No abstract available.
Quinolones* ; Vibrio vulnificus* ; Vibrio*

No abstract available.
Abscess* ; Bacteria, Aerobic* ; Quinolones* ; Virulence*

No Abstract Available.
Anti-Infective Agents* ; Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli* ; Quinolones* ; Shiga Toxins*

Sexual dysfunction is a common side effect in patients treated with antipsychotics but significant differences exist across different compounds. We report hypersexuality symptoms in two female patients with schizophrenia who were receiving treatment with aripiprazole. The patients experienced more frequent sexual desire and greater sexual preoccupation after taking aripiprazole. We discuss the potential neuro-chemical mechanisms for this and argue that aripiprazole's unique pharmacological profile, partial agonism with high affinity at dopamine D2-receptor, may have contributed to the development of these symptoms.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Dopamine ; Felodipine ; Female ; Humans ; Piperazines ; Quinolones ; Schizophrenia ; Aripiprazole

OBJECTIVE: We examined the effect of long-term aripiprazole therapy on social functioning in Korean patients with schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, or schizoaffective disorder. METHODS: In this 52-week open-label, multicenter, single-arm study, 300 Korean patients with schizophrenia were treated with aripiprazole 10-30 mg/day after administration of 15 mg/day during the first 2 weeks. The primary efficacy measure was the Korean-Social Functioning Scale (SFS-K), and the secondary efficacy measures were the Emotion Assessment, and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) score and the Clinical Global Impression - Severity of Illness (CGI-S) to investigate for correlation between social functioning and clinical symptoms. RESULTS: At week 52, there were significant improvements in all the areas of the SFS-K. There was generally no difference in the change of social functioning between patients in the first episode and patients having previous episodes. Significant improvements were also observed in negative emotion and emotional control. Statistically significant correlation between the SFS-K and the PANSS score was observed at week 52. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that long-term treatment with aripiprazole contributed to significant improvement in social functioning in patients with schizophrenia in the long-term treatment. This improvement of social functioning was modestly associated with clinical improvement of symptoms. The results suggest that long-term aripiprazole therapy could be effective not only in treating clinical symptoms, but also in improving social functioning in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorder.
Humans ; Piperazines ; Prospective Studies ; Psychotic Disorders ; Quinolones ; Schizophrenia ; Aripiprazole

BACKGROUND: Moxifloxacin is an 8-methoxyquinolone compound which has been shown to have the best activity of the quinolones against M. tuberculosis but there is no literature showing the rate of cross-resistance between moxifloxacin and the other quinolones such as ofloxacin. Therefore, we tested the activity of moxifloxacin against ofloxacin resistant M. tuberculosis by a study of cross-resistance. METHODS: We tested MIC's of moxifloxacin and ofloxacin by proportion method against 34 M. tuberculosis isolates showing resistance against ofloxacin at 2.5microgram/ml concentration and 13 ofloxacin susceptible isolates from specimens submitted to clinical laboratory of National Masan Hospital from March 2003 to March 2004. RESULTS: For ofloxacin susceptible isolates, MIC(50) and MIC(90) of ofloxacin were all 1.25 microgram/ml, and MIC(50) and MIC(90) of moxifloxacin were 0.31 microgram/ml and 0.63microgram/ml respectively. For ofloxacin resistant isolates, MIC(50) of ofloxacin was over 10microgram/ml and MIC(50) of moxifloxacin was 5microgram/ml,MIC(90) of ofloxacin and moxifloxacin were all over 10microgram/ml. The rate of cross-resistance between the two was 67.6%(23/34) at 2.5microgram/ml concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Moxifloxacin showed activity against 82.4%(28/34) of ofloxacin resistant M. tuberculosis at 10microgram/ml, but more studies are needed so that moxifloxacin will be used for patient with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis including ofloxacin resistance.
Humans ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Ofloxacin* ; Quinolones ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of aripiprazole for the management of cognitive impairments and hyperprolactinemia in patients with schizophrenia on a stable dose of risperidone. METHODS: Thirty-five subjects stabilized on risperidone (3-6 mg/day) for a minimum of 3 months were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled phase for 12 weeks and an open-label phase for another 12 weeks. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive 10 mg/day aripiprazole (n=17) or placebo (n=18). Over the following 12 weeks, the the aripiprazole group received a flexible dose of aripiprazole while tapering risperidone. At baseline, week 12, and week 24, subjects were evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Extrapyramidal Syndrome Rating Scale (ESRS), and standardized neuropsychological assessments. Serum prolactin levels were checked at baseline, week 1, week 2, and week 24. RESULTS: The mean change in total PANSS and cognitive function test scores between baseline and endpoint were similar in the aripiprazole and placebo groups. Scores on the ESRS and negative subscale of PANSS differed significantly between groups in both phases of the study (p<0.05), indicating a positive effect of aripiprazole. Compared with placebo, aripiprazole significantly reduced mean baseline serum prolactin levels within 1 week (p=0.015). CONCLUSION: Adjunctive treatment with and switching to aripiprazole were not associated with improved cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia receiving risperidone; however, aripiprazole treatment decreased negative symptoms and risperidone-induced motor side effects and lowered serum prolactin levels.
Cognition ; Humans ; Hyperprolactinemia ; Piperazines ; Prolactin ; Quinolones ; Risperidone ; Schizophrenia ; Aripiprazole

