Optimal end point of FR167653 administration and expression of interleukin-8 messenger RNA on extended liver resection with ischemia in dogs.

BACKGROUND: FR167653 is a potent suppressant of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor production. We previously reported that FR167653 inhibited the expression of interleukin-1 messenger RNA (mRNA) after ischemia-reperfusion and provided a protective effect against ischemia-reperfusion injury after extended liver resection. In this study we investigated the optimal end point of FR167653 administration and the inhibition of interleukin-8 (IL-8) mRNA expression caused by the administration of FR167653 during extended liver resection with ischemia in a dog model. STUDY DESIGN: The right portal pedicle was clamped for 60 minutes but the left portal vein was left patent to avoid portal congestion. After reperfusion 75% of the liver was resected. EXPERIMENT I: Adult mongrel dogs were divided into three groups: the control group (n = 9); the FR-2 group (n = 6), which received FR167653 through the portal vein starting 30 minutes before the onset of ischemia until 2 hours after reperfusion; and the FR-6 group (n = 6), which received FR167653 starting 30 minutes before ischemia until 6 hours after reperfusion. Hepatic venous blood was collected to measure liver enzymes. Liver specimens were harvested for histologic study 6 hours after reperfusion and polymorphonuclear neutrophils were counted. EXPERIMENT II: The expression of IL-8 was measured by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels after reperfusion and hyaluronic acid levels 6 hours after reperfusion were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in the FR-2 and FR-6 groups than in the control group. There were no significant differences between the FR-2 and FR-6 groups after reperfusion. Histologically liver tissue damage was mild in the FR-2 and FR-6 groups, and polymorphonuclear neutrophil infiltration was significantly lower in the FR-2 and FR-6 groups than in the control group. The 3-day survival rate was statistically (p < 0.05) better in the FR-2 and FR-6 groups than in the control group. IL-8 mRNA expression was inhibited in the FR-treated group. CONCLUSIONS: FR167653 should be administered until shortly after reperfusion and need not be administered for many hours after reperfusion. FR167653 inhibits IL-8 mRNA production and inhibits polymorphonuclear neutrophil infiltration.

[Two cases in which the presence of ciliospinal response led to indecisiveness in the evaluation of brain death].

The ciliospinal reflex was first described by Budge in 1852. This reflex is used as an indicator of brain stem and autonomic nervous system functioning. In the Japanese guideline for determining brain death, the absence of this reflex is considered essential. We reported two cases in which the ciliospinal responses judged to be present resulted in the authors' indecision in determining brain death. They were the cases of a 74-year-old woman who suffered a right putaminal hemorrhage and that of a 28 year-old male with severe head and cervical cord injury. Although brain death was suspected in both cases from its clinical courses, the fact that the ciliospinal reflex was present in each case kept us from declaring that these patients were in the state of brain death. The center of the ciliospinal reflex lies in the first three segments of the thoracic spinal segments and two pathways are involved in this reflex. A noxious stimulation to the face will be registered through the brain stem, but if stimulation is in the neck or upper trunk, it may go directly to the spinal center. Because of the latter pathway to the spinal center, this reflex might remain in patients in whom the brain stem is completely nonfunctioning. Therefore, the presence of this reflex dose not always preclude a state of brain death.

[The study of flomoxef in the pediatric field].

Flomoxef (FMOX; 6315-S), a new synthetic oxacephem antibiotic, was studied in the pediatric field and pharmacokinetic and clinical results obtained were summarized below. 1. The activity of FMOX against Staphylococcus aureus isolated from clinical patients, including latamoxef resistant strains was very high and MIC was approximately less than or equal to 0.39 microgram/ml. This MIC value was lower than other cephem antibiotics such as cefotaxime, cefotiam, cefmetazole, cefamandole. The distribution of MIC's of FMOX against Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. ranged from 0.05 to 0.78 microgram/ml and from 0.05 to 0.39 microgram/ml, respectively. 2. Serum concentrations of FMOX after dosages of 20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg with 1 hour intravenous drip infusion were 21.5-27.5 micrograms/ml, 6.00-7.81 micrograms/ml, 0.37-0.59 micrograms/ml at 1, 2, 5 hours after administration, respectively, and T1/2(beta) were 0.61-0.83 hour. Serum concentrations after one shot intravenous injection of 20 mg/kg FMOX were 56.7-90.2 and 0.20-0.26 micrograms/ml at 3-10 minutes and 6 hours after administration, respectively, T1/2(beta) was 1.22 hours and urinary excretion rate was 66.7-69.8% in 6 hours. 3. FMOX was administered to 32 cases (upper and lower respiratory tract infection, and purulent infections) at 3-4 times daily for 4-13 days. In these cases the daily dosage amounted to 41-119 mg/kg. Clinical effectiveness was 97% overall including resistance cases upon other cephem antibiotic treatment. All bacterial species identified including Branhamella catarrhalis, Streptococcus pyogenes, S. aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Haemophilus influenzae were eradicated upon the treatment with FMOX. 4. Only 3 cases of soft stool, 1 case of elevated GOT and GPT, and 1 case of elevated GPT were observed, and all of these adverse reactions were normalized after the completion of treatment.