in four cases with plasma cell leukemia (PCL) out of 152 patients of multiple myeloma diagnosed at the Hospital La Paz from 1969 to 1988 are studied. Three of the four plasma cell leukemia cases presented a primary form, and one a secondary form. Our cases had a lower incidence of lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly than reported in previous series. The incidence of serum M band in PCL was similar to that found in multiple myeloma. The four patients received combination chemotherapy; one of them attained PR lasting for 2 months, and the remaining three failed to respond to similar therapy. The mean duration of survival was less than 8 months. Current treatments are reviewed.