1,721,133 research outputs found
Cationic peptides combined with betalactams reduce mortality from peritonitis in experimental rat model.
No full textThe efficacy of cationic peptides combined with betalactams was investigated in a peritonitis rat model. Intraabdominal sepsis was induced in adult Wistar rats via cecal ligation and single puncture. The study included eight drug-treated groups: each of them received intravenous polymyxin-E (1 mg/kg), buforin II (1 mg/kg), imipenem (20 mg/kg), amoxicillin-clavulanate (50 mg/kg), polymyxin-E (1 mg/kg) plus imipenem (20 mg/kg), or amoxicillin-clavulanate (50 mg/kg), and buforin II (1 mg/kg) plus imipenem (20 mg/kg), or amoxicillin-clavulanate (50 mg/kg). The study included an untreated control group that received intravenous isotonic sodium chloride solution. All compounds significantly reduced the lethality and the number of bacteria in abdominal fluid compared with saline treatment. Among compounds, imipenem showed the highest antimicrobial activity, while buforin II produced the highest reduction in plasma endotoxin and TNF-alpha levels. Overall, buforin II and imipenem association were the most effective therapeutic approach. Data presented here suggest the potential advantages of combining antimicrobial agents and compounds able to neutralize the biological effect of the endotoxin
[Vascular graft infection by Staphylococcus epidermidis: efficacy of various perioperative prophylaxis protocols in an animal model].
No full textA rat model was used to investigate the efficacy of levofloxacin, cefazolin and teicoplanin in the prevention of vascular prosthetic graft infection. Graft infections were established in the subcutaneous tissue of 300 male Wistar rats by implantation of Dacron prostheses followed by topical inoculation with methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis. The study included a group without contamination, two contaminated groups without prophylaxis, two contaminated groups with intraperitoneal levofloxacin prophylaxis (10 mg/kg), two contaminated groups with intraperitoneal cefazolin prophylaxis (30 mg/kg), two contaminated groups with intraperitoneal teicoplanin prophylaxis (10 mg/kg) and six contaminated groups with rifampin-soaked graft and intraperitoneal levofloxacin, cefazolin or te- icoplanin prophylaxis. The grafts were removed after 7 days and evaluated by quantitative culture. The efficacy of levofloxacin against the methicillin- susceptible strain did not differ from that of cefazolin or teicoplanin. Levofloxacin showed slight less efficacy than teicoplanin against the methicillin-resistant strain. The levofloxacin-rifampin combination proved to be similarly effective to the rifampin-teicoplanin combination and more effective than the rifampin-cefazolin combination against both strains. The rifampin-levofloxacin combination may be useful for the prevention of late-appearing vascular graft infections caused by S. epidermidis because it takes advantage of the good anti-staphylococcal activity of both drugs
Therapeutic efficacy of the polymyxin-like peptide ranalexin in an experimental model of endotoxemia.
No full textBACKGROUND:
A rat model was used to investigate the efficacy of a polycationic peptide, the polymyxin-like ranalexin, in the prevention of lethality in a rat model of septic shock. The effect of ranalexin was compared with those of polymyxin B and imipenem.
METHODS:
Adult male Wistar rats (weight range: 250-300 g) were used for all the experiments. The study included five groups: an uninfected control group C(0), an untreated control group C(1), and three drug-treated groups that received 1 mg/kg ranalexin (group 2), 20 mg/kg imipenem (group 3), and 3 mg/kg polymyxin B (group 4). Rats, with the exception of the uninfected control group (C(0)), were given an intraperitoneal injection of 2 x 10(10) colony-forming units of Escherichia coli. Each group included 15 animals. Bacterial growth in abdominal exudate and plasma; endotoxin and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) concentrations in plasma, and mortality were evaluated.
RESULTS:
Results were evaluated 48 h after inoculation. Ranalexin, imipenem, and polymyxin B significantly reduced the lethality (survival was 93.3, 80.0, and 93.3%, respectively) and the growth of E. coli both in abdominal fluid and plasma compared with saline treatment. Ranalexin showed higher antimicrobial activity than polymyxin B and imipenem and, at the same time, exhibited an antiendotoxin activity similar to that of polymyxin B (< or =0.015 EU/mL). Finally, ranalexin and polymyxin B significantly reduced plasma TNF-alpha levels (< or =4 pg/mL).
CONCLUSION:
Monodose ranalexin treatment prevents bacterial growth, endotoxemia, and mortality in rats with septic shock
Tacrolimus and Everolimus de novo versus minimization of standard dosage of Tacrolimus provides a similar renal function at one year after liver transplantation: a case-control matched-pairs analysis
No full textBACKGROUND:
The efficacy in renal protection of Everolimus (Evr)-based regimens compared to standard dosages of Tacrolimus (Tac) has recently become known. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively compare the renal function in the first year after LT, with a case-control approach, in patients treated with Tac monotherapy at sub-standard dose vs. an immunosuppressive regimen with Tac and Evr.
MATERIAL/METHODS:
Following a 2: 1 case-control approach, 37 patients with an immunosuppression regimen based on Tac only (Tac Group) were retrospectively compared with 74 patients utilizing a combination of Evr and Tac (Evr-Tac Group), based on the following preoperative parameters: sex, age, MELD score (±3), and pre-LT chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage.
RESULTS:
After a mean follow-up of 82.8 ± 24 vs. 42.4 ± 16.6 months (p < 0.001), overall survival in 1, 3, and 5 years was 97.3, 91.9, and 86.5% vs. 95.9, 81.1, and 69.5% (p = 0.10) for the Tac Group vs. the Evr-Tac Group, respectively. The trend of the estimated glomerular filtration rate (e-GFR) during the first year post-LT was similar between the 2 study groups (80.1 ± 21 vs. 73.3 ± 16 mL/min/1.73 m^2, for the Tac Group vs. the Evr-Tac Group, respectively, p = 0.23). The incidence of acute rejection histologically proven was 32.4% vs. 20% (p = 0.71) for the Tac Group vs. the Tac-Evr Group, respectively. The rate of CKD was also similar in the 2 study groups.
CONCLUSIONS:
The early combination of Evr and Tac is an efficient immunosuppressant regimen and provided similar renal function at 1 year post-LT, compared to a minimization of the monotherapy dose of Tac. The combination therapy of Evr-Tac is subject to a higher rate of drugs discontinuation due to adverse effects of 1 of the 2 drugs
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