[Biogerontology: status and current developments]. / Biogerontologie: Stand und aktuelle Entwicklungen.

Biogerontology is defined by the interdisciplinary research on causes and mechanisms of biological aging--aiming to unravel the mystery of human senescence. Here the state of this research area is presented separately in two parts: (1) activities and appreciation of biogerontology as a scientific discipline in Germany compared mainly to the USA, (2) recent developments in the scientific content and progress in the research of aging. As for Germany, except for some special items the fast growing importance of biogerontology is not reflected by research activities in this field, organization, social acknowledgement, and attraction for the younger generation of academics. Some reasons probably responsible for this critical situation are indicated. A rough sketch is made about the international publication activities in biogerontology following data of leading biomedical literature data banks. Main scientific, contents and trends are discussed. The stochastic damage theories of aging, mainly the dominating "Free Radical Theory of Aging" (40) or similar "Oxidation Hypotheses of Aging" (82)--commercially heavily supported by sellers of "Antioxidants"--are criticized from an evolutionary point of view. Such theories are not compatible with the evidence for the adaptive role of senescence as outlined recently (5). This evolutionary theory of aging and its application to an intensified research on the identification of the genetic program of regenerative syntheses and senescence in metazoic organisms offers a firm base for the future research on aging.

Clinical experience in the treatment of complicated urinary tract infection with different doses of moxalactam (lamoxactam).

Moxalactam disodium underwent phase II evaluation to determine its efficacy, safety, and tolerance in the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (UTI). Bacteriologic cultures of a clean midstream urine specimen were made and antibiotic sensitivities determined by FDA standard disk testing. Urinalysis and cultures were performed on specimens obtained within 24 h of starting therapy, on the 3rd or 4th day, and the last day of treatment, and again 5-9 days later. Whenever possible a urine sample was obtained 4-6 weeks after therapy in an attempt to measure recurrence of infection. Duration of treatment ranged from 8 to 21 days. Patients were assigned to one of the three treatment groups in chronological order at entry: group I = 2 g single daily dose i.v.; group II = divided dose of 1.0 g i. m.; and group III = single daily dose of 1 g i. m. A total of 122 patients with 129 pathogens entered the study; all completed the protocol. Of 129 pathogens 85 were eliminated. The success rate of about 70% in the three different treatment groups showed no significant difference. In 12 cases the pathogen disappeared while the patient was on treatment but recurred during the post-therapy period. In 28 patients reinfection with a new pathogen, mainly Enterococcus, occurred. There were four therapeutic failures in which the pathogen was not eliminated during any time of treatment. The organisms were either persistent or resistant. In conclusion, moxalactam is highly effective in treating complicated UTIs even at a relatively low dose. We observed no significant difference between the three different treatment protocols used. The only major problem encountered was that Enterococcus is typically resistant to moxalactam, a problem of clinical relevance, particularly in cases of reinfections.