Experimental study on the hepatobiliary kinetics and excretion of temafloxacin. Evidence for production of active metabolites by the rabbit liver

Temafloxacin is a new fluoroquinolone derivative currently under evaluation. Its hepatobiliary disposition remains undefined as yet. The present study represents an experimental approach to this issue. Six isolated rabbit liver preparations were perfused for three hours with reconstituted and oxygenated blood in a closed circuit. A the onset of the procedures, temafloxacin 10 mg were added to the circulating blood. Both bile and blood were sampled throughout the perfusion time, and liver fragments were taken at the end of the experiments. Temafloxacin levels were measured by HPLC in serum and hepatic tissue, and by both HPLC and microbiological assay in bile. The percentage of drug undergoing hepatic biotransformation appeared to be high, i.e. 58.3%. This finding is substantiated by the comparison of temafloxacin levels in bile, as provided by HPLC and microbiological assay, the latter yielding concentrations twice as high (biliary peak: 33.5 +/- 2.8 micrograms/ml versus 19.3 +/- 3.1 micrograms/ml by HPLC assay) as those obtained by HPLC (p less than 0.05). Consistently, the average amount of temafloxacin excreted into the bile (0-3 h) was, respectively, 92 micrograms (0.9% of the dose) and 204 micrograms (2.0%) as determined by HPLC and microbiological methods (p less than 0.05); this statistically significant difference suggests the presence of active metabolites in bile. The presented results bring out evidence for substantial biotransformation of temafloxacin by Rabbit liver. Extrapolation to other species, however, would be hazardous; further pharmacokinetic studies are needed in order to assess the relevance of these findings in humans.     

FAMILY ADJUSTMENT TO THE EARLY LOSS OF A BABY BORN WITH SPINA BIFIDA

Sixteen families were contacted two to seven years after the death of their spina-bifida baby following transfer to a specialist unit and the parents' subsequent decision against active treatment. There was little evidence of serious long-term problems of adjustment on any of the measures assessing marital relationships, parental physical and mental health, and decisions about later pregnancies. Parents welcomed the unit's policy of encouraging frequent contact with their baby, and thought that it had facilitated the grieving process.     

Direct detection of Actinomyces spp. from infected root canals in a Chinese population: a study using PCR-based, oligonucleotide-DNA hybridization technique

Objectives. The poor sensitivity of phenotypic identification techniques has hampered the taxonomic differentiation of Actinomyces. Hence we developed a sensitive and specific, PCR-based oligonucleotide-DNA hybridization technique to detect Actinomyces spp. and, used this method to detect these organisms in samples directly obtained from infected root canals.

Methods. A total of 32 samples from 28 Chinese patients, with primary root canal infections, aseptically exposed at the first patient visit, were studied. Whole bacterial genomic DNA was isolated directly from paper point samples. The variable regions of 16S ribosomal DNA of bacteria were amplified and labeled with digoxigenin for further hybridization and detection. A total of seven oligonucleotide probes specific for A. bovis, A. gerencseriae, A. israelii, A. meyeri, catalase-negative A. naeslundii (genospecies 1 and 2), catalase-positive A. naeslundii genospecies 2 and A. odontolyticus were used.

Results. 16 of the 32 teeth were infected with one or more Actinomyces species. The prevalence rates of the examined species were: A. odontolyticus 31.3%, A. meyeri 9.4%, A. naeslundii 9.4%, A. israelii 6.3% and A. gerencseriae 3.1%; no A. bovis was detected in any of the canals. Furthermore, A. odontolyticus was isolated more frequently from root canals with caries or a history of caries (Fisher's exact test: P=0.0496; Odds RATIO=9.00, 95% confidence interval: 0.97–83.63), and A. naeslundii was significantly associated with traumatized teeth (Fisher's exact test: P=0.0121; Odds RATIO=57.00, 95% confidence interval: 2.10–1546.90). However, no significant correlation was found between Actinomyces spp. and clinical symptoms and signs, such as pain, swelling, percussion to tenderness, sinus and periapical radiolucency.

Conclusion. Actinomyces spp. may be important pathogens of root canal infections. A. naeslundii in particular may be related with traumatized teeth. A. odontolyticus appears to be involved in infections related to caries, exposure of dentinal tubules during cavity preparation and/or leaking restoration, but further clarification with large samples is necessary.     

Do neurotensin receptor agonists represent a novel class of antipsychotic drugs?

Schizophrenia is one of the major psychiatric disorders for which effective pharmacotherapy has been available for approximately 50 years. Study of the mechanism of action of these antipsychotic drugs (APDs) has largely focused on the mesolimbic dopamine system and in the neurotransmitter systems that regulate it. Modulation of the neurotensin (NT) circuit in the mesolimbic system can underlie the mechanism of action of APDs. Several lines of evidence support this hypothesis, including: (1) association of NT with neural circuits relevant to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and the therapeutic effects of APDs; (2) prediction of antipsychotic efficacy and side effect liability based on APD effects on the NT system; (3) low concentrations of NT in the cerebrospinal fluid of a subset of patients with schizophrenia and its normalization after associated clinical improvement with APDs; and (4) remarkable behavioral similarities between peripherally administered APDs and central NT administration. For these reasons, drugs that directly modify the activity of NT systems, particularly NT receptor agonists, could plausibly represent a novel class of APDs.     

Impaired inflammatory and pain responses in mice lacking an inducible prostaglandin E synthase

Prostaglandin (PG)E2 is a potent mediator of pain and inflammation, and high levels of this lipid mediator are observed in numerous disease states. The inhibition of PGE2 production to control pain and to treat diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis to date has depended on nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents such as aspirin. However, these agents inhibit the synthesis of all prostanoids. To produce biologically active PGE2, PGE synthases catalyze the isomerization of PGH2 into PGE2. Recently, several PGE synthases have been identified and cloned, but their role in inflammation is not clear. To study the physiological role of the individual PGE synthases, we have generated by targeted homologous recombination a mouse line deficient in microsomal PGE synthase 1 (mPGES1) on the inbred DBA/1lacJ background. mPGES1-deficient (mPGES1-/-) mice are viable and fertile and develop normally compared with wild-type controls. However, mPGES1-/- mice displayed a marked reduction in inflammatory responses compared with mPGES1+/+ mice in multiple assays. Here, we identify mPGES1 as the PGE synthase that contributes to the pathogenesis of collagen-induced arthritis, a disease model of human rheumatoid arthritis. We also show that mPGES1 is responsible for the production of PGE2 that mediates acute pain during an inflammatory response. These findings suggest that mPGES1 provides a target for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and pain associated with inflammatory states.