Utility of computed tomography and 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose with positron emission tomography/computed tomography for distinguishing appendiceal mucocele caused by mucinous adenocarcinoma from other pathologies

AIM

Differentiating appendiceal mucocele with mucinous adenocarcinoma from other pathologies before surgery is difficult. The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of CT and ¹⁸ F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) with positron emission tomography (PET)/CT for differentiating mucinous adenocarcinoma of appendiceal mucocele from other pathologies.

METHOD

The study included 25 patients who underwent surgery for clinically diagnosed appendiceal mucoceles detected on CT at the University of Tokyo Hospital. Among these patients, 19 underwent FDG-PET/CT preoperatively. We compared features of the CT imaging findings and maximum standard uptake values (SUV_max ) detected by FDG-PET/CT between mucocele with mucinous adenocarcinoma and other pathologies.

RESULTS

A total of 13 men (52%) and 12 women (48%) were included in this study, with a median age of 65 years (range 34-83). There were six patients (24%) with pathologically confirmed mucinous adenocarcinoma, 15 patients (60%) with appendiceal mucinous neoplasm and four patients (16%) with simple mucocele caused by chronic inflammation. On the CT findings, wall irregularity was the only significant feature for the two groups in this study (83.3% vs 0.0%, P < 0.01). There was a significant difference in the SUV_max levels on PET/CT between the two groups (100.0% vs 20.0%, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Distinguishing between mucocele with mucinous adenocarcinoma and other pathologies using imaging modalities is challenging. Our results suggest that wall irregularity on CT and elevated SUV_max on PET/CT are useful factors that can be employed for such discrimination.

Effects of preceding endoscopic treatment on laparoscopic surgery for early rectal cancer

AIM

Endoscopic treatment for rectal cancer, such as endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic submucosal dissection, causes inflammation, oedema and fibrosis in the surrounding tissue. However, little is known about the effect of these endoscopic therapies on salvage laparoscopic rectal surgery. The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to analyse the effect of preceding endoscopic treatment on the outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer.

METHOD

We analysed 53 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer with clinical Tis or T1 at our department between May 2011 and June 2019. Data from 30 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery after preceding endoscopic treatment (Group E + S) were compared with those of 23 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery alone (Group S).

RESULTS

There was no significant difference between the groups with respect to preoperative details. The mean operative time tended to be longer in Group E + S, and the volume of intra-operative blood loss was greater in Group E + S than in Group S (median 63 ml vs 10 ml, P = 0.049). There were no significant differences between the groups in other surgical parameters or oncological outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic surgery after endoscopic treatment for rectal cancer may be difficult due to an increased risk of intra-operative bleeding. Long-term prognosis after surgery was not affected by preceding endoscopic treatment in rectal cancer.

Vascular anatomy of the splenic flexure, focusing on the accessory middle colic artery and vein

AIM

Recently, the accessory middle colic artery (AMCA) has been recognized as the vessel that supplies blood to the splenic flexure. However, the positional relationship between the AMCA and inferior mesenteric vein (IMV) has not been evaluated. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the anatomy of the AMCA and the splenic flexure vein (SFV).

METHOD

Two hundred and five patients with colorectal cancer who underwent enhanced CT preoperatively were enrolled in the present study. The locations of the AMCA and IMV were evaluated, focusing on the positional relationship between the vessels and pancreas - below the pancreas or to the dorsal side of the pancreas.

RESULTS

The AMCA was observed in 74 (36.1%) patients whereas the SFV was found in 177 (86.3%) patients. The left colic artery (LCA) was the major artery accompanying the SFV in 87 (42.4%) of patients. The AMCA accompanied the SFV in 65 (32.7%) patients. In 15 (7.8%) patients, no artery accompanied the SFV. The origin of the AMCA was located on the dorsal side of the pancreas in 15 (20.3%) of these 74 patients. Similarly, the destination of the IMV was located on the dorsal side of the pancreas in 65 (31.7%) of patients.

CONCLUSION

The SFV was observed in most patients, and the LCA or AMCA was the common accompanying artery. In some patients these vessels were located on the dorsal side of the pancreas and not below it. Preoperative evaluation of this anatomy may be beneficial for lymph node dissection during left-sided hemicolectomy.

Incidence of and risk factors for lymphocele formation after lateral pelvic lymph node dissection for rectal cancer: a retrospective study

AIM

Pelvic lymphocele is a common complication that develops after pelvic lymph node dissection. The incidence of pelvic lymphocele formation has been reported to be 10.5-51% after gynaecological or urological procedures. However, no evidence has been reported thus far with regard to the development of pelvic lymphocele following lateral pelvic lymph node dissection (LPND) for low rectal cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of and risk factors for lymphocele formation after LPND for low rectal cancer and to examine its clinical management.

METHOD

We retrospectively analysed the incidence of and risk factors for pelvic lymphocele formation after LPND for rectal cancer in our hospital between January 2012 and December 2017. We also compared the size of the lymphocele between asymptomatic and symptomatic patients by using CT volumetry and examined its clinical management.

RESULTS

A total of 30 out of 98 patients (30.8%) developed pelvic lymphocele after rectal LPND. The number of resected nodes was significantly higher in patients with a pelvic lymphocele (P < 0.01). The median volume was significantly higher in patients with symptomatic pelvic lymphocele (P = 0.011). Among the nine symptomatic patients, two underwent CT-guided drainage, one underwent transurethral ureteral stent placement and one underwent laparoscopic marsupialization.

CONCLUSION

It is essential to keep in mind the possibility of pelvic lymphocele formation during follow-up of patients who undergo LPND, and to consider an appropriate treatment when these patients are symptomatic.

Obstruction is associated with perineural invasion in T3/T4 colon cancer

AIM

Perineural invasion (PNI) is a risk factor for recurrence and metastasis and consequently leads to decreased survival in patients with various malignancies. Recent studies showed that stent placement in obstructive colon cancer increases the frequency of PNI. We hypothesized that mechanical stress including obstruction itself may be associated with PNI.

METHOD

We retrospectively reviewed 496 patients with pathological T3 or T4 colon cancer who did not receive preoperative treatment. Data were collected from medical charts and pathological findings. The relationships between PNI and other clinicopathological factors were analysed using univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

PNI was observed in 239 (48%) patients. Obstruction was markedly more frequent in PNI-positive cancer (39%) than in PNI-negative cancer (24%, P = 0.0003). Multivariate analyses identified obstruction as one of the significant factors associated with PNI (OR 1.68, P = 0.028). Moreover, in 414 patients without distant metastasis who underwent complete resection, PNI was an independent factor associated with poor recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio 2.35, P = 0.003). The coexistence of PNI and obstruction resulted in greater decreases in recurrence-free survival than PNI-negative and/or non-obstructive cases.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that obstruction is associated with PNI and consequently contributes to an increased postoperative recurrence in colon cancer.

Evaluation of the vascular anatomy of the left-sided colon focused on the accessory middle colic artery: a single-centre study of 734 patients

AIM

Surgery for colorectal cancer located in the splenic flexure is difficult to perform because of the complex anatomy. Recently, in addition to the middle colic artery and left colic artery (LCA), the accessory middle colic artery (AMCA) has been recognized as a feeding artery for the left-sided colon. This study aimed to evaluate the vascular anatomy of the splenic flexure focusing on the AMCA in a large number of patients.

METHOD

A total of 734 patients who underwent CT before surgery for colorectal cancer were enrolled. We retrospectively evaluated the vascular anatomy using both two- and three-dimensional CT angiography.

RESULTS

The AMCA existed in 36.4% of the cases (n = 267). In many cases, it originated from the superior mesenteric artery (n = 228, 85.4%). The AMCA had a common trunk with the transverse pancreatic artery in 54 patients (20.2%). The frequency of the presence of the AMCA was associated with the branching pattern of the LCA, and was more frequent when the LCA was absent (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The presence of the AMCA is not rare and the AMCA has some branching patterns; therefore, recognizing it preoperatively and intra-operatively is important, being especially careful when the LCA is absent.

