The pharmacokinetics and sputum penetration of ampicillin and amoxycillin following simultaneous i.v. administration

Five patients with exacerbation of chronic bronchitis received as a single iv injection 500 mg of ampicillin and 500 mg of amoxycillin. Blood and sputum samples were collected at timed intervals following dosing and the concentrations of the two antibiotics present in the samples were determined by HPLC analysis. No statistically significant differences were observed between the serum concentrations of ampicillin and amoxycillin, and the pharmacokinetics of the two drugs were almost identical, with half lives of 93 min (amoxycillin) and 103 min (ampicillin). Sputum amoxycillin concentrations were significantly higher (Student's paired t-test; P less than 0.001) than those of ampicillin, with mean levels two hours after dosing of 2.9 mg/l (range 1.9-4.0) for amoxycillin and 1.4 mg/l (range 0.8-2.4) for ampicillin.     

Neutrophil mobility during anaesthesia in children. A trial of ascorbate premedication

In 20 healthy children undergoing elective surgery, mobility of neutrophils, both unstimulated and stimulated by endotoxin, was studied using a millipore filter system with microscopic determination of leading front migration. Paired samples were incubated with 10(-2) mol l-1 calcium ascorbate and ten children also received 10 mg kg-1 ascorbic acid before premedication. Stimulation of mobility was reduced after the opioid premedication (P less than 0.05) in the ascorbate group only, but not significantly during anaesthesia and surgery. A few individuals showed persisting abnormally low values. No effect of ascorbate in vivo or in vitro was demonstrated. There were no infections.     

The nasopharynx and adenoid in children with glue ear compared with normal controls

This study was designed to demonstrate whether any differences could be detected in the nasopharyngeal soft tissue size and postnasal space airway in children with glue ear compared with controls. Lateral cephalometric radiographs of 34 children with bilateral glue ear confirmed by paracentesis were compared with those of normal children matched for age and sex. There was no difference in the measurement of adenoid depth between the 2 groups. However, it was found that the palatal airway size was significantly smaller in children with bilateral glue ear than in normal children. Reduction in the palatal airway to 4 mm or less is found in most cases with bilateral glue ear, but only in 15% of normal controls.     

Tooth root resorption induced in rats by diphenylhydantoin and parathyroidectomy.

Changes in bone, cartilage and the dentition in animals and man following the administration of anticonvulsant drugs resemble those seen in hypoparathyroidism and pseudohypoparathyroidism. Groups of 21-day-old rats were treated with diphenylhydantoin, parathyroidectomized, or made hypocalcaemic with a calcium-deficient diet. Histological examination revealed extensive resorption of cementum and dentine in the molars of the drug-treated and parathyroidectomized rats, but not in the hypocalcaemic or control groups. Localization of injected tetracycline by fluorescence showed that the resorption affected the distal side of the tooth roots and had occurred after root formation. No changes in cementum formation on the mesial side of the roots had occurred in any of the experimental groups. These results suggest that diphenylhydantoin induces a condition similar to pseudohypoparathyroidism in which the resistance of tooth roots to resorption is reduced.