Transcatheter arterial embolization of abnormal neovessels in a swine model of knee arthritis

BackgroundIn recent years, transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) using imipenem/cilastatin (IPM/CS) has attracted attention as a treatment for relieving osteoarthritis (OA) pain. However, IPM/CS is not approved by Japanese medical insurance for use as an embolic material. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new embolic materials for TAE to relieve OA pain. The purpose of this study was to develop a swine model of knee arthritis and embolize abnormal neovessels (ANs) using two different embolic materials. We compared the embolic effects and tissue damage in knees.MethodsKnee arthritis was induced by intra-articular injection of papain into 12 knees in six female swine. The swine were divided into two groups of three swine each (six knees per group) for embolization of ANs in the knees with either IPM/CS or soluble gelatin sponge particles (SGSs). Three days after embolization, we compared the embolic effects using angiography and the tissue damage histopathologically.ResultsANs were observed in all 12 knees at 42 days after papain injection. The ANs disappeared and the patent arteries were recanalized 3 days after TAE in all 12 knees. Histopathological evaluation revealed synovitis changes, such as synovial thickening and inflammatory cell infiltration, in all 12 knees. There was no evidence of skin or muscle necrosis in either group. The appearance of ANs, recanalization of the parent arteries, and histopathological outcomes were not significantly different between the two groups.ConclusionSGSs were as safe as IPM/CS for TAE of ANs in this swine model of knee arthritis.     

Synergic in-vitro activity of imipenem and sulbactam against Acinetobacter baumannii

The interaction between sulbactam and imipenem was evaluated with four clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii, including two isolates resistant to imipenem, one of which produced IMP-1 metallo-beta-lactamase. Two isolates (one of which was imipenem-resistant) were sulbactam-resistant by undefined mechanisms. MICs were determined by standard broth microdilution methods. Time-kill assays with imipenem and sulbactam, alone or in combination at 0.5 x MIC and 1 x MIC, showed a synergic effect in all four isolates of A. baumannii after incubation for 0, 4, 8 and > 24 h at 35 degrees C.     

IMPs, VIMs and SPMs: the diversity of metallo-β-lactamases produced by carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a Brazilian hospital

Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates (n=183), collected from bacteraemic patients hospitalised in Sao Paulo Hospital (Brazil) during 2000-2001, were screened for susceptibility to antimicrobial agents. The polymyxins were the most active compounds (100% susceptibility), followed by amikacin and cefepime (59.0%), meropenem (57.4%), and imipenem and gentamicin (55.2%). Imipenem-resistant isolates were ribotyped and screened for production of metallo-beta-lactamases (MBLs) by PCR with primers for bla(IMP), bla(VIM) and bla(SPM). MBL production was detected in 36 isolates (19.7% of the entire collection; 43.9% of the imipenem-resistant isolates) and the MBLs included SPM-1-like (55.6%), VIM-2-like (30.6%) and IMP-1-like (8.3%) enzymes.     

耐亚胺培南铜绿假单胞菌CARB-3基因的发现

目的分析我院2005年1~12月临床样本中分离的34株耐亚胺培南铜绿假单胞菌CARB基因携带情况,并对CARB基因分型。方法应用BD phoenix 100全自动微生物分析仪鉴定临床分离的铜绿假单胞菌并筛选耐亚胺培南的铜绿假单胞菌。采用PCR方法筛查耐亚胺培南铜绿假单胞菌的CARB基因,用DNA测序法对阳性扩增产物进行分型。结果34株耐亚胺培南的铜绿假单胞菌中,有32.4%携带CARB基因,测得DNA序列进行BLASTn比对,基因型为CARB-3型。结论我院临床样本中分离的耐亚胺培南的铜绿假单胞菌携带CARB-3型基因,携带率较高,医务工作者应重视和加强耐亚胺培南的铜绿假单胞菌的防治和耐药监测。     

Chemo-Radiotherapy in Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck: Factors Affecting Toxicity Patterns

Abstract

Radiation and chemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced squamous carcinoma of the head and neck can be used according to different strategies: concomitant, alternation, consecutive. The limiting acute toxicity is local with the radiosensitizing capacity of the drug and type of radiation fractionation being the predominant factors. Regimens providing more that 50% of complete responses are usually associate with a more than 40% incidence of severe local reaction. More information is needed on late toxicity that influences the quality of life for these patients.     