Nucleotide sequence of thymidine kinase gene of sequential acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex virus type 1 isolates recovered from a child with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome: evidence for reactivation of acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex virus

Recurrent acyclovir (ACV)-resistant (ACV-r) herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infections occurred in a patient with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, an X-linked recessive immunodeficiency syndrome composed of three clinical characteristics of immunodeficiency, thrombocytopenia, and an eczematous dermatitis. The patient had severe and recurrent ACV-r herpes simplex and was treated with vidarabine in a satisfactory manner from 1993 to 1997. During the 4-year observation period, two ACV-sensitive (ACV-s) HSV-1 isolates and five ACV-r HSV-1 isolates were recovered. The nucleotide sequence of the thymidine kinase (TK) gene from these sequential ACV-r isolates was compared with the ACV-s isolates. A single nucleotide deletion of cytosine (C) from homopolymer stretch of four C residues between nucleotide 1061 and 1064 of the open reading frame was found in all ACV-r isolates. No other differences were observed in the TK nucleotide sequence between ACV-s and ACV-r isolates. The TK nucleotide sequences of the two ACV-s isolates were identical to each other and those of the five ACV-r isolates were identical to one another. These results suggest that the ACV-r HSV-1 might have derived from the ACV-s strain in the patient body and that TK-associated ACV-r HSV-1 can reactivate from latency.

[Influence of dexamethasone on the clinical course of bacterial meningitis in children. Especially on secondary fever. Experiences in 27 institutions]

Of pediatric patients with purulent meningitis seen at the institutions listed in the title page of this paper between 1986 and 1994, 93 patients treated with antibiotics and dexamethasone (DXM) were compared with 91 patients treated with antibiotics alone. The patients receiving antibiotics with dexamethasone achieved overall improvement in inflammatory symptoms and signs and cerebrospinal fluid findings and became afebrile significantly earlier than those receiving antibiotics alone. However, some of the patients became febrile again. The secondary fever rate for the DXM group was much higher than that for the antibiotic alone group (p < 0.0001). In most of the rebounded cases, the body temperature rose above 38 degrees C and remained elevated for 2-4 days. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was cultured daily in 54 and 32 patients receiving antibiotics with and without DXM, respectively. Although this study was not a controlled study in a strict sense, these patients compared. In both groups, the CSF became mostly culture-negative within 48 hours. In a few patients receiving DXM, however, it became culture-negative after 72 hours or longer. DXM caused an adverse effect in a patient with meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. The adverse effect was mild gastrointestinal bleeding, which recovered spontaneously. From the findings described above, the use of DXM combined with antibiotic therapy was considered to accelerate the relief from fever and improvement of inflammatory symptoms and signs and CSF findings. The body temperature rose again in more than half of the patients receiving DXM, but fell to normal spontaneously without treatment. The elevation doubtlessly could not be distinguished from recurrence of the meningitis itself or complications. It seems to be likely that no treatment but careful observation is required even if the fever recurs as far as the CSF findings showed favorable progress with excelluent general conditions. When DXM is given, it is essential that CSF tests and culture are repeated during the early stages and the progress is monitored carefully.

Emergence and spread of a new clone of M type 1 group A Streptococcus coincident with the increase in invasive diseases in Japan

BACKGROUND

In Japan invasive group A streptococcal infections such as sepsis and toxic shock syndrome (TSS) have increased since 1992. As is the case in the United States and Europe, M1 serotype is predominant among the isolates from Japanese patients.

METHODS

By restriction enzyme digestion and pulsed field gel electrophoresis, we investigated the whole genomic DNA profiles of 95 M type 1 group A streptococcal strains isolated from patients with serious diseases including sepsis, toxic shock syndrome, necrotizing fasciitis and nonsuppurative complications and with uncomplicated pharyngitis during 1979 through 1996 in Japan.

RESULTS

The genome profiles among 8 of 10 isolates from patients with serious diseases in 1979 through 1991 were all the same and were shared by the profiles of the 35 of 48 isolates from patients with uncomplicated pharyngitis in 1982 through 1991. All 18 strains isolated from patients with invasive diseases in 1992 to 1996 had a unique profile, which was shared by the profiles of 18 of 19 isolates from uncomplicated pharyngitis during the same period. This genomic profile was distinct from the predominant or any other profiles before 1992, and it was found to be a new clone.

CONCLUSIONS

The emergence and spread of this new clone of M type 1 Streptococcus after 1991 may be associated with the increase in invasive streptococcal infections that occurred during the same period in Japan. Genomic profiles as well as serotypes of streptococcal isolates are important for the epidemiology of clinical relevance in streptococcal diseases.

Recurrent aciclovir-resistant herpes simplex in a child with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome

A boy with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome suffered from thymidine kinase (TK)-altered and aciclovir-resistant herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) skin infections. He presented with severe herpes simplex around the left eye in March 1993 at the age of 8 years. HSV-1 strain TAS was isolated and was shown to be susceptible to aciclovir (50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) 0.23 microg/mL). He was treated with intravenous (i.v.) high dose aciclovir, 2 mg/kg per h, which produced an improvement. About 1 year later (May 1994), a severe herpes simplex infection appeared on his face, arm, genitalia, back and foot. Treatment with i.v. aciclovir, 2 mg/kg per h, was initiated, but the skin lesions did not improve. HSV-1 strain TAR was isolated and was shown to be resistant to aciclovir (IC50 36 microg/mL). HSV-1 TAR and TAS were susceptible to vidarabine (IC50 4. 4 and 2.9 microg/mL, respectively). The skin lesions were treated with i.v. vidarabine, 15-20 mg/kg per day, and healed satisfactorily. However, in March 1995, the patient again experienced a severe herpes simplex infection around the left eye. HSV-1 strain R95 was isolated and was shown to be resistant to aciclovir (IC50 36 microg/mL). Diminished sensitivity of HSV-1 TAR and R95 to aciclovir was associated with reduced viral TK activity and loss of aciclovir phosphorylation activity.

[A patient with Streptococcus intermedius brain abscess treated with high dose penicillin G--susceptibility of the isolate to penicillin G and the concentration of penicillin G in cerebrospinal fluid]

We report here a 2-year-old boy with a Streptococcus intermedius brain abscess and bilateral ventriculitis successfully treated with a high dose penicillin G (200,000 U/kg/dose, 6 times a day, 1 hour continuous infusion). Although hydrocephalus residuced, the high dose penicillin G therapy cured his brain abscess and bilateral ventriculitis. The minimal inhibitory concentration of penicillin G to the isolate was 0.008 microgram/ml. The penicillin G concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid after 2 hours from the infusion was about 5 micrograms/ml. S. intermedius must be considered as one of the causative agents for brain abscess. High dose penicillin G therapy is one choice of treatment for brain abscess due to penicillin-susceptible streptococci.

[Trend of bacterial meningitis in children over a 14 year period (1981 through 1994) in Japan--an analysis based on studies in 27 institutions]

We observed 266 children with purulent meningitis in 27 institutions in Japan during the 14 years from 1981 on dividing these years into 3 periods, 1981-1985, 1986-1990 and 1991-1994, and studied the trend of causative organisms identified in 254 among the 266 patients. Their ages were less than 3 months after birth in 50 children and 3 months or older in 216: there were 141 boys and 125 girls. The causative organisms were H. influenzae in 134 patients and S. pneumoniae in 50, most of them being aged 3 months or older. Next to the above bacteria ranked S. agalactiae in 29 and E. coli in 12, many of the patients were aged less than 3 months. Staphylococcus spp. was found in 7 patients and about 70% of them were aged 3 months or older. L. monocytogenes was found in 4 patients and N. meningitidis in 3 and they were aged 3 months or older in both patient groups. S. pyogenes, Enterococcus spp., Peptostreptococcus spp., P. Mirabilis and Enterobacter spp. were detected each in 1 patient. The causative organism was unknown in 21 patients and there was no double infection. H. influenzae were detected in 18 patients in 1981-1985 period (36.7%), in 56 in 1986-1990 (54.9%) and in 60 in 1991-1994 (63.8%) showing an increasing tendency, but S. pneumoniae exhibited neither an increasing nor decreasing tendency. There was a decreasing tendency with S. agalactiae and E. coli, but the details were not clear because there were few patients aged less than 3 months. Although the period of coexistence of 4 main bacterial species was not made clear in this study. Listeria is considered to develop mainly in the early childhood, and we believe that the conventional way of using a cephem preparation and ampicillin combined for patients under 6 years need not be altered. However, panipenem (phonetic) is likely to be effective for insensible S. pneumoniae for the time being.

