Antibiotics are widely used in the treatment of premature low birth-weight babies, either as blind therapy before infection is confirmed or, more specifically against a pathogen of known antibiotic susceptibility. The requirements of an antibiotic for use in the newborn are different from those in older patients and in almost every respect there are differences in the pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of antibiotics in the very young. A wide range of bacteria are responsible for infection in the new born and the distribution of these organisms will vary not only from country to country, but also from hospital to hospital. Antibiotics in current use are less effective against bacteria infecting the newborn than they once were and the introduction of new antibiotics, notably the third generation cephalosporins, provides an opportunity to reassess current antibiotic practices. This paper outlines the general considerations for chemotherapy in small babies and attempts to identify those areas where a review of current antibiotic practice is required. It is essential that decisions regarding antibiotic policies for neonatal units should be made locally and that they reflect local experience and the range of pathogens most frequently encountered and their sensitivity patterns.
Aminoglycosides ; therapeutic use ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; metabolism ; therapeutic use ; toxicity ; Bacterial Infections ; drug therapy ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature, Diseases ; drug therapy ; Kinetics ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Risk ; Time Factors

Objective: To investigate the effect of three preoperative anti-infective regimens on the sterility of anterior-chamber aspirates (ACA) in eyes undergoing extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE). Methods: Ninety eyes scheduled to undergo ECCE were randomly assigned to receive one of the following preoperative anti-infective regimens: Group 1 (Control) - no additional preoperative preparation; Group 2 (Eye drop) - neomycin/ polymixin B/gramicidin eye drops applied 3 times daily for 3 days prior to surgery; and Group 3 (Lid scrub) - neomycin/polymixin B/ bacitracin ointment lid scrub applied 3 times prior to surgery. ACAs were obtained from all eyes at the conclusion of surgery and cultured. The patients were followed up for 3 months after the surgery. Results: Positive cultures developed from ACAs in 5 (16.6 percent) of 30 eyes from Group 1, in 0 of 30 from Group 2, and in 3 (10 percent) of 30 from Group 3. No eye developed endophthalmitis. Compared with the control group, preoperative neomycin/polymixin B/gramicidin eye drops significantly reduced the ACA contamination rate (p= 0.03). Conclusion: Preoperative neomycin/polymixin B/bacitracin eyedrops can improve the sterility of the anterior chamber during ECCE.
Human ; CATARACT ; ANTI-INFECTIVE AGENTS ; ENDOPHTHALMITIS ; NEOMYCIN ; GRAMICIDIN ; BACITRACIN ; CATARACT EXTRACTION ; EYE DISEASES ;

High Brachial Bifurcation is not an uncommon arterial variation occurring in up to 10% of patients undergoing AVFs. It is associated with higher rate of failure or intervention, statistically significant in this study. Patients with this variation need careful consideration in planning arteriovenous access.

This is a descriptive study of Tersons syndrome among patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage at the Philippine General Hospital. The incidence of Tersons syndrome was 13.4 percent. There were no statistically significant differences in outcomes among patients with and without Tersons syndrome. (Author)
Human ; EYE DISEASES ; EYE HEMORRHAGE ; RETINAL HEMORRHAGE ; VITREOUS HEMORRHAGE ; VITREOUS HEMORRHAGE/ETIOLOGY ; PROGNOSIS ; ANEURYSM ; SUBARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE

Objective: The study aimed to determine if Blumea balsamifera inhibits calcium oxalate stone formation in the kidneys through determination of the number of calcium oxalate stones in the renal cortex and the percent mass of calcium oxalate. Methods: Post-test only control group design was used using five treatment groups with placebo as the negative control, potassium citrate as the positive control, and 50%, 100%, and 200% sambong treatment. Urolithiasis was induced through ethylene glycol and ammonium chloride. Each treatment group was administered its corresponding treatment solution once daily for twenty-one days. Histopathologic examination and kidney homogenate analysis were done to determine the degree of deposition of calcium oxalate stones in renal tissues and the oxalate content, respectively. Statistical analyses were performed using one-way ANOVA and post hoc Gabriel's Pairwise Comparisons Test. Results: The 100% sambong treatment group showed the least mean number of stones while the positive control and 50% sambong treatment group exhibited the highest anti-urolithiatic activity in terms of oxalate content of the kidney homogenate. Conclusion It can be concluded from the study that Blumea balsamifera inhibits calcium oxalate stone formation in the kidneys with the 100% and 50% sambong treatment most effective in decreasing number of stones and oxalate content of the kidney homogenate, respectively.
Urolithiasis ; Kidney