BACKGROUND: With the time course, the cost and the amounts of produced antibiotics are increasing but it is difficult to get the exact data and there were limitations to know the trend of antibiotics usage. So we examined the trend of antibiotics usage every five year during 1981-1998 by using two parameters; the cost and the amount of antibiotics produced in South Korea. METHODS: We used the data from 'Annual products of medicine' published by Korea Pharmaceutical Manufactures Association. Every antibiotics were classified to generic names, and the cost and the amounts of produced antibiotics were compared each year. RESULTS: In 1998, the total cost of produced antibiotics was 1,150 billion won and the amount was 708.6 ton. The cost was increased by 20.0% compared to that of 1995. Cephalosporins made the largest proportion of the cost in antibiotic production that was 43.8% (503.3 billion won) in 1998. With the time course proportion of the third and the second generation cephalosporins were increased. Penicillins made the largest proportion (46%) of the total amount and were produced 325.7 ton. Among them, aminopenicillins were 86% of the total cost of penicillins and 95% of the total amount of penicillins. Especially the cost of aminopenicillins with beta-lactamase inhibitor was 2.3 times increased since 1993 thus made the major cause of increase. Quinolones were increased 2.1 times and macrolides were increased 2.2 times in production cost for 5 years. Tetracyclines, lincosamides and chloramphenicols were decreased in both production cost and amount, but penicillins and macrolides were increased in production cost even though production amounts were decreased. CONCLUSION: There seemed to be an increase in the cost and the amount of antibiotic production in Korea. Especially productions of newer drugs such as aminopenicillins with beta-lactamase inhibitor, third generation cephalosporins, some of macrolides and carbapenems were increased remarkably. And the use of glycopetides, anti-fungal agents, and antiviral agents were increasing also. Some drugs were thought to be an inappropriate use. More epidemiologic study and the guidelines for the proper use of antibiotics are needed.
Anti-Bacterial Agents* ; Antiviral Agents ; beta-Lactamases ; Carbapenems ; Cephalosporins ; Chloramphenicol ; Korea* ; Lincosamides ; Macrolides ; Penicillins ; Quinolones ; Tetracyclines

OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy and the safety of aripiprazole and haloperidol in the treatment of patients with delirium. METHODS: 26 patients with delirium were randomized to receive either aripiprazole or haloperidol and finally 20 patients were analyzed. We collected demographic and clinical data. The Korean Version of Delirium Rating Scale-revised-98 (K-DRS-98) and Korean Version of Drug Induced Extrapyramidal Symptom Scale (DIEPSS-K) were assessed. Blood samples were collected to analyze serum sodium ion concentration, plasma cortisol and prolactin level and pulse oximetry was used for measuring oxygen saturation. RESULTS: K-DRS-98 severity scores decreased in both groups significantly over the study period, but no statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups. No significant extrapyramidal syndromes were noted in both groups, but the use of haloperidol was associated with increased plasma prolactin level (From 24.0+/-28.1 ng/mL to 32.0+/-20.0 ng/mL, p=0.005). CONCLUSION: Aripiprazole is as effective as haloperidol in the treatment of delirium and aripiprazole may be safer than haloperidol in that haloperidol is associated with increased plasma prolactin level.
Delirium ; Haloperidol ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Hyperprolactinemia ; Oximetry ; Oxygen ; Piperazines ; Plasma ; Prolactin ; Quinolones ; Sodium ; Aripiprazole

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of aripiprazole in patients with schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, and schizoaffective disorder during acute treatment phase. METHODS: Prospective, multicenter, single group, and 8-week study was conducted in patients with schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, and schizoaffective disorder. A total of 300 patients were enrolled in the present study. The primary efficacy measure was the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score, and secondary efficacy measures were the PANSS positive and negative subscales scores, and Clinical Global Impression-Severity of Illness (CGI-S) score. Treatment-emergent adverse events, extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), weight, vital signs, and laboratory tests were assessed as measures of tolerability and safety. RESULTS: Significant improvements in all efficacy measures were achieved by aripiprazole as early as 1-week and sustained through 8-week period. First-episode patients showed greater improvements in PANSS total, positive subscale score, and CGI-S score, compared with recurrent patients. Slightly increased akathisia (+0.32 from baseline score of Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale, p=0.033) and weight gain (1.15+/-3.44 kg, p<0.001) were observed by aripiprazole during 8-week acute treatment phase. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that aripiprazole was effective in acute treatment of positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, and schizoaffective disorder. In general, aripiprazole showed favorable safety and tolerability profiles, although clinicians needed to pay attention to the possibility of akathisia and weight gain by aripiprazole in first-episode patients during acute treatment phase.
Humans ; Piperazines ; Prospective Studies ; Psychomotor Agitation ; Psychotic Disorders ; Quinolones ; Schizophrenia ; Vital Signs ; Weight Gain ; Aripiprazole