[Induction of fetal lung maturation using ambroxol and betamethasone. Results of an open multicenter study]. / Induktion der fetalen Lungenreifung durch Ambroxol und Betamethason. Ergebnisse einer offenen Multicenter-Studie.

In a randomized open multicenter study the results of antenatal prophylaxis against neonatal RDS by administration of betamethasone were compared with those obtained with the bromhexine VIII metabolite Ambroxol. Ambroxol was administered for a maximum of 5 days - 1000 mg in an infusion solution; betamethasone was injected intramuscularly in 2 daily doses of 8 mg. One of these two substances was given to 123 pregnant women for pulmonary maturation in the fetus, in accordance with a randomization plan. The patients were either being treated for premature labor or pregnancy was terminated on the basis of indication between the 28th and 36th week. Therapy had to be discontinued in 4 cases in each group, because of continued labor and birth, and in one case because of an amniotic infection syndrome. A full analysis of the treatment records of 57 pregnancies in the Ambroxol group was carried out; the corresponding figure for the betamethasone group was 58. In 39 patients the duration of pregnancy was 37 weeks or more, so that no assessment on the basis of neonatal pulmonary maturity was possible. In the remaining pregnancies, RDS morbidity was estimated on the basis of clinical and radiological findings and blood gas analysis. Related to a maximum duration of pregnancy of 34 weeks, RDS morbidity after Ambroxol therapy was 18.2% (2 out of 11), as opposed to 35.7% (5 out of 14) after betamethasone treatment. The results confirm that antenatal administration of Ambroxol can bring about a reduction in neonatal RDS corresponding to that achieved with betamethasone therapy. However, with Ambroxol the occurrence of side-effects is potentially lower; it therefore has advantages over betamethasone while being equally efficacious.

Identification and susceptibility patterns of anaerobic bacteria isolated from clinical specimens during a one-year period.

During the whole of 1983, all anaerobes cultured from clinical specimens were identified using both the Minitek system and gas chromatography. Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns were established using a broth microdilution test. The results show isolation rates for the individual species to be in good agreement with previous studies. Despite widespread use (even for prophylactic purposes), mezlocillin, latamoxef, cefoxitin, metronidazole and clindamycin retained their high activity against anaerobic bacteria and no clusters of resistance were observed. Augmentan also showed excellent in vitro activity. Penicillin was found to be inactive against most gram-negative anaerobic rods while tetracycline showed a rather high degree of resistance.

[The induction of abortion in the second trimester by combined administration of minprostin and sulproston, compared with the use of sulproston alone (author's transl)]. / Kombinierter Einsatz von Minprostin und Sulproston bei der Aborteinleitung im II. Trimenon und bei der Geburtseinleitung beim toten Kind im Vergleich zum alleinigen Sulproston-einsatz.

Sulproston was used to terminate 125 pregnancies from 13 to 41 weeks duration, between 1.1.1979 and 31.12.1980. The indications for termination of pregnancy included medical problems, genetic disorders and neural tube defects. Sulproston alone was used in 30 cases. In the remaining 95 cases the cervix uteri was treated with Minprostin F2a before Sulproston application. The failure rate was 20% when Sulproston alone was used at varying dosage. There were no failures using the combination therapy. Combined therapy reduced the time necessary for abortion by an average of four hours, the period of painful contractions was reduced, and less Sulproston was needed. The incidence of side effects was comparable in the two groups. There were no complications from the intracervical application of Minprostin F2a.

PIP: Sulproston was used to terminate 125 pregnancies from 13-41 weeks duration between January 1, 1979-December 31, 1980. The indications for termination of pregnancy included medical problems, genetic disorders, and neural tube defects. Sulproston alone was used in 30 cases, and the remaining 95 cases, the cervix uteri was treated with Minprostin F2alpha before Sulproston application. The failure rate was 20% when Sulproston alone was used at varying doses. There were no failures using the combination therapy. Combined therapy reduced the time necessary for abortion by an average of 4 hours, the period of painful contractions was reduced, and less Sulproston was needed. The incidence of side effects was comparable in the 2 groups. There were no complications from the intracervical application of Minprostin F2alpha. (author's)