Principles of antimicrobial therapy.

It has been 2500 years since the Chinese began applying moldy soybean curd to cure skin infections. Technology today has refined the benefits of antibiotic-forming molds and bacteria and has greatly increased the number of antimicrobial drugs available to combat infection. Understanding the principles fundamental to rational therapy with these drugs will ensure the best of possible outcomes.

[Lactose digestion by milk fermented with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei of human origin]. / Digestión de la lactosa por una leche fermentada con Lactobacillus acidophilus y Lactobacillus casei de origen humano.

The aim of the present study was to determine whether a fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus acidophilus strains isolated from human subjects (CFM) and developed by CERELA (Centro de referencia para Lactobacilos) is better tolerated than regular milk (RM) by subjects with lactase deficiency (< 1 unidad) and lactose intolerance. We studied the digestion of the lactose present in the two milk preparations which were administered to 18 healthy subjects with lactase deficiency and 12 control subjects. Each subject ingested in random sequence on different days, 480 ml CFM, 480 ml RM and 240 ml CFM and 240 ml RM. Breath hydrogen (H2) test was used to measure lactose absorption and orocecal transit time (OCTT). The peak H2 ppm results after 480 ml of CFM were ingested, reached 19.5 +/- 12.1 ppm. The same reading when 480 ml of RM were ingested was 52.6 +/- 31.9 ppm (p < 0.008). The results also showed that 480 ml of CFM delayed OCTT median 111.0 +/- 6.78 min versus 54.0 +/- 5.09 min of RM (p < 0.001) and reduced the development of symptoms (p < 0.08) such as bloating (p < 0.05), borborygmi (p < 0.025) diarrhea (p < 0.05) and abdominal colics (p < 0.05). In spite of the small number of cases studied, it seems justified to conclude that CERELA fermented milk significantly influences lactose digestion and minor development of symptoms in lactase-deficient subjects and lengthens significantly the orocecal transit time compared with regular milk.

Digestión de la lactosa por una leche fermentada con Lactobacillus acidophilus y Lactobacillus casei de origen humano. / [Lactose digestion by milk fermented with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei of human origin]

The aim of the present study was to determine whether a fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus acidophilus strains isolated from human subjects (CFM) and developed by CERELA (Centro de referencia para Lactobacilos) is better tolerated than regular milk (RM) by subjects with lactase deficiency (< 1 unidad) and lactose intolerance. We studied the digestion of the lactose present in the two milk preparations which were administered to 18 healthy subjects with lactase deficiency and 12 control subjects. Each subject ingested in random sequence on different days, 480 ml CFM, 480 ml RM and 240 ml CFM and 240 ml RM. Breath hydrogen (H2) test was used to measure lactose absorption and orocecal transit time (OCTT). The peak H2 ppm results after 480 ml of CFM were ingested, reached 19.5 +/- 12.1 ppm. The same reading when 480 ml of RM were ingested was 52.6 +/- 31.9 ppm (p < 0.008). The results also showed that 480 ml of CFM delayed OCTT median 111.0 +/- 6.78 min versus 54.0 +/- 5.09 min of RM (p < 0.001) and reduced the development of symptoms (p < 0.08) such as bloating (p < 0.05), borborygmi (p < 0.025) diarrhea (p < 0.05) and abdominal colics (p < 0.05). In spite of the small number of cases studied, it seems justified to conclude that CERELA fermented milk significantly influences lactose digestion and minor development of symptoms in lactase-deficient subjects and lengthens significantly the orocecal transit time compared with regular milk.

Análisis de los valores de protoporfirina eritrocitaria libre, en escolares de una zona urbana de Buenos Aires / Free erythrocyte protoporphyrins study in school-children of Buenos Aires city

El aumento de la Protoporfirina Eritrocitaria Libre (FEP), detecta deficiencias marginales de hierro (Fe), constituyendo un indicador precoz que, a las características de simplicidad y rapidez, une las de su determinación en una muestra mínima de sangre de fácil conservación. Pese a esta ventajas, ha sido poco utilizada en estudios poblacionales, salvo en USA, donde su aplicación en la II Nutritional and National Health Examination Survey (NANHES II), ha permitido establecer valores normativos para las diferentes edades. En este trabajo, se aporta información sobre los valores hallados en una población escolar (n = 102), perteneciente al nivel socio-económico bajo y medio-bajo de la ciudad de Buenos Aires, en la que se determinó Hematocrito (Hto) y FEP (según Piomelli). Los resultados, expresados como FEP/dL de glóbulos rojos (FEP/dLg.r.), se agruparon de acuerdo con intervalos de edad y se compararon: a)entre sí, mediante análisis de varianza; b)con los valores normativos derivados de NHANES II, para los mismos rangos de edad. El 99%de la población mostró valores normales de Hto, y de FEP/dL g.r. Los promedios de FEP/dLg.r., para los datos agrupados por años de edad cumplida, no presentaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas: 40ñ22; 23ñ17; 25ñ14; 29ñ13; 31ñ15; 29ñ15; 28ñ20; 32ñ12; 30ñ30 (4 a 12 años, respectivamente). Estos valores fueron sensiblemente inferiores a los considerados normales en NHANES II y en el 90%de los casos inferiores a los de su mediana. Se observó correspondencia entre el valor de la mediana y el percentilo 5 de la población norteamericana. Los valores obtenidos para la mediana y percentilo 95 fueron, respectivamente: < 5 años: 25 & 55; 6-8 años: 25 & 57; 9-11 años: 29 & 55; 12-13 años; 29 & 51