White blood cell count, C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in respiratory syncytial virus infection of the lower respiratory tract

Laboratory findings such as white blood cell (WBC) count, C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) level in patients with bronchiolitis, bronchopneumonia and lobar pneumonia caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) were studied. The diagnosis of having RSV infection of the lower respiratory tract was made on the presence of RSV antigen in nasopharyngeal specimens by means of enzyme immunoassay, on chest X-ray appearances and clinical manifestations. The WBC counts in the lobar pneumonia cases (n = 25, 12,288 +/- 6296/mm3) were significantly greater than those for the bronchiolitis (n = 52, 9562 +/- 2720/mm3) and bronchopneumonia (n = 43, 8369 +/- 3714/mm3) cases. The concentrations of CRP in lobar pneumonia cases (n = 25, 6.5 +/- 7.3 mg/dL) were significantly greater than those in the bronchiolitis (n = 52, 1.9 +/- 2.0 mg/dL) and bronchopneumonia (n = 43, 2.1 +/- 2.4 mg/dL) cases. The ESR levels in the lobar pneumonia cases (n = 24, 43.8 +/- 29. mm/h) were also significantly higher than those in the bronchiolitis (n = 34, 20.1 +/- 12.3 mm/h) and bronchopneumonia (n = 40, 24.7 +/- 15.9 mm/h) cases. There were no significant differences in the WBC counts, the CRP concentrations and ESR levels between the bronchiolitis and bronchopneumonia cases. These results suggest that the RSV lobar pneumonia cases are coinfected with some bacterial organisms more heavily than in the RSV bronchiolitis and bronchopneumonia cases.

Nosocomial acquisition of Escherichia coli by infants delivered in hospitals

The delivery of infants in hospitals is desirable for obstetric reasons, but exposes the neonates to the microbiological hazards of a maternity unit. When neonates are born and cared for in hospital, the Escherichia coli strains that colonize the intestine tend to be acquired from the environment or from other babies, and are potentially pathogenic. The colonization of the infant with maternal flora should be promoted by strict rooming-in of mother and baby, or by delivery at home.

Human androgen insensitivity due to point mutations encoding amino acid substitutions in the androgen receptor steroid-binding domain

Mutations of the human androgen receptor gene were identified in five subjects from four families with androgen insensitivity syndrome. Individual exons of the androgen receptor gene were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction from genomic DNA and screened for sequence-dependent differences in their melting characteristics by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. DNA fragments from exons with altered mobility were sequenced. Four different single nucleotide base substitutions were found within exons 5, 6, and 7 encoding the steroid-binding domain of the androgen receptor. In one subject with ambiguous genitalia, amino acid residue 763 was changed from tyrosine to cysteine (TAC-->TGC; Y763C). Four subjects, including two siblings, had complete androgen insensitivity. In one subject, residue 779 was changed from arginine to tryptophan (CGC-->TGG; R779W), another subject (M807V) had a substitution of valine (GTG) for methionine (ATG) residue at position 807, and the two siblings (R855C) had a mutation in residue 855 changing arginine (CGC) to cysteine (TGC). Binding of the synthetic androgen ligand, methyltrienolone (R1881), by the mutant receptor Y763C was decreased by 54% compared to the normal receptor. Transcriptional activation of a mouse mammary tumor virus-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (MMTV-CAT) reporter gene by AR mutant Y763C was negligible at 0.1 nM R1881 and only 55% at 10 nM R1881 when compared to the maximal response with the normal AR, as assessed by CAT activity. Mutant M807V retained only 22% of normal R1881 binding and mutant R855C was unable to bind the steroid. In accordance with the steroid binding, transcriptional activation of MMTV-CAT by M807V rose to only 26% of control in the presence of 10 nM R1881, a concentration at which R855C remained functionally inactive. In summary, missense mutations within the exons of the androgen receptor gene encoding the steroid-binding domain of the receptor are common causes of both partial and complete forms of androgen insensitivity syndrome.

Decline of erythromycin resistance of group A streptococci in Japan

Six hundred seventy isolates from children with Group A streptococcal infections from 1981 through 1990 were typed serologically and their antibiotic susceptibilities were determined. There were 479 isolates from patients with pharyngitis, 133 from those with scarlet fever, 35 from those with suppurative infection and 23 from those with nonsuppurative disease. The prevalent M serotypes were 12, 4, 1, 3 and 28. None of the 670 isolates were resistant to penicillin G and cephalexin. Resistance rates of isolates to erythromycin and lincomycin was 22.2% in 1981 and 1982, but a marked decrease was noted after 1983 and only one has been resistant since 1986. Nineteen of 21 erythromycin-resistant isolates were M type 12, and two others were M types 4 and 28. Chloramphenicol resistance was similar to that of erythromycin, and the tetracycline resistance rate decreased gradually from 60% to less than 20%.

[Serotype and antibiotic susceptibility of isolates from children with group A streptococcal infection; observation for 10 years]

Six hundred and seventy isolates from children with group A streptococcal infections from 1981 through 1990 were typed serologically and their antibiotic susceptibilities were determined. Productivity of streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins was also investigated in some isolates. Four hundred and seventy-nine strains were isolated from patients with pharyngitis, 133 from those with scarlet fever, 35 from those with suppurative infection and 23 from those with non-suppurative disease. With immediate treatment (antibiotics were started at the same day throat swabs were taken) for 10 days, 5.3% of the patients with pharyngitis including scarlet fever had relapses and 13.4% of those patients had recurrences. Of the episodes of recurrences 15.7% were due to the same M serotype strains. Six patients had two episodes of scarlet fever. M type of isolate was different in the first and the second episode of each patient. Pyrogenic exotoxin type was unprecedented in the second episode of 4 out of 6 patients. M-typable and T-typable rates of isolates were 90.7% and 97.3%, respectively. Coincidence between M and T types was 73.3% (83.0% if including strains with the same and mixed T-type). Prevalent M-serotypes were 12 and 4, but M1, 3, or 28 was the most prevalent type of isolates in certain years. None of the 670 strains was resistant to penicillin G and cephalexin. Resistant rate of isolates to erythromycin and linecomycin was 26.5% in 1981 and 18.4% in 1982. But a marked decrease has noted since 1983 and only one has been resistant since 1986.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Clinical evaluation of biapenem (L-627) in children]

Twenty-four children were treated with biapenem (L-627) and the clinical efficacy and side effects were evaluated. The ages of the patients ranged from two months to 11.5 years and their body weights from 5.9 to 43.5 kg. Doses given were 5.5-12.4 mg/kg every 8 hours for 2.67 to 11.33 days. Those patients who responded well to L-627 treatment included 11 children with pneumonia, 1 with scarlet fever, 1 with cervical lymphadenitis, 2 with cellulitis, 6 with urinary tract infection. Among 21 children, the results were excellent in 13 and good in 8. The drug was well tolerated, although slightly elevated serum concentrations of transaminases occurred in 2 patients among the 24 patients.

[Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies with L-627 (biapenem) in the pediatric field. Pediatric study group of L-627]

To conduct pharmacokinetic and clinical studies on newly developed L-627 (biapenem) against various infections in pediatrics, a study group was organized and a joint research by 15 institutions and their related hospitals was undertaken. Informed consents of subjects were obtained prior to the study. The obtained results are as follows. 1. Plasma concentrations and urinary excretion Pharmacokinetics of L-627 in children was studied in 29 subjects using 30 minutes intravenous drip infusion of 6 mg/kg and 12 mg/kg. Maximum plasma levels of L-627 was observed at the completion of drip infusion and were 25.1 micrograms/ml with administration of 6 mg/kg and 39.2 micrograms/ml with administration of 12 mg/kg on average. Dose dependency was noted in Cmax and AUC with these doses. Maximum blood levels in all of the 5 participated sucklings under the age of one year were similar to the average. As for urinary excretion, L-627 was excreted 66.0% with administration of 5 mg/kg and 62.3% with 12 mg/kg. 2. Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations ranged from 0.76 to 8.54 micrograms/ml in 30-240 minutes after the completion of drip infusion with dose of 20-40 mg/kg in 9 subjects with purulent meningitis, when they were measured within 3 days after the initiation of the treatment with L-627. 3. Clinical results Thirty-three cases of exclusion and drop-out were deducted from a total of 330 cases, hence 297 cases were evaluated as the subjects in the study for analysis of clinical effects. As for clinical effects in group A where pathogenic bacteria were detected, 166 out of 173 were rated as effective or above, hence the efficacy rate of 96.0% was obtained. In group B where pathogenic bacteria were not detected, 114 out of 124 cases were rated as effective or above, thus the efficacy rate was 91.9%, which is similar to that of the group A. The overall efficacy rate was 94.3% in the entire 297 cases. The rates of "excellent" responses out of the cases rated as effective or above were 62.7% (104/166) in the group A and 55.3% (63/114) in the group B, thus the rate was markedly high in the former group. Efficacy rate for each pathogenic strain was also high, and that in subjects infected by a single pathogenic strain was 96.7% (145/150) and that in subjects infected by two or more pathogenic strains was 91.3% (21/23).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[Pharmacokinetics and clinical studies on flomoxef in neonates and premature infants. A study of flomoxef in the perinatal collaboration research group]

