Clinical experience with cefodizime in bacterial infection of children

Clinical studies were performed on cefodizime (THR-221, CDZM), a new cephem antibiotic as described below. CDZM was administered to 13 patients in dose levels ranging from 55 to 96 mg/kg/day t.i.d. for 3-7 days (5.5 days on average). These patients included 8 with pneumonia, 2 with tonsillitis, 1 each with bronchitis, phlegmon and urinary tract infection. The overall efficacy rate was 92.3%, i.e., efficacy was excellent in 8, good in 4 and poor in 1. Bacteriological efficacy was 83.3%, i.e., 5 strains of bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae 1, Haemophilus influenzae 3, Haemophilus parainfluenzae 1) were eradicated and 1 was unchanged (Enterobacter cloacae, MIC greater than 100 micrograms/ml). Clinical side effect was not observed during the treatment. Laboratory abnormalities were observed in 2 cases, i.e., a slight elevation of GPT and a mild eosinophilia. The above results suggest that CDZM is a useful antibiotic for treating pediatric bacterial infections.     

Cardiotonic agents. 4. Synthesis and biological evaluation of N-substituted 2,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-3H-indeno[1,2-c]pyridazin-3-ones: rigid structures derived from CI-930 and analogues

Several N-substituted 3H-indeno[1,2-c]pyridazinones (1-23) and a benzo[h]cinnolinone (24), which were designed as rigid structural modifications of 5-alkyl-4,5-dihydro-6-[4-N-substituted phenyl]-3(2H)-pyridazinones (ib-d), were synthesized and evaluated for positive inotropic activity. Most of these tricyclic pyridazinones (1-11, 14-15, 22-23) demonstrated potent positive inotropic activity comparable to the corresponding phenylpyridazinones related to I.     

The value of curettage in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy

The charts of all patients hospitalized between 1978 and 1983 with proved ectopic pregnancies at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, and Meir Hospital, Kfar-Sava, Israel, were reviewed. Eighty-four patients with ectopic pregnancies had endometrial tissue available for histologic analyses. Review of the endometrial curettings revealed that the most common endometrium associated with ectopic pregnancy was secretory (39.4%). Proliferative endometrium present 19% of the time was as common a finding as Arias-Stella phenomenon. This study shows that any type of endometrium lacking trophoblasts may be associated with an ectopic pregnancy. The lack of decidual reaction or Arias-Stella phenomenon should not alone lower the clinician's index of suspicion.     

Molecular electrostatic potential-anthelmintic activity relationships of 5H-mebendazole and some related heterocyclic carbamates

5H-Mebendazole and some related heterocyclic methyl carbamates were synthesized and their anthelmintic activity against Caenorhabditis elegans was determined. In order to study the influence of the heteroaromatic region with regard to the carbamate moiety on biological activity, the molecular electrostatic potentials (MEP) of all structures were calculated and a structure-activity relationship (SAR) was established. The electrostatic pattern of activity includes two minima of the carbamate moiety, a third heterocyclic minimum, and a pi-electronic region.     

Expressed emotion in children: associations with sibling relationships

Objective   To investigate the reliability and validity of the expressed emotion (EE) measure, the Pre-school Five Minute Speech Sample (PFMSS), in child-to-child sibling relationships.
Method   A total of 106 boys aged 7–11 were recruited from 12 mainstream primary schools in North Wales. The children completed the PFMSS regarding their sibling and two self-report measures of sibling relationship: the Sibling Relationship Questionnaire (SRQ) and a Child Visual Analogue Scale (CVAS). The parents of 60 participants completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire regarding the behavioural problems of the participating child and his younger sibling.
Results   The PFMSS demonstrated good inter-rater and code–recode reliability. The significant associations between EE dimensions such as relationship, positive comments and critical comments with various components of the SRQ and CVAS provided support for the concurrent validity of the PFMSS. Significantly higher levels of Conflict and Rivalry and significantly lower levels of Warmth/Closeness on the SRQ were reported by children with high EE, demonstrating good discriminant validity for the PFMSS. There was no significant association between the child's EE profile and the behavioural difficulties of both siblings as reported by parents.
Conclusions   The study found that the PFMSS is a valid and reliable measure of child EE. Future research is needed to clarify the concurrent validity of the warmth and initial statement components of the measure as well as the association between EE dimensions and behaviour.