Antipyretic effects of dipyrone versus ibuprofen versus acetaminophen in children: results of a multinational, randomized, modified double-blind study.

This study compared the antipyretic effectiveness of acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and dipyrone in young children with fever. The results were based on a modified double-blind, randomized, multinational trial that evaluated 628 febrile children, aged 6 months to 6 years. All three drugs lowered temperature in the 555 patients completing the study. Temperature normalization rates in the ibuprofen and dipyrone groups (78% and 82%, respectively) were significantly higher than the acetaminophen group (68%, P = 0.004). After 4 to 6 hours, mean temperature in the dipyrone group was significantly lower than the other groups, demonstrating longer temperature normalization with dipyrone. All three drugs showed comparable tolerability profiles.

[In vitro antimicrobial activity of cefpirome compared to other broad-spectrum beta-lactam drugs against 804 clinical isolates from 9 Brazilian hospitals]. / Atividade antimicrobiana in vitro da cefpiroma em comparação com outros beta-lactâmicos de amplo espectro contra 804 amostras clínicas de nove hospitais brasileiros.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the in vitro activity of the fourth-generation cephalosporin cefpirome in comparison to that of ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime and imipenem in a multicenter study involving nine hospitals from six cities (four States). MATERIAL AND METHOD: A total of 804 isolates from patients hospitalized in either intensive care units or Oncology/Hematology units was evaluated. The isolates were collected between June and November of 1995, i.e. before cefpirome became commercially available in Brazil, and susceptibility tested by broth microdilution following the NCCLS procedures. All isolates resistant to cefpirome were retested by E-test. RESULTS: Against Enterobacteriaceae (n = 344), cefpirome demonstrated an activity 2 to 32-fold higher than that of the third-generation cephalosporins (TGCs) and similar to that of imipenem. The percentages of Enterobacteriaceae susceptible were: 88%, 69% and 96% for cefpirome, TGCs and imipenem, respectively. The cefpirome spectrum was greater or equal than that of imipenem against Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter aerogenes, Morganella morganii and Serratia marcescens. Against Acinetobacter sp. (n = 77), cefpirome was slightly more active than ceftazidime; however, the percentages of isolates resistant to these compounds were high (84% and 88%, respectively). The activities of cefpirome, ceftazidime and imipenem were very similar against P. aeruginosa isolates (n = 128), with MIC50(mg/ml)/percent susceptible of 8/59%, 8/62% and 4/62% respectively. Against aerobic gram-positive bacteria, the cefpirome activity was 4 to 16-fold higher than that of TGCs but 2 to 8-fold lower than that of imipenem. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that, in Brazil, cefpirome has a spectrum of activity which is higher than that of the TGCs against aerobic gram-negative (Enterobacteriaceae and non-Enterobacteriaceae) and gram-positive bacteria and similar to that of imipenem against some Enterobacteriaceae species and P. aeruginosa.

Atividade antimicrobiana in vitro da cefpiroma em comparaçäo com outros beta-lactâmicos de amplo espectro contra 804 amostras clínicas de nove hospitais brasileiros / Antimicrobial activity of cefpirome compared to other broad-spectrum beta-lactam drugs against 804 clinical isolates from 9 Brazilian hospitals

Objetivo. Avaliar a atividade in vitro da cefalosporina de quarta geraçao, cefpiroma em comparaçao com ceftazidima, ceftriaxona, cefotaxima e imipenem em um estudo multicêntrico envolvendo nove hospitais de seis cidades em quatro estados. Material e Métodos. Foram estudadas 804 amostras clínicas isoladas em pacientes internados em unidades de terapia intensiva ou unidades de oncohematologia. As amostras foram coletadas no período de junho a novembro de 1995, isto é, antes da cefpiroma estar disponível comercialmente no Brasil, e testadas através do método de microdiluiçao em placas conforme descrito pelo National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS). Todas as amostras resistentes à cefpiroma foram retestadas utilizando-se o E-test. Resultados. Contra as amostras de enterobactérias (n=344), a cefpiroma apresentou atividade de 2 a 32 vezes superior àquela apresentada pelas cefalosporinas de terceira geraçao (CTGs) e semelhnate àquela apresentada pelo imipenem. As porcentagens de enterobactérias sensíveis foram: 88 por cento para a cefpiroma, 69 por cento para as CTGs e 96 por cento para o imipenem. O espectro de açao da cefpiroma foi maior ou igual ao do imipenem contras as espécies Citrobacter freundii, E. aerogenes, Morganella morganii e Serratia marcescens. Contra Acinetobacter sp. (n=77), a cefpiroma foi ligeiramente mais ativa que a ceftazidima, porém as porcentagens de resistência foram muito altas para esses compostos (84 por cento e 88 por cento respectivamente). As atividades da cefpiroma, ceftazidima e imipenem foram semelhantes contra Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=128), com MIC50/porcentagem de sensibilidade de 8/59 por cento, 8/62 por cento e 4/62 por cento respectivamente. Contra bactérias aeróbias gram-positivas, a cefpiroma foi de 4 a 16 vezes mais ativa que as CTGs. Contra S. epidermidis e outras espécies de estafilococos coagulase-negativos a cefpiroma foi ligeiramente superior ao imipenem, porém, contra as outras espécies de bactérias gram-positivas avaliadas, o imipenem apresentou atividade um pouco superior. Conclusao: Os resultados desse estudo sugerem que, no Brasil, a cefpiroma apresenta espectro de açao superior ao das CTGs contra bactérias gram-negativas (Enterobacteriaceae e nao fermentadares) e gram-positivas e semelhante ao do imipenem contra algumas espécies de enterobactérias e contra P. aeruginosa.

Phase II trial of weekly i.v. vinorelbine as a single agent in first-line advanced breast cancer chemotherapy. The Latin-American experience.

This study investigated the therapeutic effect of single-agent i.v. weekly Navelbine (vinorelbine), a semisynthetic vinca alkaloid, in women who had received no prior treatment for locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Of 68 patients entered into the study, 63 were adequate inclusions, assessable for toxicity and response by WHO criteria; the 5 patients who were not evaluated were excluded from analysis because they were found not to meet the eligibility criteria of the study. Navelbine was given as a weekly 30 mg/m2 short i.v. (20 minutes) infusion; treatment was continued until disease progression. The overall response rate was 44% (complete response 8%, partial response 36%). The response rate according to target was lymph nodes, 62.9%; liver, 50.0%; lung, 50.0%; skin, 37.5%; and primary tumor, 30.8%. The median duration of response was 17.9 weeks (range: 7-52 weeks). The median time to treatment failure was 12.9 weeks, and the median survival was 50.3 weeks. The 63 eligible patients received 501 cycles. The mean dose intensity was 76%. At least one episode of WHO grade 3/4 granulocytopenia was seen in 46% of the patients (13.6% of cycles). Significant nausea/vomiting was seen in only 5% of patients corresponding to 1% of cycles. Only 5% of patients developed WHO grade 3-4 constipation and grade 3 peripheral neuropathy was observed in 1.6% of patients. Alopecia was rare (6.3% of patients), and other side effects were uncommon. This study confirms that Navelbine has major single-agent antitumor activity as frontline therapy in advanced breast cancer. Given its excellent tolerance profile and low morbidity, it should be recommended for inclusion in first-line combination chemotherapy regimens.