We investigated pharmacokinetics and clinical effects of flomoxef sodium (6315-S, FMOX) in neonates and premature infants. These results are summarized as follows: 1. Pharmacokinetics (1) Plasma concentration (Ct) and half-lives (T1/2) were determined upon after intravenous one-shot injection (i.v.) of FMOX to neonates of different day-age groups (0-3 (n = 25), 4-7 (n = 18), 8-28 (n = 32) days of birth). At a dose of 10 mg/kg. i.v., mean C30 (30 minutes concentration) values were 21.2, 21.8 and 21.3 micrograms/ml, respectively, in the different groups mentioned above, and the mean T1/2 values were 3.37, 1.85 and 1.63 hours. At 20 mg/kg i.v., mean C15 (15 minutes concentration) values were 54.4, 51.4 and 50.7 micrograms/ml, and mean T1/2's were 2.99, 2.32 and 1.79 hours, respectively. At a dose of 40 mg/kg i.v., mean C15 values were 104.0, 95.9 and 99.2 micrograms/ml, and the mean T1/2's were 3.40, 1.20 and 1.80 hours, respectively. (2) Plasma concentrations and T1/2 after intravenous one-shot injection of FMOX in premature infants in group (0-3 (n = 14), 4-7 (n = 10), 8-28 (n = 13) days of birth). Mean C15's at doses of 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg in the different groups of infants were 24.0, 28.6, 21.7 and 54.0, 54.6, 55.5 and 98.2, 93.0, 106.0 micrograms/ml, and T1/2's were 4.10, 2.53, 2.57 and 4.28, 2.27, 3.02 and 4.66, 2.86, 2.09 hours, respectively. Mean Cmax values were clearly dose dependent, and mean T1/2 values tended to be longer in premature infants compared to neonates. (3) Urinary recovery rate of FMOX after intravenous injection in neonates and premature infants. Mean urinary recovery rates of FMOX in the first 6 hours after i.v. (one-shot) at doses of 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg to neonates and premature infants were 38.9-62.8% in the neonates and 30.7-61.5% in the premature infants. (4) Plasma concentrations and urinary recovery rates upon 1 hour drip infusion of 20 mg/kg in the neonate groups (or the premature infant groups) as follows: Mean C50 values were 31.0, 32.7 and 23.4 micrograms/ml, and T1/2 were 2.94, 3.68 and 2.25 hours, respectively. The recovery rates were 35.2-52.9% in the first 6 hours after administration. 2. Clinical studies The number of clinically evaluable cases in the FMOX treatment of premature infants was 199, in which the causative pathogens were identified in 71 cases (A group) and not identified in 128 cases (B group).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[Intravenous vancomycin treatment in children; its clinical usefulness and serum concentration monitoring]

Fourteen pediatric patients with infections (21 episodes) were treated with intravenous vancomycin (VCM) and the clinical efficacy and side effects were evaluated. The ages of the patients ranged from 1 month to 13 years and their body weights from 1.9 to 49 kg. The drug was administered by intravenous drip infusion for 60 minutes. Doses given were 10 (except one with 20) mg/kg every 6 (8 or 12 in patients with renal dysfunction) hours for 5 to 27 days. A leukemic patient was given the drug for 3.5 months. Those episodes which responded well to the VCM treatment included 10 episodes in 8 children with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections, 4 in 2 children with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) infections and 2 in 2 children with methicillin-susceptible S. aureus infections. Those infections included sepsis, empyema, bronchitis, subcutaneous abscess, cellulitis and lymphadenitis. Clinical effects were fair in 1 patient with gingival abscess due to MRSE, and undetermined in 4 patients with infections of which etiologies were unknown. The drug was well tolerated, although rash, which disappeared after more prolonged infusion, was noted in 2 episodes and elevated serum concentrations of transaminases occurred in 4 episodes (both side effects occurred in 1 patient given 20 mg/kg every 6 hours). The minimal inhibitory concentrations of VCM against isolated staphylococci were 0.5-1 microgram/ml. Monitoring for serum concentrations of drug was performed in 10 patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies of cefditoren pivoxil in the pediatric field. Pediatric Study Group of ME1207]

Cefditoren pivoxil (ME1207) in granules, a new oral cephalosporin, was pharmacokinetically and clinically evaluated in the pediatric field and the following results were obtained: 1. Pharmacokinetics In infants administered single oral doses of 3 mg (potency)/kg and 6 mg/kg, the Cmax was 1.54 +/- 0.68 and 2.85 +/- 1.03 micrograms/ml; Tmax, 2.27 +/- 1.08 and 2.06 +/- 1.16 hours; T 1/2, 2.22 +/- 1.95 and 1.68 +/- 0.66 hours; and AUC (0-infinity), 7.43 +/- 3.68 and 11.90 +/- 4.51 micrograms.hr/ml, respectively. These values have indicated that the drug has a dose-dependent pharmacokinetic behavior. Urinary concentrations peaked in 2-4 hours after administration. Urinary recovery rates in the first 8 hours were 19.4 +/- 6.6% at 3 mg/kg and 17.1 +/- 5.2% at 6 mg/kg. 2. Clinical results The clinical efficacy of the drug was evaluated in 445 patients with various infections. Cefditoren pivoxil was administered at daily doses of 9-18 mg/kg divided into 3 equal doses to most patients. Daily doses of > 7.5-10.5 mg/kg were given to 48.8% of the patients. The overall clinical efficacy rate was 97.3%, and this drug was effective in 97.5% of the 319 patients for whom the causative pathogens were identified and in 96.8% of the 126 patients with infections for whom the causative pathogens were unknown. The efficacy rate at daily doses of > 7.5-10.5 mg/kg was 97.2%, similar to that obtained at daily doses of > 10.5-19.5 mg/kg (97.0%). The bacteriological eradication rate was 90.4%. The efficacy and eradication rates for 66 patients who had not responded to previous chemotherapy were 95.5% (63/66) and 89.4%, respectively. Side effects occurred in 19 (4.2%) of 456 patients subjected to safety analyses. The primary side effect was diarrhea but no serious side effects were noted. As abnormal laboratory test results, moderate increases of the eosinophils and platelets counts as well as moderate elevations of the transaminases were observed. These abnormalities are also seen with other cephems and to a similar extent. No particular and serious problems were associated with administration of this drug. Based on the above results, cefditoren pivoxil is considered to be very useful at a dose level of 3 mg/kg t.i.d. against most infections encountered in the pediatric field.

Acquisition of nonmaternal Enterobacteriaceae by infants delivered in hospitals

To determine whether Escherichia coli strains that colonize the intestinal tract of newborn infants in hospitals are of maternal origin or come from the environment, plasmid profiles of E. coli strains isolated from the stools of infants were compared with those from the stools of their mothers. Twenty-nine mother-infant pairs were studied in three different hospitals. In only 4 of 29 pairs, plasmid profiles of E. coli or other Enterobacteriaceae were shared by infant and mother; vertical transmission seemed to be uncommon, unlike findings in previous reports. In one hospital, 8 of 10 infant fecal E. coli strains shared a single plasmid profile, strongly suggesting nosocomial acquisition. In another, 7 of 9 neonate strains also shared a unique profile, and additionally carried K1 capsular antigen, a known virulence factor. Two other infants from the latter nursery acquired a urinary tract infection with E. coli K1 carrying the same plasmid profile. This study indicates that nosocomial acquisition of hospital strains of E. coli by neonates may be common in some hospitals and that the clinical implications are potentially serious.

Molecular genetics of human androgen insensitivity

Androgen insensitivity syndromes represent one cause of human male pseudohermaphroditism related to defects in the androgen receptor. The formation of a biologically active androgen receptor complex with testosterone and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone is required for normal androgen action during fetal development and differentiation of the internal accessory sex glands and external genitalia. Cloning of the human androgen receptor complementary DNA and genetic screening of human subjects with the clinical and biochemical features of androgen insensitivity using the polymerase chain reaction, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and nucleotide sequencing techniques have led to the identification of molecular defects in the androgen receptor. The complexity of phenotypic presentation by affected subjects with the complete or partial forms of androgen insensitivity is represented by the heterogeneity of androgen receptor gene mutations which include deletions and point mutations, with the latter causing inappropriate splicing of RNA, premature termination of transcription and amino acid substitutions. The naturally occurring mutations in the androgen receptor of subjects with androgen insensitivity represent a base upon which we can increase our understanding of the structure and function of the androgen receptor in normal physiology and disease.

