Interactions of anti-infectives: a review

Clinically Relevant Interactions between Atypical Antipsychotics and Anti-Infective Agents

This is a comprehensive review of the literature on drug interactions (DIs) between atypical antipsychotics and anti-infective agents that focuses on those DIs with the potential to be clinically relevant and classifies them as pharmacokinetic (PK) or pharmacodynamic (PD) DIs. PubMed searches were conducted for each of the atypical antipsychotics and most commonly used anti-infective agents (13 atypical antipsychotics by 61 anti-infective agents/classes leading to 793 individual searches). Additional relevant articles were obtained from citations and from prior review articles written by the authors. Based on prior DI articles and our current understanding of PK and PD mechanism, we developed tables with practical recommendations for clinicians for: antibiotic DIs, antitubercular DIs, antifungal DIs, antiviral DIs, and other anti-infective DIs. Another table reflects that in clinical practice, DIs between atypical antipsychotics and anti-infective agents occur in patients also suffering an infection that may also influence the PK and PD mechanisms of both drugs (the atypical antipsychotic and the anti-infective agent(s)). These tables reflect the currently available literature and our current knowledge of the field and will need to be updated as new DI information becomes available.

Development of in vitro Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacteria Exposed to Residue Level Exposures of Antimicrobial Drugs, Pesticides and Veterinary Drugs

Ten ppb or less of antibacterial drugs, pesticides and veterinary drugs could increase antibacterial resistance in bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was the indicator of resistance and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 9144 the indicator organism. Seventeen compounds used in human, veterinary medicine, crop production, and found in the environment, were studied singly, and as combinations. Single compounds decreased MIC values in 5.3% of possibilities; showed no changes in 74.4% of values; increased values in 21.8%; 16.5% of MICs increased 4- to 8-fold; 4.7% of changes were >8-fold. For two-compound mixtures 5.1% of MICs showed no changes; 34.3% increased 4-8 times; 60.6% increased >8-fold. For six-compound combinations: 5.9% of MICs showed no changes; 15.6% increased 4- to 8-fold; 78.5% increased >8-fold.

Interactions of antiretroviral drugs with anti-infectives and other antiretrovirals

Combination antiretroviral (ARV) treatment is a potent and effective therapy for human immunodeficiency virus infection. Unfortunately, ARV drugs frequently interact among themselves, as well as with other anti-infectives. These interactions determine positive or negative consequences resulting in recommendations to avoid some combinations or to adjust the dosage of coadministered drugs. The effective clinical use of ARVs requires deep knowledge of interaction mechanisms and the consequent recommendations when coadministering interacting ARVs with other anti-infectives. A brief review of the present knowledge on interactions of ARVs with anti-infective drugs is presented.

Responses of the rat medullary neurons to central penicillin microinjection

BACKGROUND

The microinjection of penicillin in the medulla oblongata caused different alterations in the global respiratory output. The purpose of this paper was to study the involvement of impulse activity and the functional relationship of bulbar neurons in mechanisms underlying experimentally induced respiratory arrhythmias.

METHODS

Extracellular activity of neurons and diaphragmatic electromyogram activity were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTS

Penicillin microinjection increased the mean discharge rate of bulbar neurons and caused the prolongation of discharge of inspiratory neurons. Cross-correlation analysis revealed new excitatory connections between neurons and a high level of positive synchronization of neuronal activity.

CONCLUSION

The local blockage of synaptic inhibition by penicillin within respiratory areas leads to drastic changes in the functioning of neuronal elements of the single respiratory network.

S100A6 and CacyBP/SIP – Two Proteins Discovered in Ehrlich Ascites Tumor Cells That Are Potentially Involved in the Degradation of β-Catenin

S100A6 is a low-molecular-weight calcium-binding protein belonging to the S100 family. Originally, S100A6 was purified from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, but later, it was found in fibroblasts, epithelial cells and in tumor cells with high metastatic activity. When Ca(2+)-dependent interaction of S100A6 with target proteins was studied in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, a novel protein, now called CacyBP/SIP, was discovered. Later, it was found that CacyBP/SIP interacted with Siah-1 and Skp1 and that it was involved in the ubiquitination and degradation of an oncogen, namely beta-catenin. Thus, this review describes the discovery and characterization of S100A6 and Cacy BP/SIP, the function of these two proteins in ubiquitination and degradation processes and their possible role in tumorigenesis.