Análisis de los valores de protoporfirina eritrocitaria libre, en escolares de una zona urbana de Buenos Aires / Free erythrocyte protoporphyrins study in school-children of Buenos Aires city

El aumento de la Protoporfirina Eritrocitaria Libre (FEP), detecta deficiencias marginales de hierro (Fe), constituyendo un indicador precoz que, a las características de simplicidad y rapidez, une las de su determinación en una muestra mínima de sangre de fácil conservación. Pese a esta ventajas, ha sido poco utilizada en estudios poblacionales, salvo en USA, donde su aplicación en la II Nutritional and National Health Examination Survey (NANHES II), ha permitido establecer valores normativos para las diferentes edades. En este trabajo, se aporta información sobre los valores hallados en una población escolar (n = 102), perteneciente al nivel socio-económico bajo y medio-bajo de la ciudad de Buenos Aires, en la que se determinó Hematocrito (Hto) y FEP (según Piomelli). Los resultados, expresados como FEP/dL de glóbulos rojos (FEP/dLg.r.), se agruparon de acuerdo con intervalos de edad y se compararon: a)entre sí, mediante análisis de varianza; b)con los valores normativos derivados de NHANES II, para los mismos rangos de edad. El 99%de la población mostró valores normales de Hto, y de FEP/dL g.r. Los promedios de FEP/dLg.r., para los datos agrupados por años de edad cumplida, no presentaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas: 40ñ22; 23ñ17; 25ñ14; 29ñ13; 31ñ15; 29ñ15; 28ñ20; 32ñ12; 30ñ30 (4 a 12 años, respectivamente). Estos valores fueron sensiblemente inferiores a los considerados normales en NHANES II y en el 90%de los casos inferiores a los de su mediana. Se observó correspondencia entre el valor de la mediana y el percentilo 5 de la población norteamericana. Los valores obtenidos para la mediana y percentilo 95 fueron, respectivamente: < 5 años: 25 & 55; 6-8 años: 25 & 57; 9-11 años: 29 & 55; 12-13 años; 29 & 51

Effect of dexamethasone on gonadotrophin secretion in the gonadectomized sow and boar.

Saline solution or dexamethasone (DXM, 35 micrograms/kg bodyweight) was injected intramuscularly twice daily for four days into five ovariectomized sows and five castrated boars. Blood samples from an indwelling jugular vein catheter were taken at 15 min intervals for 12 h prior to DXM injection and on the fourth day of treatment in order to compare the effect on variables describing the pulsatile secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Dexamethasone treatment caused a decrease (p less than 0.05) in the number of pulsatile episodes of LH secretion in both gonadectomized boars and sows resulting in a significant decrease in mean concentrations. Follicle stimulating hormone secretion parameters appeared to be unaffected by DXM injection in both groups of animals. It is concluded that previously described differences in LH suppression in boars and sows given glucocorticoids may be attributed to the influence of gonadal hormones.

Effect of dexamethasone on secretion of luteinizing hormone and testosterone in the boar.

Eight adult, Yorkshire-Landrace crossbred boars were used to evaluate the effects of the synthetic glucocorticoid, dexamethasone (DXM) on the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone. Four treatments of 4 d each were administered: 1) 2 ml i.m. of 0.9% (w/v) NaCl solution (control); 2) DXM (2 ml i.m. as a dose of 50 mug/kg body weight, every 12 h); 3) DXM plus gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH; 50 mug in 1 ml i.m. every 6 h); 4) 2 ml NaCl solution i.m. plus a single dose of 50 mug i.v. GnRH. Blood samples were collected twice daily from an indwelling jugular vein catheter for 3 d and at 15 min intervals for 12 h on the fourth day. DXM treatment resulted in lower (P M0.01) testosterone values in samples collected twice daily. More frequent sampling on Day 4 revealed that DXM reduced (P<0.01) the number of pulsatile increases of LH in plasma, although the individual mean pulse areas did not fiffer between the NaCl- and DXM-treated groups. This was associated with a decreased pulse frequency of testosterone (P<0.05). GnRH plus DXM treatment caused a significant elevation (P<0.05) in mean values as well as in the mean pulse area and in the total of the individual pulse areas of LH. Pulse area and mean concentrations of testosterone were also increased (P<0.01) when GnRH was given concurrently with DXM. Comparison of a single injection of GnRH when NaCl was being administered (Treatment 4) to one of the injections of GnRH (Day 4, 0800 h, Treatment 3) revealed a subsequently greater (P<0.01) pulse area in LH above base-line during DXM treatment (7.67 +/- 1.17 ng/ml) than during the NaCl (4.17 +/- 0.73 ng/ml) treatment period. This was reflected in a greater (P<0.01) pulse increase of testosterone following the LH pulse in boars treated with DXM. It is concluded that DXM treatment in the boar can reduce the pulse frequency of LH secretion, presumably by affecting GnRH secretion, but it has less effect directly on pituitary LH synthesis and release.