[Characteristics of group A streptococci isolated from children with non-suppurative complication or severe infection]

We determined the characteristics of group A streptococci isolated from 29 sporadic cases with non-suppurative complication or severe infection during a 15-year period from 1977 to 1991. The clinical diagnoses of children included 4 patients with rheumatic fever, 2 with reactive arthritis, 2 with central nervous system complication, 5 with glomerulonephritis, 11 with Honoch-Schölein purpura, 4 with sepsis and 1 with empyema. Twenty-four strains were isolated from throat swabs, 4 from blood specimens and one from pleural fluid. M/T-serotypes and the number of isolates were as follows; 1/1:10, 3/3:1, 3.3R/3:3, 4/4:7, 5/NT:1, 12/12:3, 18/18:2, 62/12:1, NT/13:1. All 29 isolates had productivity for at least one of streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins (SPEs) A, B and C. Two strains were positive for A, 2 for A and B, 3 for A, B and C, 9 for B and 13 for B and C. Of 11 isolates from patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura, 7 and 2 strains were serotyped in M1 and M4, respectively, but none was in M12. Ten of 11 isolates were positive for SPE B or SPEs B and C.

[Clinical and pharmacokinetic evaluation of meropenem and its effect on fecal flora in children]

Forty-five children were treated with meropenem (MEPM) and the clinical efficacy and side effects were evaluated. The ages of the patients ranged from 1 month to 9 years and their body weights from 5.2 to 25 kg. Doses given were 17.2-45.5 mg/kg every 6 to 8 hours for 2 to 24.5 days. Those patients who responded to the MEPM treatment included 15 children with pneumonia, 7 with pharyngitis, 3 with cervical lymphadenitis, 3 with cellulitis, 10 with urinary tract infections and 4 with other infections. Among 42 children, the results were excellent in 29, good in 12 and fair in 1. The drug was well tolerated, although slightly elevated serum concentrations of transaminases occurred in 5 patients, eosinophilia in 2 patients, and neutropenia in 1 patient among 45 patients examined. The pharmacokinetic studies on MEPM were done in 6 patients. Their ages ranged from 2 to 9 years and body weights from 14.5 to 23.2 kg. In 4 patients, plasma concentrations at the end of 30 minutes drip infusion of 20 mg/kg were 29.28 +/- 10.29 micrograms/ml and those 3 hours later were 0.49 +/- 0.26 micrograms/ml. Serum elimination half-lives of the drug were 0.66 +/- 0.12 hours in these patients. Excretion rates of this drug into urine in the first 6 hours after initiation of drug administration were 53 and 40% in 2 of these patients. In 2 patients with 35 and 44 mg/kg of drug administration, plasma concentrations were higher than those given 20 mg/kg of the drug.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus empyema in children

Over a 14 year period, there were 20 patients who presented with staphylococcal empyema from whom methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was isolated. Twelve cases were community-acquired and 8 were hospital-acquired infections. Patients were treated with penicillinase-resistant penicillin, cephalosporin or carbapenem in combination with or without aminoglycoside. They were also treated with drainage or thoracentesis. However, they were refractory to treatment and 7 patients, 6 of whom were suffering from bacteremia, died. One bacteremic patient was treated with vancomycin and was cured. In an area of endemic MRSA, vancomycin may be the first choice in the initial treatment of staphylococcal empyema until antimicrobial susceptibility can be determined.

Restriction endonuclease digest patterns of chromosomal DNA from group B beta-haemolytic streptococci

Scanning densitometry and computer-assisted numerical analysis were used to examine restriction endonuclease digest patterns (RDPs) of chromosomal DNA from 26 infecting strains and 44 vaginal isolates of group B beta-haemolytic streptococci (GBS). At the 95% similarity level, HindIII RDPs of serotype Ia and III strains clustered into four and three RDP types, respectively. Nine of 10 strains from neonates with early-onset septicaemia belonged to two particular RDP types (Ia-3 and III-3). In contrast, serotype III GBS strains from meningitis cases were not characterised by particular RDP types. Associations between RDPs and certain phenotypic characteristics were also found.

[Flomoxef in neonates and young infants; clinical efficacy, pharmacokinetic evaluation and effect on the intestinal bacterial flora]

Forty-three newborn and young infants including 13 low-birth-weight (LBW) infants were treated with flomoxef (FMOX) and the clinical efficacy and side effect were evaluated. The ages of the patients ranged from 0 to 99 days, and their body weights from 797 to 9,000 g. Dose levels were 10.5 to 48.5 mg/kg every 6 to 8 hours for 3 to 12 days. Those patients who responded to the FMOX treatment included 8 infants with sepsis, 14 with suspected sepsis, 6 with intrauterine infection, 2 with meningitis, 7 with pneumonia, 1 with staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, 1 with epididymitis and 4 with urinary tract infections. The results were excellent in 17 and good in 22 patients. The drug was well tolerated, although diarrhea occurred in 2, slightly elevated serum concentrations of transaminases in 2, and eosinophilia and thrombocytosis in 1 patient each. Pharmacokinetic studies on FMOX with 20 mg/kg dose were done in 19 patients including 8 LBW infants. Serum concentrations at 15 minutes after intravenous bolus injection in five 1- to 6-day-old LBW, five 1- to 6-day-old and four 8- to 19-day-old mature infants were 52.6, 52.7 and 58.0 micrograms/ml, respectively, and those at 4 hours were 22.1, 13.3 and 5.2 micrograms/ml, respectively. Serum half-lives of the drug were 3.93, 2.29 and 1.62 hours, respectively, and excretion rates of this drug into urine in the first 6 hours after administration were 30.4, 45.1 and 58.7%, respectively. Mean serum concentrations just after intravenous 1-hour drip infusion in three 8- to 54-day-old LBW and two 8- and 10-day-old mature infants, were 31.5 and 18.9 micrograms/ml, respectively, and those at 4 hours were 15.3 and 4.3 micrograms/ml, respectively. Serum half-lives of the drug were 2.88 and 1.75 hours, respectively, and excretion rates of the drug into urine in the first 6 hours were 22.6 and 47.5%, respectively. The cerebrospinal fluid level at 3 hours after a dose was 7.09 micrograms/ml on the second day of treatment in a patient with Staphylococcus aureus meningitis receiving 50 mg/kg of the drug every 6 hours per day. Its level at 1 hour after a dose was 3.52 micrograms/ml on the 8th day of treatment in the same patient. The influence of FMOX on the fecal flora was studied in 7 patients. The characteristic pattern observed during the drug administration was the disappearance of Bifidobacterium, the decrease or disappearance of Enterobacteriaceae and the preservation of Streptococcus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies of cefdinir in the pediatric field. Pediatric Study Group of Cefdinir]

We studied pharmacokinetics and clinical effects of 5% and 10% fine granules of cefdinir (FK 482, CFDN), a new oral cephalosporin, in the pediatric field and the following results were obtained. 1. Pharmacokinetics (blood concentration and urinary excretion) Pharmacokinetics of CFDN in 163 children was investigated. Cmax and T 1/2 were 0.92 +/- 0.45 micrograms/ml and 1.95 +/- 1.06 hours, respectively, in the fasting state, and were 0.63 +/- 0.29 micrograms/ml and 2.26 +/- 0.65 hours, respectively, in the non-fasting state, at a dose level of 3 mg (potency)/kg. At a dose level of 6 mg (potency)/kg, Cmax and T 1/2 were 1.29 +/- 0.49 micrograms/ml and 2.11 +/- 1.85 hours, respectively, in the fasting state and were 1.28 +/- 0.48 micrograms/ml and 2.01 +/- 0.84 hours, respectively, in the non-fasting state. Data of Cmax and AUC showed that blood concentration of the drug depended on dose levels. Urinary recovery rates in the first 8 hours were 20.5 +/- 8.8% in the fasting state and 14.8 +/- 5.9% in the non-fasting at a dose level of 3 mg (potency)/kg and 16.5 +/- 6.7% and 17.8 +/- 2.4%, respectively, at 6 mg (potency)/kg. 2. Clinical effects Clinical effects of CFDN on various infections were studied in 612 children who were treated with 5% fine granules of CFDN (5% granule group) and in 208 with 10% fine granules of CFDN (10% granule group). CFDN granules were administered mainly at daily doses of 9.0-18.0 mg (potency)/kg in 3 divided portions. Clinical efficacy rates in 428 children of the 5% granule group and in 159 of the 10% granule group from whom causative bacteria were isolated, were 94.9% and 96.2%, respectively. The clinical efficacy rates for patients who were responsive to previous antibiotic therapy were 91.2% in the 5% granule group and 100% in the 10% granule group. Bacteriological eradication rate was 82.1% for 491 strains in the 5% granule group, and was 84.0% for 175 strains in the 10% granule group. The incidences of side effects were 3.9% (24/608) in the 5% fine granule group and 5.8% (12/206) in the 10% granule group. All of the side effects were slight gastrointestinal disorders, and no serious side effects were found. As for clinical laboratory test results, slight elevations of eosinophile, platelet or transaminase were observed. Based on the above results, it is considered that the appropriate dose levels of CFDN for pediatric infections ranged from 9.0 to 18.0 mg (potency)/kg a day, divided into 3 portions.