Cholangiopathy after short‐term administration of piperacillin and imipenem/cilastatin

Abstract: We describe a patient who suffered from intestinal perforation after abdominal trauma. Perioperatively, he was treated with a single dose of piperacillin and 9 doses of imipenem/cilastatin over 3 days. The patient was discharged 5 days after surgery in good clinical condition and with normal liver values except for a marginal elevation of alanine aminotransferase. Two weeks after discharge, he developed fatigue, fever and pruritus, necessitating rehospitalization. He was jaundiced and had elevated alkaline phosphatase and transaminases. After exclusion of an intra‐abdominal fluid collection, a vascular problem, and infectious or autoimmune liver disease, a liver biopsy was performed. The biopsy revealed centrizonal bilirubinostasis, a portal infiltrate rich in eosinophils and cholangitis. Lymphocyte transformation tests for piperacillin and imipenem/cilastatin were positive, suggesting an immunological mechanism for the observed hepatopathy. Cholestasis gradually decreased but was detectable for several weeks. The patient had a full clinical and biochemical recovery after 3 months. We conclude that short‐term therapy with piperacillin, imipenem/cilastatin or the combination of these drugs can lead to the same type of hepatopathy as described for amoxycillin/clavulanic acid or antistaphylococcal penicillins. Liver biopsy and positive lymphocyte transformation are compatible with an immunological mechanism.     

美罗培南与亚胺培南／西司他丁钠治疗细菌感染有效性和安全性的Meta分析

目的运用Meta分析的方法综合比较评价美罗培南与亚胺培南／西司他丁钠治疗细菌感染的有效性和安全性。方法制定原始文献的纳入和排除标准及检索策略,检索文献数据库,收集有关美罗培南与亚胺培南／西司他丁钠治疗细菌感染的随机对照试验研究报告,剔除不符合要求的文献后,纳入文献17篇,提取文献数据进行定量综合分析。结果综合分析显示,美罗培南和亚胺培南／西司他丁钠治疗细菌感染痊愈率计算OR值（95％cI）为1．07（0．85～1．34）,有效率OR值（95％CI）为0．90（O．67～1．22）,不良反应发生率OR值（95％CI）为0．84（0．56～1．26）。结论美罗培南与亚胺培南／西司他丁钠在治疗细菌感染时有效性和安全性相当。     

Effect of sodium mercaptoacetic acid on different antimicrobial disks in the sodium mercaptoacetic acid double disk synergy test for detection of IMP-1 metallo-β-lactamase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates in Japan

We determined the optimal antimicrobial in the sodium mercaptoacetic acid double disk synergy test (SMA-DDST) for the detection of IMP-1-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates in Japan and evaluated the performance of the test.Fifty-four P. aeruginosa clinical isolates were tested, including 39 IMP-1 producers and 15 non-metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-producing carbapenem- and ceftazidime (CAZ)-resistant isolates. The SMA-DDST was performed with CAZ, cefepime (CFPM), imipenem (IPM), meropenem (MEPM), doripenem (DRPM), or biapenem (BIPM)-containing disks. The sensitivity of the SMA-DDST with CAZ, CFPM, IPM, MEPM, DRPM, and BIPM was 39/39 (100%), 36/39 (92%), 18/39 (46%), 8/39 (21%), 19/39 (49%), and 36/39 (92%), respectively. The specificity was 15/15 (100%) for all SMA-DDSTs. This suggests that the isolates may have a resistance mechanism other than MBL production for IPM, MEPM, or DRPM. Since the CAZ resistance mechanism in P. aeruginosa is the same as that of CFPM, but differs from that of carbapenems, we conclude that combining CAZ with BIPM SMA-DDSTs can prevent any failure in the detection of IMP-1-producing P. aeruginosa.