Metabolomics analysis of saliva from patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

The recent development of salivary proteomics has led to the identification of potential biomarkers for diagnosing patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Here we sought to identify differentially produced salivary metabolites from pSS patients and healthy controls (HCs) that might be used to characterize this disease. We obtained salivary samples from 12 female pSS patients (mean age 44.2 ± 13.01) and 21 age-matched female HCs. The metabolite profiles of saliva were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The total metabolite levels in each of the samples were calculated and compared across the study participants. A total of 88 metabolites were detected across the study samples, 41 of which were observed at reduced levels in the samples from pSS patients. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed a loss in salivary metabolite diversity in the pSS patient samples compared to the HC samples. The reduced presence of glycine, tyrosine, uric acid and fucose, which may reflect salivary gland destruction due to chronic sialoadenitis, contributed to the loss of diversity. Comparative PCA of the pSS patients revealed the presence of two subpopulations based on their metabolite profiles, and these two subpopulations showed a significant difference in the prevalence of major salivary glanditis (P = 0.014). In this study, we found that the salivary metabolite profile of pSS patients was less diverse than that of HCs and that the metabolite profiles in pSS patients were affected by the presence of major salivary glanditis.

[Fundamental and clinical studies on T-1982 (cefbuperzone), a new cephamycin antibiotic, in the field of pediatrics].

Studies on T-1982 (cefbuperazone), a new cephamycin antibiotic, were carried out in the field of pediatrics, and the following results were obtained. 1. Peak MIC of T-1982 against S. pyogenes (group A) lately isolated was 0.39 micrograms/ml, and the drug was active even against highly resistant strains of macrolides, lincomycin, tetracycline and chloramphenicol. 2. Peak MICs of T-1982 were 0.78 microgram/ml against B. pertussis, 0.2 microgram/ml against E. coli and less than or equal to 0.05 microgram/ml against K. oxytoca, and the drug was also active against ampicillin-resistant bacteria. 3. Serum levels and urinary excretions of T-1982 were investigated in 6 cases. When given at a dose of 20-28 mg/kg by 1 hour intravenous drip infusion, serum concentrations of T-1982 attained the peak level of 63.5-75.9 micrograms/ml at the end of administration and sustained the level of 0.9-2.6 micrograms/ml at 6 hours, the serum half-life (T 1/2) ranging 70-82 minutes. Approximately 20-72% of the dose were excreted in the active form into urine within 6 hours. 4. Twenty-seven cases of acute pediatric infections were treated with T-1982 mainly by intravenous drip infusion, and satisfactory clinical results were obtained in all the cases of angina lacunaris, bronchitis, bronchopneumonia, pertussis, sepsis caused by Serratia and acute urinary tract infections caused by ampicillin-resistant E. coli. The efficacy rate was 96.3%. In this study the drug was administered chiefly at a daily dose of 50-70 mg/kg 2-3 times a day for 2-12 days. 5. Gram-positive cocci (S. aureus, S. pneumoniae, S. pyogenes) and Gram-negative rods (H. influenzae, H. parainfluenzae P. vulgaris, B. pertussis, S. marcescens, E. coli) were eradicated by the treatment with T-1982. 6. No noticeable side effects were observed, except for temporary increase of eosinophil in 2 cases and slight elevation of GOT in 1 case.

[Fundamental and clinical studies in pediatrics on PC-904, a penicillin with broad spectrum newly developed in Japan (author's transl)].

Fundamental and clinical studies of PC-904, a newly developed penicillin with a broad spectrum, were performed and the following results were obtained. (1) The serum levels of PC-904 after 1.5 hours drip infusion reached the peak at 1 hour or at the end of the infusion and the detectable levels of PC-904 were maintained up to 2 or 3 hours after the end of the infusion. (2) The urinary excretion rates up to 6 hours after the onset of the infusion were 19.2 approximately 25.5%. (3) Forty-one patients were treated with PC-904 and the majority of the diseases were acute respiratory infections. The treatment by the drip infusion of 50 approximately 100 mg/kg/day resulted in good responses to whooping cough, and lacunar tonsillitis, lymphadenitis and staphylococcal scald skin syndrome resistant to the treatment by ampicillin and cephalexin. The satisfactory results were also obtained by the treatment of almost the same dosage in the patients with acute bronchitis, bronchopneumonia and measles pneumonia. (4) Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae were isolated from the sputum culture of the patients with bronchopneumonia and they responded well to the treatment with PC-904. (5) The drip infusion of 60 approximately 70 mg/kg/day for 5 approximately 6 days was shown to be useful in the treatment of urinary tract infection of which the causative organism was E. coli. (6) No side effects were observed except rubella-like eruption in one case. (7) Clinical evaluation was examined in all cases except one patient of which the medication was withdrawn due to eruption, and the overall clinical efficacy was excellent or good in all of 40 cases.