K1 antigen, serotype and antibiotic susceptibility of Escherichia coli isolated from cerebrospinal fluid, blood and other specimens from Japanese infants

K1 antigens, serotypes and antibiotic susceptibilities of Escherichia coli isolates from neonates and infants were investigated. The presence of K1 antigen was tested by the K1-specific phage method. The number of K1 positive strains was 27 (84%) of 32 isolates from cerebrospinal fluid, 11 (25%) of 44 from blood and 4 (22%) of 18 from other specimens. Fourteen (33%) of the K1 positive strains were serotyped as O16:H6, and 8, 7 and 5 were serotyped as O18ac:H7, O1:H7 and O7:H-, respectively. One of 5 of the K1 negative strains were distributed into 30 different combinations of O and H antigens. The ampicillin resistance rates were 19% in K1 positive strains and 45% in K1 negative ones. The incidence of chloramphenicol resistance was the same in K1 positive and negative strains (21%). Ampicillin resistance was not noted in O16:H6 strains, but the incidence of antibiotic resistance was high (65% to ampicillin and 53% to chloramphenicol) in the rough-type strains.

[Clinical and pharmacokinetic evaluation of cefdinir in children]

Thirty children were treated with cefdinir (CFDN) for the evaluation of its clinical efficacy and side effects. Their ages ranged from 1 to 9 years. The dosage of CFDN ranged from 8.1 to 15.9 mg/kg/day with the treatment continued for 2 to 10 days. Twenty-eight of the 30 patients were evaluated for clinical efficacy; 10 patients with tonsillitis, 3 with scarlet fever, 4 with lower respiratory infections, 2 with otitis media, 2 with cervical lymphadenitis, 3 with urinary tract infections and 4 with skin and soft tissue infections. The remaining 2 patients who had viral diseases were included in the evaluation for side effects. Clinical responses were excellent in 14 patients, good in 12, fair in 1 and poor in 1 with an efficacy rate of 92.9%. Diarrhea was noted in one of the 30 patients. A pharmacokinetic study on CFDN was performed in 8 fasting patients whose ages ranged from 3 to 7 years. Serum concentrations of CFDN peaked at 0.59 to 1.76 micrograms/ml (mean 1.13 microgram/ml) at 2 hours after dosing of 3 mg/kg in 4 patients, and 0.89 to 2.49 micrograms/ml (mean 1.49 micrograms/ml) 2 or 3 hours after dosing of 6 mg/kg in the other 4 patients. The 8-hour urinary excretion rates were 16.0% to 21.3% (mean 17.4%) in 4 patients given a dose of 3 mg/kg and 10.9 to 21.1% (mean 15.5%) in 4 patients given a dose of 6 mg/kg.

Antibiotic susceptibility of type b Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae, and antibiotic concentration in cerebrospinal fluid

Antibiotic susceptibilities of 38 type b Haemophilus influenzae and 28 Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated from cerebrospinal fluid, blood and other specimens between 1973 and 1988 were studied. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of ampicillin against 10 beta-lactamase positive and 28 negative H. influenzae isolates were 32-64 and 0.25 micrograms/ml, respectively. The MIC of chloramphenicol against one of the beta-lactamase positive H. influenzae strains was 8 but MICs against the rest of the organisms were 0.5-1 micrograms/ml. MICs of cefotaxime, ceftriaxone and cefuroxime against all H. influenzae strains were 0.016, 0.008 and 0.5 micrograms/ml, respectively. No S. pneumoniae isolates were resistant to penicillin G and MICs of this drug were 0.016-0.032 micrograms/ml. MICs of cefotaxime, cefriaxone and cefuroxime against all S. pneumoniae strains were 0.016-0.032, 0.016-0.032 and 0.032-0.063 micrograms/ml, respectively. MICs of chloramphenicol against 15, 4 and 9 of S. pneumoniae isolates were 2, 8 and 16 micrograms/ml, respectively. Antibiotic concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with bacterial meningitis after intravenous administration of ampicillin (50-70 mg/kg x 4/day), penicillin G (31-63 mg/kg x 4/day), cefotaxime (50 mg/kg x 4/day) and chloramphenicol (25 mg/kg x 4/day) were 4.70 +/- 1.83 (n = 11), 0.57 +/- 0.32 (n = 7), 4.97 +/- 2.60 (n = 9) and 8.52 +/- 3.54 micrograms/ml (n = 3), respectively. The initial choice of antibiotics in older children with bacterial meningitis is a combination of ampicillin (75 mg/kg x 4/day) and cefotaxime (50 mg/kg x 4/day) to cover ampicillin-resistant H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae, and Listeria monocytogenes in Japan. These antibiotics should be changed according to the causative organisms and their antibiotic susceptibilities.

[Clinical and pharmacokinetic evaluation of aztreonam in neonates]

Nine neonates were treated with aztreonam (AZT) and its clinical efficacy and side effects were evaluated. Six of the patients were treated with a combination of AZT and ampicillin. Ages of the patients ranged from 0 to 24 days, and their body weights ranged from 2,290 to 4,260 g. Doses of AZT ranged 18.8 to 23.7 mg/kg every 8 to 12 hours for 3 to 7 days. Three patients with infections including urinary tract infection, cervical abscess, and suspicion of sepsis, appeared to respond to the treatment of AZT alone. Among them, clinical results were excellent in 1, good in 2 patients. Those patients subjected to the combination therapy showed excellent response in 1 and good in 5. The drug was well tolerated, but 1 had diarrhea. The pharmacokinetics of AZT was studied in 9 patients. Their ages ranged from 0 to 30 days, and body weights ranged from 2,000 to 4,000 g. Serum concentrations of AZT were 27.2 to 48.3 micrograms/ml at 1 hour after single 20 mg/kg intravenous bolus injection, and the levels were 3.4 to 15.5 micrograms/ml at 6 hours in 5 infants heavier than 2,500 g. Elimination half-lives of AZT ranged from 1.57 to 3.72 hours (mean 2.72 hours). Serum concentrations of AZT were 21.6 to 41.8 micrograms/ml at 1 hour after single 20 mg/kg intravenous bolus injection, and the levels were 10.2 to 17.0 micrograms/ml at 6 hours in 3 infants lighter than 2,500 g. The elimination half-lives of AZT were 3.63 to 4.86 hours (mean 4.31 hours).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Pharmacokinetics and clinical studies on aztreonam in neonates and premature infants (the second report). Study on effectiveness and safety in combination therapy using aztreonam and ampicillin. A study of aztreonam in the Perinatal Co-research Group]

Pharmacokinetics and clinical effects were studied in a combination therapy with aztreonam (AZT) and ampicillin (ABPC) in neonates and premature infants. The results obtained are summarized as follows. 1. Pharmacokinetics (1) Average serum concentrations at 30 minutes after one-shot intravenous injection of AZT 20 mg/kg and ABPC 25 mg/kg to a 4-7 days age-group of neonates were 41.3 (AZT) and 30.5 (ABPC) micrograms/ml, respectively. They gradually decreased to 14.7 and 2.7 micrograms/ml at 6 hours after the administration, but the concentration of AZT was always higher than that of ABPC. (2) Serum half-lives (T1/2) in the 4-7 days age-group were 3.61 hours for AZT and 1.42 hours for ABPC, thus T1/2 of AZT was longer. However, T1/2 of AZT was scarcely affected in the concomitant administration of ABPC. (3) Urinary excretion of AZT in the concomitant administration to the 4-7 days age-group was 52.7%, which was the same or a little higher comparing to that in AZT alone administration. 2. Clinical studies (1) AZT and ABPC were concomitantly administered to 160 cases and 133 cases were evaluated for efficacy. Pathogenic organisms were identified in 29 cases (Group A) and the efficacy rate was 86.2% (25/29). The number of cases in which pathogenic organisms were not identified (Group B) was 50 and in this group, the efficacy rate was excellent, 94.0% (47/50). AZT and ABPC were concomitantly administered to 54 cases for prophylaxis and in all the cases the administrations showed prophylactic effect. (2) Bacterial changes were confirmed in 21 of the 29 cases in which pathogenic organisms were identified initially and all of these 21 cases showed bacterial eradication, i.e., the bacterial eradication rate in the treatment was 100%. (3) There were 2 cases in which side-effects were observed among the analyzed 152 cases (1.3%). The side effects found were 1 case each of diarrhea and eruption. Abnormal laboratory values were found in 23 cases (15.9%), i.e., eosinophilia (9 cases), platelet-increase (4), elevation of GOT (4), elevation of GOT and GPT (3) and others (3). From the above pharmacokinetics and clinical results, the combination therapy of AZT and ABPC is considered to be one of the useful empiric antibiotic-therapies when pathogenic organisms are unknown in the infections of neonates and premature infants.

