[After 103 years, is it time to cancel the Hasselbalch equation from textbooks?]

The equation called "Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation" was created in 1916 following the Henderson Equation published in 1908. After analyzing the evolution from the simplicity of Henderson to the complexity of Hasselbalch, it is hoped that the acid-base balance can become a simpler and more exciting topic if approached and taught without using the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, which includes 4 logarithms. It is stated that the rationale underlying the understanding of acid-base equilibrium and its clinical application is already clearly inherent in the much simpler Henderson formula (without logarithms), which is sufficient, and very useful, for both teaching and learning in Medicine.

Prulifloxacin vs Levofloxacin for Exacerbation of COPD after Failure of Other Antibiotics.

The chronic course and evolution of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is often characterized by periods of exacerbation of symptoms, which have a negative impact on the quality of life of patients, as well as on the evolution of COPD, and represent a significant cause of medical intervention and hospitalization. Very few data are available on the efficacy of rescue antibiotics in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) unresponsive to previous treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of two fluoroquinolones in AECOPD previously treated without success. The FADOI-FLOR study is a randomized, single-blind, non-inferiority comparison between levofloxacin and prulifloxacin. Primary end-point was "therapeutic success" at Day 10 of treatment, defined as disappearance of signs/symptoms or decrease of at least three points of a global score of symptomatology (maximum score = 15). 258 patients were enrolled (128 levofloxacin and 130 prulifloxacin), in 25 centers. A very high proportion of patients in the two groups had therapeutic success at Day-10 (levofloxacin 93.0% vs prulifloxacin 96.7%, population intention-to-treat; 94.6% vs 99.1%, population per-protocol). Earlier therapeutic success (within 7 days) was achieved in 32.0% and 36.2% of patients receiving levofloxacin or prulifloxacin, respectively. At 3-month follow-up, re-exacerbations occurred in 17.8% of patients treated with levofloxacin and 14.2% of those receiving prulifloxacin (p = 0.44). In conclusion, fluoroquinolones are very effective in the treatment of AECOPD resistant to other antibiotics.

Jacques Loeb (1859-1924) and His Forgotten Contributions to Electrolyte and Acid-Base Physiology in The Organism as a Whole.

Jacques Loeb (1859-1924) was the founder of the Journal of General Physiology which he co-directed in association with W.J.V. Osterhout in the years 1918-1924. Having worked (1889-1891)at the Marine Zoological Station of Naples, newly founded by Anton Dohrn, he was imprinted for life. A strong investigator used to perform the experiments personally. Loeb was engaged lifelong in the explanation of life on physico-chemical basis. He touched various fields (being a creative scientist full of ideas), and centered on the exchanges of electrolytes, acids and bases between the body and sea water in fish. He identified two equations: {[K+]+[Na+]}: {[Ca++]+[Mg++]} (Loebs 1st equation) {[K+]+[Na+]}: {[H+]+[Ca++]+[Mg++]} (Loebs final equation) Even nowadays these equations may have applications in a wide list of electrolyte and acid-base disturbances. Unfortunately his heredity has been dissipated.