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This study was designed to assess whether a rice-hydrolysate formula allows normal growth and adequate metabolic balance in infants with cows' milk protein allergy. Infants (seven females, nine males; aged 6–14 months) were randomly assigned to receive a rice-hydrolysate formula (n= 8) or a soy formula (control group, n= 8). Standardized growth indices (Zscores) and biochemical parameters were evaluated during a 6-month treatment period. Infants in both groups showed normal growth patterns during the study, and no adverse reactions were seen. Mean plasma biochemical parameters were within the normal ranges, and did not differ between groups. In conclusion, rice-hydrolysate formula may be a nutritionally suitable alternative for infants with cows' milk protein allergy. Larger studies, with satisfactory power, should be undertaken to confirm these findings.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cefaclor in the prophylaxis of recurrent acute otitis media (AOM) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children. The study was carried out in children born between 1 January 1986 and 31 December 1996 who had been vertically HIV infected. Patients who had experienced recurrent AOM between October 1997 and March 1998 (period 1) were eligible for the trial. Recurrent AOM was defined as the occurrence in the same patient of three or more episodes of AOM within 6 months of the observation period. Patients recruited for this trial received cefaclor at a dose of 20 mg/kg once daily for 6 months between April and September 1998 (period 2). Clinical observation was carried out in periods 1 and 2 and for the first 6 months after prophylaxis, i.e. October 1998 – March 1999 (period 3). Natural killer-cell activity, phagocytosis and myeloperoxidase activity were determined before and at the end of the prophylactic period. For each period, CD4-cell count measurement and CD4-positive cell class were recorded. Seventeen children were recruited for this trial. No significant differences were observed in natural killer-cell activity between periods 1 and 2, nor were any significant differences observed in CD4-positive cell class or CD4-positive cell count between the three periods. However, cefaclor administration was associated with a reduction in the number of AOM episodes in 100% of cases and a mean increase in myeloperoxidase activity in 57% of cases. This suggests that cefaclor may be useful in the prophylaxis of recurrent AOM in HIV-infected children.

The application of a new technique based on the differential measurement of pH between two solutions to determine ethanol concentration in whole blood is reported. The ethanol is determined by measuring the change in pH following its enzymatic oxidation to acetaldehyde. The procedure correlates with the head space gas chromatographic method in the 0-108 mmol/l (0-5 g/l) ethanol whole blood concentration range according to the equation y = 1344 + 1.013 × (r = 0.997).

We have studied the single dose pharmacokinetics of 5 mg clotiazepam drops, oral tablets, and sublingual tablets in a cross-over study in 6 healthy volunteers (median age 28 years). The formulations had similar systemic availability.

Background: The indazole derivative YC-1 has been characterized as an nitric oxide (NO)-independent and heme dependent soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) activator, which also sensitizes sGC to NO.Objective: To examine the effects of YC-1on vascular relaxation in newborn and 2 week-old piglet pulmonary arteries. The effect of YC-1 on the relaxation induced by exogenous NO was also analyzed.Design/Methods: Isolated rings from third generation pulmonary arteries (outer diameter 500-1000 microm) and small distal pulmonary arteries (outer diameter 150–200 microm) were mounted in organ chambers for isometric tension recording. Arteries were precontracted with the thromboxane A2 mimetic U46619 (0.1 microM)Results: YC-1 induced a concentration-dependent relaxation that was significantly greater in 2 week-old pulmonary arteries and was abolished by the sGC inhibitor ODQ (10 microM). YC-1 induced relaxation was similar in conduit pulmonary arteries and arterioles. In the 2-week-old pulmonary arteries, the response to YC-1 was significantly reduced when the endothelium was removed or after incubation with the NO synthase inhibitor L-NAME (0.1 mM). YC-1 (3 microM) augmented NO-induced relaxation in 2-week-old but not in neonatal pulmonary arteries.Conclusions: YC-1 induced pulmonary vascular relaxation in conduit and resistance pulmonary arteries and these effects increased with postnatal age. In the 2-week-old pulmonary arteries and besides its direct activator of sGC, YC-1 produced endothelium-dependent relaxation and synergized with exogenous NO.

In earlier studies, it has been shown that the retention index (Ir) is a very reproducible measure of gas chromatographic mobility. Statistically comparing Ir values obtained here with those found in references has yielded very satisfying results. This will enable the use of Ir values in the screening phase of analysis for general unknowns using the great number of data offered by references; thus limiting the range of inquiry to no more than 6 or 7 drugs, provided that the unknown is between the scheduled ones. An index of analytical behavior that is an absolutely reproducible number will be necessary for computerizing toxicological analysis.