[Pharmacokinetics and clinical studies on aztreonam in neonates and premature infants (the first report). Study on effectiveness and safety in mono-therapy with aztreonam. A study of aztreonam in the Perinatal Co-research Group]

Pharmacokinetics and clinical study of aztreonam (AZT) in neonates and premature infants were conducted with the following results: 1. Pharmacokinetics (1) Serum concentrations of AZT at 30 minutes after one-shot intravenous injection of 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg to neonates including premature infants were 20.6-26.6 micrograms/ml and 38.5-46.4 micrograms/ml, respectively, and decreased thereafter. A dose response was observed in the serum concentrations with administration of AZT 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg. (2) Serum half-lives (T1/2) tended to be shorter in both mature and premature infants as their day-ages increased and T1/2 tended to be prolonged in premature infants compared with mature infants. (3) Changes in serum concentration upon one-hour intravenous drip infusion of AZT 20 mg/kg were very similar to those upon one-shot intravenous injection. (4) Urinary excretions in the first 6 hours after one-shot intravenous injection of AZT 10 mg/kg or 20 mg/kg tended to increase in mature infants as they grew and showed excretion rate of 26.2-54.3% but those in premature infants did not show any specific tendency with rate of 17.5-45.1%. Urinary excretions upon intravenous drip-infusion showed a tendency very similar to those upon intravenous injection. 2. Clinical studies (1) Clinically evaluable cases of AZT treatment were 88 cases (91 diseases), in which pathogenic organisms were identified in 56 cases (Group A), i.e., sepsis 9, purulent meningitis 2, pneumonia 8, urinary tract infection (UTI) 33 and others. Total efficacy rate was 98.2% including "excellent" (39), "good" (16) and "fair" (1). Number of cases in which pathogenic organisms were unknown (Group B) was 11, i.e., suspected sepsis (4), pneumonia (3) and intrauterine infection (4) and the efficacy rate was 100% with "excellent" (4) and "good" (7). Thus, both group A and B showed excellent results. AZT was also given to 24 cases for prophylaxis and all the cases showed prophylactic effect of AZT.4+ Bacteriologically AZT was deemed effective in 53 cases out of 56 (Group A) with identified pathogens "eradicated" and "unchanged" (2), thus the bacterial eradication rate was 96.2%. (3) A minor degree of loose feces was observed in 1 (1.3%) of 80 cases as a side effect. Abnormal laboratory test values found were eosinophilia (3 cases), elevation of GOT and GPT (2), platelet-increase (1), elevation of GOT (1), and thrombocytopenia.elevation of GOT.GPT.LDH (1). Every one of these was of a minor degree and transient. From the above pharmacokinetics and clinical results, standard dosage of AZT to neonates and premature infants should be in a unit dose of 20 mg/kg, twice daily to those with ages between 0 and 3 days, and 2 to 3 times daily to those with ages 4 days and above, by intravenous injection or intravenous drip infusion.

[Clinical and pharmacokinetic evaluation of cefmenoxime in neonates and young infants]

Twenty-three newborn and young infants, including 13 low-birth-weight infants, were treated with cefmenoxime (CMX) and the clinical efficacy and side effects were evaluated. The ages of the patients ranged from 1 to 102 days, and their weights ranged from 0.83 to 4.19 kg. Doses given were 18-42 mg/kg every 6 to 12 hours for 2 to 16 days. Among 12 infants with bacterial meningitis and sepsis, the results were excellent in 2, good in 7 and fair in 3 patients. The drug was well tolerated and no adverse effects were observed in the 23 patients. Pharmacokinetic studies of CMX were done in 5 infants whose mean body weight was 3.03 kg (range 2.4 to 4.2 kg). Serum concentrations at 15 minutes after 10 mg/kg intravenous bolus injections were 35.6 and 55.7 micrograms/ml in two 12- and 18-day-old patients. In 3 patients with ages of 7, 7 and 24 days, serum concentrations were 54.6, 102 and 100 micrograms/ml, respectively, at 15 minutes after 20 mg/kg doses. Elimination half-lives of the drug were 1.3 to 1.5 (mean 1.4) hours in these patients. Excretion rates into urine in the first 8 hours were 30.3, 74.2, 77.6 and 85.6% in four patients given 10 or 20 mg/kg doses. The cerebrospinal fluid level at 3 hours after the dose was 0.4 micrograms/ml on 15th day of treatment in 1 patient with bacterial meningitis given 20 mg/kg every 6 hours.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Clinical and pharmacokinetic evaluation of cefsulodin in neonates and young infants]

Four neonates and young infants were treated with cefsulodin (CFS) at doses ranging from 20-25 mg/kg every 6 hours for 6.25 to 17 days, and clinical efficacy and side effects were evaluated. Among the 4 infants with bacterial infections including meningitis, bronchitis and pneumonia, the results were good in 2 patients with meningitis, but unknown in 2 patients because of additional use of gentamicin. One of the 4 patients had eosinophilia. Minimal inhibitory concentrations of CFS against 4 isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were 1.56 against one and 12.5 micrograms/ml against other 3 strains with an inoculum size of 10(3) CFU. Serum concentrations of CFS were measured in one- and four-month-old infants upon 25.3 and 20.9 mg/kg bolus intravenous injection of the antibiotic, respectively. The values were 36.4 and 33.4 at 30 minutes, and 5.1 and 3.2 micrograms/ml at 6 hours after injection, respectively. Serum half-lives were 1.89 and 1.69 hours, respectively. Total body clearances and volume distributions were 3.16 and 3.76 ml/min/kg, and 519.0 and 551.2 ml/kg, respectively.

[Clinical and pharmacokinetic evaluation of cefteram pivoxil in children]

Twenty-six children were treated with cefteram pivoxil (CFTM-PI) and the clinical efficacy and side effects were evaluated. Ages of the patients ranged from 8 months to 9 years. Doses of CFTM-PI ranged 7.5-20.1 mg/kg/day for 4 to 19 days. The twenty-six patients including 10 patients with tonsillitis, 1 pharyngitis, 3 otitis media, 2 scarlet fever, 1 bronchopneumonia, 1 lymphadenitis, 6 urinary tract infections, 1 vaginitis and 1 staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome were evaluated for clinical efficacy. Results were excellent in 11, good in 13, and fair in 2 patients. Out of the 26 patients, one case showed elevated GOT and GPT, and another case showed elevated GOT. The pharmacokinetic study of CFTM-PI was performed in 9 fasting patients whose ages ranged from 2 to 11 years. Serum peak concentrations of CFTM were 0.92 to 1.05 micrograms/ml (mean 0.99 microgram/ml) at 1 to 2 hours after a dose of 1.5 mg/kg each to 3 patients, 1.12 to 1.38 micrograms/ml (mean 1.25 micrograms/ml) after a dose of 3 mg/kg each to 3 patients and 0.66 to 2.1 micrograms/ml (mean 1.17 micrograms/ml) after a dose of 6 mg/kg each to 3 patients. The portions of the drug excreted into urine within 8 hours were 8.9% and 14.7% in 2 patients, each given a dose of 1.5 mg/kg, from 13.0 to 23.1% (mean 18.4%) in 3 patients, each given a dose of 3 mg/kg, and 6.3% and 8.7% in 2 patients, each given a dose of 6 mg/kg.

