[Usefulness of dipstick test for determining leukocytes and bacteria in urine].

The value of a simple dipstick test (BMtestLN, Boehringer Mannheim-Shionogi) for determination of leukocytes and bacteria in urine was examined. This test consisted of detection of esterase, an enzyme present in leukocytes and the nitrate reduced by bacteria. A total of 666 clinical urine specimens were tested with both tests. The evaluation of leukocytes in urine was compared with microscopic examination, and the identification and measurement of strains was performed using a semiquantitative plate culture method as a reference. The leukocyte esterase test had a sensitivity of 85.3%, a specificity of 67.3%, positive predictive value of 54.7% and negative predictive value of 90.8%. The range of the sensitivity value of nitrate test was 25.7% for the detection of bacteriuria (bacteria greater than or equal to 10(4) CFU/ml). This test had a specificity of 99.6%, positive predictive value of 94.8% and negative value of 82.9%. We concluded that this dipstick test is not useful for determination of the slight change of pyuria, but sensitive for the determination of acute and untreated urinary tract infections.

[A case of ectopia testis transversa].

A case of ectopia testis transversa was reported. A patient, 35-year-old male, was admitted to our hospital with swelling of left scrotal contents. At operation, two testes were situated in the left scrotal half, but the right half was empty. Including our case, 66 cases of ectopia testis transversa have been reported in Japan.

Clinical evaluation of pivmecillinam in intractable urinary-tract infections with complications. A comparative study with amoxicillin by a randomized double-blind technique.

A comparative study was made by the double-blind technique in order to make clear the usefulness of pivmecillinam in the treatment of intractable complicated urinary-tract infections using amoxicillin as a reference drug. Pivmecillinam was given in dosage of 400 mg (potency) per day which was one-fifth the dose of amoxicillin 2,000 mg (potency) per day. In global judgement, pivmecillinam was found superior to amoxicillin. It showed a "significant" superiority over amoxicillin for the treatment of, among others, the urinary-tract infections after prostatectomy, which are intractable diseases. When evaluated by symptoms, pivmecillinam improved bacteriuria "significantly" better than amoxicillin. When seen by causative organisms, the pivmecillinam treatment was "significantly" superior to the amoxicillin treatment against E. coli infections. Pivmecillinam was active against amoxicillin-resistant E. coli. Incidence of adverse reactions was less frequent with pivmecillinam than with amoxicillin. These results indicate that pivmecillinam is a drug of high usefulness for the treatment of intractable complicated urinary-tract infections when evaluated using amoxicillin as a reference drug.