[Overall clinical evaluation of cefpodoxime proxetil against infections in pediatric fields]

Dry syrup and tablet of newly developed cefpodoxime proxetil (CS-807, CPDX-PR) was investigated in the departments of pediatrics of 17 institutes and their related hospitals. 1. Pharmacokinetics of CPDX-PR in pediatrics were investigated. Peak blood levels of CPDX at dose levels of 3 mg/kg and 6 mg/kg were 2.24 +/- 0.21 and 4.68 +/- 0.54 micrograms/ml, respectively, in fasting and 1.65 +/- 0.07 and 3.71 +/- 0.41 micrograms/ml, respectively, after meal. Urinary recovery rates in 6 hours were 31.2 +/- 2.2% of dose in average. 2. Clinical efficacies of CPDX-PR on various infectious diseases were studied in 748 cases. Clinical efficacy rate in 499 cases with causative bacteria isolated was 94.6%: efficacy rates for individual infections were 96.8% (120/124) for tonsillitis, 96.0% (96/100) for urinary tract infection, 93.5% (58/62) for pneumonia, 92.4% (61/66) for impetigo, 100% (32/32) for scarler fever and 93.2% for pharyngitis or laryngitis. Bacteriological eradication rate for Gram-positive organisms was 91.0% (244/268); and for Gram-negative organisms, 89.7% (210/234). The clinical efficacy rate for cases which were non-responsive to previous antibiotic therapy was 88.1% (74/84). 3. Side effects and clinical laboratory findings were investigated in 779 cases. Two each of vomiting, loose stool and rash, 10 of diarrhea and 1 of diarrhea associated with candidiasis were reported, but no serious side effects were noted. There was no serious laboratory test abnormality except slight elevations of eosinophile, platelet, transaminase or prolongation of prothrombin time, totalling 34 occurrences.

[Clinical and pharmacokinetic evaluation of cefpodoxime proxetil in children]

Twenty nine children were treated with cefpodoxime proxetil (CPDX-PR, CS-807) and the clinical efficacy and side effects were evaluated. Ages of the patients ranged from 2 months to 10 years. Dose levels of CPDX-PR ranged from 7.5 to 12.0 mg/kg/day for 5 to 12.7 days. The 29 patients included 9 tonsillitis, 2 otitis media, 5 scarlet fever, 3 bronchopneumonia, 1 lymphadenitis, 8 urinary tract infections and 1 staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, and they were evaluated for the clinical efficacy of CPDX-PR. Results were excellent in 21 and good in 8 patients. Out of the 29 patients, 3 cases showed diarrhea and 2 cases showed elevated GOT and GPT. The pharmacokinetics of CPDX-PR was studied in 9 patients whose ages ranged from 1 to 9 years. The serum peak concentrations of CPDX in 5 patients were between 1.37 and 4.10 micrograms/ml (mean: 2.53 micrograms/ml) at 1 to 6 hours after dosing 3 mg/kg before meals. Those of 4 patients ranged 3.29 to 4.88 micrograms/ml (mean: 4.36 micrograms/ml) at 2 hours after administering 6 mg/kg before meals. Portions of CPDX excreted into urine within 6 hours ranged from 20.3 to 34.3% (mean 27.1%) in 5 patients who were given 3 mg/kg, and ranged from 24.1 to 65.7% (mean 41.1%) in 4 patients given 6 mg/kg.

[Clinical and pharmacokinetic evaluation of imipenem/cilastatin sodium in neonates and young infants]

Twenty three neonates and young infants were treated with imipenem/cilastatin sodium (IPM/CS) and its clinical efficacy and side effects were evaluated. Ages of the patients ranged from 0 to 83 days, and their body weights ranged from 750 to 4,760 g. Doses of IPM/CS ranged from 17.4 to 21.5 mg/kg as IPM every 6 to 12 hours for 3 to 12 days. Sixteen patients with infections including sepsis, meningitis and pneumonia, appeared to have responded to the IPM/CS treatment. Among them, clinical results were excellent in 2, good in 12 and fair in 2 patients. The drug was well tolerated, but 1 patient had diarrhea, 1 had redness of body during infusion, 1 had elevated GOT and GPT, and 2 patients showed only elevated values of GOT only among the 23 patients. The pharmacokinetics of IPM/CS were studied in 7 patients. Their ages ranged from 0 to 9 days, and body weights ranged from 2.5 to 4.0 kg. Serum concentrations of IPM were between 18.0 and 96.9 micrograms/ml and those of CS ranged 31.7 and 144.5 micrograms/ml in 6 patients at the end of intravenous drip infusion 20 mg/20 mg/kg during 30 or 60 minutes. Elimination half-lives of IPM ranged from 1.2 to 2.0 hours, and those of CS ranged from 1.4 to 2.7 hours. Serum concentrations of IPM was 14.7 micrograms/ml and that of CS was 32.4 micrograms/ml in 1 patient at the end of 30 minute-drip infusion 10 mg/10 mg/kg. The elimination half-lives of IPM was 1.5 hours, and that of CS was 2.9 hours.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Clinical efficacy and pharmacokinetic evaluation of ceftizoxime in neonates and young infants]

Thirteen neonates and young infants, including 5 infants with very low birth weight, were treated with ceftizoxime (CZX) and its clinical efficacy and side effects were evaluated. The ages of the patients ranged from 0 to 96 days, and their body weights ranged from 580 to 5,050 g. Doses given were 20-54 mg/kg every 6 to 12 hours for 2.5 to 7.5 days. Two infants with sepsis, one with urinary tract infection, one with sepsis and urinary tract infection, and 1 with fetal infection were considered to have responded satisfactorily to the CZX treatment. The drug was well tolerated and side effects was not apparent. Pharmacokinetic studies were done on CZX in 8 patients including 4 infants with very low birth weight. Their ages ranged from 2 to 91 days, and body weights from 545 to 5,050 g. Serum concentrations at 2 hours after single 20 mg/kg intravenous bolus injections were 19.2 to 44.2 micrograms/ml and the levels were 2.11 to 26.3 micrograms/ml at 8 hours. Elimination half-lives of CZX ranged 1.90 to 9.57 hours in these patients. In 2 infants with very low birth weights with ages 7 and 91 days, half-lives were as long as 9.57 and 8.24 hours, respectively. Urinary recovery in 6 hours was 31.9-66.9% in 5 patients. Urine concentrations of the drug in 24 samples collected at various time from the 7 patients ranged from 130 to 3,219 micrograms/ml. Influence of CZX on the fecal flora was studied in 1 patient given 20 mg/kg X 4/day of the drug.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Clinical and pharmacokinetic evaluation of a +rokitamycin dry syrup in children]

Twenty five children were treated with rokitamycin (RKM) and its clinical efficacy and side effects were evaluated. Ages of the patients ranged from 13 days to 10 years. Doses of RKM ranged 17.1-39.3 mg/kg/day for 2.3 to 17.7 days. Twenty four patients including 8 Mycoplasma pneumonia, 5 bronchopneumonia, 6 bronchitis, 2 streptococcosis, 1 otitis media, 1 tonsillitis and 1 Chlamydia conjunctivitis were evaluated for clinical efficacy. Results were excellent in 7, good in 12, fair in 4, and poor in 1 patient. One patient was excluded from the evaluation, because the patient was treated with erythromycin before entering this study. Out of the 25 patients, 3 cases showed eosinophilia, 2 cases showed elevated GOT and GPT but no adverse clinical signs due to RKM were observed. The pharmacokinetics of RKM was studied in 5 patients whose ages ranged from 8 to 12 years. Plasma peak concentrations of RKM in 2 patients were 0.14 and 0.16 micrograms/ml at 30 minutes after doses of 5 mg/kg. Peak concentrations in 3 patients ranged from 0.32 to 1.02 micrograms/ml after doses of 10 mg/kg. Portions of the drug excreted into urine within 6 hours were 0.49 and 1.03% in 2 patients each of whom was given doses of 5 mg/kg, and ranged from 1.16 to 1.30% in 3 patients, each given 10 mg/kg. Metabolic products in urine within 4 hours after doses of 5 to 10 mg/kg were studied in 4 patients. Leucomycin A7 and leucomycin V accounted for almost 90% of all the related compounds excreted.

Microbiologic characteristics of exfoliative toxin-producing Staphylococcus aureus

Exfoliative toxin (ET) production, phage types and antibiotic susceptibilities of 74 strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from patients with generalized staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome or bullous impetigo were studied. Of 74 staphylococcal isolates, 61 strains were found to produce ET by the newborn mouse assay method and the latex agglutination method. Fifteen strains were positive for ET-A, 32 for ET-B and 14 for both ET-A and ET-B. Among 61 ET-producing strains 27 (44%) were classified as Phage Group II, 16 (26%) as Group III, and 14 (23%) as Groups I and III. Of 27 Phage Group II strains 14 produced ET-A and 13 produced both ET-A and ET-B, but no strain was positive solely for ET-B. On the other hand 15 of 16 Phage Group III strains and all 14 Phage Group I and III strains produced only ET-B. It was demonstrated that the phage types of staphylococci were closely related to ET types. Characteristically the minimal inhibitory concentrations of penicillin G against ET-producing strains were less than 2 micrograms/ml, in contrast to other pathogenic staphylococci, 60 to 70% of which are highly penicillin G-resistant.